Spring Creek, Wyoming, 1865
“Ma’am, we need all the rooms you’ve available, please.” The rail worker clutched his tan Stetson and twisted it around in his hands.
Merry Archer brushed her floury hands on her apron again. “Of course. I have five rooms, with twenty beds. Is that enough?”
The man let out a mirthless laugh. “There’s never enough beds, ma’am, but twenty will be greatly appreciated by the men. I suppose you sleep in a different building?”
Merry was surprised. He seemed genuinely concerned. However, at twenty-two years old, Merry was able to control any amount of men with a simple slap and promise of no dessert. She wasn’t comely, with her brown hair and gold-hazel eyes, but nor was she homely, and she’d had her lot of interested men.
“I don’t, sir, but I assure you, I am capable of caring for myself and I keep a lock on my door at all times.”
The rail worker nodded, slapped his Stetson back on his head, and asked, “How much for two weeks, all twenty beds?”
Merry calculated the costs in her head and replied, “Two hundred dollars.”
“Ma’am, that’s less than a dollar a bed,” the man protested.
“I assure you, Mr. -- er, I seem to have not caught your name? I’m Merry Archer,” Merry added.
“Gray Rockwell. Please call me Gray.”
“Well, Mr. Gray”--at the shake of his head and the laughing sparkle in his chocolate eyes, Merry corrected herself--“Gray, I assure you that two hundred dollars is plenty, considering I haven’t had boarders stay longer than a week.”
Gray’s eyes gained a questioning glint. “Why not? Spring Creek is a lovely place.”
“That nobody outside of the next fifty miles has ever heard of,” Merry countered. “But with the railroad coming through, we’ll be sure to rack up much more business on the way to California.”
“Alright, Miss Archer. Here’s two hundred.” Gray withdrew a stack of bills from his pocket and counted them out.
“I hope you aren’t paying for all this yourself,” Merry replied, astonished at the large fold Gray was holding.
Gray threw back his head and let loose a rumbling thunder of a laugh. “No, ma’am. This is railroad greenback.” His chocolate eyes filled with humor.
Why do I keep noticing his handsome eyes? Merry wondered. He’s just any other man to me. And a rail worker nonetheless.
Gray slipped the bills back into his pocket and lifted his hat to run a hand through the shock of black hair there. Dropping his hat again, he bowed to Merry and started to leave.
“Wait, Gray, what position do you have at the railroad that you’d be carrying so much of its money?” Merry asked quickly. When he didn’t turn, she was afraid she offended him.
When Gray was almost out the door, he turned and winked. “Owner, Miss Archer. Whole company belongs to me.” He doffed his hat, bowed stiffly like a society gentleman, and left, the door swinging in his wake.
“Owner,” Merry repeated, aghast. “How could I have said the things I did?” she moaned a moment later. “I’ll just have to hope against all hope that he’ll forget. And pray he didn’t see me in my Levi’s.” She glanced down past her apron at the offending jeans she wore. ⇐⇒ Gray chuckled as he strode down the dusty main street of Spring Creek, remembering the horrified flash of self-consciousness that had enlightened itself in Merry Archer’s eyes when he told her he owned the railroad.
“And her in jeans, nonetheless,” he added to himself. He’d noticed the strange outfit she wore as soon as he stepped into the boarding house. Her red blouse with blue flowers around the seams was perfect for a woman named Merry, but then seeing her jeans… he recalled the first conversation he’d had with Heath Archer about his sister.
“She’s ‘ot stran’e ways of dressin’,” the man had warned Gray.
“I doubt that,” Gray had assured him. Now he knew what Heath had meant. Because Merry looked more comfortable in Levi’s than any woman in an ankle-length skirt.
Gray stepped up onto the train platform and waved a hand. The crowd of over one hundred railroad employees quieted to listen to what their boss was about to say.
“I’ve found twenty real beds. The hardest workers tomorrow will get those beds.”
One hand waved above the crowd and a voice shouted out, “An’ ye’ll be gittin’ one o’ those beds?”
Gray guffawed. “Men, I’ll be working alongside you to get one of those beds. I won’t even be judging. Instead, I’m going to ask Miss Archer, who owns those beds, if she’ll do it. But be warned. I want one of those beds much as the next man. So get ready for some real competition!”
The crowd let out a hearty roar, and Gray waited until they’d settled. “Now, for tonight, our engineers will be getting those beds. That’s fifteen of twenty, so we’re gonna hold a little arm-wrestling competition. If you want a bed, come line up. Top five get it.”
