by Bobbi Smith
"I'm sure there are a lot of girls in town who would welcome his advances," Elise pointed out. "I just don't happen to be one of them."
"Well, you got through the evening unscathed," Trace said with a laugh.
"I was worried there for a moment while I was dancing with him."
They all laughed good-naturedly at the memory.
"Did you get things worked out with Charles?" Claire asked. She had seen them talking to Ben's landlord during the evening and wondered what had transpired.
"Yes, we did. I'm going to ride out to the house tomorrow morning to collect Ben's things. Gabe has decided to come with me so he can take a look around and decide if he wants to rent it or not."
"It's a nice house," George put in. "It's far enough out to give you some privacy, but close enough that you can get into town real quick-like if you need to."
"From everything Elise has told me about it, it sounds as if it will work just fine for me." Trace was eager to get back to practicing his marksmanship and his draw.
They reached the Martin home. Claire and George bid Gabe good night and went on inside.
Trace stood with Elise on the front walk. It was quiet on the residential street. No moon shone in the night sky, so the stars seemed even more bright and beautiful.
"It's heavenly out tonight," Elise sighed as she looked up.
Trace found himself staring at her rather than the stars. He was amazed that she could be so sedate and ladylike one moment and deal with the likes of Preacher Farnsworth in the next. She looked lovely. The memory of the way she'd felt moving with him as they danced filled him with a knowing heat. He was tempted to take her in his arms and taste once more the sweetness of her kiss, but he resisted the need.
"Would you like to come in for a while?" Elise asked, turning toward him.
It was then that she caught a glimpse of intense emotion in his expression, and her heartbeat quickened. She went still, gazing up at him in the darkness. In the shadows of the night, he was more dominating and definitely more manly. Again she realized just how wide his shoulders were. He seemed to fill her very world as they stood there beneath the canopy of stars. Elise held her breath. She was certain that he was about to sweep her into his arms and kiss her just as he had at their "wedding." And she was ready. She actually wanted him to-
"No. I have to go," Trace said flatly. His voice betrayed none of his inner turmoil. He was fighting the need to take her in his arms. It was a battle his common sense had to win. He could not surrender to this desire he was feeling for her. "It's late, and we've got a lot to do tomorrow."
His words shattered the sensual mood that had wound its way around Elise's heart. She was startled by his refusal, and a feeling that could only be called disappointment threatened. Irritated and angry with herself for having even considered kissing him again, Elise tried to convince herself that it didn't matter what Gabe did. She didn't care if he stayed or left. "Oh. All right."
"I'll see you in the morning." Trace started down the walk, wanting to put some physical distance between them. She was just far too tempting for his peace of mind.
"Shall I pick you up at the hotel around eleven-thirty?" she asked. "I have to take our carriage since I'm going to bring back Ben's personal belongings."
"I'll be waiting for you."
Elise waited there, watching until Gabe had disappeared down the street. Only when he'd gone from sight did she go inside the house.
"Did Gabe leave already, dear?" Claire asked from where she was sitting in their small parlor with George.
"Yes."
"Pity. He's such a nice young man. I thought he might come in and visit with us for a while."
"I'm very tired," Elsie said as an excuse as she went to press a kiss on her grandmother's cheek.
"You have had an exciting day or two," George agreed. "But it was worth it, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Elise answered.
She bade them both good night then and went on upstairs to her bedroom. Once in her room, she quickly undressed, donned her nightgown, and lay down. George had been right. The last few days had been exhausting.
Weary though Elise was, her mind would give her no rest. As she sought the blissful unawareness of sleep, thoughts of Gabe kept returning to haunt her. If the look on his face as they'd stood outside together that evening had been any indication of what he was feeling, he'd certainly seemed as if he'd wanted to kiss her. Elise wondered why he hadn't. The kind of man she was attracted to would have thrown caution to the wind and kissed her right then and there and never have worried about the consequences. Gabe hadn't even tried! He'd just walked off and left her standing there, all alone under a beautiful, starry night sky.
As the thought occurred to her, Elise grew angry with herself. It was ridiculous to want Gabe to kiss her! It made no sense. He was her boss! They would be working together. That would be the entire extent of her involvement with the man, and that would be fine with her.
Thinking of work and the newspaper, Elise realized that Gabe was certainly no Ben. She wasn't sure how he was going to work out as the editor of the paper, but since he was the owner, there wasn't anything she could do about it. They were going to find out soon enough, though, just what kind of newspaperman he was. Putting all thoughts of Gabe from her, she concentrated on what she really needed right then-sleep.
But even as she closed her eyes and finally started to drift off, a vision of Gabe haunted her. It was an image of him sitting at Ben's desk, his glasses off, his expression serious as he held Ben's gun in his hand.
Trace considered stopping at the saloon for a drink as he strode past it on his way back to his hotel, but he decided against it. Not that he couldn't have used a whiskey right then, but more than anything, he just needed some time alone.
Trace was angry with himself and his situation. He did not like the feelings that Elise aroused in him. He gave himself a stem warning. While Elise was a lovely, intelligent, brave young woman, he could not allow himself to be distracted from his purpose. Matt Harris had to be brought to justice, no matter how long it took. That was all that mattered in his life. Until Harris was dead or behind bars, he could think of nothing else.
