Christmas Kiss From The Sheriff. Kathryn Albright

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СКАЧАТЬ the crisp air. Suddenly she was quite thankful for his presence. She doubted that she would have been able to find the way on her own.

      A blast of cool air rounded the hillside, whipping up the ends of her scarf. She gasped and tightened her scarf around her neck, tucking the ends under the collar of her coat. “No wonder Tara and Billy don’t make it to school when the weather is bad,” she murmured. She was gaining an appreciation for what a struggle it must be to take this trail daily.

      “Probably why she was worried about her brother...and about getting home the day of the fight.”

      It was the gentlest admonition she had ever received. “I see why you insisted she not go on her own. A little girl has no business out here on her own.”

      “Neither does a lady from back East.”

      She reined back and stared at his broad back, only slightly miffed that he’d been right. “Point taken, Sheriff.”

      A small lizard scrambled off a boulder that stood next to the trail and skittered away into the brush.

      “Do you know how to shoot, Miss Starling?”

      Her gaze flew to his face. Why would he bring up guns all of a sudden? He couldn’t know, could he? She glanced at his holster and gun. “Why do you ask?”

      “I realize the school is only a stone’s throw from town, but it is close enough to the creek that you are sure to see animals stopping by. This isn’t Boston, where I suspect the largest wild animal might be a rat.”

      “A rat! Of all the outlandish things to say. Just what part of Boston do you think I am from?”

      His look was curious...assessing. “I wouldn’t know.”

      Every time they spoke she seemed to give more of herself—her past—away. She had to be careful. The sheriff wasn’t a fool. Quite the contrary. Each time she was with him, she became more and more convinced of his innate intelligence.

      “I’ve seen a few snakes,” she admitted in a clipped tone, but then became more thoughtful. “Just what type of wild animals are you talking about?”

      He blew out a long breath. “Bears, cougars...”

      “Wolves?”

      “Not around here, but there are definitely coyotes.”

      “Nothing has bothered me so far.”

      “Maybe you have a guardian angel.”

      “No,” she said. If she had an angel watching over her she would be safe and comfortable at home. Perhaps by now she would even have finished law school. “I’ve found I must depend on myself and my wits.”

      He snorted lightly. “You could be the smartest person around and your wits still won’t help you outrun a bear.”

      She wasn’t about to let Sheriff Parker know about the gun she had hidden in the rafters at the school. He would commence with all kinds of questions and then what would she say?

      “Glad you haven’t had any trouble,” he said, looking more relaxed. “Part of my job is to make sure people in town stay safe.”

      “I thought your job was to uphold the law.”

      “Figure it’s the same thing.”

      His words only served to make her feel guilty. How would he feel if he knew Clear Springs harbored a fugitive from justice? Here he was helping her, yet she wasn’t being honest with him.

      She eased her horse up over the crest of a hill and started down into a small valley. The trail split, and she reined back slightly to see which fork the sheriff would choose. When he moved ahead and to the left, she found herself staring at his broad capable back as his horse made the way down a particularly bumpy patch of ground. He held himself square and confident, the ends of his leather jacket brushing his thighs and saddle. He did not appear concerned about the trail...or rattlers...or bears. All of which put her that much more at ease. Had she been alone, she would have been just the opposite—nervous and timid.

      She could see now why Molly and Eileen thought highly of him. They both had mentioned more than once, his commanding nature and his handsome face. Eileen in particular had bemoaned the fact that he was engaged.

      “I could not have found this trail,” she admitted softly.

      He glanced back over his shoulder, his deep blue gaze sliding to hers as he quietly acknowledged her words. Something shifted between them. Something that felt...comfortable.

      “Sheriff?”

      “Call me Craig.”

      She hesitated. That might be a bit too comfortable, especially considering his engaged status. In fact, it surprised her that he would mention it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

      He was silent for a moment, and then murmured, “Suit yourself.”

      “It’s just...in Boston it would be considered much too familiar.”

      “This ain’t Boston.”

      “Isn’t Boston,” she said, the words rolling off her tongue out of habit.

      “This isn’t school,” he said, his voice clipped. “And I’m not in your classroom.”

      She was mortified. How could she have corrected him when he had been helping her this morning! It was inexcusable. “I...I beg your pardon, Sheriff. I meant no offense. It was simply...habit.”

      His jaw tightened. Then, after a minute he continued. “The town isn’t that big. We will run into each other more often than we would if we were in a city. It’s easier...”

      “I agree. But I’m sure your fiancée would prefer—”

      “Where did you hear I was engaged?” he asked sharply.

      Now she’d put her foot in it. “Mrs. Birdwell mentioned it a few days ago. Is it...true?”

      For a moment, he did not answer her. She began to think he wasn’t going to when she heard him continue.

      “It was true.”

      Was? Past tense? “I’m sorry to hear that. May I ask what happened?”

      “No,” he said curtly. He let out a sharp whistle and urged his horse to pick up the pace.

      Warmth flushed up her cheeks. Apparently a first-name basis with him didn’t translate to questions about his fiancée. She had overstepped in presuming it did. They weren’t exactly friends...but they weren’t enemies either. She tapped her mount’s flanks lightly with her heels, encouraging the mare to quicken its steps and follow before he moved too far ahead and out of sight.

      Twenty minutes later they came to a small, dilapidated spread nestled in the dip of two boulder-strewn hillsides.

      * * *

      “That must be it,” she murmured as they passed a СКАЧАТЬ