Less than half of the railroad workers hurried over to get in line for the beds. One man noted that it was because not many men wanted to lose such a soft bed. Gray chuckled and shook his head.
“I’ll be guaranteeing myself a bed there all two weeks,” he vowed, sitting on one of the logs brought for the competitors. The man across from him watched nervously as Gray removed his shirt and snapped his suspenders over the muscles he’d built up as a farmer.
Gray and his partner gripped hands and curled their thumbs over the opposing hand.
“On your mark…” Robbie Hart, Gray’s right hand man and ref for the arm-wrestling, counted off. “Get set… Go!”
Gray flexed his arm and slammed his opponent’s hand onto the table. The man groaned whole-heartedly and enthusiastically shook Gray’s hand. “Go win that bed, Rockwell.”
Immediately, Gray’s head was filled with thoughts of a soft, cozy bed… warm… with pretty gold-hazel eyes in the mirror. Whoa! Where did Merry come into the picture? Though it wouldn’t be bad to have a wife as beautiful as that Archer woman. Kind, gorgeous eyes…
“Thanks,” Gray hastily replied, pulling his hand back. The man stared at him, then quirked an eyebrow.
“You got a wife?” he asked.
“No. But I’ve got thoughts of one,” Gray replied honestly.
“My Belle was the best wife any man could have. Loved me, our kids, and God. Loved her back, too,” the man responded, his eyes staring into a distance memory. “Died last year, kids all grown, so I joined up here.”
Gray nodded. “Sounds like you had a beautiful family.”
“Did. You go win.” The man slapped his back and headed off to the tents beside the rails.
Gray turned to see his next opponent already sitting on the log across from him. He too had lost his shirt, but he didn’t have the muscles Gray had. He’d won by luck for sure.
Gray sat, gripped the man’s hand, and got ready. ⇐⇒ Merry hurried down the street. The crowds had grown large around a group of men, and they were cheering names. Something big was happening.
She pushed her way through the men to see an arm-wrestling competition. Ten men sat in a ring, each on benches gripping each others’ opposite hands. A few had lost their shirts, and she could see muscles rippling through their arms and back.
Merry glanced around, then switched her gaze back to two of the men. Was that Gray? The first man was as thin as a stick and looked like he had no muscles anywhere. But Gray… the man had stripped off his shirt and his back was slick with sweat. He was grinning, but his back and arms were undulating with muscles.
“Go!” a man hollered through a huge smile. He stood on a box to elevate himself.
Merry barely blinked and Gray’s match was over. He simply flexed his arm and his opponent’s arm was on the wood. The crowd hollered and whistled as Gray stood and flexed for them, laughing at the boos from a few of the men.
His gaze flicked over the crowd and her gaze hit his. He winked, flexed again, and the crowd burst into catcalls and teasing. Two of the railroad men grabbed her arms and propelled her through the crowd.
“Give the winner a kiss!” the caller shrieked over the crowd. He jumped off the box and ran over to them. “He just got himself one of the last five beds at your boarding house tonight!”
Gray gazed down at her. Merry was close enough to see the sweat glistening across his body and how sculpted his chest was. He was so broad. Handsome and strong and broad.
“Gonna give me that kiss?” he asked roughly, a hint of teasing in his voice.
Merry felt herself float an inch closer. Gray closed the distance between them and leaned down slightly. She rose on tiptoe and prepared to kiss his cheek, but a bump from behind sent her falling into Gray’s arms, and her lips hit his.
Gray closed his arms around her and kissed her deeply, then stepped back and winked, his brown eyes filled with glee… and something very intense. Merry felt herself being pulled back as she stared into his eyes.
“What were you thinkin’, Merry, ‘irl?” a voice hurled.
“Heath?”
“What do you think? And why were you kissin’ my railroad boss?” Heath stepped in front of her, his face filled with swirled emotions of disgust, awe, and shock.
“I-I… uh…” Merry stammered, her face going pink and hot. Her cheeks burned like fire as she dropped her gaze from Heath.
“And you, ‘ray!” Heath spun on Gray.
“What’s that?” Gray raised his voice above the crowd. “Anybody here named Ray that this guy might be talking to?”
Heath spat to the side and stalked up to the man. At six one, he was only about an inch shorter than Gray, Merry noticed. “You don’t ‘et to kiss my ‘irl,” he hissed. “ ‘ray, that’s my sister you ‘ust kissed! Don’t you have any respect?”
