The Cowboy Who Caught Her Eye

He felt like a man with two left hands who didn’t know how to use either of them.

While she’d slept last night, cradled in his arms, he’d lain awake, pondering all the complexities of life—especially those he’d never wondered about before. Like holding someone as they slept. He’d never done that, and instinctively he knew the marvel of doing so wasn’t something he’d forget anytime soon. Perhaps ever.

There were things he did know, and questions he did want to ask her, which were tumbling forward now, faster than dried up tumbleweeds rolling across the flat plains he’d seen down in Kansas. He tried, but was unable to catch one as it rolled across his tongue.

“Who’s the father of your baby?”

AUTHOR NOTE

The American cowboy came about after the Civil War, when a shortage of beef in the northern states gave some enterprising southerners, mainly Texans, the idea of driving their cattle north. Their plan was to drive them to the closest railroads—Kansas. These cattle drives flourished for about twenty years—1866–1885—and a cowboy was considered to be anyone with ‘guts and a gun’.

The railroad soon spread across the nation, diminishing the cattle drives, but the cowboy lived on, performing a multitude of duties in winning the West. There is something about those men—rustic, rugged, risky, yet charismatic and downright sexy—that captures women’s hearts. They’re men we know will be there when needed, whether it’s three in the morning or three in the afternoon.

Though he’s a Pinkerton Man, Carter Buchanan is a cowboy at heart, and he’s there for Molly Thorson whether she wants him to be or not—at three in the morning and three in the afternoon.

I sincerely hope you enjoy meeting and getting to know both Carter and Molly as much as I did.

About the Author

LAURI ROBINSON’S chosen genre to write is Western historical romance. When asked why, she says, ‘Because I know I wasn’t the only girl who wanted to grow up and marry Little Joe Cartwright.’

With a degree in early childhood education, Lauri has spent decades working in the non-profit field and claims once-upon-a-time and happily-ever-after romance novels have always been a form of stress relief. When her husband suggested she write one she took the challenge, and has loved every minute of the journey.

Lauri lives in rural Minnesota, where she and her husband spend every spare moment with their three grown sons and four grandchildren. She works part-time, volunteers for several organisations, and is a diehard Elvis and NASCAR fan. Her favourite getaway location is the woods of northern Minnesota, on the land homesteaded by her great-grandfather.

Previous titles from Lauri Robinson:

HIS CHRISTMAS WISH

(part of All a Cowboy Wants for Christmas)

UNCLAIMED BRIDE

INHERITING A BRIDE

Also available in Mills & Boon^® Historical Undone! eBooks:

WEDDING NIGHT WITH THE RANGER

HER MIDNIGHT COWBOY

NIGHTS WITH THE OUTLAW

DISOBEYING THE MARSHAL

TESTING THE LAWMAN’S HONOUR

THE SHERIFF’S LAST GAMBLE

WHAT A COWBOY WANTS

HIS WILD WEST WIFE

Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

The Cowboy Who Caught Her Eye

Lauri Robinson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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To my sister-in-law, Berta. Gotta love those cowboys! Love you, Lauri.

Chapter One

Dakota Territory

August 1884

Carter Buchanan kept the hat pulled low on his face and his feet propped on the seat across from him, waiting for the others to gather their bags and bundles and head for the exit. He was as ready to get off the rumbling box on wheels as the rest of them, but he never let anything show—feelings or thoughts. That was how he liked it.

He did let out a pent-up sigh and cast a little glance around, checking how many other passengers still had to depart the Chicago and Northwestern railcar. Several, including the woman with a dozen kids. True, it wasn’t a full dozen, but she had a horde. With red hair and freckles. Irish. He was, too. Black Irish. That’s what they called him all those years ago when he roamed the streets of New York. His hair was still black, his eyes still blue, but no one had called him that for years now. Not that it mattered. It hadn’t then and it didn’t now.

Once the commotion slowed, he pushed back his hat, planted his boots on the floor and gathered up the bedroll he’d tucked his well-worn dictionary in earlier. Sampson would be glad to see him. The gelding hadn’t been impressed with his accommodations. Neither had Carter. What the railroad advertised and what he’d just experienced were as far apart as the east and west coasts. He knew. He’d been to both. Coasts, that is.

