The Man from Stone Creek Read Online Free PDF

been an exception, hired after his predecessor eloped with a medicine peddler three weeks into the school term. And now here was Sam O’Ballivan, who looked more like a hired gunslinger than anything else.
    â€œI guess you didn’t hear me say most teachers are female,” Mungo said, sounding less jovial now as O’Ballivan set the box on the counter and proceeded to examine a large copper washtub hanging on the wall.
    â€œOh, I heard you, all right,” he replied, hoisting the tub down from its peg. “It just didn’t seem like the sort of remark that called for an answer.”
    The air fairly crackled.
    Maddie debated whether or not she ought to stipulate that she didn’t sell on credit, since the tub was one of the most expensive items she carried, but she didn’t want to be the next one to speak.
    Meanwhile, Undine had recovered her aplomb. “We’d be honored to have you come to our place for supper, Mr. O’Ballivan,” she said. Mungo turned to glower at her, but she went right on ignoring him.
    Sam set the tub on the counter. “I accept,” he said.
    Mungo seemed taken aback, and Maddie was a little surprised herself. A mite irritated, too, though she couldn’t have said why.
    Undine batted her thick lashes and posed, as if for a daguerreotypist about to take her likeness. “Would tonight be too soon?”
    â€œUnfortunately,” Sam said, “I have a prior commitment.”
    Undine was the image of sweet disappointment. “Tomorrow, then?”
    â€œTomorrow will be fine,” Sam replied.
    Maddie risked a sidelong peek at Mungo, who looked as if his thick head of white hair might be about to fly upward and stick to the ceiling. Was O’Ballivan such a fool that he didn’t know where he wasn’t welcome? Or was he simply unable to resist Undine Donagher’s undeniable charms?
    â€œSeven o’clock, then,” Undine chimed, twinkling. “The ranch house is five miles east of here, along the river trail.”
    Sam nodded. “I’ll be there,” he said.
    â€œBring Miss Chancelor here along with you,” Mungo added. It wasn’t an invitation. It was an order, thrust into the exchange like a fist.
    Maddie opened her mouth to protest.
    â€œThat’s a fine idea,” Sam replied before she could get a word out.
    Undine’s face fell. Mungo took a hard grip on her elbow and ushered her toward the door. “I’ll send a ranch hand back for the goods we bought,” the rancher announced without turning his head.
    â€œI was just being neighborly,” Undine was heard to say as Mungo fairly hurled her outside.
    Maddie stared after them, confounded.
    Sam O’Ballivan helped himself to a towel, four cotton shirts and a shiny new bucket.
    â€œThis tub costs eight dollars,” Maddie pointed out when she’d had a few moments to recover. “I don’t—”
    Mr. O’Ballivan paused, took a wallet from the inside pocket of his coat and inspected the contents thoughtfully. Even from where she stood, Maddie could see that he had plenty of money, and that made her wonder even more.
    â€œI think I can cover it,” he concluded, replacing the wallet.
    â€œWho are you?” Maddie demanded. It was her nature, after all, to be forthright, and she’d held her curiosity in check as long as she could.
    He added three pairs of socks to the pile. “You don’t have much of a memory,” he said. “I believe I’ve already introduced myself.”
    Maddie rounded the counter and advanced, setting her hands on her hips and forcing him to stop and face her. “I guess you didn’t notice that Mungo Donagher doesn’t want you coming to his house for supper.”
    Sam’s mouth quirked again, though he didn’t actually smile. “Now that hurts my feelings,” he said. “The invitation sounded sincere enough to me.”
    Maddie gave an