Page 26 of No Man Left Behind

“Okay, friend. Consider my comic skills at your disposal.”

Piper laughed. “You may live to regret that.”

Elina laughed as well. “Not a chance.”

Chapter9

Man On A Mission

Afew days later, Jim and Carl were providing dinner service, so Marcus booked a spot for himself and Elina. The men had turned the old parlour into a dining room with tables for two and four. If a large group came, they pulled the tables together.

Marcus had spent the past few days haggling with the owner of the telegraph office to get the best price he could. Then, he’d worked on the deluge of paperwork that came with funding. Nothing was for free.

Now, he wanted to spend an intimate dinner with Elina. Well, as intimate as it could be in a public dining space, with Jim and Carl watching their every move.

At least she’d extended her stay. Now, he had to work on getting more time with her. Then, he’d work toward getting a truly intimate dinner with her at his place.

Marcus rang the bell at the B&B, pleased with the additional security the men had installed. After the incident with Piper, they’d upped the security, and he hoped it all helped Elina feel safe. She hadn’t had enough safety in her life.

Carl opened the door a crack. He held the grey cat, Jem. “Come in quickly.”

He did, and Carl closed the door as soon as his heels crossed the threshold. “Which one’s on the loose this time?”

“Boo. Again. He’s definitely the most adventurous. Seems like we should have named him Scout. Although, he heads for the shadows, and that’s a Boo trait. Hmm. Maybe the name fits better than I thought.”

Marcus spotted an odd shadow in the space under the piano. He kept his pace measured and calm, treating the kitten like he would a criminal who didn’t think he’d been spotted. When he reached the piano, he bent and scooped up the cat without pausing. The little guy’s eyes widened as Marcus lifted him to eye level. “You need to stop driving these guys nuts, Boo. Where’s your guardian angel? Shouldn’t he be rounding you up?”

On cue, the Great Dane pup trotted into the room from the back with the third kitten on his heels. It only took a second for the dog to spot his two charges and come over to check them out. Once again, Marcus squatted down to let the dog check over the kitten. The group had clearly bonded, and he wondered what the hell had happened to them. If someone had tossed them into the road, it would be a great pleasure to throw the jerk in jail.

Finch licked the kitten, then stared down Marcus until he set the feline down. The dog sniffed his buddy all over and then licked Marcus’s hands.

He ruffled the mutt’s giant head. “You’re welcome, bud. They’re a lot of work for one guardian, but you’re doing a great job.”

Finch’s sigh sounded like it emanated from the dog’s toes, making Marcus and Carl laugh.

When he stood, his gaze immediately caught Elina as she descended the stairs. Another pretty dress, another brilliant smile. He knew he grinned back like a kid looking at an ice cream sundae. And he couldn’t have cared less that Carl watched.

When she reached the bottom, he held out his hand, and she took it. He leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. “You’re stunning. Pretty enough to gobble up in one bite.”

He kept his words for her ears only. Her skin flushed, and her eyes sparkled as she thanked him and squeezed his hand.

Carl led the way to the dining room as if they both were newcomers. He gestured to a table in a corner, offering them as much privacy as they could get. A candle burned in a small lantern on the table, and the lighting was dim. A group of four tourists sat at another table but Marcus barely spared them a glance.

He held Elina’s chair for her and took the seat across from her at their small table. Unable to help it, he reached across and laced his fingers with hers. “How was your day?”

“Fun. Piper and I made final decisions on the characters, and then we posted options on the website as a poll.”

“I haven’t had a chance to look yet. Tell me about them all.”

Her face lit up. “We decided on three options for each. A male, a female, and a gender neutral. There are foxes, fireflies, snails, and leaves.”

“Leaves?”

She laughed. “Leaves. From trees native to the area. Maple, birch, and walnut. Some might prefer that instead of the animals.”

He shrugged. “I’m betting on the animals. Everyone around here is pretty pet friendly.”

She leaned forward. “Finch and the kittens slept in my room last night.”

---