Right now he was smack-dab in the middle of these good old United States of America. The land his father never got to see. Mother, either. The trip over from the old country saw to that. Carter had seen this country though. Lots of it. And now he was in Huron, South Dakota. Named after the Indians that once roamed the prairies, founded to become the headquarters of the western division of the C&NW railroad, and where his latest case took him.

The only place bills had surfaced from last year’s train robbery was right here in Huron. Ironic, that’s what he’d called it. Told Mr. Pinkerton that himself. The man agreed and told him good luck.

Good luck. That, too, was ironic. What other kind of luck would you wish upon someone?

The outside air wasn’t a whole lot better than inside the train car. Hot and heavy. He drew in a good portion anyway and set off in the direction of his horse.

Full of muck and mud, a recent rain no doubt, the ground surrounding the depot platform stunk from droppings left about, which he stepped around as if sashaying a woman across a dance floor. Not that he did that too often. Unlike dancing, sidestepping piles he was used to.

Sampson was nickering before the gate to the stock car dropped and upon bounding down, the palomino made his own offering to the stench and muck.

“That happens every time,” a young kid said, handing over Sampson’s reins.

“I’m sure it does,” Carter answered, giving the curly-haired boy a coin for his troubles.

“If you’re hungry, there’s a restaurant in the hotel, or the mercantile sells breads and such, if’n you want to make your own.” The boy waved a hand toward the buildings lining both sides of the muddy street. “It’s a bit farther away, but I’d recommend the mercantile. Miss Thorson makes the best cinnamon rolls you’ll ever eat.”

“Obliged,” Carter said, tying his pack behind the saddle. He led Sampson away then, but just far enough to examine the surroundings. A cinnamon roll did sound good. He’d always had a soft spot for pastries, and the mercantile was one of the places he’d visit, but first he’d get a feel for the town.

This assignment didn’t require him to be undercover—he was using his own name—but that didn’t mean he wanted anyone to know who he was, what he was doing. One never knew how folks would relate to a Pinkerton man. Some were impressed, others angered, and there were always a few who really didn’t care. He’d be one of the latter, if he was in anyone else’s boots. Plenty of Pinkerton operatives, even some he knew well, were little more than thugs with a cross to bear.

Carter took to walking again, down the muddy street, giving Sampson a chance to get his bearings while surveying the buildings on both sides. Connected, one to the next, they went on for half a dozen blocks. Several were stand-alones, had little walkways—muddy ones—between them, and most had two stories, a couple with balconies. Some were made of bricks, even had the dates they were built—last year—displayed in the top row below the crowning eaves. Others were made of wood, but painted. All in all, it appeared to be a well-laid-out and prosperous town.

The line outside the hotel suggested most of the train passengers had decided on a meal at the restaurant. It was close to noon. He’d get himself one of those cinnamon rolls later, but just now he was moseying. He was good at moseying, and liked it, too. It was amazing what a man learned just by keeping his ears open, walking about, and Carter set a slow pace, doing precisely that.

It was close to an hour later when he found himself at the edge of town. The sun was high, drying out the ground, and Carter was satisfied he knew enough particulars to dig in to his assignment.

Thorson’s Mercantile, a big wooden structure, and a stand-alone one, was at the end of the main street, a considerable distance from all the other buildings, making him wonder if it was one of the first ones built several years ago, before the railroad bought up the land on the west bank of the James River for their western division headquarters. The store looked as if it had been a house at one time that someone had added a big front room to, complete with plate-glass windows and a sprawling porch to display odds and ends for sale. There was a barn and a couple other buildings nestled around it, as though the original owners were building a ranch, but changed their minds.

That’s what he’d decided was in his future. A ranch. He’d have it someday. Soon. Just had to decide where. That’s one of the things he’d come to like about being a Pinkerton man. Assignments rarely sent him to the same place twice, giving him a chance to explore where he wanted to finally hang his hat. It paid well, too, being a Pinkerton operative. He had no complaints on that either.

Carter swung into the saddle, ready to ride, give Sampson a chance to stretch his legs. There’d be plenty of time to get that cinnamon roll, see Ted Wilcox and then settle in the hotel before nightfall.

