His Holiday Bride

“A compliment? That’s a surprise.”

“Don’t I know it. No one is more stunned than me.”

“Still think I’m not too ugly?”

“We’re talking of your sheriff skills, Sherman, not your other qualities.”

The sweet warmth of her alto wrapped around him like a cloak, keeping the cold at bay. For the first time in years he didn’t feel alone. It was hard to tell in the storm, but he thought he saw a twinkle in her deep hazel eyes. Teasing him when she meant something more serious.

He knew teasing was easier. He avoided serious whenever he could. He’d gotten enough of it in his line of work to last him a lifetime. “You’re welcome,” he choked, finally able to get out the words. “Now you owe me.”

“Me? I owe you?” She tossed her head, sending snowflakes flying off her silken curls, bracing her feet like a gunfighter ready to draw. “We don’t know if it was your bullet that winged him or my dad’s. I’m sure it wasn’t yours. You aren’t used to shooting off the back of a horse.”

“How do you know that? Because I’m a city boy?”

“You’ve got skills. I want to deny it, but I can’t.” She drew away, reaching for her horse and leaving an imprint on his hand that cooled without her near. She hopped onto her horse, hefted her rifle into the crook of her arm and swiped at the snow clinging to her face. “I haven’t heard any shots, so that must mean Dad and Justin didn’t run into trouble, either.”

“As long as they’re safe.” He braced one palm on the gelding’s warm back, grabbed a handful of mane and hopped up. Snow had closed in, and all he could see of the river was a faint shadow. “I’m going to ride the riverbank for a spell. That water’s cold. No one can stay in there for long.”

“You’re a stubborn man, aren’t you?”

“I prefer to call it determined.” He gritted his teeth against the cold, ignoring the vicious bite of the wind as he faced into it. “A little storm isn’t going to stop me.”

“Then I’d best come with you.” She whirled her mount away from home, coming closer, and a ghost of a smile curved her soft lips. Had he noticed before how pretty her mouth was? It looked like summer itself, always smiling. Undaunted by the storm, she gave her mare’s neck an encouraging pat. “It’s been a while since Bella and I had an adventure. Besides, it’s not as if I can leave you out here on your own, city boy.”

“Maybe I’m not as much of a city boy as you think.” It was his turn to make her wonder about him. As he pressed his horse into a fast walk, leaving her to follow, he felt her curious gaze on his back. Was she as interested in him as he was in her? It was going to be fun finding out.

Clearly, she had misjudged Sheriff Ford Sherman. Autumn could admit when she was wrong. He rode Lightning as if he belonged on the back of the dappled gray quarter horse, sitting tall and straight and in command. Although the storm and the night fought to hide him from her, she caught glimpses of him on the trail ahead of her—the straight line of his back, the cut of his profile and the dark glint of the rifle he carried.

So, what was the man’s story? Did she really want to know? Judging by the kick of her pulse, maybe not. Perhaps it was better to stay in the dark, to let her curiosity about him go unanswered. Maybe it would die a quiet death and she could bury her interest in the man right along with it. The wind changed, gusting hard against her face, and she ducked against the slap of snow. Thunder cracked overhead.

“Time to head in, Sheriff.” She cupped her half-numb hands to shout into the gale. “Thunder means lightning. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not get hit by it.”

“Hey, I’m up for new experiences.”

She couldn’t see his grin, but she could hear it. She didn’t want to like him, but she did. He had a good sense of humor and an inner grit she never would have guessed at.

“I just wish we could have found them.” The veil of snow parted just enough to give a glimpse of the man gazing in the direction of the rolling river, wistful, nail-tough, not wanting to give up the chase. “They couldn’t have lasted in that river long. Not with ice forming along the banks. They would have to get out, and if they did they wouldn’t be moving fast.”

