Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed

Author:Terri Reed [Reed, Terri]
Format: epub
Tags: American Light Romantic Fiction, Contemporary, General, Romance, Fiction, Fiction - Romance, Man-woman relationships, Western, Divorced women, Christmas stories, Romantic suspense fiction, Suspense, Ranchers, Christian, Religious - General, Christian - Romance, Religious, Romance - Suspense, Oregon, Christian - Suspense, Christian fiction, American Mystery & Suspense Fiction, Ranch life, Abused wives
ISBN: 9780373442690
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2007-12-04T23:10:58.578000+00:00

NINE

From the corner of his eye, Luke saw movement.

He sank back into the shadows and waited. The light of the moon reflecting off the snow illuminated a figure scurrying behind his Bronco. A second later, the person emerged from around the front.

Adrenaline pumped through his heart, energizing him. On quiet feet, he moved through the shadows, closing the gap between him and the mystery person. Approaching from behind, Luke judged the person to be of medium height and slight of frame.

He couldn’t make out the face, obscured from his view by a dark cap pulled low over the collar of a dark jacket. The person’s pace accelerated, soft tennis shoes crunched slightly on the packed snow on the edge of the gravel drive.

With grim determination, he closed in on his target. No one tried to make off with something from the Campbell ranch. Then he recognized the suitcases.

Confused, he frowned and grabbed Faith by the scruff of the neck and turned her around. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

Faith dropped the bags and squeaked, “Luke.”

“For crying out loud, Faith.” Apprehension tightened his chest, making his voice gruff. “Where are you going?”

Her chin came up in a defensive gesture that set his teeth on edge. “I don’t have to answer to you.”

“Oh, yes you do.” He grabbed the bags. “We’ll discuss this inside.”

“Give me my luggage.” Faith struggled unsuccessfully to take the bags from his grip. Finally, she fisted her hand. “You have no right to stop me, Luke Campbell.”

Anger and an odd sense of hurt flashed within his chest. Had the friendship they’d begun to build mean nothing? “Oh no? I think I have every right. As your employer, I deserve two weeks’ notice.” He thought she might be on the verge of tears, but he couldn’t tell for sure.

“I don’t have two weeks!”

Her exclamation left him more bewildered and he softened his tone. “As your friend, I’d like to know what’s going on.”

She turned away from him and the moon’s glow lit her features, exposing her drawn, scared expression. That did it. He would get answers out of her tonight, even if he needed to throw her over his shoulder and carry her inside.

“Come on, Faith. We’re going in.”

He could tell by the tightening of her lips that she wanted to protest. Giving her no chance, he turned on his heel and carried her bags toward the house. He let out an exaggerated sigh when she didn’t immediately follow, but when he heard her quiet footfalls behind him, he released a quick breath of relief.

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