Winning the Schoolmarm by Lacy Williams

Author:Lacy Williams [Williams, Lacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lacy Williams Books LLC

12

The predawn air was bitter as John urged the horses pulling their sleigh out of town. A thin layer of snow had fallen and frozen, and the sleigh runners crunched over the sheet of ice. The sky was slate gray and threatened to dump more precipitation. He prayed it would hold off.

He and Cecilia had bundled up in coats and scarves and mittens and blankets, but the chilled air still threatened to freeze the exposed skin of his face.

He had wrestled with the decision to accompany Cecilia all night long and still wasn't sure this was the right choice, but he'd made a commitment to her, and he wouldn't back out. Plus, Torres had given him no real reason to suspect he was up to anything since he had come to town. Was it possible that someone his father's age could change his ways?

He had to stop thinking about it. And since Cecilia was the only thing that could keep him distracted, he needed to draw her into conversation.

"Will I get to meet your family when we arrive? Or will you jump out of the sleigh before we stop?”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” she said primly.

“So I can meet them?”

"I suppose. I’m certain my sisters will want to meet you."

He glanced at her, waggling his eyebrows. "Because you've written to them and told them how handsome I am?"

She snorted softly. "Because they're nosy busybodies."

Her cheeks were a little rosy above the scarf she had tucked around her face. Maybe it was just from the cold, but he didn't think so. "So, you did write home about me?"

She kept her face turned away, hiding from him. "You're my boss. I would be remiss if I never mentioned you."

"What is your father like?"

"Why are you so interested in my family?"

He shrugged. "You're very secretive about them. I can't help my curiosity.”

Now her eyes shot daggers at him. "I'm not secretive."

He raised his brows. "You never talk about them with me," he said. He figured that proved his point.

"There's no reason for me to share personal details about my life with you."

Her voice had softened. As if she didn't totally believe what she was saying.

"I think there is. You've got it in your head that we shouldn't be friends, but I disagree."

She turned to him sharply, a becoming blush pinking what he could see of her cheeks above the scarf. “Is that really what you want? My friendship?”

He knew she was really asking whether he wanted something more. He admired her for her boldness.

Until Torres had come to Granbury, he wouldn’t have hesitated to ask for what he wanted. But now… “The timing is bad,” he admitted.

He squinted and looked at a tall maple several dozen yards away. Its branches were covered in ice, and it glistened like innumerable diamonds.

“Let's talk about something else,” he said. “Like your family."

He was teasing, but her response was quick.

"Why don't we talk about yours? Ruth mentioned something about you the other day.

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