Spring Creek Bride. Janice Thompson

he said, tipping his hat and holding on to her hand. For a moment, she was lost in his gray eyes, until Sophie cleared her throat, reminding Ida of her manners. She quickly removed her hand from his.

      “This is Sophie Weimer, Mr. Bradley.”

      “Please, call me Mick. I’d appreciate it, ladies,” he said, shaking Sophie’s hand but keeping his eyes on Ida. Ida felt a flush rise in her cheeks, and she took Sophie by the arm, pulling her to the storeroom.

      “Th-that’s him?” her friend whispered, eyes wide. “Why, he’s the handsomest thing I ever did see. Better than a picture in a book, to be sure. You forgot to mention that part, Ida!”

      “Sophie,” Ida whispered, “do not be deceived. This is not a man to be trifled with. He is evil through and through, despite his looks and fancy clothes. Besides, do you not remember what the Bible says? The enemy comes at us like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” She turned back and gave Mick Bradley another look through the doorway. “He is on the prowl, even now.”

      Yes, that wolf of a man was certainly adorned in sheep’s clothing. His fine gray suit. His shiny shoes. His stylish felt hat. In fact, she couldn’t say when she’d seen a finer-looking sheep.

      Sophie gave Mick a second glance. “There’s no denying, he is the most handsome man I’ve ever set eyes on. I can’t help but wonder if he’s married.”

      “Sophie!” Ida shook her head in exasperation.

      Dinah called out her name, and Ida left the storeroom with Sophie following on her heels. Ida turned and gave Sophie a stern look. “What’s come over you?” she whispered. “You’re acting like a smitten schoolgirl.”

      A slow smile spread across Sophie’s face. “Why, Ida Mueller. I do believe you’re jealous!”

      “Jealous? How can you say such a thing?” Ida sputtered.

      “I think I’m not the only one who’s wondering if Mick Bradley is married.”

      “Don’t be ridiculous,” Ida said, reaching to straighten several bolts of fabric that were already straight. “And please wipe that annoying expression off your face.”

      Sophie tried to look serious. “Will this do?”

      “Now that’s the girl I know and love,” Ida replied.

      Sophie broke into laughter as Ida turned in a huff and joined Dinah to fill Mick’s order with haste.

      The dirt-streaked hotel room window provided Mick with a near-perfect view of the town. From here, he could almost see the sign on the front of the mercantile. Why he felt drawn to the place, he could not say. If anything, he should steer clear of it at all costs. The women inside that establishment clearly took issue with him, though they were all politeness and smiles during his visit. He sensed their concern and would do his best to put their minds at ease. No point in quarreling with the neighbors, after all, especially one with startling blue eyes, like Ida Mueller.

      Mick was perplexed by the change he saw in her. Was it not just a few days ago she’d smiled at him in that particularly fetching way? Now, suddenly, she’d taken on a different attitude, one he didn’t much care for. The way she’d said, “I know who you are, Mr. Bradley,” was all business, and he’d opted not to ask for her help, as he’d originally planned. Maybe she’d discovered his reason for being here and had taken it as an affront.

      Why he cared what she thought remained a mystery. They scarcely knew each other, after all. Still, from the moment of their first encounter, he’d locked those beautiful blue eyes into his memory.

      “Stop it, man. Don’t be thinking about a woman. You’ll be back in Chicago before long and there are plenty of sensible—or not-so-sensible—women there to fill your thoughts.”

      Indeed, as soon as the gambling hall began to go up—he’d decided to call it The Lucky Penny—Mick would search out the perfect candidate to run the place in his stead, someone from his neck of the woods, most likely. If he selected a local for the job, the community would surely turn on the poor fellow; the whole thing might even end in bloodshed. No, he couldn’t risk that. Wouldn’t be good for business. It would have to be someone his investors approved of—someone with a head for numbers, a heart for turning a profit and big-city experience.

      Shouts rang out and Mick turned his attention to the street below. Several of the railroad men had gathered there, instigating yet another fight. These Texans were certainly boisterous, and a sure sight more complicated than he’d figured. Prideful, to be sure. And standoffish. Maybe it had something to do with all the dust they swallowed as the trains barreled by. Clogged up their throats. Regardless, many of them had already voiced an opinion by refusing to do business with him. Pure stubbornness.

      And then there was the issue with the property. According to the land agent, the owner—a man from the Houston area—was holding out for more money. Mick would pay it after all, just to get the game under way, though he hated to give in to such tactics.

      He sighed as he thought about the situation. Really, what did it matter, when all was said and done? The payoff would be worth it. And he needed to get started on the building as soon as possible.

      “Soon, fellas.” He watched the brawling men as the quiet words slipped from his lips. “Soon you will have much more to do than duke it out in the streets. Soon you will be sitting at The Lucky Penny dropping all your hard-earned money into my lap.”

      If everything went as planned, the new building would be up before summer’s end.

      Mick used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Troubling thoughts continued to plague him as he climbed into bed. He ached to shut the window, to drown out the whoops and hollers from below. Mick knew that many of the sounds came from The Golden Spike, just a few doors down, and that knowledge only added to his aggravation. Unfortunately, the heat simply wouldn’t allow him to reclose the window. He shoved the pillow over his head in an attempt to silence the ever-present shouts and laughter of the men.

      Out of the darkness, a shot rang out. Mick sprang out of the bed and raced toward the window, his heart pounding. With great relief, he saw that the sheriff had fired the shot into the air to send the men on their way. They scattered with little trouble, drifting off to the various hotels and boardinghouses.

      Mick fell into bed a second time in a more hopeful state. Surely these Texans would eventually thank him for coming. Once The Lucky Penny opened, offering them more gambling opportunities, better liquor and a classier decor with a real stage for entertainment, Mike felt confident he’d be Spring Creek’s new hero, if they’d just give him half a chance.