After the Storm: Clean Historical Western Cowboy Romance Novel (Dawson Chronicles Book 2) by Linda Bridey

smile.  “Maybe a little bit.  I’ll have dinner with you.  Where?  I need to know how to dress.”
                  “How about we start with the Grady House?  Not so fancy at first?”
                  “Ok.”
                  “Is six ok?” he asked.
                  “Yes.”
                  “See you then, my feisty bravette,” he said.  He’d picked up the expression from the Dwyers.
                  “Goodbye.”
                  Hailey smiled to herself as she went back to work, anticipation building inside as she thought about the coming evening.
     
    *****
     
                  Art cleaned up after the long day of work, washing off the dust and sweat.  He’d picked up a few new pairs of jeans and button-down shirts at Elliot’s.  He put on a pair of the jeans and a white shirt.  Shrugging into a denim coat, he looked in the mirror and decided he looked presentable.
                  He saddled the horse he’d been given to use and headed for the Lakota camp.  Like Kyle, he was adjusting to the complete change in his life from his time in the military.  It still didn’t seem real to be back in “regular” society and it certainly didn’t seem real to be going out with a beautiful woman.
                  As he neared the camp, he let out a low whistle, knowing that ever since the Loyalty party had attempted to raid the camp last year, Black Fox had reinstated the practice of keeping sentries on guard.  Art couldn’t blame him. 
                  He passed without being detained and rode over to Raven and Zoe’s house, waving at people and saying hello.  When he knocked on the door, Raven opened it and came outside, closing the door behind him.  Art arched an eyebrow at his hard look.
                  “You are taking Hailey to dinner.”
                  “Yes, sir,” Art said, a slight feeling of trepidation rising.
                  Raven’s eyes glittered with warning.  “She has never been courted.  Hailey is courageous, tough, and hard sometimes, but inside beats the heart of a woman all the same.  I warn you that if you hurt her, I will not hesitate to act.  Have I made myself clear?”
                  “Yes, sir.  I’ll be good to her.”
                  Raven gave him a measuring look and then smiled.  “I believe you.  Have a nice time.”
                  “Thanks.”  He sighed in relief when Raven motioned for him to follow him inside.  He greeted Zoe and exchanged pleasantries with her.
                  When Hailey came into the parlor, Art had to work hard not to gawk.  After seeing her in only military and Red Cross uniforms and buckskin, the simple green wool skirt and white shirtwaist looked exotic on her.
                  Raven and Zoe hid smiles when they saw how shyly Hailey glanced at Art. 
                  “Well, Miss Dwyer, you look pretty,” he said.
                  Although Hailey’s skin color was darker than Zoe’s her blush was still visible and her parents again had to stifle smiles.  They hadn’t seen her blush since she’d been a teenager. 
                  “Thank you,” she said quietly.
                  “I miss the bow and arrows, though,” he joked.
                  She smiled.  “Do you want me to take them along?”
                  “Nah.  Maybe next time,” he said.
                  Hailey took her coat down from a peg by the front door and became confused when he held out his hand for it.  She hesitantly gave it to him as though afraid he was going to steal it.  It was a bizarre experience for her to have someone hold her coat for her.  She’d seen men do it for other women, including Raven with Zoe, but no one had ever