Fireblossom by Cynthia Wright Read Free Book Online

believe we've been formally introduced, sir. My name is Susan Hampshire O'Hara."
    He took her wrinkled hand and smiled. "It's an honor, Mrs. O'Hara. I'm Fox. I rarely bother with a surname out here. It's simpler."
    "Is it?" She fixed him with a perceptive stare. "That's interesting."
    He quickly changed the subject. "Miss Avery mentioned that you all had just arrived from Philadelphia. You wouldn't by any chance be related to Senator Lion Hampshire from Philadelphia?"
    Now Susan wasreally intrigued. It was highly unlikely that many Deadwood reprobates running from unsavory pasts would be familiar with a Pennsylvania senator whose career had reached its zenith half a century ago. "I'm proud to say that Lion Hampshire was my father and the finest man I ever knew—except, of course, for my darling husband, Patrick. How do you happen to know of Papa?"
    Fox silently cursed his quick tongue. "Now that you mention it, I'm not sure. Must've learned about him in school—or maybe from my mother. She was a schoolteacher and made me read even when I didn't want to. I know I always liked that name, Lion."
    "Just as you like the name Fox?" she inquired, with a benign smile. "Never mind. I'm teasing you, and I shouldn't. Instead, I must offer you an apology for the behavior of my grandchildren. I heard Madeleine raising her voice to you outside, which shocked me. Usually she is most ladylike. And Benjamin—goodness, he was absolutely horrid! His mother died recently, which has doubtless taken more of a toll on him than he'll admit. She was my daughter, also, so we've all been grieving. We came West to join the children's father, but Stephen is not available to give Benjamin the discipline that he needs."
    Fox found himself charmed by Susan O'Hara's candor. "Well, I appreciate the apology, but it's not necessary. The truth is, I like Miss Avery. If she sounded upset with me, it may be that I was doing a little teasing of my own." He started toward the front door, and Susan walked with him, listening intently. "As for your grandson... I agree with you. He's badly in need of a firm hand, preferably male. It's clear that he respects you, Mrs. O'Hara, but he knows that you aren't going to ride up behind him on a horse, grab him off the street, and carry him home to be punished."
    "You may as well tell me everything," she said in tones of surrender as they stood on the pine-board footpath outside. "I doubt whether I'll faint, but perhaps you ought to be prepared."
    He laughed out loud at that. Then, more quietly, he told her as much as she needed to know, omitting the lurid details about the convenience booth. It was enough, he decided, that she be aware that Benjamin was sneaking around the badlands rather than playing innocently with other little boys. She knew enough of the world to infer the rest.
    "Well, that's hardly worth fainting over, but Maddie does endeavor to take after her mother." Susan tapped her foot for a minute, thinking. "Something will have to be done, though.... Fox, how would you like to join us for supper evening after next? I like you, and I think that it would be beneficial for Benjamin. Perhaps the two of you may be able to deal together more congenially over a home-cooked meal." She paused, watching the play of thoughts in his blue eyes. "That is... unless you are just passing through Deadwood. There's no point in forming attachments if you're not going to be here next week."
    He gave her an appealing grin. "No, ma'am, I plan to stay put for the time being. And I'd like to come back here for supper. I thank you for the invitation." He swung onto Watson's back and added, "Are you certain you shouldn't consult with your other relatives about this? I doubt whether either of them will be happy to see me."
    "Pooh!" Susan waved a hand in the air dismissingly. "Come at six o'clock and leave the rest to me!"
    * * *
    By the time Fox got back to the badlands and left Watson at the livery barn, a lot of the pleasure seemed to