Chapter 17 #3
Red looked back at her. “And don’t you dare take the blame for Mort and Wade Sawyer.
There’s not another man in this place—maybe in the whole territory—who would grab you like that even if you spit on him and told him his lacy pantaloons were showing under his skirts.
Why, most of us would thank you for the insult and keep the spit for a memento of having a moment of your attention. ”
Several men surrounded them, and they all added their agreement to Red’s statement.
One of them said, “I’d be much obliged for you to spit on me, ma’am,” and the crowd laughed.
“No decent man hurts a woman, Cass.” The way Red was looking at her, she knew he was talking about Wade, but he was thinking of Griff too.
And these crude, uncivilized men who had always been beneath Griff’s notice felt the same way.
There was silence between her and Red for a second until she nodded slightly.
Red rubbed her arms as he did sometimes, as if she were chilled and he wanted to warm her.
“The Sawyers were pestering the people around here long before you or I came, and a sweet little thing like you can’t make ’em better, and you can’t make ’em worse, so don’t bother to try.
” Red’s tone lightened, and his smile took on a teasing quality.
“Anyway, even if it’s all your fault, it doesn’t make any difference. ”
“Why not?” Cassie asked suspiciously.
Red leaned so close, his lips brushed against her ear. “’Cuz, I knew when I married you, you were gonna be trouble.”
Cassie pulled away slightly, trying to conceal her hurt.
Red caught her chin with two fingers and leaned in close and spoke so nobody could hear. “Now’s when you’re supposed to say, ‘Red, you low-down, worthless excuse for a man, I’m not trouble. You are. And if I am any trouble, I’m worth every minute of it.’”
Cassie’s cheeks heated at the very thought of speaking so to her husband. She whispered something completely different than what he’d ordered her to say. “Red, I think you’re about the finest excuse for a man I’ve ever known.”
Red’s eyes looked deep into hers. For a long moment, Cassie felt joined to another human being in a way she never before had. Then he seemed to remember himself because he shook his head a little. “You are one disobedient woman. All this niceness is a big disappointment to a man who likes sass.”
“I promise I’ll try to be meaner,” Cassie said demurely.
Red laughed and tapped her on the tip of her nose. “You do that.”
“Mort can’t control him, Red,” she warned softly.
“I know. But I had to give him a chance to try. I’ve never killed a man, and I never want to.
It’s about more than wanting something like that on my conscience.
I don’t think it’s too judgmental of me to suspect that if Wade died now, he’d never make it to the pearly gates.
In some ways, it would be better for me to die than him because of what he’s facing in the afterlife.
I don’t know if I’d have the courage to die to save the life of a man like Wade Sawyer, but it would be the right thing to do, I reckon.
But I have you and the babe to consider.
I have to protect the two of you. Maybe Mort can do something.
Maybe he’ll send him to Denver like you said. ”
“Oh, but the poor woman who’ll end up married to him…”
Red smiled. “Maybe he’ll marry someone like Belle Tanner. She could handle him.”
Cassie arched both brows. Belle could handle Wade. “But Belle’s already married.”
“True, but her husbands don’t seem to be permanent, exactly.
” Red looked out the door as if seriously considering introducing Wade to Belle.
Then he shrugged. “Let’s don’t worry about the imaginary woman he marries now.
I’ve got food to deliver and the windows to wash at Grant’s and a few more things to do before I can quit for the day. ”
“I wish I could help you with the food, Red.”
Muriel interrupted. “I can’t spare you, Cassie. Red’s gonna have to do it alone.”
A look passed between Muriel and Red, confirming that Muriel had special instructions to not let Cassie overdo. Cassie’s heart warmed to think people were taking care of her.
Red headed to the back of the store, and, to Cassie’s surprise, a dozen men who had gathered to get supplies while Mort and Wade made their fuss filed past her, each tipping his hat.
They followed Red back, and each hefted an armload of the goods that were gathered to fill Libby’s order.
Cassie hurried to the hallway to watch as the men followed Red across the street.
Red was ahead and didn’t notice them until he was opening Libby’s door.
He turned enough to see he was leading a parade, and he started laughing.
Cassie smiled at Red’s shining white teeth and generous smile.
Then, although he had two fifty-pound bags of flour on his shoulder, he held the door for the whole long line of men.
The men filed straight back out and came to be waited on at the store. Cassie made sure to thank each of them personally and did her best to call each by name.