by Laura Marie
She quickly got undressed and took a long, hot shower. Thirty minutes later, she headed out to the main house to help Aunt Ellie with the house chores and getting things set for some clients.
The Winter Snow Festival was taking place next weekend, and Palmer Place was booked solid. There wasn’t a room left in the house, and at least a dozen more people had called inquiring about staying on the premises.
Julianna entered the house just as Aunt Ellie began preparing lunch.
“Hey, Jules, did you enjoy your skiing?” Aunt Ellie asked with a smile.
“It was all right.” Julianna walked over to the table to pour some hot coffee into a mug.
Her uncle had a smirk on his face but remained silent as he read the paper.
“What is it, Uncle Roy?” Julianna asked as she plopped down into the wooden chair by the large oak table. There was room for thirty and then some if necessary.
“I see Sheriff Black is no longer giving you a hard time.”
Julianna looked up just as she finished adding sugar to her coffee from the sugar bowl.
“What makes you say that?”
Roy looked towards his wife, and Julianna followed his line of sight. Now Aunt Ellie was smiling.
“What?” she asked with an attitude. Her sour mood was getting the best of her.
Roy cleared his throat then looked at the newspaper instead of Julianna as he spoke.
“It seems Rooster was in town this morning, hanging out with a few men from the feed supply store.”
Julianna took a sip of her coffee and stared at the newspaper her Uncle was hiding behind.
“Seems many of the fellas are interested in ya.” He curled the corner of the newspaper down just slightly as he paused. The reading glasses lay inches before the tip of his nose.
Julianna ran a hand through her hair and gave her uncle a mean stare.
“You would think that no one in this town has ever seen a woman in a ski suit. Never mind seeing a single woman. Well, I’ll tell ya…I’ve been thinking that we should be capitalizing on those people who want to stay at Palmer Place. Look how many potential customers inquired about the Winter Festival.”
“What are you thinking?” Aunt Ellie asked.
“I was thinking that we should renovate the back corner of the house. That additional stable hasn’t been used in decades. With the right construction, I’m sure we could add a few more rooms, even a bathroom and sitting area.”
“Do we have the finances for that?” Ellie asked.
“We can pull it off, but we would really have to promote Palmer Place and make a few more additions to the activities we provide.”
“Such as?” Uncle Roy asked.
“Such as seasonal activities. Cross-country skiing in the winter, sleigh riding, tubing. Whatever we want. We have the mountain on the east side, and we could hire a few locals to assist. We could easily make a tubing track. They have a bunch of them in New York, and they’re easy to maintain. Plus a lot safer than just pointing to the largest hills on the property and saying take your pick. There are insurance issues to work out as well, but we can do it. We’ll hire local teenagers, maybe others who might be interested. I will have to work out the details, but I think we could handle the payroll as long as the reservations roll in. In the summer time, we offer the use of the swimming hole out back. We can have BBQ night, line-dancing lessons, etc.”
“These people are coming from the city, Jules. What makes you think they’d want to swim in water they can’t see through?” Roy countered.
“Because it’s all part of the experience. Not quite roughing it because we’ll provide traditional ranch meals, entertainment by a campfire in the evenings. A whole itinerary of things. Also the swimming hole can be cleaned out. We’re used to it, but it can be cleaner. I’ve read about some safe environmental chemicals that can clean it up nicely. We try it first then decide.”
“Who’s going to handle all of this?” Roy asked.
Both Ellie and Julianna responded simultaneously.
“We are.”
Julianna smiled wide.
“We’d better check with the town board and the sheriff on this,” Roy stated.
“The sheriff! What for?” Julianna asked with a fierce attitude.
“He’s on the town board. They would all have to approve this expansion of business.”
“Well, that’s ludicrous.”
“It’s the way things are.”
“Well, then we prepare a plan to make the town board see how great this will be for Claire County. The trickle-down effect. We need more help if things take off as I expect they will, so we’ll need to hire a few more employees. We’ll be feeding a lot more people so we’ll need more food, better variety, and that will affect the grocery store.”
“We have Wal-Mart,” Ellie stated.
“But we won’t use them, Aunt Ellie.”
Her aunt and uncle looked at her funny.
“We don’t use the large chain store. We stick with the main town suppliers. That way we’re helping our neighbors.”
“They charge more to keep up with overhead.”
“Uncle Roy, we will be ordering so much from them that I will negotiate discounted prices.”
Roy smiled. “I think the rest of the board might go for this if you present it in the way you just stated, but my concern is Sheriff Black. He’s worked real hard to maintain the peace and keep the riffraff out of Claire County.”
“He’s one man”
“One man with a lot of power,” Roy added.
Just what she needed to go up against, another man on a power trip.
“Well, I’ll just have to prepare my presentation so they’ll have to say yes.”
“Maybe the fact that he’s sweet on you will help,” Roy stated.
“Roy!” Ellie reprimanded.
“What are you talking about?” Julianna asked.
“Just what I was trying to tell you when you first got in here. Rooster said that the sheriff told the men to keep their eyes and their hands off ya.”
