Coming From California (The Pioneer Brides 0f Rattlesnake Ridge Book 2) Read online

  The children agreed he was correct. Jack put Ishmael down long enough to bid goodnight to Daisy.

  Barb kissed her cheeks, then glanced at Luke. “We’ll be walking at the children’s pace, but you’d better have caught up with us by the time we reach the crossroads,” she said before following Jack and the twins out, leaving the door open behind her.

  A couple of minutes alone with Daisy was a gift beyond price. Luke lost no time putting his hands on her waist and drawing her close.

  She came willingly, turning her face up for his kiss while her long lashes drifted down to lay in a silky fan against her soft cheeks.

  He said her name, soft and low. She sighed in response, her lips parting at the first slight brush of his mouth against hers.

  Every time I kiss her, it gets sweeter, Luke marveled. Still, he retained enough presence of mind to break away from the kiss before it got too involved. He kissed Daisy’s cheeks and brow instead, whispering fond nonsense until she sighed again and opened her eyes.

  “Go,” she murmured.

  He followed the order, placing one last kiss on her rosy mouth before heading out the door. Still, he paused outside to wait until she’d closed and securely bolted the door behind him before setting off at a fast walk to catch up with the others.

  Chapter 20

  Barb shot him a sidelong glance as he caught up with them just crossing the street to the boarding house and grinned at the dazed, besotted expression he had no doubt he was wearing. “You’ve got it bad, Luke Rockford,” she said in her teasing way. “Never thought I’d see the day when a slip of a girl had you all twisted up in knots.”

  “Guess I was just waiting for the right girl,” Luke admitted.

  A little to his surprise, Barb threaded her arm through his and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  “What was that for?”

  “I’m happy for you. You’re a good man, Luke. Daisy’s lucky to have you.”

  “I think I’m the lucky one.”

  “You just keep right on thinking that.” Barb laughed softly as they reached the boarding house, letting go of his arm and moving forward to take the twins from Jack. “Good night, Jack.”

  In response, he gave her a respectful kiss on the cheek, following it with one for Isabelle and a hug for Ishmael. The two men waited until Barb had locked the stairwell door behind her before looking at each other.

  “You going to spend all night wandering the streets again?” Jack asked dryly. Jack was eminently practical. While he’d been enraged to hear about Daisy’s late-night prowler and considered going around to Grant Watson’s house to get a few licks in, now that Blake was in custody and Watson warned off, he thought Luke was wasting his time. He’d told Luke as much on their way to Daisy’s.

  “Just for a couple of hours,” Luke decided. “I need some sleep too, or I’ll be falling asleep on my horse on the ride to the lake tomorrow!”

  Jack just shook his head with a mutter about heartsick fools.

  Luke grinned, turning away from his friend and heading back toward the schoolhouse. It wasn’t long before he fell into step beside Deputy Lassiter, returning the other man’s silent nod of greeting.

  “Anyone around?” Luke asked after a few minutes. The only sound was that of their booted feet striking the wooden sidewalk.

  Lassiter grunted. “A few miners up at the Miner’s Rest. Little the worse for the whiskey. But it’s Friday night. They got paid today. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  It was likely the miners would be too drunk to walk this far anyway, Luke judged; the other saloon was a good half-mile from the schoolhouse and Daisy’s cabin. He didn’t honestly think there was any further danger to Daisy, but he also knew sleep would be a long time coming if he just lay in bed and thought about it. He might as well be out here feeling like he was doing something useful.

  “Got to go back over there shortly, make sure none of them get too rowdy. Wouldn’t mind your company,” Lassiter suggested.

  Luke nodded. It was the least he could do, Taking the badge Jim McCullough had given him from his pocket, he pinned it on his coat. “It’s temporary,” he told Lassiter when the other man gave him an inquiring look.

  “Shame,” Lassiter said laconically. “Sheriff mentioned he’d given it to you, said he hoped to convince you to stay on.”

  Luke hesitated. He didn’t want to take advantage of a position he wasn’t planning on taking. But he needed to know, for Daisy’s safety if nothing else. “What’s going to happen to Blake?”