“It runs off our land and to a county road. My guess is they climbed out at the bridge and it’s too late to catch them. Time to give up the chase, Sheriff.” She didn’t know why she reached out, but when her hand found the hard plane of his forearm the bite of the arctic cold vanished, the rush of the wind silenced and the night shadows ebbed. “It’s getting too cold for Bella.”

“Then we head in.” He didn’t move away. The moment stretched as if time itself had ceased moving forward and no snow fell. “I know it’s a lost cause hunting anything in this storm, but I had to try. Now I’ve got only one question.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you know the way home? Because I don’t.”

“Follow me.” She urged Bella around with a touch of her heel. The cold returned with knife-sharpness, and the snow stung her face as the wind beat her with a boxer’s punch. Time kick-started, and she lost Ford in the sudden swirl of the storm.

“Whew. Can’t believe it’s getting worse.” He eased up alongside her, sticking close. “Let me guess. It always snows like this here. It’s something else the mayor didn’t tell me when I agreed to take this job.”

“I’m tempted to say yes, but that would be too cruel.” They left the river bank behind and headed into the dark night. “We can get weather like this, but not often.”

“I don’t remember this in the local forecast.”

“It wasn’t. The local news comes out of Jackson, so it’s not always accurate for us. This morning Dad said a big storm was coming, so he and Justin cancelled their trip to Casper.”

“Your dad’s a pretty good weatherman.”

“A good rancher has to be. You get to learn the way the air and winds feel before a big storm. Dad is especially good at it.” Her teeth should have been chattering from the cold, but the brunt of the wind didn’t hit her because Ford rode at her right side and blocked it. Had he done that on purpose? She listened to another peal of thunder. Sounded as if it was moving farther to the southeast. Good news. “So, are you going to fess up?”

“About what?”

“About where you learned to ride and shoot like that.” He wasn’t as good as her dad, but he was close, and not many men could say that. She didn’t want to respect him, but she couldn’t help it. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“I could, but it would make a better story over dinner. Maybe Friday next week?” Although she couldn’t see more than a hint of his silhouette, she knew he was smiling. She just knew it.

“Will you ever stop?” She was not about to fall victim to his charm.

“Not until you say yes.” The thing is, he didn’t sound charming in that flattering way insincere men did. Without her prior assumptions about him, he came across as an honest, solid guy. He lowered his voice a note and drew his horse closer. “Here’s a warning. I can be persistent.”

“Then I would be smart to keep you at arm’s length, wouldn’t I?” Tempting not to. Very tempting.

“Then that’s a no go for Friday? I could make it Saturday night if that’s better for you.”

“Awfully confident, aren’t you, city boy?”

“I can sense you weakening.”

Strange, because she could sense it, too. Without her eyes to deceive her, she saw more of him in the dark than she’d witnessed in broad daylight. He rode bareback like a pro. He hadn’t once commented on how unladylike it was to pack a Winchester and track rustlers.

Careful, Autumn, or you’ll start liking him, and you know where that leads. She rubbed her hands to keep them warm. Her insulated gloves were not doing their job, which meant the temp was falling fast.

“Well? Can I pencil you in for Saturday dinner?”

“That’s the night before my brother’s wedding.” She was surprised at the hint of regret she heard in her words, and more surprised at the twist of regret she felt.

“Wedding, huh? Do you need a date for that?”

“You are persistent.” She was rolling on the floor laughing, or she would be if the ground wasn’t covered in wet, icy stuff. His laughter joined hers rising on the wind, and her heart lightened. Yes, it was very tempting to like the man, but did she dare?

“I’m a fair shot because I did time on SWAT and a hitch in the army out of high school.” His voice changed, grew richer and deeper as if with memories both good and difficult. She would have given anything to be able to see his face, to read the emotions revealed there.

“You were in the army?” She couldn’t say why that came as a surprise to her. Maybe because from the moment they’d met she had wanted to keep him at a distance.

“I learned to shoot on my granddad’s property in Kentucky.”

“Kentucky?” As in horses?