The Tribute Read online

  “Mama, let me do one thing at a time here. I’ll let you know as soon as she says yes.”

  He was afraid it would take a while. God knows it had been years since he even talked to Alex Brighton, but she was the perfect choice to be his bride. Now he hoped she still didn’t hate him. His plan wouldn’t be complete without her.

  Chapter Two

  Brett’s stomach jumped around like a pack of frogs. He went into the bathing parlor with a weak grin and enough money to get a good bath and a shave. Old Joe Miller who ran the place looked at him askance, but fortunately didn’t ask any questions.

  The water nearly scalded him, but Brett didn’t complain. It was a hot bath, something he hadn’t had in at least three days and with all the work he’d been doing, a necessary evil. He scrubbed himself almost raw, but all the dirt, muck and grime finally came off.

  His hand shook as he toweled off and dressed. Approaching Alex had been the foremost thing on his mind other than the ranch, and he was this close to her. Just fifteen minutes and he’d be at her door.

  He was nervous. Brett, a man who prided himself on self-control, was stupidly nervous. When Joe shaved him, Brett had to close his eyes to avoid the older man’s prying gaze.

  “Been gone a spell, Brett.”

  “Yes, but I’m back now.” He didn’t want to get into details with Joe about where he’d been or what he’d been doing.

  Joe scraped the whiskers from Brett’s face, the rasp of the razor echoing off the wood-planked walls. “Mind my asking why you’re not getting cleaned up at home? Not that I mind the money.”

  “Just shave me, Joe, okay?” Brett was jumpy enough without actually talking about why he was there.

  “A man’s business is his own.” Joe wiped the razor on the towel lying on his shoulder. “Just being neighborly.”

  Brett grunted and kept his eyes closed. Ten more minutes and he’d see Alex.

  Damn frogs.

  ———

  Alex Brighton was sorting the supplies that had been delivered that morning when she heard the clinic door open. They didn’t have a terribly busy physician’s practice, but they did get their fair share of patients.

  After retiring a year earlier, her father didn’t spend much time in the clinic. Since their nurse only worked three mornings a week, Alex was alone and had to see to whomever came by. She set the counted bandages to one side and scribbled the amount on a scrap of paper before she went to see who had arrived. When she came around the corner, she was glad the doorjamb was in reach.

  Brett Malloy.

  Those eyes. Those blue, blue eyes hadn’t changed at all since he was a little boy. He had to be the most beautiful man God had put on the Earth. Unfortunately, God had also made him the most taciturn, stubborn and quiet man ever created. Not to mention the biggest idiot.

  Something about Brett had always rested on her heart. Alex couldn’t even begin to explain it other than to say she felt connected to him at the deepest level. Some kind of invisible bond and every time she saw him, her mouth always went cotton dry.

  His appearance resonated through her like a stone in a bucket, ripples fanning everywhere. For a moment, Alex couldn’t respond. He’d broken her heart once, and she had never forgiven him for what he’d thrown away. Their future, their children, their chance. She could be polite, but that didn’t mean she had to be friendly.

  “Surprised to see you here, Brett.”

  He took off his hat and fiddled with it. It was one thing the Malloy boys all had—beautiful hands. Alex had spent a good deal of time remembering those hands, how they felt on her skin, how the calluses made her nipples pebble.

  Dammit, woman, get your thoughts in order.

  “Good afternoon, Alex.”

  The clean scent of soap and his damp hair told her Brett had just bathed. More than likely down at Joe’s place. That was unusual—why hadn’t he bathed at home?

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Oh, yeah, I need supplies. Bandages, some betadine. Um, you know, whatever, um…”

  Alex was at a total loss. The few words that came out of Brett Malloy’s mouth were usually very thought out and as precise as the edge of a knife. This stumbling, bumbling Brett was completely unexpected. She didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Is anything wrong at home? Does your mother need supplies?”

  “No, no, I’m starting my own place. Old Martin’s ranch is mine now. And I just, uh, want to be ready, you know, for emergencies and so on.”