The thunder of hooves had Molly Thorson lifting her head and resting a hand on the end of the hoe handle. Cowboys were nothing new, they rode through town, even visited the mercantile on a regular basis, but the horse this one sat upon deserved a second look. Big and glistening like a gold coin in the sun, the palomino was magnificent. The never-faraway longing in her heart sprang to life; however, this time it was quickly overshadowed by a unique fluttering in her stomach.

Molly pressed her free hand to her abdomen, held it there. Waited.

The movement didn’t repeat itself and she went back to hoeing. It was too soon. At least she thought it was, and there was no one she could ask. No one to tell her what to expect, what to do. It was only here, when she took an hour after lunch to hoe the garden, that she could even let herself think about the baby.

That wasn’t true. She thought about the little life inside her all the time, but it was only here, when she was alone, that she could pretend things were different. That being pregnant was something to behold and cherish.

Time was ticking by and soon everyone would know about the baby. They’d be telling her what to do, too, and what they thought. Especially of her. A harlot. An unwed mother. A woman like that.

Hoe in hand, Molly attacked the weeds, releasing frustration all the way to the end of the row.

It didn’t help. Only made her sweat and brood over things more intently. Loathe herself.

Disgusted inside and out, she blew out a breath. If she lived forever, she’d never take another sip of Afton Smith’s cherry wine. She’d never been so sick in her life and now she knew life could always get worse than what a person thought it was. If only she could have that day back. Things would be different, that was for sure. But she couldn’t have that day back, and she had to find her backbone instead of her wishbone, figure out a way to live with what she’d done.

Her anger renewed itself, or maybe it had never left, she’d just forgotten about it for a moment. With vigor, she took after the weeds in the next row until a little beet got caught on the end of the hoe. Pausing, Molly took a moment to stretch the discomfort from her back before leaning down to stick the tiny bulb, stringy root down, back in the earth.

As much as she loathed herself for what had happened, she loved the little life growing inside her. If it was just her, she’d face down the entire town, not really caring what they thought, but more often than not she witnessed the residents’ reactions to those they considered were beneath them, saw and felt it when people looked upon Ivy. They’d do that to her baby, too.

“Molly!”

Lifting her gaze, she waited for Karleen to shout the rest of what she had to say from the side of the store.

“Mr. Ratcliff needs your assistance!”

Molly waved a hand, signaling she’d heard, and then dug out the last two weeds trying to grow at the end of the row. She also carried the hoe to the barn before making her way toward the store. It was their livelihood, the mercantile her father had started back when there was nothing out here except a few farmers and some Indians—Ivy’s tribe. Father’s plan had been to start a horse ranch when they’d left Ohio all those years ago. It hadn’t happened—a ranch—being a merchant had been more lucrative. The store was still profitable—barely—since the railroad opened a dry-goods store that was always well stocked. Their shipments were never delayed.

The weight on her shoulders was too heavy to shake off. Of course it was. There weren’t just the worries of the store weighing her down. There was her sister, and her ward, little Ivy—a treasure for sure—the baby growing in her body, and a slew of other things she couldn’t pull up right now. There was work to be done. Her hour of solitude was over.

As she walked along the pathway from the barn to the store, Molly couldn’t help but glance down the road, in the direction the palomino had galloped. The days of saddling a horse and riding for hours with no real purpose other than pleasure were gone. Long gone. But they still called to her. Stronger than ever.

She increased the speed of her steps.

As old as some of the trees on her property, Mr. Ratcliff met her on the store’s wide porch, rubbing his bushy mustache. Without a word of greeting and as pleasant as a hornet, he informed her, “I got an issue with those nails you sold me.”

His lack of pleasantries didn’t disturb her, she wasn’t overly agreeable either. Hadn’t been for some time. “Oh, what’s wrong with them?”

“They’re rusty.”

If rusty nails were her only problem, the world would be a glorious place. Molly pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth, telling herself to stay calm. They needed every sale to make ends meet. “Did you leave them in the rain?” she asked, keeping her voice even.

Mr. Ratcliff hitched one thumb under a suspender strap while stomping his walking stick against the porch boards with his other hand. “I just bought them last week.”

