Page 27 of Love’s Silver Bullet

Shoulders squaring, the dandy gave a polite nod. “So, I’ve been dispatched to personally issue an invitation for you and your family to dine with my uncle and me as well as Annie Oakley and her husband, Frank Butler, in my uncle’s personal dining tent.”

This time Sheridan and Maggie gasped along with the other ladies, drawing Jake’s gaze their way for a brief moment before it returned to the cowboy. Sunlight glinted off the gold studs in the man’s hat as he absently fiddled with it, jogging Jake’s memory with a jolt. His fist automatically curled around the horseshoe, tempted to throw it at the back of the dandy’s head. His jaw ground tight.

The same dandy who’d been fawning over Sher and Maggie at the show.

“Well, son, I’d say that’s an invitation I’m mighty honored to accept. I met your uncle briefly at the show, but I’m looking forward to getting to know him better. He’s a fine showman. And if I’m not mistaken, Mr. Morgan, you were the one who arranged everything with my right-hand assistant, Mrs. Caldwell, correct?”

“Yes, sir, I was, and I was delighted to meet Mrs. Caldwell upon our arrival, when I believe you were out of town for the week.”

Finn nodded. “Ah, yes, that happens a lot, I’m afraid.” He motioned a hand toward Libby and her parents. “Allow me to introduce my family—my wife, Libby, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maeve and Aiden O’Shea.”

The dandy gave a half bow, acknowledging both Libby’s and the O’Sheas’ greetings. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. McShane, and Mr. and Mrs. O’Shea—please note that the invitation for dinner extends to you as well.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Morgan,” Maeve said, beaming more than the blasted sun.

“Yes, sirree, son,” Aiden boomed, obviously delighted given the broad smile on his face, “Maeve and I would be honored.”

Finn tossed a glance over the dandy’s head toward the rest of the family. “Over there by the horseshoe pits is my nephew Blaze Donovan and his wife, Maggie, along with my other nephew Dash and my nieces Sheridan and Shaylee. And last but not least, our assistant foreman who is like a nephew himself, Jake Sullivan.”

“Pleased to meet you all,” the dandy said with another brief bow acknowledging each of their greetings with a polite smile, finally settling on Sheridan with a smile that warmed way too much for Jake’s comfort. “I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you, especially since we’ll be in Virginia City for a solid month.”

A silent groan rattled in Jake’s chest.

Finn offered the dandy a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Tell me, Mr. Morgan—do you happen to play horseshoes?”

Jake blinked with a drop of his jaw, hardly able to believe Finn was considering inviting the dandy to stay.

“What the devil is Uncle Finn doing?” Blaze said, tone harsh as he came up behind Jake, the furrow in his brow matching Jake’s to a groove. “Can’t he see how that guy is ogling Sheridan?”

“Apparently not,” Jake muttered, “since he can’t see the drool on his face like we can.”

The flash of the dandy’s teeth was pert near more blinding than the glare of his dad-burned gold studs on that blasted hat. “As a matter of fact I do, sir, why?”

Finn nodded toward the lawn where Sheridan and Maggie stood frozen like statues in that confounded game they used to play on this very lawn. “We have a horseshoe tournament starting, son, and I’m pretty sure my wife would be most grateful if you’d be her proxy on my team, followed, of course, by the best barbecue this side of the Rockies right after, so are you game?”

The gleam of the polecat’s grin—if possible—shone brighter than the golden horseshoes glinting in the sun. “Why, I do believe that would make my evening, sir, so thank you!”

Another groan rammed the back of Jake’s teeth as he bent close to Blaze with a gritted smile. “And he sure in the devil doesn’t know that’s the same tomcat I saw sniffing around Sheridan and Maggie outside the arena the other day.”

“What?” Blaze gaped at Jake, the sharp hiss of his voice earning a curious look from Sheridan. “We need to tell Uncle Finn—”

“Too late,” Jake muttered as they both watched Finn usher the dandy up to the porch to join the others.

Libby shot up so fast, her chair bucked like a mule as she hurried to pour the dandy some lemonade while Jake and Blaze just stared, their scowls way more sour than the drink in her hand. “Here you go, Mr. Morgan,” she said with a wide smile, “and please make yourself comfortable while we wait to see who wins the challenge against my husband and you, of course, since I gladly abdicate my turn.”

“Well, ma’am, only if you’re sure—”

“She’s sure,” Sheridan and Maggie called in unison, both obviously delighted to have the varmint join the family game. “Please?”

“They’re right, Mr. Morgan,” Finn said with a chuckle, looping an arm to Libby’s waist. “I’m afraid I wore Libby’s wrist out practicing with her this week for this family tournament, so I’m quite certain she’d be happy to sit this one out to nurse a sore wrist, forever grateful.”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Morgan,” Libby said with a pretty grin, obviously as enamored with the dandy as Maeve, Maggie, and Sheridan appeared to be.

“Well, all right ladies.” The dandy gave a brief bow first to Libby, and then to Sheridan and Maggie. “But only if you call me Clay.”

“Yeah, and I’d like to bury him in clay,” Jake mumbled, mouth clamped tight as they watched the ladies smile and swoon.

“This isn’t good,” Blaze said under his breath. “He’s only been here all of five minutes, and already he’s weaseled his way in with all the ladies.”