Free The Horseman by Marcia Lynn McClure

knew what Mrs. Fletcher
would’ve said. A handsome face doesn’t signify a handsome heart,
Briney Thress. I sometimes think that men are the most lustful,
heartless, depraved of all God’s creatures. And even if they
aren’t, they’re not to be trusted.
    It was why Mrs. Fletcher never allowed Briney
to dance more than once with the same partner at society
gatherings—never allowed anyone to come courting her. Well, those
were the reasons she professed as to why she kept young men at bay
where Briney was concerned. Of course, Briney had almost always
known it was because Mrs. Fletcher had hired her as a traveling
companion and indentured servant for herself and did not want to
risk Briney falling in love and wanting to leave her.
    Still, Briney wondered if Gunner Cole might
melt even the stone-cold heart of Enola Fletcher, if the old lady
had lived on. For, from Briney’s experience, the Horseman was a man
of outstanding character, as well as uncanny good looks.
    Gunner touched the brim of his hat as he
followed Mrs. Kelley into the boardinghouse by way of the
restaurant door to his right. “Miss Thress,” he said with a nod.
Then looking to Bethanne, he added, “Miss Kelley.”
    Briney watched him go.
    She heard Bethanne exhale a heavy sigh and
looked to her to see that Bethanne was watching Gunner leave as
well.
    “My, my, my,” Bethanne breathed. “That man is
sure somethin’ to look at, isn’t he?”
    Briney smiled, amused to find that she wasn’t
the only young woman in town to think Gunner Cole was
attractive.
    “He’s a tall drink of water, that’s for
certain,” Bethanne added, smiling at Briney.
    “A tall drink of water?” Briney asked, for
she didn’t quite understand the comparison.
    Bethanne giggled. “Yeah…a tall drink of
water,” she began to explain. “It means that Gunner Cole is so good
lookin’ that lookin’ at him gives you a thrill…like drinkin’ a tall
glass of water on a hot summer’s day.”
    “Oh, I see,” Briney giggled. “Well, he
certainly is one then…a tall drink of water, I mean.”
    “Indeed,” Bethanne said, “though, if you want
to know a secret, Briney…I’m sweet on one of his stablemen. Mr.
Plummer.”
    Instantly Briney’s smile broadened. “Charlie?
I met him just today! Oh, he is a kind and handsome man indeed…and
very polite.”
    “Yep, that’s Charlie,” Bethanne affirmed.
“Oh, he just sets my heart to racin’ like a startled bird’s!”
Bethanne tossed her head then—as if she felt she’d revealed
something too personal. “But that’s neither here nor there. Let’s
get you out to the bathhouse so you can start soakin’. And Mama
grows a plant out by the back porch that will soothe your sunburn a
bit.”
    “Oh, that would be wonderful,” Briney
admitted. But when she started to take a step forward, the sore,
stiff muscles in her legs and derrière violently protested. She
gasped and stopped cold.
    “Unfortunately, the best remedy is to kind of
walk around a bit, Briney,” Bethanne said, a sympathetic frown
furrowing her lovely brows. “A soak will help and then maybe some
rest too.”
    “Very well,” Briney said as she started
forward again. As she limped up the stairs as Bethanne held one of
her arms to assist her, Briney whispered, “I guess I should be glad
that Mr. Cole isn’t still here to witness this, shouldn’t I?”
    Bethanne giggled, “You should be very glad.
You look like a crooked old lady.”
    Briney giggled as well, again grateful that
Gunner Cole had disappeared into the restaurant before he’d had
another glimpse of her in such a ridiculously weakened state.
     
    “Poor little thing,” Gunner muttered under
his breath as he watched Bethanne Kelley help Briney into the
boardinghouse. “It’ll take her a week to recover.”
    “Oh, I don’t know,” Sylvia Kelley encouraged
as she set a plate of peach pie slathered in cream on the table at
which he sat. Mrs. Kelley’s gaze followed Gunner’s out