Give Me a Cowboy by Jodi Thomas

Author:Jodi Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2009-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

Tempest admired the rugged Texan across from her. His unshaven jaw sported what appeared a week of growth. Some men had a dark shadow even when they were clean shaven. She had no proof of it yet, but she fit McKenna in that department.

Warmth stole into her face under his steady regard. She studied the menu on the chalkboard, all the while casting fleeting glances at him.

The man whose energy and power charged into a room like a herd of wild mustangs on locoweed stirred old longings.

This day that began so ordinary had taken quite a turn.

She tried to put her finger on what exactly about McKenna Smith drew everyone’s eye. Sure he had the widest shoulders she’d ever seen, wider than husband number five who had been a large man. And McKenna’s easy, but deliberate, stride put her in mind of flowing water that knew where it was going but was in no hurry to get there. That was an attention-getter.

With this Texan it seemed more than that though.

Maybe part of the fascination was due to the black leather britches that tapered along muscular legs and disappeared inside tall boots hugging his calves. Or it could be the leather vest studded with silver conchas and a denim shirt the color of sin that gave the famous paladin the aura of a man to reckon with.

Sweet mercy! Her breath snagged on the flutters in her throat. Perspiration marched down her spine like a bunch of army ants storing food for the winter.

He was by far the most electrifying man she’d ever crossed.

“Mr. Smith, it’s quite an honor to have your presence in Kasota Springs. Sure gave these twitter-patted fools a whole new set of speculations to flap their gums over.”

“It wasn’t intentional I assure you.” His mouth quirked in an almost smile.

That was another thing she’d noticed. He doled out smiles with the care of a watchdog guarding a henhouse. Spending so much time among bad people likely didn’t give him much to be happy about.

“All the same, I’m glad to finally meet you. I’ve heard so many thrilling stories of your exploits.”

For years, rumor ran rampant of his quick dispersal of outlaws, his dogged persistence in the pursuit of justice and about the line he wouldn’t cross. Wild talk was generally what made legends so she’d always chalked down the reputation of the black-clothed figure to nothing but scuttlebutt. Until now.

“Don’t believe everything you hear, Mrs. LeDoux.”

“That sounds so…old.” She wrinkled her nose. “Call me Tempest.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Quiet conviction loomed about this man. She found it in the vibration of his deep voice, felt it in the strength of his touch. McKenna Smith wasn’t someone looking for vainglory.

Her gaze dropped to a rawhide pouch dangling around his neck. The Indian medicine bag seemed out of place with the black leather apparel of a gunslinger.

Shifting to his hat lying on the table, she took in the beaded hatband rimming his Stetson.

Hats spoke a language of their own about the wearer. The shape and style told where a man came from and where he might be going.

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