Read Online Patrick's Charm (The Bride Train, #2) by E.E. Burke - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: E.E. Burke
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came from behind. Out of the side of her eye she spotted a harnessed horse. My, but it was a big one. Her head didn’t come up to the top of the creature’s shoulder, and its feathered hooves looked the size of plates. The dappled gray monster plodded closer to the sidewalk, so close she feared it might step on her.
Alarmed, she jerked out of the way.
“Whoa now.” At the driver’s order, the horse came to a halt, let out a loud snort and shook its thick white mane. The man’s apologetic smile showed from beneath the shadow of a straw hat. “Sorry Miss. Sadie didn’t mean to scare you. We thought you might need a ride someplace.”
Charm eyed the brawny young farmer who’d nearly run her over and had the nerve to blame a dumb beast. “The horse told you that?”
He grinned, revealing white teeth with a slight gap between the front. “Sophie don’t have to talk. Just nods her head and I know what she means.”
“A creative excuse, I’ll give you that.”
“Pardon me, miss. You must think I’m a hayseed without any manners at all. Arch Childers, at your service.” He swept off his hat and executed a bow worthy of Edwin Booth. As he straightened, he threw his head to toss his shoulder-length auburn hair out of his eyes.
The young farmer had a certain rustic appeal, even though he didn’t make her heart pound. Not like Mr. O’Shea. Charm scoffed at the fanciful notion. The Irish saloon owner wasn’t the only man in the world who could send her heart racing. There were others...she just hadn’t met them.
“May we give you a ride?” Mr. Childers indicted the buckboard seat.
Charm hesitated. She wasn’t in the habit of accepting an escort from men she didn’t know, and the idea of getting into a wagon with a stranger made her palms clammy. On the other hand, a stranger hadn’t assaulted her, and the alternative would be to drag her bags another three blocks through the mud.
A first step in getting rid of her unseemly infatuation for Mr. O’Shea would be to allow other men to assist her. She bestowed a smile on the helpful Galahad. “Thank you, sir. I accept your offer.”
With an eager smile, he hopped down and tossed both suitcases into the back of the wagon as if they weighed no more than a woman’s reticule. He secured them with ropes on top of a heavy canvas covering what looked like large boxes.
When he offered his hand, she took it. That didn’t produce a thrill, either. She refused to think about the shivers elicited by Mr. O’Shea’s touch.
She must fight this irrational attraction and keep her goal in mind. As soon as she repaid her debt to the railroad and saved enough money to start over, she would go further west, maybe to Virginia City. With a new identity.
Mr. Childers circled the wagon, gave the ropes holding her bags one last tug, and then hopped up onto the seat. He gathered the reins. “Where to?”
“O’Shea’s.” Charm braced for a look of surprise, or worse, censure. She received neither. Instead, her benefactor smiled.
“What do you know? That’s where I’m headed.”
Chapter 5
––––––––
P atrick peered in the mirror behind the bar and rubbed his fingers over his smooth shaven chin. He hadn’t seen his face in so long he’d forgotten what he looked like. Wasn’t missing anything.
He adjusted his tie, smoothing the black points down, and brushed lint off the shawl collar of his favorite waistcoat, a dark green brocade. He thought it only appropriate to wear a suit for Charm’s debut.
Where was she anyway?
With a tug on the fob, he pulled up his watch and consulted the time. The hotel wasn’t far. Shouldn’t take her half the day to collect a few costumes.
She might be staying away on purpose after he’d snapped at her, and for something that wasn’t her fault. His attraction to her. That, he couldn’t control, but he could curb his temper. When she arrived, he would be on his best behavior, meek as a wee lamb.
A loud knocking
Alarmed, she jerked out of the way.
“Whoa now.” At the driver’s order, the horse came to a halt, let out a loud snort and shook its thick white mane. The man’s apologetic smile showed from beneath the shadow of a straw hat. “Sorry Miss. Sadie didn’t mean to scare you. We thought you might need a ride someplace.”
Charm eyed the brawny young farmer who’d nearly run her over and had the nerve to blame a dumb beast. “The horse told you that?”
He grinned, revealing white teeth with a slight gap between the front. “Sophie don’t have to talk. Just nods her head and I know what she means.”
“A creative excuse, I’ll give you that.”
“Pardon me, miss. You must think I’m a hayseed without any manners at all. Arch Childers, at your service.” He swept off his hat and executed a bow worthy of Edwin Booth. As he straightened, he threw his head to toss his shoulder-length auburn hair out of his eyes.
The young farmer had a certain rustic appeal, even though he didn’t make her heart pound. Not like Mr. O’Shea. Charm scoffed at the fanciful notion. The Irish saloon owner wasn’t the only man in the world who could send her heart racing. There were others...she just hadn’t met them.
“May we give you a ride?” Mr. Childers indicted the buckboard seat.
Charm hesitated. She wasn’t in the habit of accepting an escort from men she didn’t know, and the idea of getting into a wagon with a stranger made her palms clammy. On the other hand, a stranger hadn’t assaulted her, and the alternative would be to drag her bags another three blocks through the mud.
A first step in getting rid of her unseemly infatuation for Mr. O’Shea would be to allow other men to assist her. She bestowed a smile on the helpful Galahad. “Thank you, sir. I accept your offer.”
With an eager smile, he hopped down and tossed both suitcases into the back of the wagon as if they weighed no more than a woman’s reticule. He secured them with ropes on top of a heavy canvas covering what looked like large boxes.
When he offered his hand, she took it. That didn’t produce a thrill, either. She refused to think about the shivers elicited by Mr. O’Shea’s touch.
She must fight this irrational attraction and keep her goal in mind. As soon as she repaid her debt to the railroad and saved enough money to start over, she would go further west, maybe to Virginia City. With a new identity.
Mr. Childers circled the wagon, gave the ropes holding her bags one last tug, and then hopped up onto the seat. He gathered the reins. “Where to?”
“O’Shea’s.” Charm braced for a look of surprise, or worse, censure. She received neither. Instead, her benefactor smiled.
“What do you know? That’s where I’m headed.”
Chapter 5
––––––––
P atrick peered in the mirror behind the bar and rubbed his fingers over his smooth shaven chin. He hadn’t seen his face in so long he’d forgotten what he looked like. Wasn’t missing anything.
He adjusted his tie, smoothing the black points down, and brushed lint off the shawl collar of his favorite waistcoat, a dark green brocade. He thought it only appropriate to wear a suit for Charm’s debut.
Where was she anyway?
With a tug on the fob, he pulled up his watch and consulted the time. The hotel wasn’t far. Shouldn’t take her half the day to collect a few costumes.
She might be staying away on purpose after he’d snapped at her, and for something that wasn’t her fault. His attraction to her. That, he couldn’t control, but he could curb his temper. When she arrived, he would be on his best behavior, meek as a wee lamb.
A loud knocking
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