  “We found a couple reports from California as well as Nevada. It’s bigger than we ever thought it’d be. He’s being turned over to the feds.”

  They’d be well rid of Blake, and Luke couldn’t care about what happened to the man. “Any idea why?”

  “Just straight up greed as far as we can tell. Got the people he duped to tell him where the strike was, and then dashed their dreams with a false assay. After they released their claim, he’d swoop in and snatch it up. They’re gonna be sorting this mess out for years.”

  “What a waste,” Luke said, making a note to tell Daisy. She’d be relieved to know Blake couldn’t come after her again.

  “It’s just too bad we couldn’t get Garrett, but he’s wily. No proof he’s involved.” Lassiter shook his head. “Watson ain’t handling it well. You should come back, rejoin the department. We could use another good man.”

  “I was thinking of suggesting Jack Hollis.” Luke had been thinking about it since his talk with Daisy earlier. He figured he might as well run it by Lassiter—see what the experienced deputy thought. “He ain’t worked for a sheriff’s office before, but he was a fine sergeant under me in the army.”

  “Good man, Hollis,” Lassiter said in apparent approval. “Good strong back, too. He carried Bartholomew Jenkins home one night when I found the old drunk fast asleep in the churchyard. Word is he’s gonna marry Barb Jones, that right?”

  “That’s right. They’re talking about getting married in a month or so, or that’s the plan once they talk to the Reverend and his wife. Should be time enough for Barb to sew herself a pretty new dress as well as one for Isabelle to be bridesmaid for her.”

  “Good for him. I’ve tossed a few too many drunks in the lockup for the night for disrespecting Mrs. Jones at the saloon. She plays and sings mighty fine, but it ain’t no job for a respectable woman like that. Glad to hear Hollis is steppin’ up.”

  Luke agreed heartily. He’d never felt comfortable with Barb playing and singing at the saloon, but she’d flatly refused his offer of financial help. Not that he’d had a great deal when he’d made the offer, but he’d still tried. His childhood friend was a proud woman, but not so proud that she wouldn’t do whatever she had to for the sake of her children. She’d never told him about anyone harassing her, which was probably for the best, or he’d likely have spent time in the lockup nursing a pair of busted knuckles.

  “I’d be glad to work with Jack Hollis,” Lassiter summed up. “And since Barb Jones and Josie McCullough are friends already, I’d say the job’s as good as his if he wants it.”

  That was an angle which hadn’t occurred to Luke, but then again, he’d only met the sheriff’s wife a couple of times. She’d been the cook at Miz May’s before up and marrying McCullough, so it stood to reason she and Barb had become friends. Perhaps he’d mention to Barb that he’d heard there might be a new deputy’s job opening and that it came with its own accommodations. Jack would be wearing the silver star on his coat in no time at all, and Luke could follow his new dream of a house on the hill with his feisty schoolmarm to share it with.

  * * *

  Daisy wasn’t entirely sure what sort of transportation Luke and Jack had arranged for the outing to the lake, so she was pleasantly surprised when an elegant little open buggy drove up in front of the schoolhouse the following day, pulled by a handsome gray gelding. Barb held the reins in a competent way with Ishmael and Isabelle seated behind her waving madly.

&n
bsp; “I didn’t know you could drive,” Daisy remarked.

  “Essential skill for any woman living out here in ranching country.” Barb grinned down at her. “I’ll teach you, if you like.”

  Luke came to her side, leading his big buckskin gelding. “Let me help you up, Miss Daisy.” He offered his hand gallantly, and she accepted it to help her up to the front seat. He passed the picnic basket she’d packed up to her, so she could stow it under the seat.

  “What a lovely buggy,” Daisy remarked as they set off down the street, the gray gelding demonstrating a smooth trot.

  “I think the stable mostly rents it out for weddings.” Barb smiled across at her. “I told Jack he should hire it for ours, at any rate.”

  “And when’s the happy event to be?” Daisy nudged her friend.

