As for Ezra Kincaid? He’d likely be watching.
If the old outlaw was out there, he was holed up planning his move. That worried Reid the most.
Truth be, he was relieved Tavish was dead set on stopping the old rustler who surely must be drooling over Reid’s thoroughbreds. But that didn’t mean he wanted to be on close speaking terms with Tavish.
Considering his past, Reid was careful to keep his distance from the local sheriff and the marshal. But with Tavish reaching Miss Cade first and guiding her into the livery, he couldn’t very well do that today.
Ice crunched underfoot as he made his way to the livery. He wrenched open the door, finding Miss Cade and Tavish squared off inside.
He knew the feeling.
Reid gave the livery boy a nod to ready his sleigh.
“I see you’ve met the marshal.” Reid stopped beside Miss Cade, sparing Tavish a dismissing glance but feeling the man’s curious gaze skewer him all the same. Was that annoyance he saw in her eyes?
“Yes, he was just assuring me that this is a quiet, lawful community,” she said.
Tavish favored Miss Cade with his good-ol’-boy smile that didn’t fool Reid one bit. “You never did tell me what brought you to Maverick, Miss Cade.”
She flinched this time, a slight tremor Reid attributed to a case of nerves. Until he got a closer look.
The lady was clearly angry and her ire was directed at the U.S. Marshal. Damn, what had Tavish said to her earlier?
“I’m taking over Mrs. Leach’s role of cook at the Crown Seven Ranch while she’s away,” she said.
Tavish thumbed back his hat, revealing a pair of observant green eyes that no doubt had saved the lawman’s ass on more than one occasion. “Pardon me for saying, ma’am. But most cooks I’ve met tended to sample their fare a bit more than necessary.”
It was the truth, but Reid took umbrage with the way Tavish looked at the lady, like she was a tasty morsel and he was starving. Never mind Reid had done the same earlier. She was his employee, and judging by her tightlipped expression, she didn’t wish to tarry in Tavish’s company.
“So, where have you worked before, Miss Cade?” Tavish asked, his conversational tone at odds with his shrewd perusal.
A dull flush blossomed on the lady’s cheeks, and the rigid set to her shoulders seemed an odd reaction, in Reid’s estimation. “The Denver Academy for Young Ladies.”
“Do tell?” Tavish’s eyes took on a calculating glint.
“I fear I’d bore you with stories of teaching young ladies to acquire discriminating tastes,” she said over the tinkling of harness bells. “Besides I am sure Mr. Barclay is anxious to be on his way.”
“Another time then. Afternoon, ma’am.” Tavish slid two fingers over his hat brim but stayed rooted to the spot. “Barclay.”
Reid dipped his chin in farewell, then guided Miss Cade to the red sleigh. “You leave your baggage at the depot?”
“Yes. I have a small trunk and a carpetbag.”
A rarity for sure. He’d warrant Cheryl would drag all manner of trunks and valises with her from England.
“After we retrieve your things, we’ll stop at the mercantile. I suggest you select anything you need for yourself or the ranch now.”
“I have everything I require with me.”
“Fair warning, Miss Cade. We won’t be coming into town for a week or more.”
“I’m sure everything I’ll need is at the ranch.”
Reid expected she’d say that. So why did he have the sudden feeling he’d be going hungry this night—and in more ways than one?
Chapter 2
Ellie settled into the sleigh beside Reid Barclay, more than happy to put distance between herself and the nosy marshal. Heavenly days, the last person she’d expected to get trapped in a conversation with was the man who’d sworn to hunt down her pa and bring him in—dead or alive.
If her mind hadn’t been focused on the mysterious glint in Reid Barclay’s eyes and the jolt of sensual awareness his mere touch evoked in her, she would’ve paid attention to her surroundings. As it was, she’d rushed to the end of the boardwalk for a breath of bracing air and nearly bowled the marshal over.
Goodness, was Marshal Tavish always lurking in the shadows?
