The Rancher's Christmas Proposal. Sherri Shackelford

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СКАЧАТЬ that just yesterday.”

      Alyce patted the ribbon at Tessa’s neck. “Pretty.”

      Tessa’s eyes burned. She’d been away from them for only a few days, and already they’d changed. They’d changed but they remembered her. She couldn’t recall a time when someone had greeted her with such unabashed joy.

      She scooped them close and laughed, then glanced at Shane and her smile faded. She’d never seen a man more crushed, more defeated. Being separated from his children was obviously tearing him apart, and her heart went out to him.

      Though they were little more than strangers, she’d give anything to take away that pain, even for a moment. He reminded her of Emmett, making all the wrong choices for all the right reasons. Trying his best in a bewildering situation. While she assumed the marshal and his wife were good people, clearly the twins belonged with their father.

      Cora planted her hands on her hips. “Shane, what you need is a wife. Why don’t you send away for one of them mail-order brides like the blacksmith did a few years ago? I’ve never seen that man smile so much since he got hitched.”

       Marriage.

      Tessa smothered a gasp. How had she overlooked such an obvious solution? She’d been so wrapped up in the details that she hadn’t seen the broader picture. The most obvious solution had been sitting right in front of her all along. Like it or not, the only guarantee of respectability was marriage.

      The edge of her ledger protruded from her satchel. The project was a lifetime of work. Instead of piecemeal efforts, what if one grand good deed erased all the other entries?

      The idea took hold and gained shape. She’d have everything she ever wanted: security, safety and, best of all, anonymity. Well, everything but authenticity. Her past must be left in the past.

      Owen touched the locket at her throat, fascinated by the shiny metal. The twins seemed genuinely fond of her. They adored her in the way only children could, without artifice of expectations. She envisioned their future in light of their current arrangement, shuttled from family to family, always searching for a place where they belonged. Memories of her own childhood returned with an unsettling jolt. They deserved better.

      Although this was hardly a perfect solution for all of them, it was the best one she could think of. What other choices did any of them have? She glanced at Shane and a curious sensation passed through her, a gentle warmth, like the heat of the sun shining through a glass windowpane.

      She’d learned his wife had passed away almost six months before. How much did he miss her? What would he think of such a suggestion? She sensed an unyielding resolution about him. Most folks took the easy way of things, drifting along like flotsam. Not Shane. He hadn’t given up his children because that was the easy way out; he’d given them up because he felt it was the right thing to do.

      What of her own situation? This was a clean slate. A new start. They were strangers with no preconceived notions about each other. He was a kind man, and she was a good person at heart. She’d simply never had the opportunity for demonstrating her better qualities.

      There was only one little snag in her plan. Unlike the children, Shane definitely didn’t adore her. She wasn’t certain if he even liked her. Then again, he was a widower, and no one expected him to fall at her feet. They only needed to get along. She’d seen too much of the darker side of human nature to harbor any hope of a fairy-tale ending anyway.

      “Find yourself a wife, Shane,” Cora declared. “I’m brilliant. A mail-order bride solves all your problems.”

      Cora was brilliant, all right. The idea was as inspired as it was obvious.

      All Tessa had to do was convince a virtual stranger to spend the rest of his life with her.

       Brilliant indeed.

      * * *

      Alyce tugged on Shane’s pant leg, and he hoisted her into his arms.

      The marshal shook his head. “Leave Shane alone, Cora. He doesn’t want to marry a stranger.”

      “You did.”

      Garrett’s ears flamed. “I knew your mother. She wasn’t a stranger. She was from town.”

      Shane had never seen the marshal shaken, but Garrett sure looked shaken now. Wondering if Tessa was enjoying the exchange as well, Shane grinned at her, but her expression was distant and shuttered, as though she was puzzling out some great difficulty.

      “Yes, Mama was from town.” Cora rolled her eyes. “But you weren’t. You’d only been here a few months. You barely knew her.”

      “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 СКАЧАТЬ