Second Chance Brides (26 page)

While the other two women chatted about fabric, Shannon opened another drawer that revealed colors from a soft blue that almost looked white to dark indigo. Perhaps instead of stitching Leah a cream-colored or white collar, she could use a darker blue. But then there would be the problem of the darker color bleeding onto the lighter fabric if the dress got wet. Shannon sighed. Nay, better to stick with the plain shade. She picked up several ivory skeins and joined her friend.

Leah held up a bright periwinkle blue fabric under her chin. “What do you think of this shade?”

“’Tis lovely. Very pretty with your eyes.”

Leah smiled. “I like it, too, and won’t it look beautiful with your lace on it?”

Shannon nodded. “Aye, and if there’s enough time, I’ll make cuffs for your sleeves, if that would please you.”

Leah handed the cloth back to Miss Bradshaw. “That would be wonderful, but I don’t want you constantly working. The collar will be enough. I think I’ll cover the buttons to make the dress fancier, too.”

“An excellent idea,” Miss Bradshaw said. She cut out the amount of fabric Leah requested, wrapped it up, and tied it with heavy twine, then took care of the thread for Shannon. “Thank you so much for stopping by my shop, and I do wish you the best with your wedding and your future husband.”

Back outside, Leah shifted the heavy package in her arms. “Let’s go back to the hotel and put these in our room. They’re too heavy to lug around all day.”

“What else do you need to purchase?”

“Dan told me to get whatever I needed and gave me plenty of money. I feel odd spending it, but he said I should stock up because he doesn’t have time to come to Denison very often. Since he owns the only livery and is the only blacksmith in town, he doesn’t like to be gone too often. I think the only thing left on my list is to get a new pair of shoes. These I’ve got on are past old age.”

“I’m excited about eating in the hotel restaurant tonight. ’Twill be an adventure, for sure.”

“Oh, me, too. I’ve never stayed in a real hotel.” Leah’s eyes danced with delight.

“What about when you traveled here? Surely it took more than one day.”

“That’s true, but I stayed in a boardinghouse, not a hotel.”

Shannon thought of her own trip and how she’d slept one night in a barn on her journey to Texas. It had been the only place she could find off the street. Paying for a hotel had been out of the question.

But Dan had graciously paid for tonight’s room, and she meant to enjoy every moment she was here. Excitement flittered through her, and she pretended she was a grand lady who owned a large estate, and she’d come to town to shop. She was grateful for a day away from Lookout.

Away from the pressures of working with the Corbett brothers.

Away from her pining over a man who didn’t want her.

They entered their hotel, located near the Katy Depot. A beautiful chandelier was the focal point of the tall-ceilinged lobby. Fancy brocade wallpaper decorated the walls in a pale gold, while red couches and chairs gave the room a splash of color. A man sitting in one of the chairs lowered his newspaper, and Shannon’s heart squeezed.

What was Mark Corbett doing here?

C
HAPTER
19

J
ack raced to the marshal’s office, praying Luke was there. She slowed her steps as she reached the office window and forced herself to walk past it. Her breathing came in ragged gulps, and as she rounded the door, she glanced behind her and gave a relieved sigh. Butch must have chased after the boys instead of her.

But Luke wasn’t there. She hurried to the bucket and ladled out a drink and guzzled it down. Then she tiptoed back to the door and peeked out. A wagon was parked in front of the freight office, and several horses were hitched in front of the bank, but not a soul was on the street.

Where had her friends gone? Were they safe? Or had Butch gotten them?

She leaned against the jamb, keeping watch on the street. Now she wished she’d just gone home, but if she tried to make it, she might run into Butch.

What would he do if he caught her?

He said he didn’t hit girls, but maybe he’d do something else like tie her up over an anthill. Or lock her in a hot, dark shed like that outlaw had done to her ma. Her knees shook as countless scenarios attacked her mind.

She’d halfway felt sorry for the big bloke when that old Mrs. Boyd yelled at him and fired him. It wasn’t his fault he’d gotten in trouble. Maybe she oughta go back and explain things to that old lady. But Bertha Boyd was as big as a draft horse and scared her more than Butch.

Jack threw her braid over her shoulder, trying to get her nerve up to make a mad dash for home. She saw Max toddling down the street. “Oh, wonderful. He’ll give me away.”

Heavy footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned, hoping to see Luke. But Butch crossed the street in front of the café, smacking his hand into his fist as if looking for a fight. She ducked back into the office and searched for a place to hide. Diving under Luke’s desk, she held her breath and pulled the chair in close to her.
Please, God. Don’t let him have seen me
.

The steps stopped just outside the door. Her heart pounded like Butch’s ax, whacking that wood. Her heartbeat throbbed in her ears until she could barely hear. Was he still standing there?

She heard a noise nearby and tucked her knees up tighter. Something clicked on the floor, and a shadow darkened the wall. Max appeared and stuck his nose in her face and burped.

“Eww!” She waved her hand in front of her nose. “What in the world have you been eatin’?”

Footsteps hurried in her direction, and Butch yanked Luke’s chair out from in front of her. “I thought I saw you.”

Her whole body trembled, and she’d never been closer to crying. What would her ma say when she learned her daughter was dead?

“Git on up from there.”

She hunkered back farther, keeping her eyes shut. Maybe he couldn’t see her if she couldn’t see him. Max whined and licked her hand.

