Sherri Shackelford - A Family For The Holidays

“You won’t shoot a defenseless man.”

“No. But then, you’re not a defenseless man, are you?”

She wasn’t nearly as tough as she appeared. He’d conned his way through enough situations to recognize the signs. If the boys were in danger, she’d shoot. Without that incentive, he doubted she had the nerve. He only had to prevent her from accidentally firing the weapon until he regained control of the situation.

“I’ll tell you what I know.” He lowered his hands. “Rumor has it that Vic lost money to Emil in a poker game. A lot of money.”

“Vic has money to burn. How much could he lose to a kindly old grandfather?”

“You’ve never met Emil, have you?”

A lock of her straw-colored hair drifted across her cornflower blue eyes. “If you didn’t kill Emil, where is he?” She blew a breath, fluttering the strands aside. “Do you know what happened to him?”

“No, I don’t. But I have a few ideas. Some suspicions. Why don’t you put down the gun and we can discuss my thoughts?”

“Not likely.”

If only he could simply tell her the truth. At this point, she’d never believe him anyway. This was the part of the job he loathed. After five years of running with thieves, corrupt lawmen and killers, he’d lost his ability for gentlemanly speech. He had no convincing words to soothe her with. And for the first time in his career, he desperately wanted those words.

He shook off the hesitation.

She was a distraction. The boys were vulnerable. Nothing more, nothing less. The sooner she left, the better. If the accusation in her melancholy eyes sparked his guilt, that was the price he paid for keeping her and the boys safe.

He took another step forward and she stumbled back once more.

“Don’t come any closer.” Her breath came in quick, shallow gasps. “I’m warning you, the sheriff knows all about your interest in the inheritance. He’ll take you to jail. Once we find proof that you’re responsible for Emil’s disappearance, jail is where you’ll stay.”

An inheritance? The ramifications socked him in the gut. Vic didn’t want to erase his debt, he wanted a new influx of cash. All the pieces instantly made sense: Emil was missing. His grandchildren were the beneficiaries of an inheritance. Lily Winter was the only thing standing between the boys and someone who might take advantage of them.

He’d underestimated the depths of Vic’s depravity and played right into his hands as the villain of the piece.

Carefully considering how to regain Lily’s trust, Jake took a cautious step forward. “If the sheriff is on his way, why don’t you give me the gun? Your breathing is too shallow. You’ll faint again if you don’t calm down. We’ll wait for him together.”

“Don’t patronize me. Stop playing the charming gentleman and go back to being an outlaw.”

“Lily, we both know the sheriff isn’t coming to your rescue. You can’t hold a gun on me forever. You might as well let me go.” He took a step closer. “There’s another stagecoach this evening. If you’re worried about the boys’ safety, then leave now. Take them far away from here.”

“Stop treating me like I’m a simpleton.” Her gaze darted around the cavernous warehouse and landed on him once more. “You must have a reason for wanting me on that stage.”

“You’re not a simpleton. You’re right to be cautious. But you’ve stumbled into the middle of a dangerous situation. I don’t want you hurt.”

Her stance lifted the floodgates on his past once more. She’d put herself in harm’s way for the boys unless he prevented her.

“I don’t understand you.” Lily’s arms sagged and the barrel of the heavy gun tipped down. “Why didn’t you take the boys when I fainted?”

“Think about what you’re saying, Lily. I’m not the one you need to fear.”

“Tell me something. Anything. Give me one reason why I can trust you. Those children need their grandfather. I need to go home. I’m begging you, let me have one piece of proof that gives me a reason to believe what you’re saying.”

“I don’t have any proof. Not yet.”

She drew herself up to her full height, as though a scant inch made any difference. “Then we’re at an impasse.”

“There is one thing.”

Lily glanced at something behind him and panic skittered across her face. “Look out!”

Pain exploded in his head. Jake pitched sideways. His legs weakened and collapsed beneath him. Landing on his back, he stared at the face hovering over him.

Sheriff Koepke clasped a shovel in his fisted hands. “This fellow will be spending the next few weeks in jail, miss. He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“You can’t arrest him,” Lily protested. “He hasn’t done anything.”

“You were holding a gun on him. He must have done something.”

“We were, uh, we were only talking.”

The blow had knocked the strength from Jake’s limbs. His hands and feet tingled and his vision dimmed. After clumsily flipping him onto his stomach, the sheriff secured his wrists with metal shackles.

The sawdust itched Jake’s nose. A pair of delicate half boots drifted into his vision. A lock of her hair dusted his cheek.

“Did you have to hit him that hard?” Lily exclaimed softly. She touched the knot forming on the back of his head. “You’ve knocked him senseless.”

“That was the idea, missy.”

“What’s the charge?” Panic coated Lily’s voice. “Why are you arresting him?”

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head. We got this all taken care of. Found some stolen goods in this man’s rooms over at the saloon. He’ll be locked up tight for a good long time.”

Nausea rose in the back of Jake’s throat and his head throbbed. They’d set him up. There was nothing in his room but a saddlebag and a change of clothes. The sheriff jerked him upright.

He stumbled and Lily steadied him.

“You can’t do this,” she said. “He was going to help me.”

“You’ll have to find someone else. This fellow is gonna be busy helping himself.”

She smelled of lilacs and her eyelashes fluttered like butterflies. He’d been mired in the job too long. There was so little good left in the world, he’d forgotten people like Lily existed. She was the whole reason he’d become a US marshal. If something happened to her, he’d be to blame.

Sheriff Koepke dragged him toward the door, a difficult task given the disparity in their sizes. A kind of rage Jake hadn’t felt in years welled inside him. He would be trapped in a jail cell for the foreseeable future.

Lily pressed her fingers over her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were lying when you said he was following me.”

“I know.” The images at the edge of his vision shimmered like mirages. “Forget about Emil. Take the children back to St. Joseph.”

“I can’t. He’s their grandfather. They don’t have anyone else.”

The sheriff heaved him onto the street and he glanced over his shoulder. Lily clung to the door frame.

She’d never survive in Frozen Oaks alone.

Chapter Four

The sight of Jake being dragged away to jail dominated Lily’s thoughts. The snow had ceased falling and sunlight glinted off the fresh layer of white. The restaurant was empty, the fire down to embers. The siblings remained huddled over their checkers game.

She had no doubt Jake was many things, but he certainly wasn’t a thief.

He’d known from the start she’d never shoot him. He could have turned the tables on her at any time. Though he was the obvious suspect in the disappearance of the children’s grandfather, she’d changed her mind about him after their last encounter.

Why had he urged her to leave instead of taking the upper hand? Why not abscond with the boys when she’d fainted? He’d had a second opportunity when she’d held a useless weapon on him.