Staying calm didn’t come easy, and deep breaths weren’t cutting it any longer. “I know when you bought them. I asked if you left them outdoors, in the rain.”

Little more than five feet tall, Mr. Ratcliff lifted his chin, covered with several shades of stiff gray whiskers, as if that made him taller than her. It didn’t. So he stretched his neck. “Your papa would never have sold rusty nails.”

“I didn’t sell you rusty nails, Mr. Ratcliff. I’m positive they were just fine when you purchased them. However, once left outdoors, in the rain, nails will rust. Rather quickly.”

“They’re rusty, all right. Come take a look.” He turned around, which took several steps considering he had to get both feet moving and his cane all at the same time.

Molly had no choice but to wait, and then followed behind his shuffling feet, all the way across the porch and into the store. Karleen was making herself look busy by rearranging the bolts of material on the table Mr. Ratcliff slowly made his way past and Ivy was dusting the set of shelves holding shoes—of which no one had bought a pair in over a year. Molly managed a tight grin for the child as she continued to follow the disgruntled customer—growing that way herself with each footfall—all the way to the far wall where on the counter sat a small rusted and dented can.

Once there, nerves thoroughly frayed, Molly skirted around to the backside of the high counter her father had built by hand, and plucked a wet and rusty nail from the pile in the bottom of the can.

“See?” Mr. Ratcliff said as if it was utterly unbelievable.

“I see the water in the bottom of the can,” she pointed out.

“Now, listen here, missy. I know’d your pappy when he first moved to this here county. You weren’t no taller than a weed back then. Your sister still creeping on all fours. I helped put up that barn out back and even worked on this here storefront when the time came. Didn’t use no rusty nails either. No sirree. When Niles Thorson sold a man nails, they were good ones.” Along with several thumps of his stick, he loudly declared, “I want new nails. Ones that aren’t rusty.”

Several things were vying for the tip of Molly’s tongue. She knew exactly when her family had moved here and was more than ready to tell Mr. Ratcliff exactly what she thought of his demand; however, someone else spoke first.

“What are you building with those nails?”

In no mood to be interrupted, Molly turned her glare toward the door. Spurs jingled as a tall man made a direct path toward the counter, but it was the gun belt hanging low on his hips that kept her silent. A Peacemaker, which should make her nervous since they weren’t good for much except killing a man, but the gun didn’t make her uncomfortable. It had her adding up receipts. So did the Stetson on his head. Both the pistol and the hat were things she’d like to stock, but couldn’t. They were too expensive to sit on the shelves, therefore could only be sold by special order. Men buying Peacemakers and Stetsons didn’t hang around town waiting for their order to come in. The railroad’s dry-goods store kept them in stock, and made a hefty profit on each one they sold.

Mr. Ratcliff had shuffled around to look at the stranger, too, and the old man asked, “What you want to know that for?”

“Just curious.”

The newcomer’s voice was low and slow, subtle, and the gaze of his cobalt-blue eyes was steady, unwavering. Molly kept hers just as solid, even when their gazes snagged. He nodded toward her and then the can. She dropped the nail amongst the others and pushed the container toward the stranger as he arrived at the counter. Little intimidated her, and though she couldn’t quite say this man unsettled her, he had a commanding way about him few probably ignored.

After thoughtful surveillance of the can and nails, the man asked, “You were seasoning these, were you?”

“Uh?” Mr. Ratcliff asked, easing his way over to peer into the can.

“Seasoning the nails.” The stranger looked at her again. “May I?”

Molly had no idea what he was asking, but nodded nonetheless. Strangers weren’t uncommon, not with three trains rolling through town most days, and when she saw the same man twice, she remembered. This was the cowboy who had ridden out of town on the palomino. A quick glance through the store, out the front window, proved it. The horse was tethered to the hitching post.

The cowboy pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket, and started lifting the nails out of the can, drying them off one by one. “You wouldn’t have a container of axle grease, would you?”

His question was directed toward Molly. Not completely convinced she should, but curious, she walked the length of the counter to where the hardware items were located and carried back a good-size tin of grease.

The stranger dipped a corner of his kerchief in the grease and started rubbing it over each nail. Turning those dark blue eyes toward Mr. Ratcliff, the cowboy said, “Smart man, Mr….”

