Maureen McKade Read Online Free PDF Page B

stepped out of the stagecoach. Yet this evening he’d been a gentleman, and there had been traces of kindness in his demeanor.
    Until he’d touched her ankle.
    Remembered fear rippled across her skin. Libby stood and paced. Perhaps the contact had been an innocent gesture, but the terror it unleashed reminded Libby how much Harrison had stolen from her. At the top of that long list was trust.
    She paused in front of the fireplace and bent down to toss another log into the orange flames. Sparks popped, and glowing cinders erupted. Libby sank to her knees in front of the blaze, holding her trembling hands out to the warmth. As she stared at them they blurred, replaced by the image of Matt’s tanned fingers and blunt, clean nails. The calluses on his palms told Libby he was a man who had lived a hard life. Yet she suspected those same hands could gentle a colt or soothe a child’s pain. Or tenderly make love to a woman.
    She closed her eyes but found no respite from the sensual image. She remembered the tangy smell of leather and horses that seemed as much a part of him as his quiet strength. The intensity in his amber eyes both attracted and repelled her. She had never met a man so full of contradictions.
    Her eyes flew open. What was she doing? He represented the law, and she was a murderer. She was also a highly educated woman, while the sheriff had probably never seen the inside of a classroom. As longas she used her brains, she could keep one step ahead of Sheriff Matthew Brandon.
    However, if she allowed her traitorous emotions to participate in the battle of wits, Libby wasn’t so certain she could maintain her advantage.
    Lenore waved a wooden spoon at Libby. “Now, you dress warm. These Montana winters are pretty rough on folks who aren’t used to them.”
    Libby tied the strings of her fur-lined hat under her chin. “I’ll be fine, Lenore. I’m not exactly a shrinking violet.”
    Lenore brushed a hand across her forehead and left a streak of white flour. “Fiddlesticks! You should be glad you can look most men in the eye.” She chuckled. “Shoot, I wish I could stare down a few of them galoots myself, but God didn’t see fit to give me more’n he had to. Of course, He did give me a tad extra around the middle.”
    Libby smiled and fitted the last button on her long coat through its hole. “You’re right, Lenore. I may as well look at the bright side. Well, I’d best go over to the schoolhouse and acquaint myself with the primers. Thank you for telling the mayor and his wife I was feeling poorly last night.”
    Lenore returned to mixing her batter. “That was nothing. Serves Adelaide right for bothering you the first night you’re in town. I swear, that woman doesn’t have the sense God gave a jackass. She wanted to go up and see you, but Matt told her in no uncertain terms you weren’t to be disturbed.”
    “The sheriff said that?”
    “Don’t look so surprised. He’s actually a pretty nice fella underneath all the gruffness. Reminds me of a dog we once had. Had half an ear tore off and he limped something awful, but he was the most good-natured and loyal creature on God’s green earth.”
    “What happened to him?”
    “Killed by a bear saving my son Samuel’s life.” Lenore dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her apron. “The sheriff’s a lot the same way. He wouldn’t think twice about jumping into a fray to save a person’s life, even if it meant sacrificing his own.”
    Libby thought of his eyes alit with compassion. The image discomforted her and she blinked the picture away. “Did Mrs. Beidler say anything else?”
    “Yep. She said she’d be seeing you soon. Then she gives me this look like I’m supposed to pass on her majesty’s message.” Lenore sniffed. “As if I don’t have anything better to do than play messenger for Queen Adelaide.”
    Libby grinned wryly. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
And this time I’ll be ready for her.
    Lenore laughed. “Don’t let her