for a moment, then advised in a more serious tone, “Don’t let it get to you. Ignore it.”
“I’ve tried. Hasn’t helped.”
The long-legged men covered a lot of distance in a short span of time. They passed three storefronts before Matt spoke again. “Gossip usually dies if it isn’t fed.”
“Then obviously someone is feeding it.”
“Agreed, but you have to admit, it’s fascinating how far the story has spread.”
“I don’t need every woman I run into trying to heal my imaginary broken heart.”
“Don’t exaggerate. It’s only been a handful.”
Matt smiled in the face of Nate’s hard stare. “That’s five too many.”
“There has always been a woman or two seeking your attention, what’s a few more?”
His friend’s matter-of-fact tone frustrated him but a group of approaching women caused him to hold his tongue. Nate moved, putting Matt between himself and the group of seven. He bowed his head to hide his face until after they passed.
“No woman singled me out until the stupid story spread.”
“Emmaline Porter.”
“What about her?” Nate demanded. “She married a pig farmer from Corvallis.”
“After she spent a year trying to get you to notice her.”
“One misguided woman.” He waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.
“And Agnes Gardner?”
“Moved to West Bend with her sister.”
“Because you broke her heart.”
“I never spoke a word to her.”
A short bark of laughter burst out of Matt. “Exactly.”
“Your point?”
“The basic story irritating you now has been whispered by the good women of Fir Mountain for years. Someone simply built on what was already floating around.”
“You think I brought this on myself?” Indignation accented each word.
Matt shrugged. “Some women don’t appreciate being ignored.”
An increase in raised voices distracted Nate. He looked in the direction of the sound. A short distance ahead of them people had withdrawn, clearing a circle in the middle of the street around a handful of men who were shouting and shoving one another. A glance back at Matt revealed the somber shift in his companion’s expression. His friend appeared to be on the verge of stepping in but then Marshal Evans arrived on the scene. The other lawman shoved his way through the onlookers and in minutes had the situation under control.
“I don’t ignore people. I just enjoy spending most of my time alone. Nothing wrong with it.” Nate indicated with a jerk of his head the sullen men facing the marshal as he and Matt walked past them. “Some people could benefit from doing the same.”
“Or perhaps they need more time with others to reinforce proper behavior.”
Nate shrugged. “With time and patience you can make a coyote a pet but it’s still a coyote.”
“So you fear certain women want to make you a pet?”
“Cute.”
“My point is-”
“Silly.”
“That being reclusive makes you-”
“I’m not a recluse.”
“Oh? Other than when you’re helping me? When do you ride into town?”
“How often I’m in Fir Mountain is immaterial.”
“I beg to differ. The fact you’re rarely seen makes you seem mysterious-”
“Mysterious,” Nate scoffed.
“Mysterious,” Matt repeated firmly. “Especially after you moved onto River’s Bend. Ever since, you’ve come in for staples or to attend church only once in a blue moon. The women refer to you like some sort of tragic hero, finding you romantic-”
“I am not romantic.”
“Plainly the young woman disagreed with you.” Matt laid a hand on his chest, fluttered his eyelashes, then without missing a step continued in a high-pitched mockery of a woman’s voice. “After losing the love of his life, the poor man moved out into the wilderness, all alone, to nurse his wounded heart.”
“You don’t need to repeat the whole ridiculous story.”
“It’s what I heard Nancy say to another young lady after you stomped off.”
Nate shook his head. “So a twisted version of old gossip is being spread further. Great.”
“That’s the nature of gossip, twisting the truth.”
“So you still believe this is harmless tongue-wagging?”
“Actually, I’m not sure.” All hint of the good-humored teasing dropped from Matt’s tone. “The rumor about Ben is a deliberate, directed act. Someone wants to pin the rustling on him. The sudden attention to, and spreading of, your heartbroken recluse story has a similar feel but-”
“Someone is making me into a laughing stock.”
“If so, then why? You’re one man living in a remote area of a sparsely populated county.”
“Are you trying to say I’m not important?”
“In the grand scheme of things, no.”
“But?”
“I don’t like coincidences. Someone made certain to spread your story far and wide around the same time as the rumor about Ben cropped up. Perhaps, as a distraction.”
“From what?”
“Good question.”
“One you didn’t answer,” Nate muttered, stepping off the sidewalk onto the muddy road. “I need to get my gun.”
Only lawmen had been allowed to carry firearms in Silver Falls City today. Nate couldn’t have cared less whether he carried a weapon in town or not, but out on the range a gun was necessary for protection. Matt changed direction with him and they headed for a small stand, where a couple of the marshal’s men guarded the confiscated guns. The inconvenience of having to reclaim his pistol deepened his impatience and, noticing a line forming, he hastened his pace. He couldn’t wait to shake off the dust of this place and get clear of all these people.
“Because I don’t know. My first assumption may be correct.”
“Miss Collier?”
“Hell hath no fury like-”
Nate looked pointedly at his friend. “I did not scorn that woman.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t your intention.”
“I turned down a single invitation.”
“Publicly.”
“She cornered me outside after church.”
“Where half the town heard you say no.”
“I was polite.”
“I know.”
“And for that you think she…” Nate shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s clever, making your refusal all about your broken heart instead of being personal.”
“Seems like a great deal of trouble to go to over one man’s no thank you.”
“Miss Collier strikes