Gray stepped back and waved a hand. “Whoa, Archer. You’re accusing me of taking advantage of her?”
“Sure lookin’ like that, huh?” Heath sneered.
“Okay, sure, I kissed her,” Gray protested, running a hand through his damp black hair. It stuck up in short spikes. “But she was going to!”
“She was ‘oin’ to kiss your cheek, ‘ray.”
“Then why’d she fall into my arms and actually kiss me?” Gray argued.
Merry stepped forward and shoved between the two men. She spun to face Heath first. “I may do whatever I wish, Heath Christopher Archer, and that includes kissing somebody. Just cause you’re the oldest man in our family doesn’t mean you dictate my life.” Merry turned to glare at Gray. “I did not fall into your arms to kiss you. Somebody pushed me, and I wasn’t trying to kiss you.”
“There, see?” Heath said, smirking at Gray.
Merry rolled her eyes. Men.
Gray cast his eyes down, then glanced up. His eyes filled with an apology, and he began to speak softly. “I’m sorry, Miss Archer. I shouldn’t’ve treated you that way. I genuinely thought you wanted a kiss, like I did. I guess since it was my first kiss, I just got a little excited.” A lopsided, apologetic boyish smile inched across his face.
“I forgive you, Gray,” Merry responded automatically, her thoughts already derailing. His first kiss? Any girl would love to kiss a man like Gray! And he kisses so… wonderfully. His lips were so soft, and gentle, and loving…
Heath stepped forward again and shoved a fist into Gray’s chest. “Don’t you dare do it ’ain.”
Merry slapped her brother across the arm. “This is none of your business,” she declared angrily.
“Yes, it is, when it involves you and a man,” Heath growled.
Merry was astonished at how rude her brother was being. She knew of no other way to make him stop, so she pushed him aside and leaped into Gray, kissing him full on the mouth with as much fierceness as she could muster. Gray’s strong arms circled her waist and clenched her to his bare chest, kissing her back with all the fervor in the world.
Everything around Merry drifted away as all her thoughts focused on the kiss Gray was giving her… until a thud hit the man so hard he released her and stumbled back.
Heath stood beside Merry, breathing hard, with a fist clenched and blood staining his knuckles. Gray dropped his hand from his cheek, already bruised, and Merry could see that his lips were bleeding fiercely.
“Heath! Stop!” Merry cried, grabbing his arm.
Heath pushed her aside and charged at Gray. The crowd of railroad men around them drew in, shouting, “Fight, fight!” Most men cheered for Gray, but there were a few booing him and encouraging Heath.
“Come back here, missy.” The caller of the wrestling competition moved her well back from the wrestling men.
“But that’s my brother! And Gray!” Merry exclaimed, pushing his hand away. “I have to stop this!” She tried to shove past him, but he gripped her arm with an iron hand.
“You can’t stop anything. Gray’ll be fine; he’s got plenty of practice with other rail men,” the caller comforted.
“But Heath doesn’t,” Merry whispered.
“Gray’ll keep from hurting him too bad,” the caller responded. “I’m Robbie. You’re Miss Archer, huh?”
Merry nodded absently, focusing all her attention on the two men. Robbie seemed to understand her plight and moved her to the front of the crowd, where she could watch without any problems.
“They’ll be fine,” he promised… right as Heath tumbled into Gray’s legs. ⇐⇒ Gray planted his fists one-two into Heath’s stomach as he gripped Gray’s legs. Heath groaned and launched himself to his feet, pounding a fist of his own into Gray’s jaw. Gray’s head spun and he saw black around the edges of his vision.
“Heath,” Gray gritted out through the pain. “This isn’t worth it”--Gray dodged another blow--“I’m not going to hurt her!”
“Already--did,” Heath heaved. “She--clearly loves--you.” He threw a right hook and caught Gray in the ribs, but was returned a knee to the groin.
Heath sank to his knees, legs clenched. “Ah…” he moaned.
“What do you mean she loves me?” Gray growled, kneeling on Heath’s back to force him to the ground.
“Wouldn’t--kiss you--otherwise. Never kissed--anybody.”
“Well, why are you”--Gray rolled backward as Heath swept his feet out from under him--“fighting me then?”
Heath sat back on his haunches and glared at Gray. “Because right now, she’s all I ‘ot left. Matt and ‘ustin are ridin’ Texas Ran’er, and Marshall’s stockin’ up the farm down in Oklahoma.”
