The Sheriff (Historical Romance) by Nan Ryan

Author:Nan Ryan [Ryan, Nan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical, Romance, Fiction, 19th Century, Adult, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Frontier & Pioneer, Western, Hearts Desire, Native American, American West, California, Victorian Mansion, Gold Mine, Miners, Sheriff, Stranger, Protection, Lawman, Law Enforcement, Gentleman, Suspicious Interest
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Published: 2014-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

Once both were satiated, Winn immediately set his gasping lover back on her feet, and began hurriedly adjusting his clothing.

Already he was sorry he had taken such a foolish chance. Anxious to return to the dance before Kate had time to miss him, he felt his anger flare when Melisande deviled him by saying she would walk with him.

Winn grabbed her by the hair, forced her head back and said through clenched teeth, “Damn you, woman, you’ll do no such thing! And you’ll wait at least a half hour to return to the dance. Alone. Once you’re there, you’re to stay away from me. Don’t try to dance with me, don’t even look at me.” He gave her hair a hard yank. “You hear me?”

“I hear you!” Her eyes flashing, breasts heaving, she snarled, “But don’t expect me to stay in this primitive gold camp forever while you dilly-dally with that uppity little Boston blonde.”

“You’ll have to be patient for a while. The girl’s not the easy mark I had hoped. Often as not, she turns down my invitations.”

“Surely you can charm—”

Interrupting, he said, “Even when she does agree to go out to dinner or the opera house, I feel like there are several pairs of eyes on us, watching my every move.”

“You’re imagining things, Winn.”

“No, no I’m not. There’s the protective little Chinaman that works with her. And the nosey Dr. Ledet. And especially the town sheriff. Marshal McCloud has the annoying habit of turning up everywhere we go. I strongly suspect his interest in Kate is more than a simple concern for her safety.”

“You think the sheriff wants her for himself?”

“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.”

Melisande worriedly shook her head. “You can’t let that happen. If McCloud gets his hands on her, we’re sunk.”

“So you’re saying that big, sullen lawman could sweep her off her feet and I can’t?”

“If you can, do it,” she said. “Stop wasting time. Charm her, seduce her, make her marry you. And the sooner the better.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Winn said, and kissed her.

Kate had been anxiously looking for him all evening.

She had not seen him.

He was not here and the dance had been under way for more than an hour. Kate felt a great sense of relief. Obviously the sheriff was not planning to attend the street dance. Now she could relax and enjoy herself.

“No, please, I really must catch my breath,” she begged as a grinning, gap-toothed miner stepped up to claim the next dance.

“You’re not next, I am,” said a big man with curly salt-and-pepper hair, taking her arm.

“The devil you are,” said the gap-toothed fellow as he attempted to pull the struggling Kate into his arms.

An argument ensued.

Kate backed away as Deputy Jiggs Gillespie—on the floor dancing with Alice Hester—moved in quickly to settle the dispute.

“The young lady is dancing with neither of you.” The deputy fearlessly stepped between the two big men. “And you’ll both spend the night in jail if you cause me any trouble.”

Dancers stopped and stared.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.