American Frontier - Chapter 1

Missy Taylor walked briskly through the trees, savoring the reprieve from the beating summer sunlight. Thomas had arrived in town last night and, as always, they would meet in their grove to catch up.

She always missed her friend when he travelled to Grenton to do business, but she was happy for him. His family's business was thriving and he'd met a lovely young lady in Grenton whom he had started courting.

Stepping across a small stream, Missy sighed. She had come a few minutes before their usual meeting time so she could soak in the peace of her surroundings. She tried to push her worries aside and focus on the beauty around her.

When she finally reached their clearing, she sat on the fallen log they used as a bench and listened to the birds flitting about overhead. A rustling in the bushes bespoke little critters scurrying about their business. Missy tipped her head back and breathed deeply of the cool, damp air. The tension slowly drained from her shoulders.

She considered her future. She enjoyed working at the bakery, but wasn't sure it was what she wanted for the rest of her life. She loved Landerville. Mother's grave was here, and she had many happy memories from the years before Mother's death.

Since Mother's death, though, she had not found much joy with her family. Father was. . . well, he had turned to drinking to overcome the pain of losing Mother. And, as Missy had learned to her dismay, he was a very violent drunk.

Oh how she wished Travis had stuck around. Her brother had protected her from the worst of her father's temper, but only a year after Mother's death, Travis decided to strike out on his own, leaving her to take care of her father.

Father wasn't always terrible, of course, except when he'd been at the saloon. Unfortunately, that was becoming a nightly occurrence. Still, he generally left Missy alone so long as she kept out of his way.

Alone. Her mind caught hold of that word with a jab. She was certainly very much alone. She didn't want to even consider what her life would be like if Thomas decided to move to Grenton. It was starting to look like more of a probability than just a possibility that he would leave. With his lady and her family in Grenton, and someone needing to run his family's newest mill, he would likely have a much brighter future there.

Missy frowned. She wondered if he felt tied to Landerville because of her. It would be just like her dear friend. Ever since he had found her hiding in the trees near the school and crying because one of the older boys had tossed her special cookie from Mother into the dirt, he had been her friend and protector.

People had occasionally asked him if he and Missy were a couple, which was ridiculous. Their friendship was far more akin to siblings than to any form of romance.

Thankfully, Missy passed mostly unnoticed through town, so she never had anyone asking her awkward questions. And very few people had ever noticed her relationship with Thomas.

Thomas often asked her how she managed to be so completely invisible. He said it like it was a feat, an accomplishment of some sort to be so unmemorable that most of the people she saw, talked with, lived with, and attended church with had no idea who she was.

Missy sighed. It was not so grand as he might suppose, though she had never told him that. He would be at great pains to make others notice her if he knew how dissatisfied she was with her inconspicuousness.

Her musings were interrupted by a loud rustling across the clearing. She stood, wondering why Thomas was coming from that direction. As soon as the masculine figure strode into the clearing, she ran, throwing herself into his arms. "I missed you!" she exclaimed.

His arms wrapped around her hesitantly. She buried her face against his chest, only to realize that the man she held was rather more muscular than her lean friend. Pulling back, she looked up into, not the green eyes she hoped, but a pair of confused, familiar brown eyes.

"Parker!" she gasped as her cheeks heated with embarrassment. Parker Eddington was the local apothecary. Having moved in only shortly before Travis left, he had been in town for about three years. As a young, handsome, well-to-do bachelor, he was quite sought after by the local female population.

Missy herself had developed quite a crush on the man, but not for his wealth or good looks. She had noticed the way he treated the elderly and the poor in town with respect and kindness, often serving others while no one was paying attention.

He escorted Mrs. Anderson, an ailing widow, to church every Sunday. He often helped Miss Thompson, a frail spinster, with her groceries. He played with the children after school, teaching the boys whose fathers were busy in late mining shifts to play various sports.

Of course, she had still noticed his muscular form, his tousled blond hair worn a little long, and his brown eyes that were usually sparkling with humor.

She had often wished he would notice her, but he was one of the many in town to whom she seemed to be invisible. Now, she had thrown herself into his arms like a saloon girl. What must he think of her?

Looking down to hide her embarrassment, she began pulling away, but his arms held her firmly against him. Pausing to put together an apology, she looked back up and wetted her dry lips. "I-"

That was all she got out. The rest of her words were cut off as his lips descended on hers in a tender, unexpected kiss. She gasped, then melted against his warmth. She had never been kissed before, so she tried to follow his lead, tightening her arms around his muscular form as she did so.