Gray cocked his head. “So, you think she’s gonna just up and marry me and you’ll lose her?”
“That or you’ll break her heart,” Heath spat.
“Break her heart?” Gray repeated, confused.
Heath rolled his eyes. “You own a railroad, ‘ray. You travel everywhere and nowhere. You’re the only one Merry’s ever ‘iven her heart to, and now you’ve ‘otta leave in two weeks.”
Gray shook his head. “She can’t possibly be in love with me after two kisses.”
Heath stood, shoved his fist into Gray, and gripped his suspenders. “Exactly. But she is. Two kisses. All it takes to steal a woman’s heart. Dontcha know she’s never been kissed either? The boys didn’t exactly consider Merry a beauty, on top her bein’ mother to her four siblings.”
Gray shoved Heath’s hands off of himself and stepped back. “You mean she’s never, ever, had a suitor?”
“That’s exactly what he means,” a quavering female voice from behind replied. “Oh, I’ve had plenty of men interested in other things”--Gray growled--“but never the actual me. My money, my family, my friends, my…well, never my heart.”
Gray stepped back again and gently lifted Merry’s hand. “I’m real sorry, Merry.”
Merry gasped as she saw his face. Removing her hand from his, she ran it down his cheek, fingering all the bruises he’d gained while trying to talk to Heath.
“We have to get you cleaned up,” she whispered, facing Heath. “And you too. But you can go find some other lady to do it, because right now, I don’t feel like helping a 20-year-old man who got himself into a fight that was none of his business.”
Heath nodded, eyes downcast, properly chastised.
“I’ll take good care of her, Heath,” Gray vowed. Merry let out a very unladylike snort, and Gray knew she was thinking that the only care that would be doing was hers, for him.
“I’d never expect less. I ‘ust… don’t want her heart broke, ‘ot it, ‘ray?”
Merry glanced back at Gray in confusion.
“I’ll tell you about the conversation we had while you clean me up,” Gray promised, allowing her to lead him away to the boarding house. ⇐⇒ “Just let me get some bandages, Gray,” Merry said, sitting him on the bed. Gray glanced around at the blue wallpaper and the washbowl at the back.
“This your room?” he asked. Awful nice, without all those fancy-shmancy everything a society lady would have in here.
“Yes.” Merry left the room and returned a moment later carrying a bowl with warm water, a cloth, and some bandages. “Let’s clean you up.”
They sat in silence as she washed his back, her touch sending tingling sensations all up and down Gray’s body. When she switched to his chest, he could tell that she was uncomfortable, for she kept glancing away.
“Just do my face,” he said gruffly.
Merry nodded and leaned closer, tilting his head back to clean his face. The cloth ran over his forehead, down his cheek, across his jaw to his lips. Gray’s eyes dropped from her eyes to her lips, and she licked them.
Gray leaned forward without even noticing.
“You… cut your lip badly,” Merry stammered.
“My grandma always gave my hurts a kiss when I was a boy…” Gray murmured. Merry nodded wildly.
“I… er…” Swiftly, Merry leaned down and touched her lips to the corner of his mouth. Gray turned his face and captured her lips full on, caressing her lips with his.
The door to the boarding house banged, and Gray, startled, pulled away. Merry was sitting on his lap, a dazed look in her eyes, hands around his neck and twisted in his nape, and her hair had come out of its braid.
How long have we been kissing? he wondered, not realizing he said it aloud.
“Lon’ enou’ for me to see the whole thin’.”
Merry leaped out of Gray’s lap, and he immediately missed the warmth and comfort her body gave his. “Heath!”
“ ‘uess when you said ‘Take ‘ood care of her’ you meant somethin’ different than what I meant,” Heath said flatly. “Huh, ‘ray.” His statement took on a hint of question, but Gray knew he shouldn’t answer it.
“It was my fault, Heath,” Merry responded, sounding for all the world like it was nobody’s fault and shouldn’t be.
Heath laughed mirthlessly. “No, I saw all of it. Heath whispered that his ‘randma kissed his boo-boos as a boy, and you went and kissed him, and you ended up like that.”
Merry stomped up to her brother. “Heath Archer, you will stay out of my lovelife. If I love I man, I very well may kiss him!”
Gray stood slowly and crossed the room in two quick steps, coming up behind Merry. “So, you love me?” ⇐⇒ Merry felt the man’s presence behind her move even closer. Heath waited, and Merry could tell Gray was holding his breath.
