The Texan and the Lady by Thomas Jodi

Author:Thomas, Jodi [Thomas, Jodi]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-04-05T08:39:53+00:00

Chapter 18

Jennie opened the back door of the sheriff’s office without bothering to knock. “Austin!” she shouted as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. The air was almost as cold in the office as outside. “McCormick, are you in here?”

Austin came awake all at once. He’d left Jennie two hours before at the Harvey House. As he’d walked home, he wondered if he’d be able to sleep after their argument. She might have vanished from his side, but the touch of her as they’d danced earlier remained in his memory as if it were a tangible presence.

Dear Lord, no woman had ever felt so right in his arms. Part of him wished he had just grabbed her and kissed her when they’d been on the porch. They’d spent the rest of the evening avoiding each other. She might be madder than hell, but a touch of heaven blended in the feel of her.

So he’d returned home more angry at himself than with her. After half an hour and almost half a bottle of whiskey, he’d finally gone to sleep in the back room of the empty jail-house office. It wasn’t much for quarters, but he preferred it to the chatty boardinghouse accommodations.

“Stay mad if you like, but let me know if you’re here. Time’s wasting.”

“Jennie?” Austin shook the wash of whiskey from his mind and pulled on his pants. He didn’t have to ask; he knew whatever had brought her here this late must be important or she wouldn’t have crossed the darkness between the Harvey House and town.

“Last I heard you were never speaking to me again.” He fought to keep his words from tumbling out atop one another. “Never’s a shorter span of time than it used to be.”

She stormed into his little room as a Texas dust devil whirled across open prairie. Moonlight from his window was bright enough to spotlight her in its yellow beams, making her look more dream than real. She still wore her blue calico dress, but she’d tied an apron around her waist. “Stop talking like a fool and get dressed.”

Austin fumbled with the buttons on his pants. “How’d you get here?” She looked too beautiful to be flesh and blood before him.

“I walked over, of course. What I have to say can’t wait until morning.” She pushed a wool shawl away from her head. Shadows made her hair black velvet. “With the moonlight, it’s almost bright as day outside.” Venturing closer she added, “Austin, you’ve got to help me.”

He ran his fingers through his hair and tried to fit the pieces together. “What’s the problem that can’t wait?” A part of him longed to believe that she’d come for his touch.

Jennie paced his tiny room as if looking for the right words somewhere in the dusty shadows.

“Go ahead, tell me.” Austin watched her closely, trying to clear his mind of dreams and whiskey enough to deal with her in reality. “There’s nothing I can do if I don’t know what’s got you so upset.

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