  “A month.” Though Barb’s tone was placid, her expression was anything but, joy lighting her whole face. “We went to see the preacher and his wife, and he’s happy to marry us whenever we like. But I want to make myself and Isabelle some new dresses, and Jack’s gonna find us a house to live in in town, too.”

  “You’re not going to wait until he builds your new house?”

  “Not hardly! Ridiculous idea,” Barb grumbled. “You find something worth having, don’t see no sense in waiting for it, and he earns plenty enough wages to pay rent on a house while he builds.”

  “Mommy, can I ride with Jack?” Ishmael called up to her. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Isabelle demanded to ride with Luke. Laughing, Barb called the two men up alongside the buggy and slowed to a walk so they could pluck the twins up onto the fronts of their saddles.

  The lake gleamed blue in the fall sunshine ahead of them. Perfect for an outing. Daisy could hardly wait. She wanted to take off her shoes and stockings, wade in the clear water, and forget her cares. A whole day spent with Luke and her friends was a blessing she intended to enjoy to the fullest.

  “So, when are you and Luke gonna tie the knot, then?” Barb asked loudly, grinning as Luke turned in his saddle to throw her a dirty look.

  Daisy smiled. “Well, he’s got this bee in his bonnet about building us a house first, but I don’t think there’s any call to wait so long.”

  “Will you give up teaching?” Barb asked. This time there was less teasing in her voice.

  “Well, it’ll be up to the town council,” Daisy answered. “I’d like to keep on until our house is built and there’s a replacement teacher found, at the least, and even after that I think I’d like to help out.”

  “That’s good. I know Isabelle and Ishmael would be devastated if you up and quit straight away, not to mention your other pupils.”

  “I came too far to quit until I’ve done what I came to do, and that’s to get Rattlesnake Ridge’s school established,” Daisy said firmly.

  “So maybe in about a month would suit you, too?” Barb threw the suggestion out there without any warning.

  “What?”

  Barb ducked her head, looking a little embarrassed for the first time since Daisy had known her. “I just, I had this thought, that maybe we could—maybe we could make it a double wedding?”

  Startled, Daisy didn’t say anything for a few moments.

  “I know you and Luke haven’t known each other all that long,” Barb hurried on, “but the two of you are… the way you look at each other is heart-warming. It really is.”

  Daisy smiled at that. “He’s a fine man, and I’m lucky he chose me.”

  “Pretty sure you have that backwards, sweetheart,” Luke called back, obviously shamelessly listening in on their conversation. “I’m the lucky one—and I’d be delighted to marry you tomorrow if the preacher would allow it!”

  “He probably would if he thought Miss Daisy’s reputation was at stake,” Jack remarked dryly.

  “Don’t give him ideas!” Daisy shot Jack a glare, and the big cowboy doubled over laughing.

  “I already promised your reputation was safe with me.” Luke turned in his saddle, grinning. “Don’t you trust me, sweetheart?”

  She did, of course, even with that wicked grin on his face and laughter in his blue eyes. Unable to help smiling back at him, she lost herself for a moment just gazing at her handsome cowboy, daydreaming about their future life together in their house on the hill.

  Soon after they were settled in a picturesque spot beside the lake, the horses grazing peaceably close by. Jack pulled fishing poles from the buggy and grinned at the children, who squealed with delight.

  “Go on down to the water.” Barb waved at Daisy to go with Luke as he held his hand out to her. “I’ll get the picnic ready.”

  “Is the water cold?” Daisy asked as Luke helped her over some boulders. “I want to dip my toes in.”

  “It’s not too bad at this time of year,” Luke told her. “Spring’s the worst with all the snowmelt. Brr.” He mimed a shudder.

  “Well, I’m determined to try it out.” Daisy took a seat on a boulder to take her shoes and stockings off, giving Luke a raised eyebrow. He grinned back at her, unabashed, before turning his back to give her privacy.

  “Would you consider marrying me in a month?” Luke asked, his tone soft and wistful.

  Daisy paused in the middle of rolling down her stocking. With a little smile, she finished her task and tucked the stockings into her shoes before replying. “I’d marry you tomorrow,” she whispered in his ear. “Thought you said Reverend Brown might not allow it?”

