The Redhead (Romancing the Ponderosa Book 2)

Chapter 11

Throwing open the front door, I attempt to just casually walk in. But when you have a screaming girl thrown over your right shoulder, I think trying to act casual is virtually impossible. I hold on to her tighter as she pushes herself upwards away from my back. Realizing I still won't let her down, she lets herself fall back down with a flop, her face nearly hitting my backside. I want to put her down since I know it has to be uncomfortable, but I'm slightly scared to let her loose. It practically guaranteed that she'll come at me in a full blown rage, something I really don't want to experience, so I just let her continue to pound my back to smithereens.

"What the devil is going on in here?" Pa walks over from where he must have been doing paperwork in his study. "Adam, what is the meaning of this? Put that poor girl down this instant!"

Swinging her down, she lets out a small screech as her feet land with a small thud on the floor. Hoss walks in the front door behind me, Misty's borrowed carpetbag in hand, as she hastily tries to fix the bodice of her dress. All of her fixing doesn't seem to make a difference, the bodice is still as revealing as it was before she adjusted it. Glancing between the three of us, Pa looks furious and confused all at the same time.

"Does anyone care to explain what the meaning of all of this is?" Upon our silence, he looks between us again even angier. "Misty's been in town for the past three days and you boys have been gone for three weeks on a cattle drive. And now all three of you just magically appear in my living room making so much noise that I can barely hear my own thoughts!"

"Pa, I can explain!" He looks at me, arms crossed over his chest, face completely showing that he's more than just mad. "Where's Joe at? He has a big part in this too and he needs to do some explaining as well."

"He's out taking a ride with Hannah, I expect them to be back any moment. But what does he have to do with this grand entrance of yours?"

"Do you know what Misty's been doing in town these last days?"

"Joe and Hannah told me she had found a job and was staying in town."

"I'm guessing they didn't bother to tell you what type of job, did they?"

"No, they didn't specify what she was doing. They just said that she had found a job and was going to stay at the hotel."

"I found this redhead, who I left in the care of my sister-in-law, thinking that she'd be carefully watched and taken care of, in the Silver Dollar Saloon! And not only in the saloon but entertaining a male customer in this frilly dress!"

"Adam, I swear I had no idea! If I had known I never would have allowed them to take her to town."

Hearing laughter and buggy wheels, we all turn to look towards the door. A few moments later it swings open. Joe and Hannah come in and by the looks on their faces they clearly had a good time together. They both come to a sudden halt, guilty looks on their faces, when they see all four of us standing in the middle of the floor. Joe quickly lays his hat on the table while Hannah swings the door shut, both of them avoiding eye contact with me.

"Joseph, just what do you have to say for yourself this time?" Pa barks angrily at him, arms still crossed over his chest.

"Pa, I had no intention of letting her get a job at the saloon, but that girl right there," He points to where she stands, the perfect picture of stubbornness with her arms crossed over her chest, chin tilted up in the air, and a scowl on her face, "is worse than the stubbornest mule in the whole territory of Nevada!"

"Oh, trust me, little brother, we know that." Hoss blows out a deep breath.

"Did she give you two trouble in town?"