The Rancher's Christmas Proposal. Sherri Shackelford

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СКАЧАТЬ parlor across the street. Why don’t I arrange a treat for the children and let you and Mrs. Lund have a moment in private?”

      Shane hesitated. “Are you certain?”

      “Positive.” Despite his assurances, she did feel somewhat responsible. When she’d thought Mrs. Lund might strike the boy, she’d seen red, and her instincts had taken over. Though she didn’t regret her actions, she had set this chain of events into motion. “We’ll take a seat by the window. That way, you can see us as well.”

      He gestured toward a young porter standing vigil near the ticket office. “Can you store the lady’s trunk?”

      “Right away, sir.”

      Tessa noted the cut of the freckle-faced porter’s clothing and took stock of his shiny new shoes. He was obviously well paid, which meant there was no reason for him to rifle through her belongings for valuables.

      “Thank you, Shane,” she said. “For your thoughtfulness.”

      “Enough.” Mrs. Lund snorted. “I don’t have all day while the two of you chatter about nonsense.”

      “I believe that’s my cue.” Tessa knelt and gathered the twins close. Emmett had always discouraged the wasting of one’s charm on the charmless. “Your dad says it’s all right if I take you for ice cream. Is that all right with you?”

      The two exchanged a glance.

      Owen nodded. “Ga.”

      “High praise indeed.”

      She led them across the street and took a table near the window. Their vantage was doubly useful since Shane could keep sight of his children, and she could keep watch for Dead Eye. She didn’t suppose outlaws frequented ice cream parlors. So long as she didn’t attract more attention to herself, she was safe. For the moment.

      Oblivious to the drama unfolding on their behalf, the twins were instead fascinated with the intricacies of the metal scrollwork chairs. Alyce knelt backward on the seat and traced her finger around the twisted heart pattern. Attempting to climb up as well, Owen pushed her aside. Alyce shoved him back.

      “There’s no need to fight.” Tessa scraped another chair closer. “Wouldn’t you like your very own seat, Owen?”

      He squinted, then crossed his arms over his chest and stubbornly glared at his sister.

      Shrugging, Tessa sat and pivoted her legs beneath the table. “How very nice it is to have a chair all to oneself. Makes one feel very grown up.”

      From the corner of her eye, she watched as Owen carefully rested his ball on the table and claimed his own seat. Though pleased with her success, she kept her emotions hidden lest Owen catch on.

      Only a few tables in the parlor were occupied, showcasing the black-and-white tile floor and the blue-and-white-checkered curtains hanging from the windows. During the height of the summer season, the shop must burst at the seams. With a slight chill in the fall air, business had obviously slowed.

      She studied the list of choices. “I believe the special today is chocolate. Chocolate is a fine choice, on any occasion.”

      After taking their order, the grandmotherly shop owner clasped her hands. “My, but your children are well behaved. And so lovely, too. If you don’t mind me saying so, they’re the spitting image of you, ma’am.”

      Without waiting for an answer, the woman circled back around the counter.

      Tessa tugged her lower lip between her teeth. Explaining her actual relationship with the children seemed unnecessarily complicated. She’d always adored children, though life with Emmett hadn’t afforded much opportunity to be around them. Considering her current predicament, she didn’t suppose there’d be much opportunity in the future either. A pall fell over her once more. Always before she’d had hope, but the passing of time had relentlessly drained her optimism.

      She rolled the ball across the table and Owen stopped it before it tumbled off. Alyce found the game more entertaining than tracing the metal scrollwork and joined in the fun. The task took a great deal of concentration and giggling.

      An elderly couple seated nearby watched their antics with indulgent smiles.

      The woman leaned toward Tessa. “You have a lovely family. Makes me think of my own children at that age. Enjoy this time. It passes quickly.”

      Feeling a fraud, Tessa murmured a few polite words in response. They were strangers. She’d never see them again. And yet she was no better than Emmett was—playing a game of smoke and mirrors based on assumptions. Worse yet, the game was all too familiar, almost comfortable, like donning one’s winter coat after a long summer.

      The shop owner returned and handed Tessa two folded flour sacks.

      “Their outfits are so pretty,” the woman said. “I’d hate to see them mussed.”

      Grateful for the shopkeeper’s thoughtfulness, and still feeling a touch guilty, Tessa knotted the sacks around the squirming children. A tug of longing surprised her once again. There was no reason to be maudlin. Emmett had loved her dearly, she’d never doubted that, but he’d always been slightly befuddled with having a little girl around.

      Over the years, ladies from the boardinghouses and saloons where they’d stayed had occasionally taken her under their wing, showing her how to fix her hair and dress properly. Sometimes she felt as though she’d had scores of mothers, and other times she felt as though she’d had none at all. Everyone had different expectations, and she’d spent much of her life puzzling out her role with new people.

      One way or another, she’d been searching for something elusive all her life. Just once she wanted affection without expectations. Someone who knew who she really was and loved her all the same. Her fingers tightened around Owen’s ball. An impossible hope considering her past.

      As the shop owner placed two bowls of ice cream before the children, a grim-faced Mr. McCoy stepped inside. He doffed his hat and took the remaining seat.

      Alyce snatched her bowl and lapped at the ice cream. Laughing, Tessa pulled the bowl away. Now sporting a chocolate beard, the toddler groped for her spoon. Tugging the utensil out of reach, Tessa wiped the sticky mess from Alyce’s face.

      Shane lifted his spoon and turned toward Owen. The boy worked his mouth like a baby bird.

      “They haven’t mastered the fork and spoon yet,” he said. “Sometimes it’s best if we assist.”

      “Of course.” Tessa stole a glance at him from beneath her eyelashes. “Is everything all right?”

      “We’ve decided Mrs. Lund is far too busy to watch the children over the winter.”

      “Perhaps that’s for the best. You’re a good father, keeping them with you. You’ve done the right thing.”

      He flushed beneath her praise and looked away. “Miss Spencer, thank you for your help. I hadn’t met Mrs. Lund before today. I had no idea she was quite so...harsh.”

      Tessa tilted her head. How odd the widower had never met his sister-in-law before today. Then again, she didn’t know much about how regular families СКАЧАТЬ