The Heiress and the Sheriff Read Online Free PDF

Gabrielle. “I see you’re dressed. Are you leaving the hospital?”
    Her heart pounding madly, she nodded at him.
    Maggie spoke up, “Gabrielle has been released by the doctor, so I’m taking her out to the ranch.”
    â€œIs that what you want to do?” he asked Gabrielle.
    She opened her mouth to speak, but once again Maggie beat her to it. “She wanted me to take her to a shelter. But I wouldn’t hear of it.”
    The sheriff’s eyes narrowed on Gabrielle’s newfound friend. “Does the rest of your family know of your intentions to take Gabrielle out to the Double Crown?”
    He made it sound as though she were a leper who should be banished to a dark cave somewhere, Gabrielle thought.
    Maggie frowned at him. “We discussed it last night. Ryan and Dallas insist on it. They think it’s the least we can do to help Gabrielle. And so do I.”
    â€œI see,” he said.
    Did he? Gabrielle wondered, then choked back a sigh as he glanced at her, then back to Maggie.
    â€œI want to talk with you alone for minute,” he told Maggie.
    She excused herself, and Wyatt ushered her out of the room.
    Gabrielle remained on the bed, staring at the door he’d carefully closed behind him. She had no idea what, if anything, he’d discovered in her car. But two things were becoming very clear to her: he still mistrusted her, and he did not want her going to the Double Crown Ranch.
    But why? she asked herself. What was going on out there that could possibly involve her?
    Neither Wyatt nor Maggie appeared too happy when they returned to the room, and Gabrielle felt even worse than she had before the Fortune woman had shown up to help her.
    â€œLook, Maggie, I don’t want to cause any problems for you. I’m sure Sheriff Grayhawk agrees that I should stay at a shelter and—”
    â€œDon’t worry about Wyatt,” she said to Gabrielle. “He understands the situation. In fact, he’s going to drive youout to the ranch himself while I go do some shopping. So I’ll see you in a little while.”
    Maggie quickly left the room, and Gabrielle’s eyes flew to the sheriff’s face. His dark, chiseled features were stoic, giving her no clue as to what was going on behind his intense eyes.
    â€œAre you ready?” he asked.
    She slipped from the bed, but was instantly swamped with dizziness. Her hand instinctively shot out for something to steady her and landed smack in the middle of Wyatt’s chest. She jerked back as if she’d touched fire.
    Wyatt instantly grabbed her by the shoulder. “What’s wrong? Are you going to faint?” he asked roughly.
    She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for the spinning in her head to stop. It would be bad enough to faint. But to helplessly wilt in front of this man would be totally humiliating. “No. I’m a little dizzy. Just give me a moment.”
    â€œThis is a hell of a way to be leaving the hospital,” he muttered. “You can’t even walk down the hallway. Who is the idiot doctor that signed your release papers? I’m going to go find him—”
    â€œI’m all right!” Her eyes flew open and she straightened away from him with a weak jerk. “There’s no need for you to get so angry.”
    Her words brought him up short. He wasn’t angry, but he supposed he probably appeared that way to her. Well, that was okay with him. It wouldn’t do to let her think he was actually concerned about her. She needed to know he was a hard man, who wouldn’t blink an eye about cuffing her hands behind her back—if she turned out to be a criminal.

Three
    â€œS tay here. I’ll get a wheelchair,” he ordered.
    Moments later Wyatt was back, and Gabrielle had no choice but to allow him to push her to the elevator, then out to the sidewalk to his waiting truck.
    As they traveled away from the hospital, Gabrielle focused her attention