“Yes, I can ride,” she said in answer to the question that was clearly written across his face. She didn’t add that she’d never ridden two to a horse before, and certainly not with a man who made her heart beat far too quickly.
“Good. I didn’t want to presume.” He stood, holding the reins, apparently waiting for her to mount.
Lina’s cheeks grew warm as she regarded the distance between the ground and the stirrups. “I . . . I need something to . . .”
In a heartbeat, the sheriff had clasped his hands about her waist and lifted her up just far enough for her foot to reach the stirrup and her hand to grasp the saddle. Lina drew in a sharp breath, forcing herself to concentrate on the horse rather than the large hands spanning her waist. For one of the few times in her life, she was grateful for the layers of fabric and stays preventing her from feeling anything more than the pressure of his touch.
And, as it turned out, navigating the mounting of a horse with petticoats and a dress required every ounce of her concentration. She’d just barely gotten herself situated behind the saddle with as much modesty as she could gather when Sheriff Rodgers eased himself onto the horse with the grace of a man who’d spent most of his life in the saddle.
Lina could hardly worry about how much of her stockinged legs were showing when he was this close to her. She stiffened, trying to create a space between them until he nudged the horse forward and she was forced to grab onto him or be shuffled right off the animal’s rear end.
He chuckled as they ambled down the trail. “If I recall correctly, we are to be married. You may hold on as tightly as you need.”
Lina’s face flamed, and she was at least grateful he couldn’t see her. His words did nothing to make her more willing to relax her arms—but a hard jolt as the horse navigated the steep road certainly did. She held on tightly after that, trying not to think about the warmth of his skin through his clothing or the way he smelled of leather and soap.
The ride down from the pass seemed to last forever, and by the time they arrived in town, Lina was stiff and aching from head to toe. It was nearly evening when Sheriff Rodgers helped her down from the horse.
She patted the animal, grateful for its assistance. “I never asked his name.”
“Rabbit,” Sheriff Rodgers said, handing the reins to what appeared to be the youngest of the men who’d ridden with them.
“That’s an odd name for a horse.” Lina bit her lip the second the words were out, hoping he didn’t take them as an insult.
But he smiled as he tossed the saddlebag full of her things over his shoulder. “It is, until you see how fast he is.”
Lina stepped back as he directed a couple of his men to bring the captured outlaw into his office, which Lina assumed also held the town’s jail. She glanced about the town as she waited. Perseverance wasn’t much to look at, but neither was Sweetwater, Kansas. She noted a boardinghouse, a mercantile, a diner, a livery stable, and at least three saloons from where they stood in front of the sheriff’s office. There was, notably, no church—at least not one she could see from here. Nor was there a schoolhouse.
She couldn’t see the entire town from this perspective, Lina reassured herself. And yet, what did it matter? It wasn’t as if she meant to settle here. She’d come in answer to Sheriff Rodgers’ advertisement for one purpose only. And once she found Papa’s hidden money, she’d return to Sweetwater and accompany Matthew to a city back East, where he’d finally receive the treatment he needed.
“I imagine you’d like to rest up some?” Sheriff Rodgers stepped in front of her, drawing Lina away from visions of her brother, happy and healthy again. He pulled off his hat and tapped it against his thigh. “I’m afraid the only boardinghouse we have in town isn’t a place suitable for ladies.” He paused a moment, and then held out an arm. “My home is affixed to the rear of the office. You can rest up there, and I’ll stay in the office. Until . . . well . . .”
Lina looked down so he wouldn’t see the blush she could feel covering her cheeks. She was acting utterly ridiculous, or so she told herself. He was a good-looking man, that was all, and it had sent her head into a whirlwind. But she was smart and she needed to remember her purpose here.
And so she forced herself to look up and give the man a smile as she took his proffered arm. “That would be fine. But might I see your offices first?”
Chapter Four