Bobbing his head, the old man answered, “Ratcliff. Owen Ratcliff.”

“Smart man, Mr. Ratcliff,” the cowboy repeated. “Seasoning your nails like this. Now when you use them, they won’t be as susceptible to rust.”

Owen Ratcliff went from grinning to frowning in a flash. “Uh?”

Laying the last nail on the counter, the cowboy asked her, “Would you have a different container for Mr. Ratcliff’s nails? Even a piece of paper to wrap them in would be fine.”

Once again Molly followed his request, retrieving paper and a length of string. She was still curious, but also a touch intrigued, as was her sister, who’d inched closer. No one pleased Mr. Ratcliff. Leastwise she never had. Not even when she tried. Yet this cowboy, with his slow, even voice and even slower movements, had placated the man through and through.

The nails piled on top of the paper looked as good as the ones in the pail on the other side of the store. She’d never heard of seasoning nails, and suspected it was a ruse, but chose not to say anything. A sale was a sale and every return went against her bottom line.

With precise, dedicated movements, the cowboy wrapped the paper around the nails and secured it with the string. “There you are, Mr. Ratcliff. These nails will now be the strongest ones you’ve ever set a hammer to.”

Mr. Ratcliff took the package, and Molly had to bite her lips together. A smile was trying to form—that hadn’t happened for months, but the dumbfounded expression on Owen Ratcliff’s face was something no one in town had ever seen. She’d swear to that.

Never speechless before now, the old man barely muttered a humph as he started his slow shuffle toward the door. Molly was still staring, half expecting Ratcliff to spin about and start spouting off before he reached the porch, when a quiet giggle drew her attention.

“I wouldn’t have believed that if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” Karleen whispered, walking around the counter to edge in beside Molly.

Her sister, usually too engrossed in a book to notice anything going on around her, held one hand over the top of the counter. “Hello, I’m Karleen Thorson, and this is my sister Molly.”

“Carter Buchanan,” the cowboy replied evenly, shaking Karleen’s hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Buchanan,” Karleen continued with a bright smile. “I do believe you may have just performed a miracle. No one’s ever silenced Mr. Ratcliff.”

The cowboy, or Carter Buchanan—Molly had never heard of any Buchanans in the area, and couldn’t help but wonder where he was from and what he was doing here—turned and eyed the doorway Mr. Ratcliff was shuffling through.

“He’s probably just lonely. Doesn’t have anything to fill his time, so he thinks up things to complain about.” Turning back, he touched the brim of his hat. “It’s nice to meet you, too, Miss Thorson.” He then extended his hand toward her. “And you.”

A shudder traveled down Molly’s spine. “Maureen. Maureen Thorson,” she answered, without shaking his hand. She would never, ever so much as touch another man.

“Wasn’t that amazing, Molly?” Karleen asked. “I’ve never seen Mr. Ratcliff speechless. I really should go tell Mr. Franks. He’d want to write an article about it in the weekly post.”

“No,” Molly said, “you won’t go tell Mr. Franks, you will finish unpacking the freight.” Too young to know better, Karleen was too friendly with strangers, no matter how many times Molly cautioned her on it, and that had the past five months of irritation coming to a head. Searching for something, anything, she could control, Molly pointed toward the doorway that led to the living quarters. “Ivy, it’s time for you to go finish your lessons.”

Instant regret shimmied up her spine. Two big brown eyes and a quivering lip told her just how snippy she sounded. Softening her tone, for Ivy didn’t deserve any wrath, Molly added, “I’ll come see how you’re doing in a few minutes.”

“Come on, Ivy,” Karleen said, walking around the counter while flashing Molly a quick shot of disdain. “Let’s go see how far you’ve gotten in your reader.” With another sharp glance, she added, “I’ll finish unpacking the crates afterward.”

Molly wanted to scream, mainly because she knew her sister was right. The freight could wait, but Karleen didn’t have the responsibilities she did, or the worries. And shouldn’t. Karleen was only sixteen—she, on the other hand, was twenty-three. Plenty old enough for responsibilities. And to know better.

