Two days later the Stockton sisters moved into their house. The Montgomerys, Wes Monroe and Hank helped carry the furniture.
“I can’t believe Uncle Hank had this nice stuff stored.” Deborah watched as Ashe and Cal carried the heavy wardrobe up the stairs.
“Neither can I.” Quinn followed the two men to the room at the end of the upstairs hall.
“Where do you want this thing, Quinn?” Cal asked.
“There.” She pointed to the wall that backed up to the hall.
“I hope this is the last piece of your bedroom furniture.” Ashe laughed as he lowered his end of the wardrobe. “My back will never be the same again.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him, Quinn. He likes to complain.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Ashe threw his hands into the air. “All right, you two. If you want my help any longer, you’d better lay off.”
Quinn laughed as Deborah came into the room. “Do you have your furniture in, Quinn?”
“This was the last piece.”
“Good.” She looked at Cal. “Do you mind helping me?”
“Not at all, ma’am.”
“Need my help, too?”
“No, Ashe. Cal can handle it.”
Ashe turned to Quinn and asked in a teasing voice, “As the baby of the family, how did you rate the biggest bedroom?”
“We drew straws and I won this one.” She walked to the window. “With the front window and the end window, that’s a plus for cross ventilation and other things.”
“What other things?” He walked up beside her.
“Look down the street.”
“I only see a couple of houses.”
“Yeah. One, a quarter of a mile away.” He didn’t say anything and she went on. “If you want me to keep an eye on your girlfriend, I will.”
He shot her a glance. “Why do you insist on calling her my girlfriend?”
“Oh, Ashe. Everyone in town knows you’re involved with Lola Norwood.” She turned and gave him a catty smile. “She never fails to let me know you’re together.”
“Damn. She has no right to say anything to you.”
“Don’t you understand? She thinks any single woman in town is after you and she’s determined you marry her.”
“Marry?”
“She said you hadn’t actually asked, but said you’ve given strong hints. She expects you to ask at any time.”
“I’m never going to ask her to marry me. Hell, I’d as soon marry Misty at your Uncle’s saloon.”
Quinn grinned. “So you know Misty, too.”
He looked as if she’d slapped him. “I know a lot of people, Quinn,” he muttered.
She wasn’t about to let him wiggle out of his embarrassment. “A lot of women, you mean.”
Ashe looked around. “Where did I put my hat? I need to get to the office.”
“You left your hat downstairs.” She put her hand on his arm. “Don’t rush away. We still have the living room furniture to bring in when they get here with it.”
He glanced down at her hand on his arm and covered it with his hand. “Do you want me to stay?”
She blushed and jerked her hand away. “I think your brothers would appreciate the help. Their backs are probably tired, too.”
“I didn’t ask about my brothers. I asked if you wanted me to stay.”
She looked at the floor. “Yes,” she whispered.
Ashe moved closer to her. He took his finger and moved her head upward to look into her eyes. “I won’t stay for my brothers, but I’ll stay for you.”
Before she could move away, Ashe bent forward and brushed his lips across hers.
Quinn knew she should pull back, but she was mesmerized by the softness of his lips and the sensation going from her toes to the top of her head.
The kiss deepened and Ashe put his arms around her, pulling her close to his body.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” he muttered.
“Me, too.”
He kissed her again, this time rubbing his tongue across her lips. “You taste so good.”
Cal cleared his throat at the doorway.
Quinn and Ashe jumped apart. She blushed and he chuckled.
Cal grinned and said, “The guys are back. Ready to carry more furniture?”
“I’m ready.” Ashe turned and winked at Quinn, then followed his brother out the door.
Quinn stood there for several seconds. She was still stunned at how Ashe’s kiss made her feel. She didn’t want to feel this way. Ashe was tied to another woman. A woman who was not only beautiful, but was a neighbor and a slut, according to the whole town. Was what Lola Norwood felt for Ashe, love? From what Quinn had seen of the woman, she only loved herself.
“Are you going to stand there in a trance all day?” Deborah’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“No.” Quinn jerked around.
“Good. You can dream about kissing Ashe later. For now, let’s get downstairs. It’s no telling where those men will put the furniture.”
At the moment, Quinn didn’t care where the chairs and tables ended up. She only wanted to re-live the kiss and the feel of Ashe’s arms around her, but she couldn’t let Deborah know this. “I’m right behind you.” She turned and left the bedroom.
* * * *
It was late when the sisters finished setting up their rooms. Deborah had taken time away to fix supper and when Marlene came in from the store at five-thirty, they ate then all pitched in to help put things in order.
Now it was almost eleven and Quinn was sure her sisters were asleep. Quinn couldn’t sleep. She kept replaying the kiss. Was she falling in love with Ashe Montgomery? Did he have any feelings for her? If not, why did he want to kiss her? She wished she wasn’t so inexperienced in matters of the heart.
Quinn got out of the big four-poster bed and walked to the front window and looked out. It was a hot night and she’d raised the window to let a little of the almost non-existent breeze sweep across the room. She was still reeling from the kiss. She wished she could forget it. But it was impossible. She could still feel his strong arms and…
Her gaze wandered to the street and her heart sank. She saw Ashe pause and look up at her window. She jumped back, hoping he didn’t see her. He must not have because he continued down the street.
She moved to the side window. In a few minutes she saw him go to Lola Norwood’s house. She continued to watch as the front door opened and he went inside. Still she stood there. In a few minutes the front rooms went dark and a small light appeared in what she guessed was a bedroom. Still she stood. In a few minutes, the light went out and the house was dark.
Finally Quinn stumbled back to bed with tears running down her cheeks. She pulled the sheet over her head and her body began to rock with sobs.
* * * *
Winnie Goodspell sat in her bedroom at Mrs. Potter’s boarding house and felt some relief. At least Hank Stockton wouldn’t be coming back there to see his nieces now. She’d not have to see him again.
She was still confused as to why he’d not let anyone know he recognized her when he came for supper the other night. The last time she’d seen him, he’d vowed to get even with her. Now he had the perfect chance. Why hadn’t he taken it? Or was he only punishing her by making her worry about when and where he’d unmask her charade?
And where was Princess? Did Hank know her whereabouts? Was he only teasing when he referred to the name?
No. Hank wouldn’t do that. He knew where Princess was. Now how was she going to get the information out of him?
The only thing she was sure of was she needed to get to Princess. Though there was no way she could get the money back, she could make Princes think she was going to sue her or something. The girl owed her and not even family could treat her the way Princess had.
Winnie wondered if she’d taken up with that crazy Templeton again. It’d serve her right if she had. He’d abuse any woman he was involved with. And Winnie knew he’d been involved with a lot of them. She remembered when he’d mistreated one of the whores so badly she ended up with a limp for the rest of her life, but Princess still blamed the girl for everything. There was no way to convince Princess Temp would mistreat a whore.
As she pulled the sheet across her ample chest, Winnie decided she was going to have to make the first move. No matter how risky, she’d get dressed and go for a walk in town tomorrow. She’d visit the Stockton’s dress shop and let them know she missed them at the boarding house. She knew she’d gotten on their nerves at times, but still they’d treated her with respect. Winnie had had very little respect in her life and she hated to see it end. But she guessed it must. Tomorrow would be her reckoning because tomorrow she was going to go to the saloon and have a chat with Hank Stockton. She’d learned through life it was sometimes better to make the first move and not wait for her adversary to descend on her.
With everything sorted out in her mind, Winnie slipped down in the bed and tried to go to sleep. She now wished she hadn’t had a second helping of the pork roast Mrs. Potter had served tonight.