He certainly had been in Denver when her fiancé learned she was an outlaw’s daughter and ended their engagement. He knew her secret. But had he guessed her true reason for coming to the Crown Seven?
Ellie bit her lower lip as worry nipped along her nerves. She couldn’t botch this up, not when her pa’s life was at stake.
Her pa. She’d grown from being a little girl who adored her daddy to a young woman ashamed of what he was. But because she’d loved him with a daughter’s devotion, him staying away from her had hurt that much more.
He’d done it to protect her reputation.
But the truth came out anyway.
It stripped her of her dream of a family and cost her the coveted position in Denver she’d worked hard to achieve.
It forced her to seek a position across the country where nobody knew her. And it brought her here where she’d stepped into the role of another lie.
She could honestly say she didn’t regret it overmuch. It seemed unbelievable that she’d see her pa again after so many years of just hearing of his exploits. She’d be able to talk to him. She’d be able to spend a holiday with him.
As Reid Barclay guided the sleigh toward the depot, she inhaled the crisp, cold air and embraced this rare opportunity that had been offered her. Or she tried to, at least.
Mrs. Leach had assured her that Mr. Barclay was an equitable boss. But she hadn’t mentioned that he was a virile gentleman as well.
His nearness in the saloon had unsettled her to the point of distraction. But the occasional brush of his shoulder against hers sent warmth coursing through her body.
She was beset by a powerful urge to inch closer to him. That was highly improper conduct!
Why, she’d never been smitten with a man.
She’d been as intimate with her former fiancé as a woman could be with a man, yet he hadn’t roused such raw yearnings in her with just a look or casual touch.
This illicit reaction to a stranger had her cheeks burning with embarrassment and her mind cluttered with confusion. In fact she wasn’t able to draw a decent breath until he stopped at the depot and left her while he fetched her baggage.
Too soon he returned to torment her with his virility.
Heavenly days, she knew the perils of succumbing to one’s torrid desires. She’d not fall victim to that again.
As Reid settled her bags in the sleigh, she focused on what brought her to the Crown Seven. Despite what was printed on the wanted posters, her pa was a horse thief—not a cold-blooded killer. She had to stop him from making a deadly mistake and she didn’t have the luxury of time to make him see reason.
Even if she succeeded, this could very well be their last chance to be together as a family. She had to do this right.
She certainly knew how a household should be run, how to entertain frugally or lavishly. She knew what constituted proper meals.
The only problem was she didn’t know how to cook.
Mrs. Leach had assured her there was nothing to it. She wasn’t convinced of that then, and she wasn’t so sure now.
As she tried and failed to recall the first thing about preparing something as simple as stew, she gave in to a shiver. What if she couldn’t cook one edible meal?
“You chilled, Miss Cade?” Reid asked as he slid back into the sleigh beside her and his broad muscular shoulder settled against hers.
Heat blazed at his touch, sending flickers of warmth to dance within her. “Nothing more than a passing tremor. I’m sure the heavy blanket will stave off the cold.”
“I hope you’re right.” He flicked the lines and the sleigh smoothly glided forward. “One more stop to make and we’ll be on our way.”
“Good. It’s been a tiring jo
urney and I long to—” Ellie bit her tongue, close to admitting she wanted to do nothing but rest. “I long to get settled and busy myself in the kitchen.”
“Reckon you do. Your quarters aren’t large, but you’ll find them above adequate.”
“I’m sure I’ll be comfortable.”
And even if she weren’t, she wouldn’t be at his ranch that long to suffer from a bit of discomfort.
As she’d told Mrs. Leach, headmistress Halsey expected her at the Falsmonte Academy in San Francisco the first of the new year. Ellie must not be late or she’d lose the once-in-a-lifetime chance to teach at the prestigious school for discerning young ladies. She’d lose the only job that’d come her way since the scandal.
“Mrs. Leach ordered holiday gee-gaws and reminded me several times that I was to pick them up while I was in town,” he said as he stopped the sleigh before the mercantile. “I trust you know how to dress the house up with them.”
