LITMIR.BIZ

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date. The Littleton family had a thriving farm on the west side of town. John’s older sister had already married and moved away, leaving a starter cabin uninhabited.

      “Good evening, ladies. Deputy.” Smiling, he raised his brows at Isabel. “I’m surprised to see you here. What did your sisters have to do to convince you?”

      “They didn’t give me much of a choice.” Though her tone was disgruntled, Isabel’s expression had softened somewhat. “How is that knife working out for your father?”

      “He’s been showing it off to his friends, so I’d say he’s very satisfied. They’re pestering him to divulge where he got it.”

      “He won’t, will he?” Isabel asked, worried.

      “John said he would need one for himself in order to continue keeping your secret.” Honor snuggled close to his side and grinned cheekily up at him.

      “Don’t believe her.” He chuckled. “She’s simply stumped as to what to get me for Christmas.”

      Reaching up, she straightened his tie. “That’s not true. I’ve actually already decided on a gift, and it has nothing to do with weapons.”

      He snapped his fingers. “A shame.”

      John brought out a sassy side in the quiet girl. Glancing at Isabel, Ben was shocked to witness her open approval. Apparently her dislike of men didn’t extend to her sister’s beau. How had John managed to get in her good graces?

      “Virgil and Timothy have saved us a spot in their wagon,” John said. “Would you like to sit with us?”

      “No, thanks.” Carmen waved to a cluster of girls her age. “I’m going over to talk to Rosa and the others. I’ll meet up with you later.”

      As she hurried off, Honor peered toward said wagon and frowned. “John, it’s already filling up. Looks like there’s only enough room beside Virgil for the two of us.”

      John looked apologetic. “We could sit in that last one—”

      “No, that’s okay,” Isabel intervened. “The deputy and I will find our own spots.”

      When the couple had gone, Ben guided her to the rear wagon, the least occupied of the three. “What does a man have to do to obtain one of your knives?”

      Caught off guard, her brows pulled together. “I didn’t realize you wanted one.”

      “I—”

      “Ben!” The Smith sisters, both brunette, petite and hazel eyed, blocked their way. “We’ve been waiting ages for you to arrive.” The eldest by eighteen months, Laila gifted him with a sunny smile. “We’ve saved a seat for you in the second wagon.”

      “Tommy Hatfield’s driving,” Lynette told him in a confidential tone. “He avoids the ruts and dips, ensuring a smooth ride.”

      Ben liked the girls well enough. When they weren’t hinting about what great wives they’d make, Laila and Lynette were pleasant company. He often spent Sunday evenings in the Smith home, more for their father’s company than anything else. Allen Smith reminded Ben of his own pa, whom he didn’t get to see often. He had a feeling the sisters wouldn’t be thrilled with that bit of insight.

      “That was thoughtful of you, ladies, but we’re taking the third one. I like to observe what’s up ahead.”

      Squinting at their driver, a rotund man in overalls, Lynette uttered a disapproving noise. “Ollie’s got night blindness. He almost ran a group into the woods last year.”

      Ben choked on a laugh. “We’ll take our chances, right, Isabel?”

      Laila’s countenance lost some its brilliance. “I didn’t realize you and the deputy were close acquaintances.”

      “We’re not.” She silently implored him to concur.

      He shrugged. “I happened to be in the vicinity of the Flores property at the appropriate time. Made sense to come together.”

      Mr. Johnson let loose a shrill whistle and announced they’d set out in five minutes.

      “Time to find a seat.” He leaped into the bed and, after pointing Isabel to the sturdy footstool that had been provided, offered her a hand up.

      The Smith sisters debated what to do. Ultimately, they trudged off. Their dejection wasn’t lost on Isabel, who shot him an arch look. She’d accused him of disregarding others’ feelings. Could she be right? He hated to think he might’ve inflicted emotional wounds, especially considering how he’d suffered at the hands of his former fiancée. Maybe his stated vow to remain a bachelor wasn’t enough. Maybe his single female acquaintances considered it his way of throwing down the gauntlet.

      Ben led her to a spot behind Ollie. The seats around them filled up quickly. Carmen and her friends reached the wagon too late to sit close. She mouthed her regrets. Isabel shrugged and offered a false smile.

      Crushed as they were, their shoulders wedged together, Ben didn’t have to tilt his head very far to whisper in her ear. “I know you’re putting on a brave face for your sisters’ sakes. Are you sorry you agreed to come? Or sorry you got stuck with me?”

      She twisted slightly to meet his gaze. “I should be sitting with them. You and me together like this gives everyone the wrong idea.”

      “A single man and woman can’t talk in this town as friends?”

      “You’re not just any man,” she retorted in a stilted voice. “You’re the Debonair Deputy.”

      “I’m a confirmed bachelor,” he countered.

      “Didn’t you notice the way Lynette was ogling you? As if you’d accomplished great feats worthy of being recorded in history books?”

      “Who says I haven’t?” he teased.

      Her mouth tightened. “Don’t do that.”

      “Do what?”

      “Smile and twinkle your eyes at me.”

      He gave a disbelieving laugh. “I’m not allowed to smile at you?”

      “Not in public,” she said. “I’m a dedicated spinster. Everyone will think you’ve charmed me off my farm and are even now filling my head with thoughts of wedding bells.”

      “Why does it matter what anyone else thinks?”

      “You know why.” She turned her head. “Oh, but look, there’s another of your crestfallen admirers.”

      Ben spotted Veronica Patton right away. The last to embark, she stared at him and Isabel with obvious disdain. His wave was met with a halfhearted response. He hid a frown. The sense that he’d made a grave error assailed him. His interactions with the elegant blonde weren’t like those with the Smith sisters. He’d spent time alone with her, apart from her family. A couple of meals at the Plum. One stroll about town. And while he’d been a perfect gentleman, he was beginning to suspect Veronica viewed their association in a very different light.

      He could thank Isabel Flores for this new, disturbing sensitivity regarding the women he occasionally spent time with.

      “Everyone ready?” Ollie hollered over his shoulder. “Hold on to your hats, gents. Your sweethearts, too.”

      Laughter rumbled through the wagon as they lurched into motion. Ben pushed the troubling thoughts aside. This was likely his one and only shot at seeing that Isabel enjoyed herself. He wouldn’t get another chance. With any other woman, Ben would’ve been able to find a way to make her relax. Isabel wasn’t just any woman, however. The fact that she disliked him made his task that much harder.

      “What’s your favorite thing about Christmas?” When she hesitated, he murmured, “Is talking to you forbidden, as well?”

      Her focus was on her gloved hands, folded tightly

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