  “Oh, old Martin’s place. I hadn’t realized it had been sold.”

  That certainly made him uncomfortable. Alex swore his cheeks turned just the slightest shade of pink. Embarrassed? That was interesting. He didn’t ever show much emotion, something that had always angered her, but this little tidbit made her want to snicker. With glee.

  “Yeah, I um, I mean, I didn’t buy it. Truth is that I got it from Martin about two years ago before he passed and uh, I’m just now getting around to getting it going.”

  “I’ll just go put together a box full of medical supplies for the ranch. Won’t be a couple of minutes.” Then you get your fanny out of here. The longer Brett was here, the more likely she’d haul off and smack him.

  “My thanks.”

  “Sit in the waiting area. You’re just looking for some betadine, bandages and such for everyday needs?”

  “Yes, and if you have a needle and some of that thread you use for stitches that’d be most helpful too.” He sat in one of the straight back chairs in the waiting room.

  As Alex went back into the supply room, she was dismayed to realize her hands were shaking. Dammit. Although she could’ve chosen any one of the Malloy brothers to become obsessed with, she got stuck with Brett.

  Quiet Brett. Uncommunicative Brett.

  After she gathered the supplies, she pushed them haphazardly into one of the boxes from the recent shipment, just to tuck everything together. Had she wanted more than a visit from a citizen to the town doctor? No, absolutely not.

  Then why was she angry with him? It wasn’t as if he’d ended their relationship yesterday. It was a lifetime ago. She’d gotten over him, hadn’t she? Alex learned a valuable lesson with Brett and had yet to give her heart over to another man. Being a physician was more than enough to make her life complete.

  Maybe she believed it too. Or maybe she’d wanted Brett to come back on his hands and knees and apologize. Now that was laughable. Brett wouldn’t get on his knees for anyone or anything.

  After arguing with herself for several minutes, Alex decided to stop dilly-dallying and get rid of Brett. Just seeing him shouldn’t send her into such a tizzy.

  As she stepped back into the waiting area, her stomach did a flip-flop when she saw Brett wasn’t alone. A dark-eyed man stood with him. A gunman if she were to guess. Anyone who wore two guns slung low on their hips was definitely a gunman in her opinion. He was tall like Brett, but thinner and lankier.

  “Doctor Brighton, this is Kincaid. He’ll be helping me out at the ranch for a while. Kincaid, this is the town doctor.”

  Kincaid smiled. “So this is your girl. If I had known y’all had a doctor who looked like her, I would’ve been here sooner.”

  Alex frowned at Brett who appeared as surprised as she was. “I’m not Brett’s anything. Is Kincaid a first name or a last name?”

  Kincaid shook his head. “It’s my only name.”

  Her gaze locked with Brett’s and Alex saw something that looked like jealousy, a shimmering spark of the vicious emotion which had ruined more than one life. Unexpected for sure since he was usually so cold and logical. He certainly had nothing to be jealous about though. She wasn’t his anymore so he could just keep his opinion on that to himself.

  “Should we be going?” Kincaid glanced at Brett and inclined his head to the door. “Got a few more places to visit.”

  “Oh, right.” Brett reached for the box of supplies. “How much do I owe you, Alex?”

 
; “Dollar and eighty-five cents.” Then get going.

  He pulled out some wadded bills from his pocket. Alex’s gaze dropped to his trousers, a well-worn pair of denims that hugged him, reminding her he didn’t have one ounce of fat on his body. He was hard all over.

  A shiver wormed its way through her. It took serious self-control not to let them see it. She thought she’d gotten over Brett, at least her head had, now if only her body would follow suit. As he handed her the money, their fingers briefly touched and a tingle raced up her arm and down her shoulder to spread through her body. Both men tipped their hats and said good day.

  After Kincaid stepped outside, Alex was alone with Brett, who looked at her with a fierce frown on his face.

  “What?”

  “Um, nothing. I just, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Alex. You just…it’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.”