Drawing a deep breath, Molly told herself to count to ten. If she voiced her opinion right now she’d tell the stranger, greased or not, those nails weren’t any stronger now than when they’d been sitting in rainwater, but Mr. Ratcliff, still shuffling across the porch, might hear, therefore she counted. She had counted to about five when the cowboy spoke.

“Why aren’t they in school?”

Spinning, she leveled a dull gaze on the man. Still conscious of listeners, she kept her voice low as she pointed out the obvious. “Because Karleen graduated last year, and Ivy is an Indian.”

His face was expressionless, but he might as well have been stomping one foot. A person full of antagonism sees it in another. “So? She’s still a child. Still needs to learn.”

“That’s true,” Molly said, wondering where the sudden urge to mollify him came from. For months she’d fought the town council, who refused to allow Ivy to attend school, but had gotten nowhere. She’d have been at this month’s meeting, too, but fearful someone might notice her growing girth, she’d pretended to have forgotten what night the meeting had been held. “But Indian children are not allowed to attend Huron’s public school.”

“Why?”

She picked up the tin of axle grease and carried it back to the shelf. “I was told it’s because the school is funded through the tax system and Indians don’t pay taxes.”

The cowboy—only cowboys wore guns and spurs—was leaning on the counter, watching her, which had her sucking in her stomach, though it was well covered with a dress two sizes too big and three underskirts, and all the sucking in the world wouldn’t flatten it. His, however, was as flat as the counter. The tan shirt tucked into his black pants didn’t have a single ripple.

The idea she’d noticed so much about him made her skin tighten. “Is there something you needed?”

He cocked a brow. “Actually, yes.”

She thought about waiting it out, but didn’t have the patience. “What?”

“One of those cinnamon rolls.”

With a piece of paper, she picked up a roll from the plate on the corner of the counter and folded the edges around the pastry so he could carry it out the door. Not eat it here. The price was posted and he slid the correct change across the counter. Usually, no matter who it was, she’d thank a customer for their purchase, but not today. Not him.

“Could I speak to the owner?”

Molly walked to a crate sitting at the other end of the counter, started lifting things out of the sawdust. “You are,” she said, experiencing the first bout of pride she’d felt in months.

“You?”

“My sister and I.”

Carter held in his surprise. He hadn’t overheard that while walking around town. Then again, besides the boy at the train depot, no one had mentioned the mercantile and he hadn’t asked, knew he’d be stopping by and would learn all he needed to know. His plan had included getting a job here, at the mercantile, so he could watch the money flowing in and out, but he’d expected a man to own the establishment. Not a snooty woman, younger sister and little Indian girl—who, in his opinion, should be on the other side of town in the brick building with all the other kids. He didn’t have a lot of tolerance for kids, but had even less for people mistreating them.

The woman, Maureen, she’d called herself, though the tiny splattering of freckles covering her cheeks made her look more like the name her sister had called her—Molly—paused while unloading the crate. Gave him another uppity stare.

“Did you have a complaint?” she asked.

He had plenty of complaints, but voicing them wouldn’t help his case, so he pulled up a grin. “Nope. Just wanted to say your reputation precedes you.”

Her glare turned omniscient, and said she didn’t like what she thought he knew. Which meant he had more to learn. Picking up the pastry, he nodded. “Your cinnamon rolls. I heard they’re the best around.”

She didn’t believe that any more than he did. Interesting. He tipped the brim of his hat with one hand. “Ma’am.”

He was out the door, but heard her growl nonetheless. That was one ornery woman, and irritating her had a smile wanting to crack his lips. He didn’t let it. Took a bite of the cinnamon roll instead, and then leaned one elbow on his saddle. The pastry was tasty, might be the best he’d ever had, and he ate it right there, watching the front door of that mercantile, coming up with a new plan.

When the roll was gone, he folded the paper and stuffed it in his saddlebag—never know when it might come in handy—and then he patted Sampson’s neck while untying the reins from the post. “Time to visit Ted Wilcox. We need more information before we set our plan in place, boy. Then I’ll get you some oats.” Keeping his voice low while conversing with the horse—as he often did on cases—he added, “Molly Thorson is hiding a secret as big as you, and my gut says money is involved. Stolen money.”