Trace reached his room and went to bed. He did not rest soundly, though. His sleep was tortured with images of the outlaws' deadly ambush.
Morning came far too soon.
"It really is close enough to town, don't you think?" Elise remarked as she reined in her carriage before Ben's house.
Trace eyed with open interest the small, twobedroom frame home that was less than a mile from the outskirts of Durango.
"It's perfect," Trace said, and he meant it. He hadn't seen a neighbor for some distance and that pleased him. He wanted some space and privacy so he could practice shooting without being interrupted. This was just the haven he needed for the next month or two. He was going to have to buy a horse, but that presented no problem.
Elise glanced at him, curiously. "But you haven't even been inside yet."
"I like the location," he explained simply. "And you're right. I will be able to get into town in a reasonable amount of time should the need arise. I'm going to have to buy a horse, though. Any ideas who sells the best mounts?"
"I'm sure David Forsyth down at the livery can help you. We can go by there later today, if you want," she offered.
"That would be fine."
"I'm glad you're pleased with the house. Charles gave me the key, so why don't you go ahead and take a look around while I start packing for Ben?"
Trace climbed down from the carriage and then reached up to help her descend. He put his hands at her waist as she rested hers on his shoulders while he lifted her down. As she leaned toward him, the sweet scent of her perfume surrounded him. It was a heady fragrance that he was determined to ignore. As he lowered her to the ground, her body slid sensuously along the length of his. Trace hadn't planned it that way at all, and his response to that contact was instant and powerful. H
e made a show of awkwardly setting her down and then nervously cleared his throat and fidgeted with his eyeglasses as he stepped back away.
"I'll go look around and check things out. Will you need any help packing?"
Elise looked toward the house. "I don't know. I don't think Ben had too many personal things left here, but I can't be sure until I go inside."
"Just call me if you need help."
She was bemused by the thought that Gabe was more interested in the grounds around the house than the inside. Somehow, she hadn't thought he would care at all about the surroundings. He didn't really seem to be much of an outdoorsman.
Elise let herself in and promptly began to pack all the things that Ben had left behind.
Trace strode to the rear of the property, keeping a watchful eye out. He was pleased with the small stable and corral. Living this far from town, he was definitely going to have to buy a horse, and he was glad. It was time. It wouldn't be long until he could go after Harris. He was certain of it. He headed inside, determined that the place would be his.
"Are you doing all right?" Trace called out to Elise as he let himself in.
"I'm back here in the bedroom. I've just got a little bit more to do here and then I'll be done," Elise called back.
He made his way to stand in the doorway. She was sitting on the side of the bed, emptying a drawer from the bureau.
"What do you think about the house?" she asked. "Do you like it?"
"It's just what I need. How soon did Charles say I could move in?"
"I don't know that he said any particular day, but I would imagine any time after I've cleared the place out would be fine with him."
"Good."
"So you're that tired of the hotel already?"
"I like having a little room to move around in, and there isn't much of that in a hotel room. And I like my privacy, too."
"You'll definitely have that here." She glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. "Not many people get out this way too often."
Their gazes met across the room.
Trace suddenly envisioned her lying back on the bed, her dark hair spread out around her, her arms reaching for him.
They we alone. The teasing thought played in his mind.
"What can I do to help?" he asked, frowning as he forced himself to ignore his wayward imaginings.
Elise was completely unaware of the direction of his thoughts. "You can bring me that other drawer-and you can answer a few questions for me."
He was instantly cautious as he went to retrieve the drawer from the bureau. "What kind of questions?"
"I've been thinking. We need a lead story for the next issue, and I thought it would be good to do a feature on you-Gabe West, the new owner and editor of the Star. What do you think?"
"Don't you think everyone would find that boring?" He set the drawer down next to her on the bed.
"No, not at all. Of course, an interview with you would be no Preacher Farnsworth lead, but the folks in town will want to know more about you, and what better way to give it to them than through the paper? What do you say?"
He'd expected questions, but he had not expected to be interviewed by a reporter. Still, he knew there could be no refusing her. He hated lying, but there was no way to avoid it at this point in time. "What do you want to know?"
"Tell me about yourself."
"Well, I'm twenty-eight years old. I was born and raised back East."
"Where?"
Trace was glad that he'd traveled east several times. "I was born in Philadelphia, but my parents moved quite a lot. My mother passed away when I was young, and my grandmother helped to raise me. My father owned part of a shipping business. When he died, I sold my share of the business and decided to travel."
"And that's how you ended up here in Colorado in a poker game with Ben?"
Trace nodded, hoping he'd been specific enough about his past without going into detail to satisfy her. He didn't want to lie too much, because then he'd have to remember what he'd told her.
"What about marriage?" She paused in her packing and looked up at him.
"What about it?" he asked quickly.
"Have you ever married?" Her question was innocently put as her gaze met his.
Trace gave her a lazily seductive look as he answered, "Well, yes. I did marry once."