“I… do,” she whispered.
Gray’s arms came around her waist and pulled her body into his bare chest.
“Well,” Heath said, “I caught you kissin’ in the bedroom, and ‘ray without a shirt holdin’ you in his lap. So you’re ‘onna have to ‘et married to save your reputation.”
“Not if you don’t tell.” The threat lingered in the air after Gray had spoken.
“Alri’t. But only because she’s my sister, and family counts for somthin’.”
Gray turned Merry slowly to face him. “Do you really, truly, love me?” he whispered roughly. Merry felt Heath back out of the room.
“Yes, Gray Rockwell, I love you with all my heart.”
“But how do you know I’m not a womanizer? Or divorced? Or--”
“Because I know,” Merry stated simply. “You’re a good, Christian man, Gray. So long as you are faithful to the Lord and try to follow his ways, whatever’s in your past is there to stay.” She paused, then added, “But it might be a good idea to get anything like that off your chest.” She glanced down and blushed.
“Well, I can assure you I’ve never kissed or held another woman.”
“I need to tell you about my history, though,” Merry blurted. At Gray’s soft frown, she added, “It’s nothing about another man, well, other than family.”
Gray’s chocolate eyes softened. “Alright. But first, I need to tell you something.”
Merry moved closer. Gray pressed his lips to hers, moving them gently across her lips, then pulled away. “I love you,” he whispered huskily. Merry melted into him as he kissed her again and again. But finally, Merry pulled away to sit on the bed.
“My family…” she began, then stopped. Gray sat beside her and drew her into his side.
“My parents died eight years ago, on October first. They were murdered by two outlaws who wanted their money… and me. The men were probably no more than seventeen, but I was fourteen, and Ma and Pa weren’t gonna sell me to some outlaws.
“The men got angry and shot Pa, then ordered Ma to give me over. She shot one of them, but the other got her before she could get him. Then he came looking for me. Matthew, Justin, Heath and I were all hiding in the barn loft. We’d removed the ladder, so he couldn’t get up. He tried to starve us out, but it didn’t work. Three days later, no food and only a little water, he left.
“The five of us lived at that ranch for the next six years. Then, when they were all old enough, I left to set up a boarding house here. The boys couldn’t understand why I would leave Oklahoma for Wyoming, but they let me go.
“The next year, my boarding house was held up. By the man who killed my parents, no less. I shot his arm and he was sent to prison for life.
“Now, Heath was the second oldest -- he was twelve when Ma and Pa were killed. He knows why they were killed, and that’s why he was fighting you. Because he didn’t want me taken away by just any man. The fight was a test. Heath has always sworn that the man who wants me has to go through him first. I’d forgotten it until I pulled you away to clean you up.”
Gray shook his head. “Oh, Mer, I’m so sorry that ever happened to you.” He leaned down and feathered a kiss across her lips. “But I’m thankful that you are the woman you are today.”
Merry leaned into him, but Gray stood her up and kissed her again, gently. Then he dropped to one knee and held her hand in his.
“Merry… uh”--Merry whispered her middle name quietly-- “Merry Evelyn Archer, will you ride the rails as my wife? Will you marry me, Merry, my love?”
“Yes, Gray Rockwell. Yes.”
Gray stood and swung Merry around the room, laughing. When he finally settled her on the floor, he brushed his hand at the back of her neck and closed the few inches to her mouth, pressing his own smile to hers.
Merry pressed all her love and faithfulness and promises into the kiss, and Gray returned the favor. He filled her head with love, peace, and joy. As his kisses slowed, and he pulled away, Merry breathed a silent, Thank you, Lord, for bringing me Gray.
“You may kiss the bride,” the preacher intoned.
Merry raised up on tiptoes to meet her new husband as he shifted her veil to the side. A few bruises were still fading, but for the majority of them, they’d healed in the past two weeks.
Today was the last day Gray Rockwell would be in Spring Creek; the last day Merry Archer, now Merry Archer Rockwell, would be in Spring Creek.
As Gray leaned in for a kiss, a thump on his arm pulled him back.
“You gonna make me fight for a kiss again, Heath?” Gray groaned. He’d made Heath the best man, but now he was seriously regretting that decision.
“Maybe,” Heath teased. Then his smile dropped into a more serious expression. “You keep her safe and love her, Rockwell.” Gray nodded, and Heath stepped back to let the groom give a long, loving kiss to his bride.