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Christmas of Iron and Lace
A widow and a bride all in one afternoon...
Leaving the unrest at home in Buffalo to join Simeon in
Virginia seems exciting;
Arriving to find that a tornado has left her a widow is
quite another matter.
What can she do now? The only person she knows there is
his elder brother,
known as The Iron Judge, whom she despises.
Can she go home again? Absolutely not. But the
sun is setting,
and her only choice is to accept his offer of marriage.
If she refuses, what will become of her?
Noah is nothing like Simeon. A hard man, and full of
demands,
he seems to live up to his reputation.
And when a killer arrives in their midst and the target is
the child across the street,
Noah’s demands for her safety only increase.
Pippa Greathouse and Ruby Caine have brought you a book
filled with challenge, heartbreak,
and laughter that will warm your heart in…
Christmas of Iron and Lace
Rough and Noble
(Book 3 of Rough Edges)
Prologue...
Salem, Oregon Territory, Saturday, September 5, 1857…
Darthy Baldwin stepped outside the Ladies Dormitory in Salem, desperate. Salem had been her last hope. She knew Aunt Delie would help her financially if she needed it, but she’d come all the way from Charleston to Salem to get away from home. What she’d realized, however, was that her choices were limited; she had to either find work or find a husband.
Well, she wasn’t exactly eager for a husband. Work, however, was a necessity. She’d found one place of employment at Sophie’s new restaurant and hadn’t made it past the first day. The work Gwen had given her in the Ladies shop had turned out to be just as disastrous.
You’re hopeless, Dottie. Trouble follows you wherever you go.
She took a deep breath, pushing back tears. This wasn’t the work she wanted; not at all. But she’d do it if she could get a chance.
She lifted her chin, forced her lip to stop trembling, and moved toward the Friendly Tavern.
Up ahead, she saw a man approaching it, and blinked. Her heart pounded, hoping against hope he’d hire her to serve drinks, or whatever it was they did in a tavern. She really didn’t know what they would expect. He looked nice enough, with his thinning hair and his stout appearance.
Clutching her skirts in her fists, she approached.
“Sir?”
He’d been about to enter the tavern. Now, seeing her, he turned.
“Yes?”
“I…” she gulped. “I wish to speak to someone about working in the Friendly Tavern. Could you point me to the owner?”
He frowned. “It would be me you’d be needing to speak to, miss. I’m the barkeep here.”
“Oh.” She brightened. “Then—”
“Pardon, miss. But you don’t look like the type of young woman who’d be seeking work here. You look like a God-fearing lady. You’d best be getting along now, before the sheriff sees you speaking to me and assumes I’m out to corrupt you.”
“You don’t understand, sir. I’m desperate for work, and I know I could be of service—”
“That you could, missy, but what can you do?” It was obvious he didn’t believe her.
Frustrated, Dottie lifted her chin. “I sing. That might bring people into your business.”
“I won’t deny I could use some help, and you’re a pretty one. However,” he paused, eyeing her suspiciously, “Girls working here would have more duties than just singing, none of which would be proper for someone such as you.”
“I can handle multiple tasks at a time.”
He looked unconvinced. “They carry drinks to men.”
Dottie thought back about the pitcher of water she’d dropped into a customer’s lap a few days earlier.
“Often already drunken men,” he added.
“But I can do that. Let me show you.” She attempted a step around him, but he blocked her path.
“Look miss. I’ll be blunt with you, for you don’t seem to be getting my message. Girls who work here need a lot of skills. They sing. They dance. They carry drinks. They entertain my customers. And,” he said, as he eyed a bumblebee that had begun to circle them, “they wear frocks with quite a bit less material than you’re wearing.”
Darthy ignored the bee and rose on her tiptoes. He was a big man, and she tried to peek over his shoulder to see inside the tavern. “If you refuse to let me look, how will I know whether the gowns suit me?”