“Why?”
“Seems to me, he wants to keep ya all to himself.”
Julianna felt her cheeks turn red then the thought of Lawrence hit her hard. She felt the color drain from her cheeks, and her palms began to sweat. The panic kicked in.
“Julianna, are you all right?” Aunt Ellie asked as she walked towards Julianna.
She abruptly got up from her chair and headed towards the door.
Looking towards her aunt and uncle, she stated, “One thing I don’t need is another power-hungry male trying to control my life.”
She headed out the door and smack into Sheriff Black.
She lost her breath as her face nearly hit his chest. Standing over six feet tall and solid as a brick wall, Julianna nearly fell backwards off balance.
Then she felt the sheriff catch her as his arm wrapped around her waist.
He pulled her against him,. She could feel his solid, gloved hand against her waist and back pocket of her blue jeans.
Then the chills hit her at the fact she ran out of the house without grabbing her coat.
“Where’s the fire?” he asked in that slow, deep voice again. Damn him.
“Let go of me, Sheriff.” She attempted to push down on his forearms, but he didn’t release her. Not that he had to use much strength. He was built like a brick house, and as he pressed his gloved hand against her body, the frigid air disappeared.
The back door opened, and Uncle Roy stood there.
“Howdy, Sheriff.”
“Howdy, Roy,” The sheriff responded, never looking away from Julianna.
“You had lunch yet?” Roy asked with a smile.
“No sir, not yet.”
“Well, come on in and join us. Jules, you coming back in or what?” her uncle asked.
“If the sheriff would release his manhandling hold, I would be able to,” she stated with clenched teeth.
The sheriff smirked then slow
ly released his hold around her waist. She stomped back inside, being sure to give her uncle the meanest look she could conjure up.
He moved out of the way as they all headed inside.
* * * *
The sheriff took off his hat and jacket to hang them on the rack by the door.
Julianna walked towards the sink to wash her hands then help her aunt prepare lunch.
“You feeling all right, Jules? Your cheeks are all flushed,” Aunt Ellie asked.
Was it her, or were her aunt and uncle trying to play matchmaker? Had they forgotten about Lawrence? Maybe if she told them the truth about what happened and the fact that he tried to kill her, they wouldn’t be so pushy.
She released an exasperated sigh, and then she gave the sheriff a dirty look.
The damn S.O.B. stared at her with a confident, the-cat-that-swallowed-the-canary look on his face that made her want to scream.
* * * *
“So what brings you out this way, Sheriff?” Roy asked as he took a soft roll and began piling some deli meat on it.
“Just thought I would come out and check on Lightning. Maybe take him for a ride.”
“I think Jules was planning on giving Shortening some exercise. Ryan Taylor can’t make it out this week as expected.” He looked towards Julianna as if breaking the news to her at the same time. Shortening was a beautiful cream-colored mare owned by some big Chicago business tycoon. Jules had become smitten with the mare at first glance.
“I’ll take care of it,” Jules added.
She quickly made a sandwich on white bread while standing near the counter.
Johnny wondered why she continued to keep her distance from him. It was as if he had the plague or something.
He had an excellent view of her backside while she prepared her lunch.
The skin-tight blue jeans hugged her rear perfectly. For a petite thing, she had the curves of a goddess. Her waist was thin, not an ounce of fat on it, but not so thin that he could see her rib cage. He followed the contour of her body up her muscular back and slender shoulders. As if on cue, she turned towards the table and the fitted brown sweater she wore revealed large, perky breasts. His heart raced at the sight of her. She was perfect.
Roy interrupted Johnny’s train of thought and started talking about a business venture and needing to schedule a town board meeting for approval.
The little bit of information Roy explained initially gave Johnny the impression that such an expansion of business would add congestion to the already crowded town.
“Jules will present the information to the board. She’ll be able to answer all your questions,” Roy stated.
“I’m gonna head out. Thanks for lunch,” Julianna blurted out in an attempt to not discuss her intentions before the board meeting. She wasn’t giving the sheriff the opportunity to deflate her ideas or give any negative response.
“I’m just about finished, Jules. Maybe you’d like to tag along for a ride. Considering that Shortening needs the exercise.”
He called her Jules. What right did he have to call her Jules? In an instant she was pissed off and angry as hell.
“Only my family and friends call me Jules, Sheriff.” She stomped towards the door.
“Julianna, don’t be rude to the sheriff,” Aunt Ellie stated then Roy gave her a dirty look.
“You don’t want to start off a town board meeting with one vote against ya,” he stated sarcastically, confidently leaning back in the wooden chair as if his word was all that mattered.
“Umph!” Exasperated, she stormed out of the house and towards the stables. Halfway there she realized she had forgotten her jacket again.
She wouldn’t go back. No way. Her body temperature was boiling, and she could use the cold air to cool off.
That thought disintegrated before she reached the stables. It had to be below zero with the wind chill factor. Well, at least it felt that cold to her. It was probably in the upper thirties.
Angry for allowing her temper to affect her, she grabbed the ice cold blanket from the horse carriage and draped it over her shoulders.
