Read The Outlaw's Kiss (an Old West Romance) (Wild West Brides) for Free Online Page A

the window. My second floor room overlooked the dirt path which doubled
as the street to town, so from it I was able to see most everything, which
included the porch.
    The sun was bright and low in the sky, as it had
risen not a quarter-hour before. Downstairs, Father was clomping about in the
boots he’d bought, but never worn. The jangle of spurs sounded right after his
heels hitting the floorboards. He went all the way to the door, grumbling. I
giggled as he went back the other way.
    I knew he probably wanted coffee and some
breakfast, though he was far too kind to wake me. Hunting through my wardrobes,
I found a nice pastel-blue dress that I’d not worn in some time, along with a
pair of soft boots that I just loved. Along with a matching bonnet to keep out
the sun, I found myself perfectly presentable. I chose a modestly embroidered
clutch – nothing too ostentatious. Along with all the mostly-nice furniture
that the previous occupants had left in the house, a number of quite fancy
mirrors still adorned the walls, one of which I used to check my buttons and
ties.
    “Oh, Clara! I’m so glad you’re up. I, uh, I
thought you’d like to accompany me to town. We can go by the camp store and get
the things I’ll need to work the claim.”
    I was glad to see his pride wasn’t still deflated
from dealing with Mr. Swearengen the day before.
    “That’d be just fine,” I said. “But don’t you want
some food first?”
    He began walking back and forth again. “That’s
another thing. I thought we could go into town for that, too. Alongside Mr.
Swearengen’s saloon is an inn that apparently has a buffet-style breakfast Eli
recommended. I don’t want you to have to go to cooking the first day we’re here.”
    “I don’t mind, really.” Though truly, the idea of
eating in town was a relief.
    He shook his head. “No, no. I insist. This is the
best way. I don’t want to wait a moment longer than I must to get to the claim.
There’s gold up there, I just know it. But before I can get it dug up, I need
to find it. Are you ready to go?”
    *
    T he path between our house and the center of the
camp-turned-town took about twenty minutes to walk. Noise and activity was
already beginning; miners and prospectors gathering their day’s equipment was
the most common sight, though as we ate, a number of men who looked down on
their luck stumbled through the front doors of the inn and to rooms.
    “Comin’ from the Gem,” someone behind us said in a
surprisingly chipper voice. “Play poker and drink all night, then they sleep
all day. Terrible waste of a life, but that’s what they do. Small claimers.
They find enough gold to pay for their vices, and that’s what they worry
about.”
    Father turned and I looked past his shoulder to a
slight man wearing a brown suit and a bowler seated just behind him.
    “Oh my apologies. Spend enough time in one of
these camps and your manners will turn every way but better. I’m Sol Star, my
partner, who moonlights as the camp sheriff, and I run the sundries shop across
the way. Haven’t seen you around here before.” He stood and clasped my father’s
hand, then turned to me. “And certainly haven’t seen you. A pleasure, ma’am.” Sol
said, tipping his hat.
    “Oh yes, of course, I’m Jefferson James and this is
my daughter Clara. We were told about you and your shop. Our, uh, the man who
brought us here recommended your wares.”
    Mr. Star grinned widely. I liked him already. “Is
that so? To whom do I owe the pleasure of a reference?”
    “Eli Masterson,” I said. The words shot out of my
mouth in a single syllable. Both men turned just as my cheeks started burning.
“Sorry for interrupting.” I looked at the table, though I couldn’t help but
smile just saying his name.
    “Oh, Eli! Certainly, he’s a good friend. Does more
than most people for this town and barely says a word to anyone about it. If it
weren’t for him, I’m almost sure the Sioux would have burned