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 order. 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.
“You’re spoiling that boy,” the shopkeeper said.
Reid snorted. “Not likely.”
Ellie glanced around the store, but she didn’t see hide nor hair of a child. Until she glanced outside.
A boy of ten, if he was a day, stood on the boardwalk looking in, his sack coat hanging on his thin frame and his bare hands fisted up in the sleeves. His cheeks were red from the cold, but his light eyes were fixed on the tall cowboy inside the store.
“Word got out that you’ve been helping him and his ma,” the shopkeeper said. “There’s been more talk.”
“Let their tongues wag. They need help, and I can give it. Simple as that,” Reid said.
“God will surely shine on you, Reid Barclay,” the shopkeeper said.
“He’ll likely send me straight to hell.” He hefted the large box of provisions and caught Ellie’s rapt gaze, but he simply nodded to the door. “Time we got on our way.”
“Of course.” She opened the door for him, then preceded him through when he chose now to stand on manners.
But she stepped aside in time to see him pass a small sack to the street urchin. “Make that last you, boy.”
“I will! Thank you, sir,” the boy said.
“There’s provisions in the store for your family,” Reid said. “You see your ma eats her fill.”
“She will, Mr. Barclay,” the boy said. “Ma is cooking up a storm on that new range.”
“That’s good.” He tousled the boy’s sandy hair. “Get on inside with you and collect that parcel.”
“Yes, sir.” The boy barged inside without a backward glance.
“That was a wonderful thing you did,” she said.
He slid her an impatient nod toward the sleigh. She sensed he didn’t want accolades for doing a good turn.
As he stowed their provisions in the sleigh, she was tempted to get in on her own. But he surprised her again.
Strong hands bracketed her waist, the thumbs pointing up to graze the underside of her breasts. Fire licked through her and she gasped as if truly burned by his touch.
He picked her up as if she weighed nothing, taking his own sweet time. Or at least time seemed to stand still for her before she felt the footboard beneath her.
Ellie was rendered speechless with the strength in Reid’s hands. Hands that could bring pleasure to a woman. Hands that weren’t immune to fighting. Hands that had known work.
The sleigh dipped as Reid climbed up and sat beside her. He surprised her by spreading a heavy buffalo robe over his lap and hers.
Those knowing midnight-blue eyes held a mixture of censure and amusement. But Ellie wasn’t fooled.
Pa was from the old school. Why if he knew the liberties Irwin had taken with her, he’d likely track down the man she’d planned to marry and give him jesse. If he saw the way she was comporting herself with Reid Barclay…
His long, strong thigh stretched alongside hers like a fire-warmed log, and his hotter-than-an-ember hip pressed to hers. A delicious heat spread through Ellie.
She had absolutely no trouble imagining