A stinging sensation was felt on her ankle, and she gasped. “Oh!” she picked up the hem of her gown and shrieked, whirling in circles. The bee stayed with her.
The barkeep swatted, trying to chase it away, but it was determined to stay. His hand came in contact with first her ankle, then her calf. With his other hand, he grasped the hem of her gown, lifting it.
“Stay still, girl. I can’t get him with you dancing about so much. The sheriff will be here any minute if you keep screaming.”
Darthy continued to whirl, trying to avoid the creature. Suddenly, she felt hands taking hold of her shoulders and moving her back out of the way.
A tall, handsome man moved between them suddenly, and yanked the hem of her dress from the barkeep’s hand, causing him to stagger backward. A second later, he punched him in the nose. The barkeep immediately dropped to the ground from the force of the blow, stunned, and put both hands to his face.
Then the stranger spotted the bumblebee. Plucking it from the air, he tossed it away. It flew off in circles, as if it was dizzy. Then, as if he realized what the barkeep had been attempting to do, he spoke.
“My apologies, sir. I truly thought—”
“You thought what?” Darthy whirled on him. “How dare you attack an innocent man who was only trying to help me!” She lifted a gloved hand, balled it up into a fist, and punched him straight in the eye.
From the ground, the barkeep gasped for air before trying to explain. “This isn’t as bad as it may seem, Lu—Lu—” He became speechless for a second, turning to Darthy. “Good Lord, woman. I knew you were trouble the moment I laid eyes on you. Have you any idea who you just punched?”
“I don’t know,” she responded, “and I don’t care.” Seeing the stranger offer a helping hand up to the barkeep, she stepped in between them and reached down to help him instead.
Just then, she spied the ripped hem of her dress, and turned on the stranger in indignation, letting go of the barkeep and sending him rolling back to the ground. Rounding on the tall man in front of her, she flashed golden brown eyes at him. “How dare you, sir! Not only have you cost me a chance of employment here, you’ve ripped my best frock. Explain yourself!”
The stranger looked surprised. “You were seeking employment here? In the tavern?” His brown eyes met hers. “I find that difficult to believe, Miss… I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
“My name is unimportant. Yours, Lu—Lu—” Mimicking what the barkeep had said, she shook her head. “It might as well be Lucifer for all the trouble you’ve caused me. You’d best clear out of Salem, sir. We have a minister who’s about to arrive, and he’ll likely have you tarred and feathered and run out of town for what you’ve done.”
Dottie was unprepared for the arched brow and the half-smile that landed on the stranger’s face. He was clearly amused.
“Indeed?”
She stamped a foot before trying to reach down again to help the barkeep regain his footing. But this time the stout, balding man raised both hands in front of him and scooted away from her, as if to keep his distance.
Dottie turned back to the stranger. “And anyway, who are you to pass judgement on my character? For all I know, you could be a bank robber. Or—or a…” she glanced down at the barkeep, “a drunkard.”
“Oh?” He crossed his arms, grinning. “A drunkard, hm? And how did you come to that conclusion?”
She lifted her chin. “You’re standing outside the tavern and the barkeep seems to know you.”
“Ah. I see. So am I to conclude you’re a drunkard too, young lady? You’re standing outside the tavern having a conversation with him.”
Speechless, Dottie turned away, her dark curls flying, and began marching back toward the dormitory. In the process, she lost her feathered hat and turned back to retrieve it. The stranger held it out to her, the grin still on his face.
Dottie snatched it from his hand with irritation and plopped it on her head, vaguely aware that it was backwards.
The stranger threw his head back and howled with laughter.
She stamped her foot, harder this time. “You, sir, are no gentleman,” she called out over her shoulder.
Lucifer or not, she hoped never to have to see him again.
* * *
Sunday morning…
“Dottie? Are you ready? The service will start any minute now. I expect the church will be full this morning since the new minister has arrived.”
“I’ll just be a moment, Aunt Delie.”
