The Marshal's Surrender (Holidays in Mountain Home Book 3) by Kristin Holt

Author:Kristin Holt [Holt, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical Western
Publisher: Kristin Holt, LC
Published: 2016-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

From where Noelle stood near the front door of her home, she easily overheard Gus’s impassioned statement. “If I marry, I’ll have none but Noelle Finlay.”

She’d heard him, plain as day.

Crystal clear. Unmistakable. Shocking.

Precisely what she’d wanted to hear.

Unbelievable.

Memories of his kiss, not ever far away, swept over her with the heat and voracity of a forest fire.

That kiss had seared her to her toes.

And made her crave more. Far more.

This proved the tides had turned.

She found herself grinning like an idiot. And shaking Reverend Gilbert’s hand. Naturally, he and Mrs. Gilbert had joined the others for the impromptu town meeting.

“Glad to see you looking so chipper, Miss Noelle.”

“Thank you, Reverend.”

“Happy you survived your ordeal.”

“Me too.”

She strained to hear the rest of the conversation. What else was Gus saying to Virginia and Belle?

She was still smiling, ear-to-ear, when the last of their guests filed out half an hour later.

She found Gus on the back porch, smoking a cigarette and scanning the tree-line along the back of the house.

He glanced at her, nodded, and blew out a steady stream of smoke.

Confident his feelings were now in her favor, she determined to grab the opportunity by both horns and run with it. He might argue with her, but that would all be for show. It was time to act.

If she’d learned nothing else through her ordeal, she’d realized time was precious. She’d regretted not telling him how she felt. She wouldn’t wait—not now that she knew he returned her affection.

Even with her coat bundled up to her throat, her muff securely about both hands, and her hat pulled low, the chill wind circled about her wool stockings and chilled her bone deep. She doubted she’d ever be warm again.

From here, it was easy to see a lantern bobbing in the hand of one of the men, moving from bunkhouse to barn. She watched Gus track the hired hand.

Inside the house, dishes clattered in the kitchen as her mother prepared dinner.

Homey sounds.

Familiar music.

She’d desperately missed her family and the safety of her home. It was good to be back.

Gus drew deeply on his cigarette and blew the smoke at a sharp angle away from her.

She opted for the direct approach. “I heard what you said to Virginia and Belle.”

He groaned.

“It’s fine. Really.” She couldn’t help but smile at him. “If I ever marry, I do believe the only man I’d accept would be you.”

“Noelle—”

The tone of his voice made it clear he regretted his statement. A chill of uncertainty slipped down her spine. Had he only made such a comment to throw those flirtatious twits off his tail? Maybe.

Or maybe he’d meant it.

“Shh.” She couldn’t help but touch him. She pulled one hand from the warmth of her muff and slipped it down his coat sleeve to his wrist, bare inside his coat pocket.

Feeling daring, more certain of her reception than before, she pushed her hand into the warmth of his pocket, nestling it inside his.

A rush of delight tickled through her. Especially as the expression on his face clearly read hope mingled with anticipation… and a bit of disbelief.

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