The Rancher's Christmas Proposal

“I knew her well enough,” Garrett muttered, his scarlet ears turning even redder. “You’ve been listening to rumors again, haven’t you?”

“Mrs. Stuart does ramble on,” Cora continued. “But that doesn’t mean getting married isn’t the perfect solution. Shane is quite a catch. Any lady would be privileged to have him. Let’s put his picture on the church bulletin boards in Wichita.”

“No.” Instantly panicked, Shane broke into the conversation. He figured his ears matched the marshal’s right about now. “No one is putting my picture anywhere. Ever.”

Agitated by his raised voice, Alyce hugged his neck. Shane tickled her stomach until she grinned. Taking good-natured enjoyment from the marshal’s discomfort was one thing; hearing Cora talk about him as “a catch” was a whole different matter.

Garrett scrubbed his hand down his face. “Your mother and I didn’t know each other very well, I’ll admit that. But not everyone can be as fortunate.”

Shane’s amusement faded, and their friendly quarrel disappeared into the background. Alyce was staring at him with her wise, solemn eyes, and his whole chest ached. Freezing in a snowdrift didn’t seem so bad if it meant seeing the children. Even if he saw them only once a week. Even if he didn’t get a full night’s rest until they were full-grown. He was used to hardship.

Cora’s voice grew exasperated. “Maybe if Shane left the ranch once in a while, he might have more options. Except for that trip to Wichita, he doesn’t go anywhere. How’s he supposed to meet anyone around here? Miss Spencer is the only new single female we’ve had in town in months.”

A strangled noise sounded from Tessa’s direction, and Shane kept his attention averted. Cora was three for three—she’d mortified all the adults in the room.

The marshal ushered his daughter toward the back of his office once more. “This conversation is over. We’d best check on that coffee and find your mother. Can’t leave the stove unattended.” He motioned for Shane. “Bring the kids by the house when you’re ready.” He touched his forehead. “Miss Spencer, it was a pleasure meeting you. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance during your stay.”

The door closed resolutely behind them.

While grateful the awkward conversation was at an end, Shane didn’t relish being alone with Tessa after that mortifying exchange.

She craned her neck, following their hasty retreat. “What is behind that door, anyway?”

“A jail cell and stairs to an apartment on the second level. The marshal keeps the space closed off unless there’s a prisoner. The deputy lives upstairs when there’s an inmate overnight.”

Cora’s words rang in his ears. Tessa was definitely the only single female they’d had in town in a while. He almost laughed out loud before catching himself. Even if she didn’t have one foot out the door, she’d never settle for someone like him. She was too smart and too pretty for a lonely widower who lived on an isolated ranch with nothing but a bunch of uncouth men for company.

All the same reasons she couldn’t watch the children. Mrs. Stuart at the mercantile had practically tackled him when he’d stepped off the train with Tessa by his side. No doubt the old busybody had been watching them like a hawk, searching for any sign of impropriety.

At least Tessa didn’t appear shocked by the Cains’ ribbing. Their candor could be disconcerting. He shook his head. The idea was crazy. Out of the question. He’d already got married once for the sake of the children. What kind of fool made the same mistake twice? Clearly he wasn’t marriage material. As for sending away for a bride, who in their right mind would come all this way to marry a man sight unseen? The idea was ludicrous.

Tessa perched on a chair and lifted Owen into her lap. “I was starting to think that door had mysterious properties.”

Shane chuckled. “JoBeth, the marshal’s wife, comes in through the back as well. It’s a shortcut from the telegraph office where she works. She must be around here someplace. The kids didn’t make that walk alone. She’s probably upstairs.”

Voices and footsteps rumbled overhead, and a welter of emotions swirled around him. He envied the Cains’ easy camaraderie and close-knit family. After his father left, he’d quit school and supported his mother by working as a cattle hand. A man’s job that hadn’t left him much time for anything but eating and sleeping.

Following his mother’s death, he’d worked even harder, saving up money for his own place. That was all he’d ever known—work and responsibilities. The kids were the best thing that had ever happened to him. They deserved a childhood. Although he supposed most folks didn’t think about such frivolous things, having surrendered his own youth, he wanted more for them.

A burst of laughter from overhead filtered through the vents. The Cains liked each other and enjoyed spending time together. Sometimes they tried to pull him into their antics, like this afternoon, but he always kept a distance. Even when his family had been together, they’d never shared that sort of lighthearted connection, and he wasn’t certain how to fit in.

