Frontier Matchmaker Bride

Miss Jenkins pulled her gaze from the street to stare at Beth as the others returned to their seats. “How can you be so calm? Someone might have been killed.”

“Possibly,” Beth allowed, taking her arm to lead her back to their table. “But you see how he rescued them. Mr. McCormick is a gentleman who can be counted upon.”

Miss Jenkins looked thoughtful.

They had no sooner settled themselves than the door opened to the ring of the shop bell. Hart stepped inside, leather duster settling against his black boots. His hard gaze bypassed the display counter with its dozens of frosted and spiced treats, and narrowed in instead on the patrons gathered at the tables. Some of the other patrons applauded. He gave them a nod.

Beth rose as he approached.

He removed his hat, the sunlight from the window gilding his short-cropped black hair. “Miss Wallin.” His look moved to her companion.

As if she was guilty of some crime, Miss Jenkins paled, and she pushed the cookies away from her.

“Good afternoon, Deputy,” Beth said determinedly. “May I introduce a new acquaintance of mine, Honoria Jenkins. Miss Jenkins, this is Deputy Hart McCormick.”

Hart inclined his head. “Ma’am.”

She dropped her gaze. “Deputy. Won’t you join us?”

With a look to Beth that held any number of misgivings, he drew up a chair.

“Cookie?” Miss Jenkins asked, offering the plate. “They’re quite good.”

“No, thanks,” he said. “Never was too partial to lemon.”

She set down the plate, wrinkling her nose. “Too tart. I quite agree.”

Odd. She’d consumed four of the things before Hart had arrived and even agreed with Beth they were one of Maddie’s best.

“That was very brave of you just now,” the schoolteacher continued, folding her gloved hands demurely on the table. “Miss Wallin told me you’re quite the hero, but now I’ve seen the evidence with my own eyes.”

His gaze swung Beth’s way, and she had to stop herself from squirming. She raised her chin instead. “Everyone here saw what you did. We all know you stand between the citizens of the county and every sort of danger.”

He snorted, leaning back in his chair as if to distance himself from the very notion. “Folks in King County are pretty good about spotting danger and protecting themselves. I’m just here for when things get out of hand.”

Miss Jenkins leaned closer to him. “And do they get out of hand often?” she asked.

Hart frowned as if he could not understand her breathless interest.

“Miss Jenkins is new to our shores,” Beth explained. “I’m sure she’d appreciate your assessment of the area.”

Hart shrugged. “Things are fairly safe. Only had one cougar attack in the last month, and Sheriff Wyckoff and his dogs chased it off. Natives left on this side of the Sound are friendly for the most part. Last time anyone was murdered was a few months ago—family out Columbia way—shot in their beds. We strung up the killers.”

Miss Jenkins was turning whiter with each word.

“But everything in Seattle is fine,” Beth rushed to assure her. “Kind people, industrious...”

“Few drunken brawls on the weekend, petty theft in the mercantiles...”

“Four churches now,” Beth continued, raising her voice.

“A gang along the waterfront, beating and robbing newcomers.”

Beth gave up and glared at him. “A vicious gang, in Seattle?”

“Never underestimate man’s ability to prey on man, Miss Wallin,” he insisted, with a nod to Miss Jenkins. “Or woman.”

She rose in a flutter of brown, like a sparrow startled from its nest. “Thank you for inviting me to tea, Miss Wallin. I fear I must be going. I’ll be starting work shortly, and I won’t have time for more of these...social events. Deputy.”

Hart had risen when she did, but she scooted out the door before he could bid her farewell. With a frown, he settled himself back onto his chair. “Curious woman. Doesn’t say much.”

“Because you wouldn’t let her get a word in,” Beth accused. “What were you thinking, filling her head with dangers and drama? I’ll be surprised if she sets one foot outside her door the next two days.”

Hart reached for a cookie. “If she’s that timid, she shouldn’t have come to Seattle.”

Beth stared at him as he popped the morsel whole into his mouth. “I thought you didn’t like lemon drops.”

“They’re tolerable,” he allowed, reaching for another.

Heat flushed through her and not from embarrassment this time. “You did that on purpose.”

“Did what?” His face and voice were bland, but he didn’t fool her.

“You went out of your way to be unpleasant to Miss Jenkins. Surely you guessed I was trying to match you up with her.”

“Couldn’t think of any other reason she’d be here.”

Beth threw up her hands. “You didn’t even try to see if she was suitable.”

“We won’t suit.” He’d finished the last of the cookies and pushed the plate away. “No man wants a wife who can’t stomach to hear about his work.”

There was that. Beth sighed. “Very well. I suppose she might be too timid for a fellow like you.”

He nodded, leaning back in his chair as if satisfied. Something inside her itched to remove that smug smile.

“I should have thought to ask,” she said sweetly. “What do you prefer in your bride?”

His smile snuffed out. “I’m not looking for a bride.”

Stubborn! Like most of his kind. Beth smiled at him. “You’re quite right. I’m seeking you a bride.” She leaned forward. “You don’t have all that many choices, you know. There are still far more men than women here. And the other ladies I’ve approached have been reticent.”

He nodded. “Good. I always knew the ladies of Seattle were a smart lot.”

“But that doesn’t mean there aren’t ladies who would be willing to have you court them,” Beth insisted. “I’ll try to take your ideas into consideration, if you’d care to share.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, setting his badge to winking in the light. “Never gave it much thought.”

“Really? I know women who have the gown all picked out and are just waiting for the fellow to go on their arm.” When he frowned, she pushed on. “Let’s start with physique. Slender or ample?”