  A searing flame of anger licked her. The past hurts combined with the present annoyance and almost burned her. Brett had no right to come in here and confuse her. Regardless if she sounded like a crazy shrew, Alex wouldn’t stand for it.

  “I don’t even want to hear that from you. You lost that right twelve years ago.”

  His face appeared no less intense. “I’m sorry.”

  “Too little and too late. The door is behind you.”

  Alex took particular pleasure in noting that Brett nearly tripped on his way out the door. After the grin faded from her face, she clenched her fists in frustration. She wasn’t a young girl or an empty-headed, silly, giggling fool—she was a woman. A woman who refused to give into any longings her body might have for the man who’d shattered her heart.

  She slammed the door and stood there with her pulse pounding, warning her stupid heart to slow down. Brett wasn’t worth a moment of worry. He’d come by for bandages, that’s all. Anything else wasn’t worth contemplating.

  Brett could have kicked his own ass. He’d behaved like a complete moron inside, stumbling over his words, and lying about why he was there. Something possessed his tongue and refused to allow it to work properly. She’d looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. Perhaps he had. He’d certainly acted like it.

  Fool. Idiot.

  “I thought you said you wanted to marry her?” Kincaid sounded amused as they untied their horses from the hitching post in front of Alex’s house.

  “Shut up.”

  The teeth of jealousy had bitten deep when Kincaid flirted with her. The green-eyed monster was unexpected and made him see red. Brett wasn’t known for his temper, except when he lost it. Something that didn’t happen often. Somehow just the smile Alex had bestowed on Kincaid nearly turned him into a snarling idiot.

  Over the last five years, he hadn’t said more than a dozen words to her, had actually avoided her. But now, everything was different; he was different and he wanted to be with her again. Getting her to marry him wouldn’t be easy, but starting out with such an inauspicious beginning wouldn’t help matters either. He couldn’t afford to act like an idiot anymore if he wanted Alex for his wife.

  Kincaid chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve got some work to do, cowboy.”

  That was an understatement of enormous proportions. Judging from the cold way she’d treated him, he’d need a goddamn bonfire the size of Texas to melt her. Alex was the perfect choice for a wife. Smart, beautiful in a non-traditional way with her open face and chocolate brown eyes, she had always been way more than he could ever hope to have. Hell, she was smarter than he and his brothers put together. Alex had everything—looks, brains, a bright future. Much more than a simple cowboy who made forty dollars a month could offer. Now he just had to get his foot out of his mouth and start acting like a man instead of a fool.

  “I thought you were supposed to meet me at the saloon,” Brett grumped at Kincaid as they rode down the street.

  Kincaid shrugged. “I was on my way when I saw your horse. Figured I’d stop and see if you were ready.”

  Brett blew out a breath, wishing he could go back and relive the last twenty minutes. “Let’s go down and see Mike, I need a drink.”

  ———

  After a stop in the saloon, Brett and Kincaid spent the afternoon getting supplies and piling everything into the borrowed wagon. As they loaded up the last of the nails for the roof in small barrels, along with the tar, Kincaid broke the silence.

  “So, this doctor lady, she really your girl?”

  Brett’s back went up and any good feelings he’d had for Kincaid flew away. “Why?”

  “She’s pretty, very nice, obviously a smart lady. Think somebody like me doesn’t have a chance with her?”

  “I didn’t say that. I just asked a question.”

  “Well, so did I.”

  It was like two bucks butting horns over a doe. No way in hell he’d let Kincaid ruin his plans with Alex, even if she didn’t know about them yet.

  “She’s mine,” he snapped. “I told you I’m going to marry her.”

  Brett didn’t know who was more surprised, Kincaid or him.

  “Just asking. I’m guessing there’s more single gals in town who aren’t old women or whores.”

  “There’s definitely other women in town. I’ll be happy to introduce you.” As long as he stayed away from Alex, Brett didn’t give a shit whom Kincaid courted.

  After one last, fierce look, Kincaid shrugged and the moment was gone. Brett didn’t want to fight with him, but for Alex, he’d do what he needed to.

