Read Online Patrick's Charm (The Bride Train, #2) by E.E. Burke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: E.E. Burke
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came from the rear of the storeroom. “Hello? O’Shea?”
Patrick started. In his preoccupation, he’d forgotten about his weekly shipment...and just in time. Now he’d have plenty of whiskey to satisfy a thirsty crowd.
Arch Childers greeted him at the back door with a handshake and smile. “Sorry I’m late. Deliveries took longer than I expected.”
Meaning O’Shea’s was last on his list of saloons and might not receive anything if he ran out. That didn’t sit well. Patrick refused to let the snub put him out of sorts right before Charm showed up. She already thought he had the temperament of a grizzly bear. For her sake, he would remain cheerful. “You’re here now, so you’re right on time.”
Childers returned to his wagon, which he’d parked up next to the building just beyond a barrel of garbage that needed burning. Making deliveries to the rear of the building reduced the chances of being caught selling illegal whiskey. Though with all the other trouble in town, few people paid him any mind. The army had its hands full protecting the railroad tracks, and the sheriff didn’t care to enforce a law nobody liked.
The bootlegger tossed a remark over his shoulder. “There’s someone out here to see you.”
Patrick opened the door wide and stepped outside. Indeed there was...his Charm, sitting on the buckboard seat, wearing the brightest red dress he had ever seen, with her hands folded primly on her lap.
She stared like she’d never seen him before when he went over to assist her. Rather than taking her hand, he grasped her around the waist, lifted her over the mud and set her on the threshold. He didn’t know how she’d ended up in the local moonshine distributor’s wagon, but he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Biting her head off wouldn’t help, and would probably send her running. He forced his lips upward. “Glad to see you’re safe. I was beginning to worry.”
She kept right on staring at him. “You...you look different.”
Different. Not handsome, or good, or even just better. What was her opinion about Childers? Would she say he looked different ? Patrick’s starched collar got tight, his neck hot. He fought to contain his jealousy.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Why did you accept a ride from him ?”
Her smooth brow furrowed, a puzzled frown. “He was kind enough to offer me one.”
Kind, my foot.
Patrick sent Childers a warning look, but he was busy retrieving two large suitcases from the back of the wagon. Charm moved as he set them inside the door. The bulging cases would explode without the heavy straps holding them shut. Looked like she was moving in. The idea didn’t distress him, however unlikely. “Those are your costumes? Why didn’t you tell me you had so many? I could’ve gotten them.”
Her color deepened. “We’ll discuss it later.”
“Discuss what?” Her decision to accept a ride? Now he knew why with one look at those heavy suitcases. She wasn’t big enough to lift them, much less carry the huge suitcases three blocks. He should’ve gone after her.
Her gaze shifted over his shoulder and her expression turned to distress. “What in the world...?”
Patrick turned to see what had her so upset. The bootlegger had folded the canvas back, revealing pine coffins. Childers pried the top of one open with a crowbar. He retrieved two ceramic jugs. After setting those by the door, he went back and collected three more.
“What is that?” Charm asked in a hushed voice.
“Liquor.” Patrick carried the jugs inside. Later, he would transfer the contents to charred oaken barrels, which would turn the liquor a reddish color and give it a flavor close to bourbon whiskey. Far cheaper than purchasing whiskey from distillers back East and paying ridiculous taxes.
While Charm watched with a look of amazement, he transported the remainder of the jugs into the storeroom. She’d tasted the brandy he made by mixing the brew with fermented
Patrick started. In his preoccupation, he’d forgotten about his weekly shipment...and just in time. Now he’d have plenty of whiskey to satisfy a thirsty crowd.
Arch Childers greeted him at the back door with a handshake and smile. “Sorry I’m late. Deliveries took longer than I expected.”
Meaning O’Shea’s was last on his list of saloons and might not receive anything if he ran out. That didn’t sit well. Patrick refused to let the snub put him out of sorts right before Charm showed up. She already thought he had the temperament of a grizzly bear. For her sake, he would remain cheerful. “You’re here now, so you’re right on time.”
Childers returned to his wagon, which he’d parked up next to the building just beyond a barrel of garbage that needed burning. Making deliveries to the rear of the building reduced the chances of being caught selling illegal whiskey. Though with all the other trouble in town, few people paid him any mind. The army had its hands full protecting the railroad tracks, and the sheriff didn’t care to enforce a law nobody liked.
The bootlegger tossed a remark over his shoulder. “There’s someone out here to see you.”
Patrick opened the door wide and stepped outside. Indeed there was...his Charm, sitting on the buckboard seat, wearing the brightest red dress he had ever seen, with her hands folded primly on her lap.
She stared like she’d never seen him before when he went over to assist her. Rather than taking her hand, he grasped her around the waist, lifted her over the mud and set her on the threshold. He didn’t know how she’d ended up in the local moonshine distributor’s wagon, but he didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Biting her head off wouldn’t help, and would probably send her running. He forced his lips upward. “Glad to see you’re safe. I was beginning to worry.”
She kept right on staring at him. “You...you look different.”
Different. Not handsome, or good, or even just better. What was her opinion about Childers? Would she say he looked different ? Patrick’s starched collar got tight, his neck hot. He fought to contain his jealousy.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Why did you accept a ride from him ?”
Her smooth brow furrowed, a puzzled frown. “He was kind enough to offer me one.”
Kind, my foot.
Patrick sent Childers a warning look, but he was busy retrieving two large suitcases from the back of the wagon. Charm moved as he set them inside the door. The bulging cases would explode without the heavy straps holding them shut. Looked like she was moving in. The idea didn’t distress him, however unlikely. “Those are your costumes? Why didn’t you tell me you had so many? I could’ve gotten them.”
Her color deepened. “We’ll discuss it later.”
“Discuss what?” Her decision to accept a ride? Now he knew why with one look at those heavy suitcases. She wasn’t big enough to lift them, much less carry the huge suitcases three blocks. He should’ve gone after her.
Her gaze shifted over his shoulder and her expression turned to distress. “What in the world...?”
Patrick turned to see what had her so upset. The bootlegger had folded the canvas back, revealing pine coffins. Childers pried the top of one open with a crowbar. He retrieved two ceramic jugs. After setting those by the door, he went back and collected three more.
“What is that?” Charm asked in a hushed voice.
“Liquor.” Patrick carried the jugs inside. Later, he would transfer the contents to charred oaken barrels, which would turn the liquor a reddish color and give it a flavor close to bourbon whiskey. Far cheaper than purchasing whiskey from distillers back East and paying ridiculous taxes.
While Charm watched with a look of amazement, he transported the remainder of the jugs into the storeroom. She’d tasted the brandy he made by mixing the brew with fermented
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