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CHAPTER ONE “Mrs. Anders,” Sheriff Hale murmured, touching the brim of his hat. The young widow lowered her eyes when she inclined her head, more modest than any other woman he’d ever met. She was English, and that probably explained it. It certainly explained her pale skin. “I understand you have some misgivings about our local bank. Mr. Johnson asked me to stop by and give my reassurance. It’s secure and legitimate and a much safer place to keep your money than in your mattress.” “I apologize,” she said. Her soft voice touched him like a physical sensation, like fur against his skin. Hale frowned at the strange thought. “It’s not that I suspect Mr. Johnson of being a criminal. It’s just that I was warned not to be naive, so the idea of turning my money over to a stranger…And I’ve never seen a bank constructed of raw timber before.” When her green eyes rose, they didn’t look the least bit timid despite her soft voice. In fact, they flashed with strength before she lowered them again.
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO The sun began its slide behind the mountains, but it remained fiery hot all the same. Lily could feel the warmth slip across her forearm as the light slanted farther into her room. She didn’t move. She’d long since finished her solitary meal of rabbit stew, one of the few things she could cook on her own, as it didn’t take much skill or knowledge to let something bubble on the stove for three hours. Undoubtedly, the novelty of cooking would wear off soon, but at this moment she felt proud and full of…herself. Yes, full of herself and what she could do. She’d been nobody her whole life. A marionette, at best. A statue at worst. First, an obedient daughter, then a meek wife, and finally a helpless young widow. But now she was…well, she was nobody, still, but a much better version of it. She was nobody because she was working to decide just who she wanted to be. She had the power now. Power over herself, even if that meant the simple choice of who would come to her bed. Even t
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE Hale drew in a deep, shuddering breath before he bolted upright in his bed. The weak sunlight disoriented him, because he was almost sure he’d just closed his eyes a few moments before. Frowning, he glanced toward the gray light streaming through the window at the foot of the bed. It was daylight, all right. And the window reminded him of more than just a night spent sleeping. Blood rushed to his face at the memory of what Mrs. Anders had done. And what he’d done while watching her. He’d imagined pumping into her instead of his own hand. Imagined his fingers holding her neck arched tight and to the side as he plowed into her. Imagined her begging him to stop as she came all over his cock. “Damn it,” he spat, disgusted with himself…and with her. What the hell was she thinking? Either she was dumb as a rock and unaware of what curtains were for, or she knew exactly what she was doing. And the woman hadn’t struck him as anything near stupid in the two weeks he’d known her. W
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR Twelve full hours in the saddle, and neither Hale nor his deputies had come across even a trace of the rustlers. Layton’s men had found a cold campfire, but Hale couldn’t tell if it had burned two nights before or two weeks. There just hadn’t been enough rain this month. His guilt hadn’t made his journey any lighter, and the air grew denser with every step his pony took. He could see his house from the stable door, and Mrs. Anders’s home just beyond it. He had to force himself to move his feet in that direction. “Sheriff,” the banker murmured as he passed by, touching a hand to his hat in greeting. Hale nodded in response, thankful Mr. Johnson wasn’t in a talkative mood. This town was small, and Hale loved that, but sometimes the closeness could be oppressive. Especially for him. He was embraced by the community, but held above it in a way. No one wanted their sheriff to be truly human. They needed him to be braver, tougher, and far more decent than the average man. Little
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE He hadn’t come. Lily sighed wearily and folded a towel over the plate of warm corn bread. She trusted that he’d meant to visit, but there’d been another shooting on a ranch in a distant corner of the county. Everyone in town knew he’d been called away yesterday afternoon. The shootings had been the only topic of conversation in town for the past few days. So she’d known he would not come to her bedroom the night before, but she’d still dressed as he’d ordered and waited in the hopes that he’d arrive back home unexpectedly. But it was dusk again, and he still hadn’t returned. “Let him be safe,” she prayed. She did not mean this to be a permanent relationship, but she had so much admiration for him. Sheriff Hale’s physical needs were the only cruel thing about him. He cared for people and looked after the residents of the county as if they were his family. He treated the ranch owners the same as he treated the lowest hands. It was a way of thinking she’d never seen in Englan
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX A week of hard riding passed in an exhausting blur, but thoughts of Lily Anders kept Hale company along the way. He’d only been home for four of the past seven nights, but he’d spent each evening with her. Sometimes she offered dinner. Sometimes it was so late that her bedroom was already dark when he entered. But every night she stripped something bare inside his soul. There was frightening power in her acquiescence. Now as he road through the heat and dust, Hale could call up many images of Lily stretched naked on her deep green quilt. One night, he’d been determined to explore every inch of her body, but the candle he’d used to light his way had dripped wax onto her sensitive skin. Hale had cursed and apologized, but Lily’s hand had stayed his retreat. “Do it again,” she’d whispered. He’d held his hand to her throat and dripped trails of hot wax over her breasts and belly. The hisses and sighs that had escaped her mouth had become his favorite memory. The only memory tha
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN “Tom,” a woman sobbed over him. “Lily,” he tried to answer, but his tongue was too thick. “My poor little girl will be a widow now.” But Lily was already a widow, so that made no sense. His confusion drifted away, replaced by soft thoughts. He had a new idea of how he’d like to have Lily the next time he saw her. Something totally unnatural and sinful that she’d probably love. But wait…He’d be dead the next time he saw her. “Shit,” he muttered. “Tom?” Lily didn’t call him Tom, didn’t even know his first name as far as he could tell. Which was fine, because he didn’t like being called Tom anymore. Only Marie’s family called him Tom now, and… Oh, now it made sense. It was his mother-in-law leaning over him, jostling his belly with every movement. Jesus Christ, couldn’t he at least die without Marie’s memory prodding him like a white-hot poker? “Celia!” a voice barked. “Get the hell out of here.” “But he’s—” “You’re getting blood on your Sunday dress.” The heavy weight lifte
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT “Sheriff,” the schoolmarm said, nodding her head politely as she paused in the street to greet them. “Mrs. Anders.” Lily clutched his arm tighter and smiled. “Miss Heath,” she answered. “I enjoyed your playing at the Sunday social.” The tall woman smiled with pleasure. “Why, thank you. What an honor to hear from a woman of your refined tastes.” “No more refined than yours, I’m sure. I’m so happy to know we have the same interest in literature. Be sure to stop in again next week. I’ve a new shipment I’m eager to show you.” “I will! And may I say again how thrilling it is to have such a gentling influence in our town. I’m so glad you decided to stay.” Lily nodded and let Sheriff Hale turn her and lead her on. “Don’t speak to anyone else,” he muttered. “But I must be polite.” “That’s an order, Lily.” Heart skipping several beats, Lily pressed her lips together and quickened her step to keep up with Sheriff Hale’s faster stride. “You’ve been teasing me all day,” he growled, a
CHAPTER EIGHT
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