“All right. I’ll save you a seat. But don’t be long.”
“I won’t.”
Dottie tied the last of the ribbons into her hair and rushed to the bath to make use of the privy. The street was empty as she hurried across. Delie was just going inside.
The music had started as she made it inside the door and looked around for a place to sit.
There was none. But she caught sight of her aunt down in the front row, waving at her. Oh dear. She hated coming in late and having to go all the way to the first row in front of everyone. Humming in tune with the music, she scurried down the aisle and sat down next to her aunt in the only available seat. The music was finishing as she sat. She’d been later than she thought. Embarrassed, she kept her eyes on the floor in front of her.
The church suddenly became quiet. Dottie heard footsteps approaching, Still staring at the floor, she waited.
She heard a man clear his throat, and a deep but pleasant baritone voice.
“Good morning, beloved. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lucian Adams. My friends—and I consider all of you to be my friends—call me Luke. I’ve been assigned as your new minister. I’ll no longer be traveling the circuit, but I’ll be living here. I understand there are several weddings coming up soon, so I’ll invite you now. There will be more…”
He continued speaking. And Darthy still stared at the floor, a frown creasing her brow.
Lucian Adams… Her frown deepened. She remembered the voice of the barkeep suddenly saying “Lu—Lu—” and her own response.
Lu--your name might as well be Lucifer--
Slowly, slowly, her gaze rose in front of her to the man who was speaking.
Not only was he the same man, but he sported a large purple bruise around his swollen right eye.
Their eyes met, and she gasped.
“Oh dear God, oh dear God, oh dear God…” she whispered, sinking lower and lower into the pew, trying to make herself appear smaller.
“Please don’t tell me I’ve punched a minister in the face? Oh God, I know I’ll go to hell for this!”
Her whisper was louder than she intended. She realized it when she began hearing chuckles all around her. Delie couldn’t seem to help herself; she began giggling, and before long the entire congregation was, too.
Dottie was mortified. When she’d gotten as low as she could in the pew, her eyes very slowly rose to meet his once again.
He was watching her from the pulpit, and his expression was not full of condemnation, but instead, mirth.
“Quite all right, young lady,” he said directly to her. “You have the privilege of being the first young woman to ever punch me in the face…” He grinned.
“And get away with it.”
Salem, Oregon Territory, Saturday, September 5, 1857…
Darthy Baldwin stepped outside the Ladies Dormitory in Salem, desperate. Salem had been her last hope. She knew Aunt Delie would help her financially if she needed it, but she’d come all the way from Charleston to Salem to get away from home. What she’d realized, however, was that her choices were limited; she had to either find work or find a husband.
Well, she wasn’t exactly eager for a husband. Work, however, was a necessity. She’d found one place of employment at Sophie’s new restaurant and hadn’t made it past the first day. The work Gwen had given her in the Ladies shop had turned out to be just as disastrous.
You’re hopeless, Dottie. Trouble follows you wherever you go.
She took a deep breath, pushing back tears. This wasn’t the work she wanted; not at all. But she’d do it if she could get a chance.
She lifted her chin, forced her lip to stop trembling, and moved toward the Friendly Tavern.
Up ahead, she saw a man approaching it, and blinked. Her heart pounded, hoping against hope he’d hire her to serve drinks, or whatever it was they did in a tavern. She really didn’t know what they would expect. He looked nice enough, with his thinning hair and his stout appearance.
Clutching her skirts in her fists, she approached.
“Sir?”
He’d been about to enter the tavern. Now, seeing her, he turned.
“Yes?”
“I…” she gulped. “I wish to speak to someone about working in the Friendly Tavern. Could you point me to the owner?”
He frowned. “It would be me you’d be needing to speak to, miss. I’m the barkeep here.”
“Oh.” She brightened. “Then—”
“Pardon, miss. But you don’t look like the type of young woman who’d be seeking work here. You look like a God-fearing lady. You’d best be getting along now, before the sheriff sees you speaking to me and assumes I’m out to corrupt you.”