“I’ve been told I have an artistic eye for such,” she said, relieved to be in her element again. “Do you usually decorate the entire house?”
“Nope,” he said. “Never celebrated the occasion before.”
“Surely you’re exaggerating.”
He shook his head. “I was reared in an orphanage, Miss Cade. There was scarce enough funds for food and clothing.”
How sad! Christmas had always been her favorite holiday, for it was the one time throughout her life that her pa made an effort to visit her, if only briefly.
He’d always bring her some small gift and regale her with wild stories of the West. He’d tell her he’d missed her and loved her and that he’d stay in touch.
But he never had.
She hadn’t seen him for three whole years. She’d feared he’d died. Then Mrs. Leach’s letter arrived out of the blue and gave her hope.
“Last chance for shopping, Miss Cade,” Reid said as he extended a gloved hand to assist her.
She rested her hand in his and secretly thrilled at the power encased in those supple leather gloves. This man might be a wealthy gentleman but he certainly was no dandy.
“If I may be so bold to ask, what has spurred you to celebrate the season now?” she asked as he escorted her to the door of the mercantile.
His handsome features took on a hard, distant expression. “We’ll be hosting a wedding at the ranch,” he said without a lick of excitement in his voice. “Seems fitting that the house look festive.”
A wedding. Another detail Mrs. Leach had neglected to mention.
“Who’s getting married?” she asked.
“Me. My fiancée will arrive in a week.”
That was the last thing she expected to hear. But it was just the shake of reality she needed to put a stop to these inappropriate thoughts of Reid Barclay.
“When will the wedding take place?” she asked.
“Christmas Day.”
One week from now! A bone-deep worry settled into Ellie.
Mrs. Leach hadn’t mentioned she’d have to decorate the house and prepare a wedding feast. What else had the woman kept from her?
“After you,” he said, holding the door open for her.
Ellie bustled into the warmth of the general store that overflowed with all manner of goods, as well as a goodly clutch of customers milling about. All paused to stare at the new arrivals, though the women barely paid her a passing glance.
He tipped his hat to a grinning trio of ladies huddled near the confectionary counter. Their soft, telling giggles had Ellie wondering if he’d captured the heart of the entire female population of Maverick.
He’d surely caught their interest, but then how could he not with those incredibly broad shoulders and long legs dressed entirely in black? And those eyes—
She’d never seen such an arresting blue that reflected her emotions back at her instead of revealing his own.
A robust woman bore down on them, her kindly face wreathed in a smile. “Good afternoon, Mr. Barclay. What can we do for you today?”
“Mrs. Leach said there was a parcel waiting here for me.” He nodded to Ellie. “Anything Miss Cade wants, just add it to my bill.”
“With pleasure,” the woman said, giving Ellie a critical eye this time before flouncing off into a back room.
Without another word, Reid took himself off to the section sporting all manner of leathergoods. Ellie appreciated his broad back and firm backside before moving over to a table laden with fine hand-knit items.
“Can you tell us about the latest fashions in England?” one of the trio asked as she sidled over to Ellie.
She considered that a moment. “It’s the cutting edge of hauteur, but as to specifics, I’m woefully unaware of what is in vogue there.”
One of the trio frowned. “But you just came from there.”
It was Ellie’s turn to don a mantle of confusion. “No, I just came from Denver where I’ve lived most of my life.”
The trio exchanged confused looks. “But aren’t you Mr. Barclay’s fiancée?”
“Heavens no,” Ellie said, stunned they’d assume so. “I’m a friend of Mrs. Leach’s and I agreed to assume her duties on the Crown Seven Ranch while she’s away helping her sister.”
Instead of understanding, the trio took a collective step backward in perfect synchronization that would make a chorus line proud. The censure in their eyes was as unsettling as the sudden hush that fell over the store.
“Have you and Mrs. Leach been friends long?” one of the women finally asked.
