Chapter 6

 

He’d never felt so warm. Sweat dripped into Bram’s eyes and down his neck as he placed another wet sack on his store’s roof. In the light from the nearby fire, he could see Tempest’s damp hair clinging to her temples. Across the street her roof resembled a patchwork quilt with its hodgepodge of color and cloth.

“That’s the last one,” she announced, resting back on her heels. “Do you think it will do the trick?”

“I hope so.” Bram pushed out a sigh. His muscles felt cramped and sore from kneeling on a second rooftop, but he didn’t regret his decision to help Tempest with her store first. The thought of her losing her mercantile and disappearing from his life had prompted his decision earlier. If he lost his store, so be it. He wouldn’t stand by and see Tempest lose hers too.

“What do we do now, Bram?”

He eyed the blazing rooftops down the street. “We wait . . . and we pray.”

A hint of a smile lifted her lips. “I’ve been doing the second one already.”

“Me too,” he admitted with a half smile of his own. “We probably ought to get down.” Offering her his hand, he guided her to the edge of the roof, where he’d placed his ladder in the alley beside his store.

Tempest climbed down first and he followed. “I think we work quite well together.” She gestured to the roof above.

Her words matched the thoughts he’d had since she’d been sick. “We do.”

Bram reached out and rubbed a smudge of ash from her cheek. There was no one else he preferred working beside like this. Or talking to. Or laughing with. No other woman he loved like this.

He’d come to a decision just the day before to ask Tempest to partner with him and join their stores. If she didn’t love him as he did her, then he would accept a marriage of convenience with her and hope in time his feelings would be shared.

“What is it?” She studied him, her head cocked to the side.

Lifting his hand to cup her neck, he tugged her gently forward. “You are beautiful, Tempest,” he murmured, “inside and out. And I would very much like to kiss you.”

“Then I think you should,” she murmured.

His timing might be off, given the fire and the fact that their stores might not survive, but he didn’t want to wait another moment without giving her a glimpse into his feelings. He captured her lips and poured his gratitude and love into the kiss. And Tempest ardently kissed him back.

A cry from beyond the alley had him stepping back. Bram saw a man gesturing toward the fire. Was it in relief or terror?

“Come on,” he said, reaching for her hand again. “Let’s see what else we can do to help.”

They emerged onto the street to see the fire’s greediness had slowed, though not stopped altogether. “We can assist with one of the bucket brigades,” Tempest said. Bram nodded agreement.

For what felt like several more hours, they passed buckets up the line. At last, flames no longer rose to the sky. Now there was only smoke and ash and the blackened shells of several buildings, including the post office.

Bram joined Tempest where she sat beside Lydia at the edge of the boardwalk, both women’s faces streaked with soot.

“I’m so sorry we couldn’t save it, Lydia.” Tempest placed her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “How are you and Calvin holding up?”

Lydia sniffed and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “We’ll be all right. Especially once we build a new building.”

“You won’t have to build a new building,” Tempest said, her voice full of conviction.

“Why ever not?” Lydia asked, voicing the same question running through Bram’s head.

Tempest lowered her arm to face Lydia directly. “Because I’m giving you my building.”

“What?” he and Lydia exclaimed at the same time.

Looking a little less sure of herself, Tempest glanced down. “I want you and Calvin to have it. I was planning on giving it away or selling it, along with . . .” She looked toward Bram. “Along with selling my goods to you, Bram.”

Did that mean she was leaving? He wasn’t ready for that, would never be ready for that. “Why?” he asked.

She sighed. “I can’t hold out much longer, but I am hoping to stay in town . . .” Her voice trailed off. There was clearly more she wished to say.

Climbing to her feet, Lydia smiled kindly at them both. “I believe there are some things you need to discuss, in my absence.” She reached for Tempest’s hand and squeezed it. “Bless you for your offer, my dear friend. I’m going to talk to Calvin about it right now and we’ll let you know if we accept.”

As Lydia walked away, Bram scooted closer to Tempest. “How come you want to sell me your goods but still stay in town?”

“Because I have some unfinished business,” she said in a soft voice. “Regarding us.”

Bram scooped up her hands, his heart drumming faster with hope. “You don’t have to sell them to me, Tempest. I’d already decided tonight to ask you to partner with me, to join stores.” Her eyes widened and he hurried to add, “In a marriage of convenience, if necessary.”

She frowned and cocked her head, her lovely, wild curls framing her face. “Only a marriage of convenience?”

 

• • •

 

Tempest watched Bram carefully. Did he love her as much as she loved him? She wanted to believe it, given his wonderful kiss earlier, and yet, he was talking about marrying for convenience only.

He lifted his thumb and rubbed it against her bottom lip. Her pulse sped up at his touch. “I don’t really want a marriage of convenience, Tempest,” he said, his tone somber. “I only suggested it because I thought you might prefer that.” A slow grin began at the corners of his mouth, the one she’d very much enjoyed kissing, and drove the solemnity from his handsome face. “But if you don’t want that . . .”

A rush of happiness and love prompted her to edge closer so their knees were touching. “I’ll tell you want I want, Bram Wakeman.”

“I’m listening,” he said with a light laugh.

She gazed into his eyes and felt clarity for the first time since he’d come to town. “I thought I still wanted a store and my hard-earned freedom.” Tempest swallowed as she turned her gaze first to her mercantile and then to his. “But now I know what I want more than anything. It’s what the Lord knew I needed all along, what we needed. And it isn’t a marriage of convenience. We need a marriage of love.”

Her face warmed with her boldness, but she didn’t regret saying what was on her mind. She might not be the owner of a store after tonight, but she couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do than work alongside Bram in their store.

“I couldn’t agree more.” He kissed the back of her knuckles, his lips lingering against her skin. “Together we’ll have the best mercantile in Idaho City.”

She bent forward and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “I love you, Bram. I think I have since that moment you first walked into my store.”

He smiled, setting her heartbeat thrumming all over again. “I rather like the idea of marrying a woman who brandishes a hammer like it’s a battle-axe.”

“Is that a proposal then?” she teased.

“No, but this is.” He went down on one knee in the ash and dirt. “Will you marry me, Tempest?”

She didn’t hesitate with her answer. “Yes,” she said with enthusiasm.

He drew closer for another kiss. Tempest closed the distance as well, then purposely paused a hairbreadth away. “Will you let me keep some of my organized chaos?”

Bram pretended to think the question over before nodding. “If I can keep some of my alphabetizing methods.”

“All right,” she said, adopting his thoughtful pose. “And will you try to tame the tempest out of me?”

“Never.” His expression radiated tenderness. “‘I would not wish any companion in the world but you,’” he quoted softly.

“Ah, The Tempest.”

“No,” he corrected, “my Tempest.” And then he kissed her again as the songbirds began their early morning chorus.