“You don’t understand, sir. I’m desperate for work, and I know I could be of service—”
“That you could, missy, but what can you do?” It was obvious he didn’t believe her.
Frustrated, Dottie lifted her chin. “I sing. That might bring people into your business.”
“I won’t deny I could use some help, and you’re a pretty one. However,” he paused, eyeing her suspiciously, “Girls working here would have more duties than just singing, none of which would be proper for someone such as you.”
“I can handle multiple tasks at a time.”
He looked unconvinced. “They carry drinks to men.”
Dottie thought back about the pitcher of water she’d dropped into a customer’s lap a few days earlier.
“Often already drunken men,” he added.
“But I can do that. Let me show you.” She attempted a step around him, but he blocked her path.
“Look miss. I’ll be blunt with you, for you don’t seem to be getting my message. Girls who work here need a lot of skills. They sing. They dance. They carry drinks. They entertain my customers. And,” he said, as he eyed a bumblebee that had begun to circle them, “they wear frocks with quite a bit less material than you’re wearing.”
Darthy ignored the bee and rose on her tiptoes. He was a big man, and she tried to peek over his shoulder to see inside the tavern. “If you refuse to let me look, how will I know whether the gowns suit me?”
A stinging sensation was felt on her ankle, and she gasped. “Oh!” she picked up the hem of her gown and shrieked, whirling in circles. The bee stayed with her.
The barkeep swatted, trying to chase it away, but it was determined to stay. His hand came in contact with first her ankle, then her calf. With his other hand, he grasped the hem of her gown, lifting it.
“Stay still, girl. I can’t get him with you dancing about so much. The sheriff will be here any minute if you keep screaming.”
Darthy continued to whirl, trying to avoid the creature. Suddenly, she felt hands taking hold of her shoulders and moving her back out of the way.
A tall, handsome man moved between them suddenly, and yanked the hem of her dress from the barkeep’s hand, causing him to stagger backward. A second later, he punched him in the nose. The barkeep immediately dropped to the ground from the force of the blow, stunned, and put both hands to his face.
Then the stranger spotted the bumblebee. Plucking it from the air, he tossed it away. It flew off in circles, as if it was dizzy. Then, as if he realized what the barkeep had been attempting to do, he spoke.
“My apologies, sir. I truly thought—”
“You thought what?” Darthy whirled on him. “How dare you attack an innocent man who was only trying to help me!” She lifted a gloved hand, balled it up into a fist, and punched him straight in the eye.
From the ground, the barkeep gasped for air before trying to explain. “This isn’t as bad as it may seem, Lu—Lu—” He became speechless for a second, turning to Darthy. “Good Lord, woman. I knew you were trouble the moment I laid eyes on you. Have you any idea who you just punched?”
“I don’t know,” she responded, “and I don’t care.” Seeing the stranger offer a helping hand up to the barkeep, she stepped in between them and reached down to help him instead.
Just then, she spied the ripped hem of her dress, and turned on the stranger in indignation, letting go of the barkeep and sending him rolling back to the ground. Rounding on the tall man in front of her, she flashed golden brown eyes at him. “How dare you, sir! Not only have you cost me a chance of employment here, you’ve ripped my best frock. Explain yourself!”
The stranger looked surprised. “You were seeking employment here? In the tavern?” His brown eyes met hers. “I find that difficult to believe, Miss… I’m sorry. What’s your name?”
“My name is unimportant. Yours, Lu—Lu—” Mimicking what the barkeep had said, she shook her head. “It might as well be Lucifer for all the trouble you’ve caused me. You’d best clear out of Salem, sir. We have a minister who’s about to arrive, and he’ll likely have you tarred and feathered and run out of town for what you’ve done.”
Dottie was unprepared for the arched brow and the half-smile that landed on the stranger’s face. He was clearly amused.
