“Mornin’, Thomas,” he said, walking past a display of frilly yard goods. The scent of coffee on the simmer hit him like a welcome home.
And home he was. After a lifetime of living here and there, often without a roof to keep out the night, he’d purchased a ranch and settled down in the sweet town of Forget-Me-Not.
“Say, Jesse! Bingham’s nearly busting with excitement. I’m mighty grateful you hired him to come along with you to pick up your horses.”
“No thanks needed. He’ll be earning every bit of his pay.”
“Grateful for that, too. The boy was headed for trouble, taking up with the Underwoods like he was. Good honest work will give him something to be proud of.”
Jesse understood that. He’d earned a lot of money as a bounty hunter but the profession had darkened his soul. Ranching was something to feel honorable about...to let him lay his head on his pillow at night and sleep without regret.
“I’ll take good care of your boy, don’t you worry, Thomas.”
“I won’t. Or not overly. I’d rather see him bucked off a stallion than spend an hour with Hoodoo and his brothers. Those young men grow wilder by the day.”
For the large part, Forget-Me-Not was a peaceful place to lay down roots, but every town had its problems. Most folks waited anxiously for the day that the Underwood boys left home and went looking for adventure that couldn’t be found in this tranquil place.
In Jesse’s opinion and with what hard experience had shown him, those five hoodlums’ quest for adventure would land them in prison or dead.
Something, cans he guessed, clattered to the floor in the storeroom. A series of clanking sounds indicated that they were being set to rights. Heavy boot thumps crossed the floor. Something else rattled but didn’t fall.
The curtain separating the rooms fanned out and Bingham Teal burst into the room, his saddle pack slung over his shoulder.
“I’m ready to go, Mr. Creed.” A grin as wide as sunrise split the kid’s face. He rushed out the front door of the store, his hat nearly brushing the frame, hurrying away without a goodbye. His father raised his arm as if to call him back but then let it fall to his side.
All at once, Bingham charged back into the store, took his father’s hand and pumped it up and down. “See you in two weeks, Pa!” He stepped toward the door again but spun about and wrapped his father in a great hug.
Once again, Bingham hurried out of the store.
“Mind your manners!” Thomas called after his great, lurching offspring. “If you catch a whiff of jasmine along the trail, Jesse, it’ll be his mother watching over him. I reckon she’s bursting her heavenly buttons over what a fine boy he grew into.”
“I’ll bring him home safe, two weeks...three at most.”
Thomas lifted a blanket from behind the counter. “Never know when the night might turn bitter cold.”
Jesse took the heavy wool cover, tipped his Stetson in farewell, then followed the boy outside.
While this was a great adventure for Bingham, it was more so for Jesse. He’d moved onto his ranch only a month ago. There had been enough time to make repairs to the barn and paddock, but being anxious to pick up his herd of horses, he’d neglected fixing up the house.
No matter. It was something he could do over time. He’d lived in worse conditions than a slightly run-down home.
Today he was bound for Cartersville to get his breeding stock. Bringing them home would fulfill the dream of a lifetime.
No, not fulfill, but begin.
* * *
It felt like the sun came out from behind a big black cloud, seeing Johnny walk out of the hotel. What a silly duck she had been to worry.
And truly, this was not the first time she’d been a little restive over his loyalty to her. But on those few occasions, he had handily put her anxiety at ease. From all the way across the street, she felt how much he loved her...saw how he was committed to her by the joyful turn of his smile.
Within an hour, she would be Mrs. Johnny Ruiz. She would be free to show him how much she loved him...in all the ways a woman could show her man.
She hugged him, squeezed her eyes shut tight.
“I thought the night would never pass,” she whispered against his collar.
He must have dabbed on cologne. His neck smelled like a bouquet. What a sweet gesture for their wedding day. He didn’t normally wear cologne.
“I didn’t sleep all night, baby doll.”
Opening her eyes, she spotted a couple of fellows coming out of the hotel. One of them shot her and Johnny an odd glance. Could he really be smirking at them?
No doubt he was jealous over the affection they felt for one another. Clearly the fellow had never been in love and didn’t understand the way it was between nearly married folks.
Uncomfortable under the scrutiny, Laura Lee pushed away from her intended but did not let go of him.
“I love you so much, Johnny!”
He lifted a dark brow. The corner of his mouth ticked up. “I am a dashing fellow. All the ladies say so.”
She gently swatted his arm with the Ladies’ Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper. “And such a tease.”
“I love you, too, Laura Lee.” He kissed her on the mouth, right there in the middle of the street for all to see.
Well, in a few more minutes it would no longer be improper.
“Say—” he leaned in, his whisper tickling the hair near her ear “—let’s go up to your room... We can get a head start on being married.”
“We’ve already kept the minister waiting.”
“Won’t take long, I promise. Then we can come back here and have the whole day and night just the two of us, fine and married.”
“We see the minister first, then we spend the whole day and night just the two of us.”
“Ah, come on, Laura Lee, I’m really aching for you. It’s been two weeks since I came for you in Tanners Ridge and we’ve hardly had a private hour.”
That wasn’t quite true. They had spent several nights under the stars when they traveled between towns. In town, she had naturally wanted her own hotel room.
But what an impetuous fellow he was. His impatience only showed how much he loved her. Ever since they had run off to get married, he’d wanted to take liberties.
Truth to tell, she wouldn’t mind giving him what he wanted, but right was right and wrong was wrong. She would not begin their future on the wrong side of the bed.
“Don’t you love me?” His dark brow lifted. He kissed her again.
“With all my heart. You know that.”
Close by, a window slammed. She heard the young men who came out of the hotel laugh heartily.
“Come on, Hell Dog! Finish kissing your girl goodbye and let’s get outta here.”
Johnny dropped his arms from about her. “Shut your trap, Hoodoo. I’ll be along when I’m ready.”
Laura Lee turned to give the men on the porch a closer look. She could not imagine why Johnny would have even answered the fellow who had spoken.
“Who are they?” She stepped closer to Johnny because the men looked disreputable. Like they had been carousing all night, with their clothes rumpled and their hair in disarray.
They