The Bachelor Tax. Carolyn Davidson

“If you don’t stop wiggling, sweetheart, I’ll drop you. And then you will be in a fix.” His eyes darkened, and he glowered at her as if he wished he’d never sullied his hands with her.

      She closed her eyes. “Just across the street, please. I’ll walk from there.” Her hands seemed useless appendages, and she folded her arms firmly across her breasts, making fists of her fingers, lest she be tempted to push them against him in a bid for release.

      He bounced her in his arms again, as if to get a better grip, and her breath escaped in an audible puff of air. The brim of Rosemary’s hat tilted precariously over her forehead and she was sure that her lower limbs were on view to whoever might be observing from the sidewalk.

      The urge to weep was almost irresistible, and she drove her fingernails into her palms, gritting her teeth against the impulse. In moments, Tanner stepped up onto the wooden sidewalk and deftly lowered her to her feet.

      “There you go, ma’am. I hope I’ve been of some service to you.”

      She cast him a sidelong look, her hands busy with brushing her skirts into place. “Yes, I’m sure you have, Mr. Tanner. You’ve been a real blessing.”

      He clucked his tongue disapprovingly. “Was that a note of sarcasm I heard? And after all I’ve done?”

      He was drawing a crowd, Rosemary realized, suddenly aware of the ladies who had stepped from the bank. A handful of old gentlemen lingered nearby, their trip to the emporium for their usual game of cribbage interrupted by her misfortune.

      “Just go away, sir,” she managed to whisper, the appearance of tears becoming a real possibility.

      He was silent for a moment, unmoving before her, and Rosemary drew in a quavering breath, wishing she might just vanish from this place and from his presence.

      Tanner’s fingers gripped her chin and he tilted her face upward, peering down into her eyes. “Are you gonna cry, sweetheart?”

      “No! I never cry,” she lied, even as a tear escaped from each eye.

      Damn, he was in a spot. Half the town was within hearing distance and he was in over his head, trying to make amends for being a gentleman for once in his life. Even as he mulled over his options, a tear dropped to the front of her dingy dress and soaked into the dark fabric.

      She was about the most pitiful sight he’d seen in a month of Sundays, with most all of her hair twisted up somewhere beneath that drooping hat she wore, only bits and pieces of it peeking out. It wasn’t the dark brown he’d thought, but a pretty color, sort of brown and red put together. And somehow she’d managed to hide it under the ugliest piece of black straw he’d ever laid eyes on.

      “Ma’am?” His fingers tightened their grip, and he saw her wince. With a grunt of regret, he released her chin, aware of the soft texture of the skin he’d probably bruised with his clumsy touch. Her mouth quivered, and he watched even, white teeth clamp down on her lower lip.

      “Ma’am, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he murmured, aware that the ladies who had stepped closer were probably being eaten alive with curiosity. He’d almost put his head in the noose once with this female. Now he’d managed to get himself in a hullabaloo with folks looking on.

      “I’m fine, Mr. Tanner. You may go on your way.” She looked to be balanced pretty well on both feet, and Gabe stepped back, sweeping his hat from his head.

      “I’m glad I was able to be of service, ma’am,” he mumbled for the benefit of the onlookers. “You’d better get that ankle looked at.” His gaze dropped to where her foot was barely grazing the wood beneath it, only the toe of her boot brushing the sidewalk.

      Maybe he should…Hell, no! He wasn’t about to make any offers. He could just see himself pulling off her boot and running his hands over her foot and the bones of her ankle. Then he would be in hot water with the fine female citizenry of Edgewood. They’d have him at the altar in no time flat.

      Yet, Rosemary’s legs had been most appealing, he admitted to himself, almost grinning at the memory. Curving up from the top of her low boots, they’d been a tempting sight. He’d warrant her feet were narrow and well formed, her ankles slender.

      “Rosemary, are you all right?” From out of nowhere, Phillipa Boone arrived, breathless and concerned.

      “She tripped on a ball in front of the hotel,” Tanner offered. “I helped her across the street, but she says she can walk now.”

      Phillipa nodded. “I saw you carrying her from my front window.” Her lips curled into a knowing grin. “I’m sure you were a big help, sir.”

      Tanner replaced his hat, tugging the brim down sharply over his brow. “I’ll be on my way. Hope your foot’s all right, Miss Gibson.”

      He turned from the gathering, aware of Phillipa Boone’s words of commiseration and the answering murmur of Rosemary’s voice. What a mess. Twice now, he’d been in close proximity with the woman. He’d better keep his distance before the creature thought he really was interested in her.

      His steps quickened as he headed for his horse, and with a final glance at the ladies who were intent on tending to the preacher’s daughter, he rode toward the livery stable. Bates Comstock greeted him with a grin. “What’s this I hear about you offering for Gibson’s girl, Tanner? You plannin’ on bein’ domesticated like the rest of us?”

      Gabe felt a shudder of dread down the length of his spine. “It got me out of payin’ the Bachelor Tax, and that’s a fact. Damn tax is ridiculous anyway. Why the town thinks it has to meddle is beyond me.”

      “They’re tryin’ to raise money for the new schoolhouse they want to build.”

      “Hell, if they count on the new tax to pay the bill, it’ll be a long time till the first wall goes up. There’s not that many bachelors around these parts.”

      “What are you doin’ in town, Tanner?” Bates asked.

      “Fact is, I was on my way to see you when Miss Gibson took a fall out in front of the hotel. I carted her across the street and let Pip Boone take over with her.”

      “You’re gettin’ in deep, boy. You’d do well to steer clear of that gal, or she’ll be takin’ you up on your offer.”

      Tanner kicked at a stone, venting his irritation, one hand propped on his hip. “Forget it, Bates. She’s not about to take me on, and that’s that. Now, I need to know how many horses you want from my place. I’m givin’ you first pick.”

      Bates slid his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I need three or four. Town’s growin’ and I get calls most every week for a carriage or somebody lookin’ to buy a horse. Your animals broke to harness?”

      Gabe shrugged. “Whatever you’re lookin’ for, I’ve probably got. I’m cullin’ out some of the three-year-olds, those that are saddle-broke and a couple I’ve been working with, pulling my buggy.”

      “Let me come out tomorrow and take a look,” Bates said. “How are the prices?”

      Tanner grinned. “High. I’ve got the best horses in east Texas, and you know that as well as I do.”

      “What are you gonna do with the rest of them?”

      “There’s a dealer in Shreveport ready to take anything I’ve got to sell.”

      Bates nodded. “I’d best beat him to it then, hadn’t I? I’ll be out in the morning.”

      “If I were a man I could have a job doing the accounts for Mr. Stillwell at the Golden Slipper,” Rosemary said, propping her chin on her fist, one foot stretched before her with a cool cloth covering her ankle.

      “Don’t even think it,” Pip said sharply. “Even if you were a man, you wouldn’t want to work for a saloon keeper.”

      “Not much chance anyway,” Rosemary said with a