Rebellious Bride by Donna Fletcher Page B

joined in, and both men raised their glasses to taste their pleasure, but before the drink reached their lips they stilled their glasses. Both sat staring at the sight of Lil marching into the saloon through the rear door.
    “Damn,” Sam muttered.
    Rolfe followed with “Bloody hell.”
    Lil’s steps were determined, and her mind was occupied. The saloon was crowded, it being late afternoon. She hadn’t stopped to consider that. She was too upset with Bibi’s condition to think of anything else.
    Her shirt-sleeves were still rolled up, and her blouse was opened at the neck, revealing just the slightest bit of her upper chest. Though barely a peek, it was enough to turn every man’s head her way.
    Lil didn’t need to ignore all the eyes focused on her. She was so intent on her mission that she didn’t even notice them. She spotted Susie at the far end of the bar and headed directly for her.
    Susie took delight in the situation and sent a stunning smile to Sam and Rolfe, who sat at the table only a few feet from her.
    Lil stopped right in front of Susie and didn’t waste words on pleasantries. “Bibi can’t work, Susie. Is that going to be a problem?”
    “She’s that bad?” Susie asked.
    “That bad,” Lil confirmed, relaxing some upon hearing concern in Susie’s response. “And she has nobody but you and the girls.”
    Susie smiled. “Imagine me a mother hen.”
    Lil felt like collapsing with relief but held her firm stance. “Thanks, Susie. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
    “Then you should have waited until you could have spoken to me in private.”
    Lil closed her eyes, realizing what she had done. “Oh, Lord!”
    “He’s here too.” Susie couldn’t help but tease and added, “So is your father.”
    Lil kept her focus on Susie and her voice just above a whisper. “Does my father look angry?”
    “Let’s just say he’s not smiling, but then, neither is Lord Sherborn.”
    Lil dropped her head a fraction, wondering how to save this awkward situation. Her hand instantly flew to her chest. “Good Lord, my blouse is open, and my sleeves are rolled up.”
    “Your hair is a bit messed up, too,” Susie pointed out.
    Lil moaned, and although her hands itched to reach up and fix her hair, she felt this was not the time or the place to do so. “I better go speak to my father.”
    Susie’s brow went up. “You’ve got a bigger problem headed your way.”
    “What do you mean?” Lil’s voice trembled.
    “Remember that cowhand who calls on you from time to time and fancies himself stuck on you?”
    “Doug Tanner?”
    Susie nodded and added a smile. “He’s coming up right behind you.”
    Lil turned and came face to chest with Doug Tanner. He was a big brute of a young man with hard, weathered features, callused hands, and a rough nature.
    “I’ll see you home, Lil, since this isn’t a fit place for you.” Doug’s words were a command, not a suggestion, and didn’t suit Lil at all.
    She looked up at him, opened her mouth to speak, thought better of it, closed it, and stepped around him.
    Doug followed, stopping behind her when she halted in front of the table where her father and Lord Sherborn sat.
    “Dad, I’m sorry,” Lil said and rushed on. “There was an emergency, and I couldn’t wait to see Susie.”
    Sam started to speak, but Doug cut him off. “I’ll see that Lil gets home safe, Sheriff Prescott.”
    “No, you won’t,” Lil said, turning to face him.
    Sam tried again to speak to his daughter, only this time Rolfe beat him to it. “If you didn’t frequent establishments unfit for ladies, in improper attire, apologies wouldn’t be necessary, and neither would dealing with troublesome riffraff.”
    Lil swung around. “The places I frequent, my attire, and the people I associate with are none of your concern. I can handle myself, which is more than I can say for you.”
    Rolfe was out of his chair with such speed that Lil stepped back, bumping into Doug. “You need to