"Oh." Elise had not expected that answer, and suddenly all the pleasure of interviewing him left her. It had never occurred to her that he might have been a married man. She dropped her gaze from his and hoped he didn't hear the strain in her voice as she fought to maintain her professionalism. "Is your wife back East waiting for you?"
"No. My `wife' is right here." Trace couldn't stop himself. He reached out to her and cupped her cheek to lift her face.
Elise gave a small gasp at that contact-so innocent, yet so intimate. She looked up at him to find his dark eyes warm upon her.
"I `married' you. Remember?" He gave her a slow, knowing smile.
Elise blushed as she did remember-every detail of the kiss he'd given her so passionately at the end of the wedding ceremony. She tried to tell herself that this was Gabe, but it didn't matter. When he bent ever so slowly to her to claim her lips in a cherishing exchange, she met him fully in that embrace.
Trace had tried to deny himself, but with her open response, there could be no stopping. Her kiss was sweet and innocent, yet held an enticing promise of passion.
Mesmerized by his sensual assault, Elise leaned toward him, reveling in his nearness as his mouth moved hungrily over hers.
Desire, hot and heavy, flamed to life within him, and it was that fiery spark of desire that jarred Trace back to his senses. He forced himself to break away from her immediately
"Gabe?"
"I'm sorry, Elise. I shouldn't have done that. I don't know what I was thinking." Trace wanted to lay her down on the bed and make love to her, but it wasn't going to happen. He deliberately made himself sound nervous and uncertain, the way Gabe West would. "It was a mistake."
She blinked up at him in confusion. She had been surprised by his kiss, and now she was even more surprised and angered by his words. He didn't know why he'd kissed her? It was a mistake? She frowned as her irritation with him grew. A mistake? How insulting could he be?
"You're right, of course," she said a bit tersely, realizing that he must not have been enjoying the kiss as much as she had, and that annoyed her, too. "It was a mistake, and it's one that we can't repeat if we're going to work together and maintain any kind of a professional relationship. You are my boss, not my husband."
Trace couldn't have agreed with her more. Kissing her again had been a serious mistakein more ways than one. He had no time for entanglements that would only make his life more difficult in the long run. He would have to keep his distance from her. It was too easy to be distracted by her.
"It won't happen again."
"Good," she said firmly, using her anger to hide her confusion over her own conflicting emotions. She fought for professionalism as she tried to resume her interview. "Now, back to our interview for the Star. Do you want me to mention your `marriage' in the article? It was very short-lived."
"No. You married Ben Hollins, not me."
"Exactly, so for the sake of the interviewwhy haven't you married?" She refused to admit to herself that she truly was curious about him.
He shrugged. "I've never met the right woman, I guess. What about you? Why haven't you married?" He redirected the question back to her.
"I'm the one doing the interview."
"I know, but I am curious. It's certainly not for a lack of suitors-look at Clint."
"Have you been talking to my grandmother?" she asked him with a laugh, her anger with him lightening a little.
"Only last night at the dinner, why?"
"Because she asks me the same question all the time. She's quite convinced that I'm well on my way to becoming a spinster." Elise sighed.
"You've never fallen in love?"
"No," she answered simply. "Somehow, Clint just isn't the kind of man I'm looking for."
"What kind of man are you looking for?"
She started to answer, then realized how he'd turned the tables of their conversation.
"I'm not sure," she hedged, "but I'll know him when I see him. What about you? What kind of woman are you looking for?"
"I'm not looking," he replied tightly.
"You don't ever want to get married and settle down?"
"Not now. Right now, I'm the new editor-inchief of the Star, and that's what I want to concentrate on."
Elise had finished packing what had been left in the drawers as she questioned him, and she stood up, more than ready to get out of that bedroom. "I think that does it. I'm done here. Are you ready to go back to town?"
"If you are."
"Good. On our way, we can stop and pay Charles a visit so you can make your arrangements to move in, and then we can go by the livery and talk to David about finding you a good mount."
"Fine."
He gathered up the rest of the bags she'd packed and carried them out to the carriage for her. He waited as she locked the house, and then he helped her into the carriage. He took care not to come into any close physical contact with her. They said little on the ride back.
It was much later that night when Elise lay in bed trying to understand what had happened between her and Gabe that day. She couldn't figure out why his kiss had affected her so. Gabe wasn't the kind of man she usually found attractive. True, he had helped her out at the social by bidding for her dinner, and he had saved her from walking home with Clint, but he definitely wasn't her type.
Gabe was rather bookish and gentlemanly. Not that those were bad traits, she argued with herself. It was just that her ideal man was someone who was brave and strong. Like the men she wrote articles about-men like that sheriff from Eagle Pass.
Elise still mourned the fact that Harris had ambushed and killed Trace Jackson. In everything she'd read about him, he'd sounded like a wonderful man. His reputation as a fair and honest lawman had been known far and wide. He had been a force to be reckoned with. Not that she'd ever seen a picture of him, but it didn't matter what he looked like. It was what he stood for that was important. He was the kind of man she wanted, the kind of man she was determined to wait for. He was a white knight on a charger-a true hero.