The Outlaw's Kiss (an Old West Romance) (Wild West Brides) by Anya Karin Read Free Book Online Page B

heart of town.

Five
    September 15, 1878
    Deadwood Hills, Dakota Territory
    ––––––––
    “F ather,” Pursing my lips, I managed to only laugh
a little bit as I beheld my beloved father, the fabulously wealthy Jefferson
James, in his working clothes. “I don’t know what to say.”
    I’d gone to bed the previous night before he
returned, and awakened after he’d already put coffee on the stove. Mr. Star
showed him how, he told me.
    “You like it? Haven’t ever seen ol’ Pa in anything
like this before, have you, Clara? It’s a far cry from my suits and cravats,
no?” He pushed his chest out with his hands on his hips. Hips that were covered
with hip waders – boots that seemed to turn into trousers. Huge suspenders to
hold them up rounded out a truly remarkable fashion which also included a
plaid-patterned shirt, and one of those absurd wide-brimmed hats that seemed to
be perpetually dirty for no good reason.
    “It is certainly a new look. And I don’t believe
you’ve ever referred to yourself as ‘ol Pa’ before either.” I patted him on the
shoulder. “I suppose Mr. Star had good news for you about the claim?”
    Brushing his mustache, my father was hardly able
to hide his excitement. “Oh did he ever! He thinks this might be a tremendously
rich claim. The only problem is that the gold has to be found first. But that’s
no problem. He showed me all manner of things about how to sift through river
water to find flecks, and then follow them to the source. It’s a fascinating
business, this.”
    I was glad to see him so happy of course, but I’m
naturally suspicious, a trait which some of my conversing with Mr. Bullock had
peaked.
    “Mr. Bullock, he said a few things that-”
    “Yes, I’m sure he’s a very nice man with a lot of
important things to share, but right now we need to get ready. It’ll take a
number of days to pan out the source of the gold, as Mr. Star said, and then
when we figure that out, we’ll be able to hire a few hands to work the claim
until a vein is found. Well, I’m getting quite ahead of myself.” He finally
stopped for a breath.
    I shook my head. “I can’t believe this is all
happening so quickly, Father. It’s just that the things Mr. Bullock warned me
about rang true with what Eli, I mean, Mr. Masterson said.”
    “Eli, is it? He can’t be gone much longer. Didn’t
he say he’d be back in around a week’s time?”
    “Yes, I think so,” I said. “But what does that
have to do with anything?”
    “Even speaking about him flusters my daughter.
That cowboy’s got his hooks in you deep.” Father grinned and stuck his elbow in
my ribs like he had since I was a little girl. “Anyway, we’ve got things to do.”
He handed me a bundle of clothing. “Here, you’ll want to wear this instead of
your fineries.”
    I smoothed my paisley skirt. “Wait, did you say ‘ we ’?”
My voice was probably a little more shocked than I mean to sound.
    “I want to show you the thing that’s going to make
us rich, Clara. I mean really rich. Not rich like a banker can be, or a
small-time businessman. Rich like George Hearst. Rich like –”
    Patting him on the arm again, I cut father off.
“Weren’t you saying something about getting ahead of yourself?” He smiled. “I
don’t know what good you expect me to be at a gold claim. I hardly have the
first idea what I’m doing.”
    “Well then you’re better off than I was yesterday,”
father laughed softly. “Come on, put this stuff on. If nothing else I want to
take you out to the claim and show you what it looks like. Even if there’s no
gold out there, it’s the most beautiful damn country I’ve ever seen. Oh good
Lord, listen to my mouth. One day around these miners and cowboys and I’m
mouthing off like one of them. Pardon me.”
    I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s fine. I have to
wear all of this?” He handed me a full outfit – underskirts, bonnet, apron and
all.
    “Mhm. There’s a few