Page 26 of Love’s Silver Bullet

“Just trying to give Shay a little practice since she’s so new at this, not to mention myself,” Blaze said. He held up the bulky cast on his wrist and palm, so thick, it looked like a boxing glove. He shot Jake a wink. “After all, she’s gotta carry Jake.”

Dash chuckled as he and Jake lumbered up from their chairs. “Just like Sher’s gotta carry me on our team, right, Sher?” He ambled over to hook Shaylee’s arm, tugging her toward the farthest horseshoe pit. “Come on, kiddo. One team member on each side, so I’m keepin’ my eye on you.”

“Hey, how ’bout we do men on one side and women on the other?” Jake said in a rush, all but vaulting from the chair to drag Dash to the closest pit with him, neatly avoiding being at the same pit as Sheridan. “It’ll be fairer that way—men tossing against men and the girls tossing against girls.”

Sheridan halted on her way to Jake’s sand pit, hands perched on the hips of her lace-collared blue Sunday dress. “Actually, I think you’re just afraid to throw against me, Jake Sullivan, because you know I’ll win.”

Picking up the horseshoes, Jake handed two off to Dash as he singed Sheridan with a half-lidded look, lips ground into a tight smile. “Actually I’m sparing your feelings, Half-Pint, because I already know you won’t.”

“Whooooo-ee, sounds like we have ourselves a do-or-die competition.” Dash chuckled as he ambled over to his and Jake’s sandpit.

“You have no idea,” Sheridan muttered, looping an arm over Shaylee’s shoulder as they headed for the far sandpit, leaning to whisper in her sister’s ear. “Come on, Shay, let’s make monkeys out of them, all right?”

“Ground rules,” Uncle Finn called from the front porch. “Shaylee automatically starts with five points because she’s new at this game. Winning team plays Maggie & Blaze and then Libby and me for the final prize.”

Groans rose from the two teams because everyone knew when it came to horseshoes, Uncle Finn usually walked away with the win, especially since he’d been working with Aunt Libby on her game as well. A slow smile eased across his lips as he leaned back to prop his long legs on the railing, boots crossed at the ankles. “Top prize is dinner at the Gold Hill Hotel for the family”—the smile bloomed into a wide grin—“paid for by both losing teams.”

More groans rose as Dash threw his hands up the air. “Well, there goes my paycheck—”

“Followed by,” Finn continued with a wink, “Miss Lillie Langtry at Piper Opera House on me, front row seats. And since you boys all have jobs and Sher and Shay don’t, I’ll be gracious enough to pony up for the girls’ part of the bill.”

“Crawling cactus, Uncle Finn,” Shaylee shouted with several jubilant hops, “that’s just like Christmas!” Her pigtails did a little bounce on the shoulders of her standard overalls, which she immediately changed back into after church.

“Yeah, and just as expensive.” Blaze turned to Maggie with tease threading his tone. “Now would be a good time to employ some of those prayers you’re always prayin’, darlin, or that house we’re hopin’ to build is gonna take a whole lot longer.”

“Oh, I’m praying, all right,” Maggie said with a chuckle, catching Sheridan’s eye to give her a wink. “But since this is Sher’s graduation barbecue, I’m afraid all my prayers are busy elsewhere, darling.”

“Who the devil is that?” Jake muttered, the sound of hoofbeats drawing his and everyone else’s attention to the log-and-stone entrance for the Silver Lining Ranch. A lone horseman galloped through, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake as he slowed to leisurely trot up the winding drive toward the house.

“You expecting anyone, Uncle Finn?” Blaze rose from his chair with a curious squint.

“Nope.” Dropping his legs to the ground, Finn stood from his own chair to scrutinize the stranger whose features were just now coming into view. “But that animal he’s riding is a mighty fine piece of horseflesh, I can tell you that.”

And man flesh, too! Sheridan glanced down at the watch pinned to her blue fitted bodice—the one that matched her eyes—before shooting Maggie a tiny smile that just ached to break into a grin. Three o’clock sharp—right on time.

Finn slowly descended the front steps, hand to his eyes to try and make out who it was. “Never seen him or his horse before, so anybody else know who he is?”

Opting to remain silent along with Maggie, Sheridan adjusted her skirt with sweaty hands, smoothing it out as the rider tipped his hat, slowing his approach with a polite smile. Yes, he’s the answer to my prayers. Her gaze flicked to where Jake stood with a menacing scowl, hands planted defiantly on his hips, and she couldn’t stem a satisfied smile.

At least one of them …

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Something about this guy seemed familiar, but for the life of him, Jake couldn’t figure out what. Had he seen him at church this morning? Or at the Ponderosa Saloon where Dash worked? He had played several games of pool with Blaze and Dash there a few nights ago before Dash clocked in for his shift, and the place had been busting at the seams with patrons. Could have been one of them. Or even at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show because there had been hundreds of new faces from all over Nevada and the surrounding states.

Jake’s gaze thinned as the stranger dismounted, the fancy gold studs on the band of his black Stetson marking him as a dandy to Jake’s way of thinking.

“Mayor McShane?” The cowboy removed his hat as he approached the front porch, homing in on Finn who stood at the base of the stairs, one boot resting on the first step.

Finn nodded. “That would be me, son, and you are?”

“Clay Morgan, sir,” the cowboy said with arm extended, shaking Finn’s hand with more enthusiasm than Jake liked. “I have the privilege of being the road manager, scout, and trainer for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, and I’m here to extend an invitation to dinner on behalf of my uncle and me next Sunday night, which is the show’s day off.”

“Well, that’s mighty nice of you and your uncle, son, but if you don’t mind my asking, what might his name be?”

A hint of ruddy color crept up the back of the cowboy’s clean-shaven neck as he fiddled with the hat. “My apologies, Mayor, for not properly introducing my uncle—Buffalo Bill Cody.”

Gasps popped from both Libby and her mother on the porch as the cowboy continued. “My uncle and I would like to express our gratitude to you for opening up your fine city to our traveling show, providing us with the finest central hub in six states.”