  It was close to late afternoon by the time they pulled up to the Square One ranch. His brother Raymond waited with a scowl on his face. He favored their mother in coloring with his green eyes, his hair a shade lighter than Brett’s although they were similar in build. At the moment, Raymond’s scowl wasn’t as deep as it could go, but he sure as hell wasn’t smiling.

  “Hello, Ray.”

  “Brett. Who’s your friend?”

  “This is Kincaid.”

  Ray nodded and stepped off the front porch to greet them. Kincaid dismounted and stuck his hand out. Ray shook it politely as his eyes assessed the ex-gunslinger with sharp clarity. His intense gaze missed nothing.

  “Tyler tells me you used to be a gunslinger. That’s behind you now, right?”

  Kincaid’s eyebrows went up. “And if it isn’t?”

  “Well then no matter what my little brother says, you’re not working on a Malloy ranch.”

  Kincaid turned to look at Brett, his stance, his arms, his hands, everything, at the ready. “That true, Brett?”

  Brett stepped between them, looking his brother square in the eye. “You might be my big brother, Ray, but you sure as hell aren’t my boss. Kincaid is here at my invitation. He is working my ranch, not yours. It doesn’t matter one way or the other if he’s working as a gunslinger or not. If you don’t like it, you can get your ass off the property and come back when you can accept it.”

  Ray’s expression didn’t change. “Lily tells me that I need to be a little more kind to folks.”

  His wife was a smart woman, however Brett thought Ray’s declaration was an understatement.

  “I respect the fact that you want to run your own ranch.” Ray pointed at Brett. “I just want to make sure everyone, including you, is safe.”

  “We’re safe,” Brett assured him. “Except maybe from the mouse shit that seems to have gotten ground into the floorboards in the house.”

  It seemed to break the tension, in fact, Ray almost smiled. He didn’t smile often so it meant a lot that his mouth even twitched.

  “Okay, I’m going to respect your opinion on this, baby brother, but I’m going to be watching. So your ranch ought to get used to me.”

  “I don’t think anybody has ever gotten used to you, Ray, except Lily and she’s a saint.”

  That earned another mouth twitch. “I’m not going to argue with you. I’m just lucky I found her when I did.”

  Another happily married Malloy. Brett was the only holdout. Ray glanced at the overfull
wagon and whistled.

  “You spent some of your funds.”

  “I surely did.”

  “I’ve got a pair of hands. I can help you unload.”

  “Thanks, I could use the help. Especially since I don’t have to pay you.”

  Ray grunted and slapped him on the back. “Let’s get busy.”

  The three of them worked for the next several hours to unload the wagon and put all the supplies in the appropriate places. During that time, Kincaid and Ray didn’t speak much. There wasn’t much conversation at all other than, “Where should I put this?” and, “Does that go there?”

  It was close to sundown when they finally finished putting everything away. Brett looked at the house and was pleased to see he had the makings of his own home. Now he just needed to clean it so they could sleep under a roof that night. Fortunately he’d had a broom on his list and had picked one up at the general store along with buckets, scrub brushes and some lye soap.

  Earlier that morning, when he checked the well, he was glad to see that the water was clear and fresh. After they cleaned up the old cookstove, they could heat some water and scrub the shit out of everything. Literally. He glanced at Ray.

  “Don’t suppose you’re actually going to stick around and clean are you?”

  “I’m gonna have to pass on that particular pleasure. Lily’s expecting me for supper.”

  “I didn’t think so.” As they walked out together, Brett noted Kincaid had picked up a rag and oil and started cleaning the stove. He’d say one thing for the ex-gunslinger, the man put in a serious hard day’s work.

  When Brett and Ray got outside, Ray closed the door behind them. “You sure you can trust this man?”

  “I think so. Certainly more than I trust most folks.” Brett had a hard time with trust in general. No need to sugarcoat it for his brother. He owed him the truth.

  “Fine then, but I will be checking on you. If you need help, you just let me know.”

  “Always the big brother, always the protector.”