  “Ain’t no law against it, of course. But the good reverend says he won’t marry any couple unless he’s sure they’re both willing. He’ll have his wife take you aside for a private talk, and if you can’t satisfy Mrs. Adeline Brown, well, we’ll probably have to take a trip to Reno to get married.” His blue eyes crinkled up at the corners.

  “I met Mrs. Brown. She seemed lovely, if not a bit formidable. Is she really that influential?” Daisy asked curiously as Luke took her hand and led her closer to the water lapping at the shore.

  “She is. The reverend won’t do nothing without her say-so. Rumor has it she once punched a bear. And you know what? I wouldn’t put it past her.”

  Daisy stared at him disbelievingly. He looked back at her, for once without a hint of teasing in his expression. “You’re joking. Right?”

  “I know I’ve got a sense of humor, sweetheart, which has been known to get me in trouble a time or two, but believe me when I say Mrs. Adeline Brown isn’t someone I’d make jokes about.”

  The water touched Daisy’s toes just then, and she squealed, startled by the coldness of it. She took a step back, her feet uncertain on the rocky shore.

  Luke’s arm wrapped around her, strong and steadying. “You, on the other hand,” he chuckled against her ear, “I’ll tease until the end of our days. Is the water a bit chilly for my California girl?”

  “Just a bit.” Her voice was breathy.

  Luke’s head dipped toward her and—

  “I caught a fish!”

  The moment was lost.

  Isabelle’s jubilant shriek brought them back to their senses. They stepped apart and turned, smiling at the little girl. The fish was maybe as long as Daisy’s thumb, but they both applauded anyway, making Isabelle beam and Ishmael redouble his efforts.

  “Maybe I should go check on the horses.” Luke let go, leaving Daisy suddenly feeling cold and alone, and walked back up the bank without another word.

  Daisy sighed. An appointment with the Reverend and Mrs. Brown seemed to be in order, sooner rather than later!

  Chapter 21

  By the time the children were lured away from the water by the promise of food, Isabelle had caught two more fish and Ishmael just one. As Ishmael pointed out, however, his one was easily twice the size of any of Isabelle’s.

  Daisy admired all of the fish impartially and graciously accepted Ishmael’s magnanimous offer of his fish to cook for her supper. At least once Luke quietly assured her it was perfectly safe to eat.

  “Good pan fried. I�
�ll clean it for you, if you like.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” she admitted. “I like to eat fish, but not the messy part of cleaning and preparing them.”

  He laughed. “Understood.” Wrapping the fish in a clean piece of oilcloth, he put it away at the bottom of the picnic basket while they sat down to eat.

  Daisy found herself leaning against Luke’s shoulder as Barb handed around crusty bread rolls stuffed with roast beef, cheese, and pickles, roasted chicken legs, crisp apples, and to finish, slices of a deliciously moist ginger cake—each better than the last, evidence of Matthew’s excellent cooking. Stuffed to the brim, Daisy shook her head when offered a second slice of cake, but Luke accepted eagerly.

  “Best meal I’ve had in a long while. At least since dinner Wednesday,” he sighed, wiping his mouth with his kerchief and lying down, settling his head in Daisy’s lap.

  She was unable to resist putting her hand on his head and running her fingers through his dark curls, which were surprisingly silky to the touch. It was a lazy, yet oddly intimate, moment.

  Barb gathered the children up with a quiet word and took Jack’s hand in hers, walking her little family away toward the lake. Daisy watched them go, content to be alone with Luke.

  “There’s probably enough on that fish for two, if I cook some beans and potatoes to go with it,” she murmured, still combing her fingers through Luke’s curls.

  “A fish supper sounds good,” Luke said, “but I thought we agreed being alone together wasn’t the best idea?”

  “Well, I was thinking we could maybe go and pay Reverend Brown and Mrs. Brown a visit after we eat,” Daisy said shyly. “See if he’d be willing to marry us at the same time as Jack and Barb.”