Julianna walked towards Shortening, who was near Lightning. The sheriff’s horse was magnificent. Black horse, black Stetson, the man was always wearing black and looking so mysterious and mean. He had to be trouble. He just had to be up to no good. She pet the shiny onyx coat of the mare and found herself mesmerized by its beauty. The horse snorted at her and nudged its head against her chest. She laughed as she continued to pet it.
She heard the stable doors creek open. Cringing, she knew it had to be the sheriff.
“You keep running around in this temperature with no jacket on, you’re gonna find yourself in a heap of trouble.” He held the jacket out for her to place her arms in while he took the opportunity to roam over her chest with his penetrating dark eyes.
She couldn’t help but read into his words as his eyes traveled over her body possessively, as if he had every right to stare. Maybe as the town gigolo he could get under any skirt in Claire County, but not hers. Instead she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. He glared back for what seemed like a full two minutes before her chattering teeth failed her.
“You’re freezing cold. Just put on the jacket,” he whispered.
Reluctantly she pulled the blanket off her shoulders and threw it over the corral.
Glancing back towards the sheriff to let him know she didn’t trust him, she placed her one arm in the jacket then turned her back toward the sheriff to get her other arm in.
She froze the second she felt his hand caress her hair.
She abruptly turned to look at him.
He took the straw pieces from her hair then held a few locks of curls in his hand.
“You have some straw in your hair…Jules.”
She loved the way he said her name, and her gut told her that the sheriff loved saying it.
She damned her voice for sounding so shaky when she spoke.
“I told you only my friends call me…” Damn it, she sounded out of breath.
He placed his finger tips gently over her lips. She froze.
Hard-working fingers caressed her soft skin. Her lips reached out for his touch, for the masculine sensation they delivered.
His fingers trailed down to her chin where he cupped it in the palm of his hand.
Tingling sensations traveled through her neck. She swallowed hard but refused to look away or to show her fear. The sound of the howling wind smacking against the barn doors should have brought her out of the spell she felt.
“I think we started off on the wrong foot.” He held her chin as he caressed her jaw with his thumb. His hands were huge. The thought of his strength, and the fact that he could crush her face if he wanted to, entered her mind.
She closed her eyes and cringed in fear. Why did she have such horrible thoughts? He had to have ulterior motives. He just had to.
Quickly, she covered his hand with her own to pull it away from her face and stop the deep sensations she was feeling. She took a step backwards and distanced herself from the sheriff.
He took a step toward her and Julianna took a step back, knocking into the wooden corral.
He stared at her, and all she could do was remain glued to the spot she was in. His facial expression was confusing. Was he going to approach her again? Back her into the corner and advance on her? It felt like minutes passed before he spoke.
“I’ll get a date for the board meeting and let your uncle know when.” He walked to the stall where Lightning was staying and began to prepare the horse’s saddle.
Julianna took a deep breath as relief filled her insides. What she didn’t expect to feel was guilt. Why should she feel guilty for not accepting his advances? He retreated, thank goodness, and got her message that she wasn’t interested. The disappointed feeling bothered her. In an attempt to ignore it and what just took place, she began brushing Shortening.
“You sure you don’t wanna go for that ride?” h
e asked a few minutes later.
Julianna refused to look at him. She answered as she continued to brush Shortening. “No, thank you.”
She heard the barn door open and a gust of cold air circulate through the stables. Feeling the shiver climb up her back through her spine, she heard the door close and the emptiness fill the stables.
Julianna sighed. She tried not to think about how comforting the stable was with the sheriff in there with her. She should be used to being alone by now. No matter who was in her life, eventually they left, leaving her to fend for herself. That’s just the way it is. Almost instantly she felt the tears sting her eyes while she continued to brush the mare.
* * * *
When Julianna was finished, she headed back to the cottage when she heard her uncle’s voice calling her.
She knew they were going to reprimand her for her behavior and for treating the sheriff as she did. But they just didn’t understand her concern.
How could they?
They just focused on the fact she was alive and here at Palmer Place.
She walked inside and accepted the hot chocolate that Aunt Ellie offered.
“We want to talk with you,” Aunt Ellie stated with a smile.
The three of them sat down at the table.
“Why are you giving the sheriff such a hard time?” Roy asked.
“I’m giving him a hard time? He’s been all over me since I arrived in town. Threatening to ticket me, wondering what city slicker moves I am going to pull. I don’t trust him one bit.”
“Jules, I don’t think you’re giving the sheriff a fair shake. You can’t be expecting to get an approval with the town board if you’re going around angering the sheriff,” Roy stated.
“I don’t trust him. I think he has a hidden agenda.
“The way he looks at me, reminding me of what the law is, and this morning while I was skiing he told me how the men in town were talking about me. It was like he was reprimanding me for what I was wearing. I don’t trust him and I don’t like the way he’s always showing up.”
“I think you’re wrong, Jules. I also think you sound a bit paranoid,” Roy added.
Before Julianna could reply, her aunt was beside her, touching her hand.