A Wild Woman (Mail Order Bride of Slate Springs 2)

“When it was first discovered, it was joked that pirates hid their bounty in the opening.” He shrugged. He lifted his foot so it rested on a higher step, then rested his forearm on his thigh. “It wasn’t my first choice, but the name stuck. I assume you obtained the name Piper somehow as well?”

“My brothers didn’t like the name Patricia. That had been my mother’s choice, but she and my father died when I was small, so they called me what they wanted.”

“You mentioned five brothers?”

Spur poured in the water, set the bucket down beside the railing, went inside.

“Oh, yes. Five. They took care of me, but they certainly weren’t motherly.”

“You mean the shooting and the swearing?”

I felt my cheeks heat, but I would not be ashamed of who I was. I did need to curb my tongue with the foul language, but I was glad to be able to defend myself.

“Among other things.” I lifted my chin and folded my hands in my lap.

Spur came back out with a steaming bucket, poured the hot water into the tub.

Lane chuckled. “Precious, I can’t decide if you’re prim or a wildcat.”

“Let’s find out,” Spur said. “Bath time, Piper.”

“What?” I looked around. I could see nothing beyond the soft circles of light from the lanterns, but that didn’t mean someone couldn’t see us. “Here?”

If I could hear the screech in my voice, then they could, too.

“There is no one about, I assure you,” Lane replied. “In Jasper, there is only a short amount of time when the weather is warm like this. I enjoy bathing outside when I can.”

Spur wiped his hands on a cloth he retrieved from the railing. “You never bathed outside before?”

“When I was small, yes, but with five males in the house, they put the tub by the stove in the kitchen and hung a sheet to give me privacy.”

Lane came over to me and held out his hand. “We are definitely not your brothers and you don’t need privacy with us.”

“Oh, yes, I do!” I cried.

“Where’s that brave woman we saw in the saloon?”

“You want me to shoot you?”

“We’re not wearing hats to aim at,” Spur said, tapping the side of his head. “Soon enough we won’t be wearing anything at all.”

I couldn’t help but lower my eyes to his body.

“And what’s going to be sticking out, we definitely don’t want you to shoot.” Lane grinned wickedly at his comment, while Spur rolled his eyes. With all those brothers, I knew exactly what he meant.

“But… but I barely know you.”

Lane took my hand and tugged me to my feet and right into his chest. With his fingers beneath my chin, he tilted it up. “Before the night is out, you’ll know us very well.”

“Would you like us to turn our backs while you undress?” Spur asked.

Lane looked over his shoulder and while I couldn’t see Spur, I could see Lane’s frown.

“Yes, please.”

“What happened to the attraction, precious?” Lane asked, stepping away from me, remembering our conversation after the kiss in the livery.

He’d been so warm pressed against me, I felt goosebumps rise on my arms from the loss.