“Indeed?”
She stamped a foot before trying to reach down again to help the barkeep regain his footing. But this time the stout, balding man raised both hands in front of him and scooted away from her, as if to keep his distance.
Dottie turned back to the stranger. “And anyway, who are you to pass judgement on my character? For all I know, you could be a bank robber. Or—or a…” she glanced down at the barkeep, “a drunkard.”
“Oh?” He crossed his arms, grinning. “A drunkard, hm? And how did you come to that conclusion?”
She lifted her chin. “You’re standing outside the tavern and the barkeep seems to know you.”
“Ah. I see. So am I to conclude you’re a drunkard too, young lady? You’re standing outside the tavern having a conversation with him.”
Speechless, Dottie turned away, her dark curls flying, and began marching back toward the dormitory. In the process, she lost her feathered hat and turned back to retrieve it. The stranger held it out to her, the grin still on his face.
Dottie snatched it from his hand with irritation and plopped it on her head, vaguely aware that it was backwards.
The stranger threw his head back and howled with laughter.
She stamped her foot, harder this time. “You, sir, are no gentleman,” she called out over her shoulder.
Lucifer or not, she hoped never to have to see him again.
* * *
Sunday morning…
“Dottie? Are you ready? The service will start any minute now. I expect the church will be full this morning since the new minister has arrived.”
“I’ll just be a moment, Aunt Delie.”
“All right. I’ll save you a seat. But don’t be long.”
“I won’t.”
Dottie tied the last of the ribbons into her hair and rushed to the bath to make use of the privy. The street was empty as she hurried across. Delie was just going inside.
The music had started as she made it inside the door and looked around for a place to sit.
There was none. But she caught sight of her aunt down in the front row, waving at her. Oh dear. She hated coming in late and having to go all the way to the first row in front of everyone. Humming in tune with the music, she scurried down the aisle and sat down next to her aunt in the only available seat. The music was finishing as she sat. She’d been later than she thought. Embarrassed, she kept her eyes on the floor in front of her.
The church suddenly became quiet. Dottie heard footsteps approaching, Still staring at the floor, she waited.
She heard a man clear his throat, and a deep but pleasant baritone voice.
“Good morning, beloved. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lucian Adams. My friends—and I consider all of you to be my friends—call me Luke. I’ve been assigned as your new minister. I’ll no longer be traveling the circuit, but I’ll be living here. I understand there are several weddings coming up soon, so I’ll invite you now. There will be more…”
He continued speaking. And Darthy still stared at the floor, a frown creasing her brow.
Lucian Adams… Her frown deepened. She remembered the voice of the barkeep suddenly saying “Lu—Lu—” and her own response.
Lu--your name might as well be Lucifer--
Slowly, slowly, her gaze rose in front of her to the man who was speaking.
Not only was he the same man, but he sported a large purple bruise around his swollen right eye.
Their eyes met, and she gasped.
“Oh dear God, oh dear God, oh dear God…” she whispered, sinking lower and lower into the pew, trying to make herself appear smaller.
“Please don’t tell me I’ve punched a minister in the face? Oh God, I know I’ll go to hell for this!”
Her whisper was louder than she intended. She realized it when she began hearing chuckles all around her. Delie couldn’t seem to help herself; she began giggling, and before long the entire congregation was, too.
Dottie was mortified. When she’d gotten as low as she could in the pew, her eyes very slowly rose to meet his once again.
He was watching her from the pulpit, and his expression was not full of condemnation, but instead, mirth.
“Quite all right, young lady,” he said directly to her. “You have the privilege of being the first young woman to ever punch me in the face…” He grinned.
“And get away with it.”
Rough and Noble
A sneak peek...
A sneak peek at A Rougher Touch…
He moved closer. She carried a small bouquet of white flowers, but they were grasped so tightly in her small gloved hands, they looked as if the life was being choked out of them. She had on a blue dress that was the exact blue of her eyes, and a matching blue hat covered with white feathers. He found himself tilting his head downward to see her hair. It looked dark; the exact color he couldn’t tell.
