The child, slithering about like a baby bull snake, slipped right out of his grasp. Colt set the gun on the ground and took a step closer, to where he could grab both boys. Catching one by the shirt collar, and the other by the waistband of his britches, he pulled the two apart. “Come on, fellas, break it up,” he said, lifting them until their bare toes dangled above the ground.
The cloud of dust slowly settled, exposing two dirt-smeared and freckled faces. He recognized one as Mort Tyler, the blacksmith’s, son, but the other one he didn’t know. Lowering their feet to the ground, but still holding on to them, he asked, “What’s all the ruckus about?”
“I saw it first—” Mort’s son started.
“But I’s the one who got it!” the other interrupted.
“Saw what? Got what?” Colt asked, shifting a steady gaze between the two of them.
The unknown child opened a grubby hand. Lying in the dirt was the faint image of a penny.
Colt let out a low whistle, as if enamored with the money. “Quite the find,” he said, letting his grip on both boys relax. He knelt down to more closely examine the palm. “A treasure indeed.”
“It’s just a penny,” Mort’s son offered, trying to sound indifferent.
Colt hid a smile. “No, that’s not just any penny.” He shook his head. “Nope, that there’s the exact kind I’ve been looking for.”
Their little faces scrunched with frowns. “It is?” the penny holder asked.
“What you needin’ a penny for?” Mort’s son asked.
“Well, you see, Miss Sapp and I were married this morning—”
“We know,” Mort’s son interrupted. “My ma said it was about time someone married her, afore Rev—”
“And,” Colt interjected before the child could continue, “a penny just like that is what I’ve been looking for to give her as a wedding gift.”
It appeared Mort’s son was as gruff as his father. “A penny ain’t much of a gift,” he scoffed.
“But this isn’t just a penny,” Colt said, picking the coin out of the other boy’s hand. “This here is a found penny. That means it’s full of luck.”
“It is?” the other boy asked, eyes agog.
“Yup,” Colt said, and dug his other hand into his pocket. “How about I make a trade with you boys?”
“What sort of trade?” Mort’s kid wanted to know, somewhat skeptic.
Colt held out two dimes. “I’ll trade this here penny for two dimes. One for each of you.”
Their faces lit up like the flame of a struck match head. “Two dimes for one penny?” the original penny holder asked.
“That’s a lot of money for a penny.” Mort’s son stated, folding his arms. “What ain’t you telling us?”
A tiny giggle sounded behind him, but Colt kept his gambling face on. “Every bride needs a penny for her shoe. It’ll bring good luck to her marriage.”
“I ain’t never heard that before.”
“Oh, it’s very true, Martin,” Annalee assured from her stance on the boardwalk.
“You wantin’ this penny, Miss Sapp?” Martin Tyler asked.
“I surely do,” she answered, sounding so sweet and sincere Colt had to lift his gaze, make sure it was Annalee speaking. The charming smile on her face was enough to make his heart leap into his throat. He swallowed a cough, but couldn’t do anything about the heat running through his veins.
Martin Tyler was definitely his father’s son. The gaze he sent Colt was beady and stern. “Seein’ how the lady wants it so bad, twenty cents doesn’t seem like much.”
Colt bit his lip and dug into his pocket again. “All right then.” Looking at the coins he pulled out, he asked, “How about twenty cents each? Two dimes for each of you.”
“It’s a deal!” the other boy said, snatching two of the dimes faster than a chicken on a bug.
Martin scratched his head, but then reached out to seize the other two coins. “I still say that ain’t much of a present.”
Colt stood. “You boys drive a hard bargain.”
Martin nodded like a man very pleased with himself. “You best remember that, Ranger.”
“Martin,” Annalee said with that schoolmarm tone every female seems to master by about the age of six, “You and Samuel need to thank Mr. Severson.”
“Thank you, Mr. Severson,” the boy named Samuel said.
“Yeah, thanks,” Martin added.
“Now, you two run along home. And no more fighting in the street,” Annalee instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” they offered before scrambling up the road.
Colt turned, but the smile on his face faded as her cold stare settled on him. He’d hoped the interaction with the boys had quelled her ire, at least a touch. Evidently it hadn’t. What did he expect? Common sense dictated a man as rough as he would have to do a whole lot more than be kind to a couple of boys to get on her good side.
Dust from a departing wagon floated in the early evening air, but Annalee didn’t seem to notice and barreled right through it without regard to her skirt or shoes. Colt reached down, grabbed the gun and followed.
He caught up to her, and when they reached the opposite boardwalk he tugged her right as she started to turn left. “This way, my dear.”
“I’m not your dear either,” she insisted but didn’t resist. “Where are we going?”
“I rented a room for us at the Dodge House.”
She stopped, dug her heals in like a stubborn mule. “The Dodge House? What for?”
“Because it’s our wedding night. Have you forgotten?”
She glared at him. “Unfortunately, no.”
A smile played with his lips, and he bit them together to keep it from forming. Damn, if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman God had ever placed on this earth. Her delicate face was twisted with self-proclaimed loathing, but nonetheless, he saw a faint glimmer hiding in the back of those brown eyes. The prospect gave him hope, which sent a surge of desire through his veins. He shifted his feet. Just the sight of her made him feel like a bull on the wrong side of the fence. A feeling he should be used to after years of coveting her from afar.
“I have a perfectly good house on the other edge of town. We can spend the night there.” A contemplative grin lifted the sides of her petal-shaped lips. “It has two bedrooms.”
He let out a laugh and tugged her forward. There was no way in hell he’d spend the night at her house, not with the almighty reverend right across the street. “Did you get all of your things packed?” he asked, intentionally changing the subject. “We’ll leave for the ranch first thing in the morning.”
“I believe I’ll remain in town, thank you.” Head held high, she once again marched down the boardwalk beside him.
“I think not, my dear.” Stopping the protest he knew she was ready to emit, he added, “We’ll discuss that in private as well.”
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