Some guard dog he was.

A large hand latched onto her arm and pulled her out. Jack came kicking and flailing her arms. “You let me go! My pa’s gonna lock you up until you’re old and gray if you hurt me.”

“I ain’t scared of the marshal.”

Butch held her by the scruff of her collar. She swung her arm and landed a hard hit in his midsection. His warm breath
oofed
out, and he bent over but didn’t let go. “Stop it, you little beast. I ain’t gonna hurt you.”

Jack froze. “Then let me go.”

“No. You need to be taught not to meddle in other people’s affairs. You cost me a good job today, and I needed the work. If you was a boy, I’d pound the what-for into ya.”

Jack went limp, her body exhausted. Fear battled anger. “W–what are you gonna do to me?”

He looked around and chuckled. “Just what you did to me.”

He hauled her across the room, into a cell, and dropped her onto the cot. Then he hustled back out and shut the door. Stunned, Jack sat there, half-relieved and half-scared out of her wits. What if Luke didn’t return soon or was out hunting down an outlaw?

And she needed to use the privy.

Butch grinned. “See how you like being locked up.”

She bolted off the bed and clutched the bars. “You let me out of here right this instant.”

“Cain’t do it. I ain’t got the key.”

She swallowed hard. “Check the drawer. Maybe that’s where Luke keeps them.”

He pushed out his lips and shook his head. “Nope. I figure it’s time you learned a lesson.” He turned and sauntered toward the door, chuckling.

Fear washed over her like the time she’d jumped into the river and hadn’t known which way was up. She hated being trapped in small places. Hated pleading with
him
. “Butch. Please. I promise not to do it again.”

He stopped but didn’t turn. “No, I’m tired of you and your friends going after me. All I wanted was to be your friend, but you and those boys have caused me trouble since the day I moved here. If I catch them, they’ll be joining you in the next cell.”

He walked out the door without looking back. Max trotted over to the front of the cell and laid his head on his paw.

“Butch!” she screamed. “Come back here, you hear me?”

She rattled the cell door, tears blurring her eyes. “I hate you. I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!”

One look at Shannon’s face, and Mark knew coming to Denison had been a mistake.

“What are you doing here?” Her cute brows dipped down, and her lips pursed into an enticing pout.

Had he mistaken the interest he’d seen in her gaze? He raised his chin. Maybe coming here had been the wrong thing to do, but he’d never let her know. “I had an urge to go riding and needed a few things, and I just ended up in Denison. You never mentioned you were coming here.”

“So, you’re headed back soon?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. I haven’t yet concluded my business.” And he might never finish it if she didn’t thaw out a bit. She had no idea how hard it had been for him to seek her out. Half a dozen times he’d turned his horse around and started back to Lookout, only to turn around again. At least here, he could talk to her without the whole town listening in and making it tomorrow’s headline. “So…you’ve been shopping, I see.”

Shannon nodded and glanced over to where Leah and Dan were sitting on a sofa, holding hands and chatting. “Leah bought some fabric for her wedding dress.”

Mark followed her gaze, still finding it hard to believe Dan Howard had asked a woman to marry him. As far as he could remember, Dan had never shown interest in a female. Maybe now that his mother had died, he realized he needed someone to tend the house, but no, as he watched his friend talk to Miss Bennett, he knew there was more to it. Dan had fallen in love.

Mark pulled his gaze to Shannon’s, and their eyes locked gazes. He stared at her, unable to tell her the depth of his feelings. He wasn’t even sure what they were himself, but one thing he knew: He’d never had such a strong desire to spend time with a woman before. Not even with Annabelle.

“I don’t suppose that you’d allow me to escort you to dinner since we’re both in town.”

Surprise brightened her eyes before she narrowed them. “I thought you had to get back to Lookout. I’d hate to see you riding that far after dark.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Her lips pursed again. “Not you. I’m concerned about your horse.”

His heart lifted. “You’re not a very good liar, Miss O’Neil.”

She hiked her chin and glared up at him. “If anything happened to you, I’d be working solely for your brother.” She shuddered as if the idea repulsed her.

Mark laughed aloud, drawing Dan and Leah’s gaze. “We can’t have that, can we?”

Shannon kept a straight face for a moment, then cracked a smile. “I do believe I’d have to resign.”

He placed his hand on chest, acting as if the thought brought pain to it, and in fact, it did. Thinking of not seeing her each morning, not watching her nibble on her fingernails, brought an ache to his heart. When had he started looking forward to seeing her?

And what was he going to do about it?

Dan stood and helped Leah up, then both walked toward him. Dan slapped him on the shoulder. “What are you doing in Denison?”

“Had some things to purchase and needed to exercise my horse. He’s getting fat and lazy since I hardly have time to ride him anymore.”

“You could always let me keep him at the livery. I could feed him and rent him out in exchange.”

Mark shook his head. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. I may not ride him as much as I should, but I don’t like the idea of a stranger maybe mistreating him.”

“I hear ya. I do my best to make sure no greenhorns ride my horses, but even a seasoned rider can mistreat animals. Makes me so angry I’d like to punch them.”

Leah grasped Dan’s arm. “Let’s not have any of that kind of talk, all right?”

“You’re not even married yet, and the little lady is already bossing you around.” Mark grinned.

Dan chuckled. “It’s not so bad. You oughta try it yourself.”