When he heard a girl’s giggle from his left, his blue-eyed young woman turned to see who it was. Joe’s mouth grew flat. It was Jenny Spade. She was pointing at the young woman’s hat and laughing.
Tightness built in his chest as he saw the reaction of the girl in the doorway. Her blue eyes grew wider, then slightly sad, and she took yet another step toward the entrance.
Feeling as if he needed to do something, he strode toward her to stop her exit. Suddenly, she spotted his sister, and moved slightly away from the door.
He relaxed, watching.
“Allie!”
He stared. What a delightful voice she had. He stayed out of sight just far enough to be able to keep an eye on her as Allie threw her arms around her neck. Relieved, he watched her move another step or two away from the entrance.
So, she wouldn’t be leaving after all. Good.
Allie was looking around the room, suddenly. “I’m sorry, Bethy. I’d hoped to introduce you.”
Was that disappointment that clouded the lovely young woman’s eyes? She was shaking her head now, and an auburn curl fell over one shoulder.
“No, it’s all right. I was just hoping to meet him, that’s all, since you spoke so highly of him on the trip.”
He knew who she was now. She was Allie’s friend Elizabeth. He took a step toward them. Both girls were turned away now, but from the corner of his eye, he saw Jenny Spade rise from her seat and move in his direction.
From behind Elizabeth and Allie, he spoke. “Looking for someone?”
They both jumped and turned. Those blue eyes he’d been admiring since the moment he arrived were mesmerizing. He couldn’t help himself. He was grinning at her expression.
Allie’s eyes were sparkling as she glanced from him to Elizabeth. She was saying something, but for the life of him he barely heard anything except the words Beth Harris.
The young woman gazed upward, her mouth slightly open, but her voice seemed to be absent.
“Miss Harris,” he spoke, keeping his voice deep. “You shared a stage all the way from Philadelphia with my sister? My utmost apologies, Miss.”
Allie smacked his arm. But it was Beth’s expression which surprised him. Those gorgeous eyes flashed with blue flame as she suddenly found her voice.
“Apologies… not accepted, Mr. Castle. I admire Allie,” she paused to moisten those luscious lips, “more than anyone I know. She saved our lives on the way here.”
He watched as she continued speaking, fighting the urge to take her into his arms and silence those lips with his.
“Yes, I heard about that.” He knew he was showing amusement, when she blinked, and shook her head, causing the curls to bounce.
“Then—then…” She paused. “Then, behave yourself.”
Joe was no longer amused. His smile disappeared, and a brow rose, warning taking the place of mirth.
She seemed to realize it too, and her hand flew to her mouth. Allie reached for her arm to lead her away a few steps.
Beth glanced back at him, her eyes large and penitent, before turning back toward Allie. Their voices were lost, but Beth’s shoulders seemed to sag.
Allie was shaking her head, and Beth was looking sorrowfully down at the floor. On his right, Jenny began once again to slowly approach. But she stopped suddenly as Miss Harris began to turned toward him from his left. He pivoted slowly on his heel, giving her a look of warning.
She barely met his eyes before lowering her gaze. “Mr. Castle, I,” She spoke in a whisper. Licking her lips, she tried again. “I apologize. I should never have…” Another pause.
“Quite right, young lady. And I don’t expect it to ever happen again.”
She looked down, and turned as if to move away from him.
Joe encircled her wrist, bringing her closer. When she looked up, her expression was wary. He lifted his mouth on one side, and took the flowers from her hands. She’d been clasping them so tightly the palms of the white gloves bore tell-tale greenish stains. She gasped when she saw it.
Joe removed the blue hat from her, and set it on the shelf above her head. Her hair was an auburn color that complemented the fairness of her skin perfectly. The flowers, he took a look at. With a brief glance at Jenny, who was still scowling at Beth, he held out the flowers.
