Sterling's Way (Lawmen & Outlaws) by Leone Sarita

Author:Leone, Sarita [Leone, Sarita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western, Small Town
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2014-02-22T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Had it been physically possible to do so, Jack would have put his own boot print on his backside. How could he have been so stupid?

He had ruined what promised to be a cozy moment with the first woman to stir his romantic interests in longer than… Good God in heaven, in longer than he could remember! Even when he wracked his brain, searching for the memory of another female who stirred him the way Kristen did, he came up blank. Perfectly blank, not even the slightest glimmer of recognition for anyone else who had ignited his undeniably finicky interest.

There was no accounting for it. He must be out of his cotton-picking, ever-loving mind. Any other excuse for his outrageous behavior was just that, an excuse. No, he had to be crazy. What else could it be?

Granddad would have an explanation for this temporary insanity of mine.

He huffed, exasperated, annoyed and just plain puzzled by his actions. Back home, he was completely in control at all times. But here? And with Miss Kristen Marsh? Why, he could barely keep a civil tongue. What a fool he had made of himself.

She was enough to drive every ounce of common sense right out of his head. No, that wasn’t the whole unvarnished truth. It wasn’t so much the lady that drove him nuts—although she certainly had a way about her that strongly affected him. No, it was the thought of Kristen doing anything—even talking—with that softheaded Patrick Godsend.

There was no rational excuse he could give her for his foolish behavior.

And there was no way he could simply ignore the fact that he’d acted like an escapee from a mental institution.

No, he’d have to clear the air when he next saw Kristen.

So, a gift of some sort…preferably the frivolous-but-pretty variety favored by so many women. He knew exactly what to get.

Fortunately the shop was, once again, deserted. The morning bustle was over and the afternoon shoppers had not yet arrived. Jack walked right to the counter, his boots beating out a rhythm that matched the pounding in his chest.

Good God in Heaven, what if she decides not to speak to me again? I acted like a jealous colt, with less brains that brawn and probably laced up her view that men who aren’t from Boston—or the pulpit—are untamed.

A fresh wave of embarrassment hit him. Jack slapped his palm against the wooden countertop. The sting was but a small atonement, and he knew it.

The clerk’s glance shot from Jack’s hand to his face. Apparently he felt no threat, because he stepped closer. His pasty complexion made Jack want to shoo the young man outside, into the warmth of the day. He looked unwell.

“What can I do for you? And weren’t you in here earlier? This morning, with a pretty lady—yes, I’m sure it was you.” His welcoming smile stretched. “Of course, I never forget a face.”

“Never?”

“Nope. Never. Well, almost never, leastways.” Planting his hands on the counter, and leaning closer still, he asked, “So? What’ll it be?” He swept a glance from Jack’s hat to his boot tips.

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