He caught sight of Owen and grimaced.

The boy had turned away, making an exaggerated point of ignoring Shane. Of the two children, Owen had taken the change the hardest. He’d been sullen and withdrawn since the move. While understandable, his rejection still hurt.

Owen glared. “Want Scout.”

The demand had Shane shuffling his feet. “He’s at home. I’ll bring him for a visit next time.”

Tessa glanced between the two. “Who is Scout?”

“A horse.” Visiting Scout each morning had been part of their daily routine since before Owen could walk. He’d even had his own currycomb and took great pride in brushing the feathered hair above the animal’s hooves. Over seventeen hands high, the enormous draft horse had taken a shine to Owen as well and always remained docile beneath his ministration. “Owen wasn’t happy about leaving him behind.”

That was an understatement. Shane briefly closed his eyes against the memory of the boy’s pitiful sobs.

Tessa pressed a hand against her stomach, and Shane recalled the rumblings he’d heard earlier.

He’d been almost rude with her before. The decision to leave Alyce and Owen with the Cains had weighed heavily on him, and he hadn’t been very good company on the train ride back or even today, for that matter.

In an effort to atone for his previous behavior, he asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

She glanced up. “Not yet.”

He studied Tessa’s upturned face and his gut knotted. Lines of tension framed her mouth and dark circles showed beneath her eyes. He recalled the trunk he’d seen in the haberdashery window and realized why the familiar-looking luggage had caught his eye. She must be pawning her belongings. Most telling of all, she’d been frantic about the reward this morning when she’d been hesitant about the money before. Those hints might have clued him in earlier if he hadn’t been wrapped up in his own concerns.

Tessa was obviously short on funds.

She’d been adamant about leaving town as soon as the reward arrived. What was she going to do now? What were her plans for the future? Forcing his questions aside, he reached for his coat.

Curiosity was holding up what needed to be done. “Join me for lunch at the hotel. I could use a bite.” Actually, he’d eaten an hour ago. “I insist. You can fill me in on the gossip from town.”

Owen had practically attached himself to Tessa. Most likely she’d be gone soon, another disappointment for the boy, yet he couldn’t deny them their visit. At least the twins were smiling for once. All three of them had been more somber than usual lately. The finality of their situation had left Shane troubled and distracted. Assisting someone else was the perfect way to take his mind off his worries.

“Um,” Tessa began. “There is one small matter I’d like to discuss over lunch.”

Chapter Five (#ulink_0e0db6c0-5e71-5f91-8884-edd2aa52a56d)

Alyce and Owen were bundled into their coats and Shane assisted Tessa with hers. After a quick scurry down the boardwalk, their heads bent against the wind, the hotel dining room was warm and inviting with the mouthwatering aroma of fried chicken filling the air. Chairs were quickly arranged and orders placed.

Tessa rested her hands on either side of her plate and straightened her silverware. “The marshal and his wife, are they happy?”

Rolling his eyes, Shane said, “Sickeningly so.”

He laughed and Tessa’s mood lightened. She’d tread carefully. This was an extremely delicate situation and she must present her solution with the utmost care. If she structured the conversation correctly, he might even make the suggestion himself. Another one of Emmett’s handy tricks.

Shane removed his hat and threaded his fingers through his hair. “JoBeth’s courtship was the talk of the town some years back. Garrett and JoBeth married after the marshal accepted guardianship of his niece, Cora. She calls them Mom and Dad now, which seems fitting enough. It’s a tough job, being the only parent. Around these parts, marriages are arranged for practical reasons as often as not.”

Excellent. His story fit her plan perfectly. Already he must be thinking about the two of them together. Cora had set the wheels in motion by mentioning mail-order brides and the fact that Tessa was the only single woman available. Soon he’d put the pieces together and catch the drift of her thoughts.

“People get married for all sorts of reasons, you say.” She nodded slowly, her eyes locked with his. “Like caring for children?”

He rubbed his chest as though something pained him. “Yep.”

Well, that wasn’t a good sign. He didn’t appear to comprehend her meaning at all. He looked as if he had indigestion. “You must miss the children terribly. Not being able to see them every day. If only there was another way.”

Surely that was obvious enough. She was dropping all the hints she could think of. Giving him every opportunity to realize she was open to his offer.

“Owen and Alyce love the Cains,” he said quietly. “And certainly Jo and Garrett are excellent guardians, but nothing replaces seeing them every day.”