“Miss Spade, would you mind holding these while I take this young lady for a dance?”
Jenny’s mouth fell open. She stared, as he pressed the flowers into her hands and drew Beth out onto the dance floor, his arm about her waist.
“That was mean,” she whispered, with an apologetic glance backward at Jenny.
“No more so than the way she was treating you this evening when I first saw you. I noticed you trying to sneak your way back out of the dance hall.”
Her face began to grow crimson, and he stopped. Taking one of her hands, then the other, he removed her white gloves and tucked them into his pocket. By the time he finished, her face was completely scarlet.
“Don’t worry, young lady. I won’t completely disrobe you.”
He moved closer. She carried a small bouquet of white flowers, but they were grasped so tightly in her small gloved hands, they looked as if the life was being choked out of them. She had on a blue dress that was the exact blue of her eyes, and a matching blue hat covered with white feathers. He found himself tilting his head downward to see her hair. It looked dark; the exact color he couldn’t tell.
When he heard a girl’s giggle from his left, his blue-eyed young woman turned to see who it was. Joe’s mouth grew flat. It was Jenny Spade. She was pointing at the young woman’s hat and laughing.
Tightness built in his chest as he saw the reaction of the girl in the doorway. Her blue eyes grew wider, then slightly sad, and she took yet another step toward the entrance.
Feeling as if he needed to do something, he strode toward her to stop her exit. Suddenly, she spotted his sister, and moved slightly away from the door.
He relaxed, watching.
“Allie!”
He stared. What a delightful voice she had. He stayed out of sight just far enough to be able to keep an eye on her as Allie threw her arms around her neck. Relieved, he watched her move another step or two away from the entrance.
So, she wouldn’t be leaving after all. Good.
Allie was looking around the room, suddenly. “I’m sorry, Bethy. I’d hoped to introduce you.”
Was that disappointment that clouded the lovely young woman’s eyes? She was shaking her head now, and an auburn curl fell over one shoulder.
“No, it’s all right. I was just hoping to meet him, that’s all, since you spoke so highly of him on the trip.”
He knew who she was now. She was Allie’s friend Elizabeth. He took a step toward them. Both girls were turned away now, but from the corner of his eye, he saw Jenny Spade rise from her seat and move in his direction.
From behind Elizabeth and Allie, he spoke. “Looking for someone?”
They both jumped and turned. Those blue eyes he’d been admiring since the moment he arrived were mesmerizing. He couldn’t help himself. He was grinning at her expression.
Allie’s eyes were sparkling as she glanced from him to Elizabeth. She was saying something, but for the life of him he barely heard anything except the words Beth Harris.
The young woman gazed upward, her mouth slightly open, but her voice seemed to be absent.
“Miss Harris,” he spoke, keeping his voice deep. “You shared a stage all the way from Philadelphia with my sister? My utmost apologies, Miss.”
Allie smacked his arm. But it was Beth’s expression which surprised him. Those gorgeous eyes flashed with blue flame as she suddenly found her voice.
“Apologies… not accepted, Mr. Castle. I admire Allie,” she paused to moisten those luscious lips, “more than anyone I know. She saved our lives on the way here.”
He watched as she continued speaking, fighting the urge to take her into his arms and silence those lips with his.
“Yes, I heard about that.” He knew he was showing amusement, when she blinked, and shook her head, causing the curls to bounce.
“Then—then…” She paused. “Then, behave yourself.”
Joe was no longer amused. His smile disappeared, and a brow rose, warning taking the place of mirth.
She seemed to realize it too, and her hand flew to her mouth. Allie reached for her arm to lead her away a few steps.
Beth glanced back at him, her eyes large and penitent, before turning back toward Allie. Their voices were lost, but Beth’s shoulders seemed to sag.
