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later…
    “One more, Colin,” Quinn urged, lifting his hand to order another round of whiskey. The two of them had ridden into town with Blaine and Brodie to celebrate Colin’s twenty-third birthday. All the MacLarens would celebrate tomorrow at their normal Sunday meal, but tonight, the young men were dedicated to losing themselves in whiskey, mischief, and women.
    “Look there, Colin. Your birthday present is walking down the stairs.” Quinn nodded toward a curvy lass with deep red hair and full, pouty lips. “It appears Gwen is coming this way.” Slapping Colin on the back, he winked at Brodie and Blaine. The three had already paid her to help him celebrate in style. The question they all shared was would he accept.
    Colin grinned, knowing he’d not partake of his present from Quinn and Brodie. They knew he had his mind on only one woman, and it wasn’t Gwen.
    “Good evening, boys.” She looped a hand through Colin’s arm, leaning close.
    “Evenin’, Gwen. You look quite charming tonight.” Colin brushed a kiss across her temple, breathing in the thick perfume she preferred, perhaps from the bottle he’d given her at Christmas. He’d been with one woman for just one night. He, Quinn, and Brodie had celebrated his nineteenth birthday in this same saloon, which ended with him in Gwen’s bed upstairs—courtesy of his cousins.
    “Ach, you MacLarens. You think your good looks and charm are all you need to coax a woman into bed,” she chuckled.
    “Not so, Gwen. We aren’t eejits, although you may think so some nights. It also takes a fair amount of coin to get what we want.” Colin pulled her to him. A few years before, she’d come from the old country, following her lover from New York to San Francisco. After he died in a bar fight, she traveled east to the town of Conviction, looking for a fresh start.
    Older than Colin by a few years, she’d taken a liking to him, understanding when he confessed his inexperience with women. He’d been drinking with his cousins most of the night. Still, he’d been sober enough to know what he wanted—to learn what he needed to make it good for Sarah when he went for her. Gwen agreed. In return, he’d always been a gentleman. Although they’d been together just the one night, she always smiled when she thought of it. He’d been so serious in his determination to learn. No passion, no emotion. It had been a teacher and student relationship—nothing more.
    “Quinn and the boys tell me you’re celebrating tonight. Another birthday, is it?”
    “Aye. I’m twenty-three.” He gave her a meaningful smile. Only Gwen and those with him tonight knew the true significance of this day. By the end of the following week, the entire MacLaren clan would know. Tonight, however, was about celebrating. “A drink for Gwen,” he shouted over the noise at the bar, taking the full glass the bartender handed him.
    Most nights the cousins played cards, sang along to tunes from the tinny piano, and relaxed. After six days of hard work on Circle M Ranch, all they wanted could be found in Buckie’s Castle, the only saloon in Conviction.
    Within an hour, they’d consumed another bottle of whiskey and sang until their throats ached. Leaning on Gwen to prevent himself from falling over, Colin picked up the bottle of whiskey and shook it.
    “Another bottle,” he yelled before Gwen could stop him.
    “I think you’ve had your fair share tonight, laddie. Why don’t you come upstairs with me and sleep it off?”
    His glazed eyes tried to focus as he scanned the room for Quinn, Brodie, and Blaine. “I can’t find them, Gwen.”
    Chuckling, she pointed to a table where the three sat, passed out, each in a different pose.
    “Ach, they never could hold their liquor,” he slurred before slumping against the bar.
    “Up with you, laddie.” Motioning for help, she and three others soon had Colin upstairs, tucked into her bed. Looking down at his face, peaceful in sleep, she thought of