A Grand Race (Sutton Family Book 3) by Ellen O'Connell

Author:Ellen O'Connell [O'Connell, Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-21T21:00:00+00:00

10

Relief flooded through Jamie at the sight of buildings ahead. Cheyenne.

After the memorable river ford, the rest of Nebraska had been an easy drive, but the weather had steadily deteriorated since they’d crossed into Wyoming. September had to be too early for a blizzard, but any storm would be dangerous on flat land that offered no prospect for shelter.

All afternoon, leaden skies had spit rain so cold it turned to snow now and then. If their modified truce hadn’t put Caro in his arms last night, the two of them under every blanket in both bedrolls, he’d have had to invent another excuse to keep her from freezing.

Then again with no modified truce, she would have solved the problem the way she did the first night they camped. He smiled at the memory, which wasn’t only a memory. Huddled in the seat beside him, looking twice her usual size in a cocoon of sweaters, coats, and blankets, Caro looked pretty much the same as she had that first night.

At least she only resembled a small grizzly, she wasn’t growling like one. Yet.

“If I never camp out again in my life it will be too soon,” she said as if she had heard his thoughts.

“Since you made it to twenty-five without suffering through it before, you ought to be safe for a long time.”

“Forever. No one’s talking me into it after another twenty-five years. Forever.”

They passed through the outskirts of the city. Houses gave way to businesses. The few people on the street hustled along hunched against the wind, barely glancing up at the passing motor vehicle.

“There,” Caro said, one arm emerging from the cocoon to point. “That’s the check-in hotel, isn’t it? Do you suppose we can stay there?”

“We’ll see.”

She sounded so wishful. Unless the place was terrible, stay there they would. The sooner they had warm feet and full stomachs the better.

Two horses at the hitch rail fiddle-footed nervously as Jamie coasted past them and drew up half a block farther on.

All signs of the wild cow town Cheyenne had once been—and often still was—disappeared as the paneled door to the hotel lobby closed behind them. Glowing gas lamps alleviated the gloom of the stormy afternoon. Thick carpet muffled their steps on the way to the reception desk.

The clerk smiled and presented the automobile club’s check-in log with a flourish. Like others before him, he assumed Caro was Mrs. Lenahan, a mistake that made requesting one room easier.

Caroline watched Jamie sign the register and whispered, “Maybe we can stay here two nights, three.”

The velvety promise in her voice chased the cold from important parts of his body. Not his feet unfortunately. Why not stay an extra day? He’d already broken every promise to himself regarding Miss Caroline Tindell.

Somewhere between the lobby and their third floor room, Jamie remembered why not. “We’re already a week behind the leaders of this race. Tempting as it is, stopping for an extra few days would be cheating Mr. Kenworthy.”

He unlocked the door and ushered Caro into the shadowy room.

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