Allie was shaking her head, and Beth was looking sorrowfully down at the floor. On his right, Jenny began once again to slowly approach. But she stopped suddenly as Miss Harris began to turned toward him from his left. He pivoted slowly on his heel, giving her a look of warning.
She barely met his eyes before lowering her gaze. “Mr. Castle, I,” She spoke in a whisper. Licking her lips, she tried again. “I apologize. I should never have…” Another pause.
“Quite right, young lady. And I don’t expect it to ever happen again.”
She looked down, and turned as if to move away from him.
Joe encircled her wrist, bringing her closer. When she looked up, her expression was wary. He lifted his mouth on one side, and took the flowers from her hands. She’d been clasping them so tightly the palms of the white gloves bore tell-tale greenish stains. She gasped when she saw it.
Joe removed the blue hat from her, and set it on the shelf above her head. Her hair was an auburn color that complemented the fairness of her skin perfectly. The flowers, he took a look at. With a brief glance at Jenny, who was still scowling at Beth, he held out the flowers.
“Miss Spade, would you mind holding these while I take this young lady for a dance?”
Jenny’s mouth fell open. She stared, as he pressed the flowers into her hands and drew Beth out onto the dance floor, his arm about her waist.
“That was mean,” she whispered, with an apologetic glance backward at Jenny.
“No more so than the way she was treating you this evening when I first saw you. I noticed you trying to sneak your way back out of the dance hall.”
Her face began to grow crimson, and he stopped. Taking one of her hands, then the other, he removed her white gloves and tucked them into his pocket. By the time he finished, her face was completely scarlet.
“Don’t worry, young lady. I won’t completely disrobe you.”
Did you miss Rough and Honorable?
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Rough and Honorable
Rough Edges (Book 1)
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Allie has no idea what
awaits her when she's sent
west to Oregon Territory.
Her brother Joe seems
to be expecting the wild
child she once was.
Does he even realize
she's a grown woman
now?
Nate Winchester is waiting too.
He's already rescued her once.
Who will he see next?
Alexandra, full of grace,
charm and curves?
Or "Allie the hellion?"
Pippa Greathouse and Ruby Caine
are at it again,
penning passion, wit, laughter,
and love in...
Rough And Honorable
Pippa Greathouse and Ruby Caine
are at it again,
penning passion, wit, laughter,
and love in...
Rough And Honorable
A sneak peek...
“Just what were you trying to do, young lady? Run down the entire town?” His deep tone demanded an answer. The outrage in his voice brought her back to the realization they had stopped.
Her face felt hot as she glanced around at the crowd of people staring at her. She’d lost her matching bonnet, and her hair had come loose from its ribbon.
As she tried to smooth it down, she found it had become tangled into a mass of curls that were wild and unruly. Furiously, she pushed them away from her face.
The stranger was staring down at her with narrowed eyes the color of rich, dark coffee. His gaze was stern, his voice demanding as his jaw pulsed in anger.
“Of course I was.” Sarcasm crept into her voice as her eyes flashed. “The driver needs a doctor--quickly. He’s very sick. And I’ve never driven a team this big before so—” The words came tumbling out quickly.
“So, how dare you shout at me?”
“Just what were you trying to do, young lady? Run down the entire town?” His deep tone demanded an answer. The outrage in his voice brought her back to the realization they had stopped.
Her face felt hot as she glanced around at the crowd of people staring at her. She’d lost her matching bonnet, and her hair had come loose from its ribbon.
As she tried to smooth it down, she found it had become tangled into a mass of curls that were wild and unruly. Furiously, she pushed them away from her face.
The stranger was staring down at her with narrowed eyes the color of rich, dark coffee. His gaze was stern, his voice demanding as his jaw pulsed in anger.
“Of course I was.” Sarcasm crept into her voice as her eyes flashed. “The driver needs a doctor--quickly. He’s very sick. And I’ve never driven a team this big before so—” The words came tumbling out quickly.
“So, how dare you shout at me?”