Ellie hesitated for a suitable reply, for speaking the truth would surely rouse Reid Barclay’s suspicions. She decided to expand minimally on a passing remark she recalled in one of Mrs. Leach’s letters.
“You could say that,” Ellie Jo said and affected a secret smile as if she were fondly recalling the past. “Mrs. Leach lived in Denver for a good many years.”
Two of the young women raked her with a condemning look before walking away. The woman that tarried pulled her lips in a thin line of disapproval.
“There’s no need to say more,” she said, and turned up her nose and joined the small klatch that had formed near the rear of the store.
How rude! Ellie was a heartbeat from launching into a lecture on the merits of gainful employment for women when the storekeeper stepped in front of her.
“Pay them no mind,” she said in a hushed tone. “They have nothing better to do than spread gossip, and would delight in causing trouble if you argue with them.”
Ellie couldn’t afford trouble, not now when so much was at stake. She turned her attention to the handmade woolens and gave the thick muff a longing look before crossing to the window.
Sunlight streamed through the panes and kissed the glass ornaments hanging on a small fir tree. She adored everything about Christmas. The carols sung with fervor. The gaily-decorated trees and sinfully delicious sweets.
The gilded and silvered Dresdens her aunt had imported from Germany were the rage among the upper class in Denver, but the homemade strings of cranberries and popcorn, and clusters of pinecones and berries dangling from ribbons brought back fonder memories of her youth.
She could just barely remember watching her mother sing as she decked the tree, but the mental picture was growing fainter as the years passed. She dreaded losing those precious memories, so the past few years she’d attempted to recreate them by stringing popcorn and cranberries—even if she hadn’t had a tree to drape the garlands around.
She’d had Mama’s cornhusk angel and her memories.
This year would be different. This would be a Christmas to remember for she’d have her pa to share Christmas with.
That was all the incentive Ellie needed to go forward with this deception. Even though she wasn’t what she claimed to be, she’d do her best for Mr. Barclay.
Ellie sought out the shopkeeper again. “Pardon me, but I’d like to buy popping corn and fresh cranberries.”
“There’s a bag of cranberries in with Mrs. Leach’s orde
r. I’ll add a pound of popping corn to it,” she said.
Ellie rummaged in her purse. “I’ll pay separate for it.”
“No need,” Reid said.
She whirled to face him. How could such a big man, made to look bigger in that heavy sheepskin coat, come up on her without her hearing him? And why did she have to be so aware of him as a virile man?
“I don’t expect you to purchase my personal items,” she said and laid her coins on the counter.
One black eyebrow hiked up. “You aim to eat all that popcorn yourself?”
“Well, no. But I’ll use a good deal of it to decorate.”
“Toss another pound of popcorn in our order,” he said as he scooped up her money and handed it back to her. “I’m partial to popcorn, Miss Cade.”
She knew she’d been bested, so she held out her palm. “Then popcorn you’ll have, Mr. Barclay.”
He smiled a wolf’s smile that made her insides quiver with awareness, but when he dropped the coins in her hand and covered her palm with his in a time-honored gesture of affection, a jolt of sensual heat passed from him into her. She couldn’t stop her tremor anymore than she could ignore her body’s awareness of Reid Barclay.
In just the short time she’d been in his company, he’d made her feel more alive and desirable as a woman than she’d ever felt before. Surely he could hear her heart thundering.
He stepped back almost immediately, but the devilish twinkle in his eyes let her know he was aware of the effect he’d had on her. A new worry settled over Ellie, for the last thing she should do was court Mr. Barclay’s favor that way.
Yes, technically she had nothing to lose but her pride. But that had taken a serious beating lately. Surely a respectable rancher such as Reid Barclay would boot her off his ranch if he knew of her shady past.
Never mind she was deceiving him as well. No, she’d go to her grave with this secret, for the ramifications involved not just her, but Mrs. Leach and her pa as well.
“Fill a bag with licorice whips and peppermint candies,” he said to the shopkeeper.
A Cowboy Christmas Page 2