LITMIR.BIZ

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never seen such an arresting blue that reflected her emotions back at her instead of revealing his own.

      A robust woman bore down on them, her kindly face wreathed in a smile. “Good afternoon, Mr. Barclay. What can we do for you today?”

      “Mrs. Leach said there was a parcel waiting here for me.” He nodded to Ellie. “Anything Miss Cade wants, just add it to my bill.”

      “With pleasure,” the woman said, giving Ellie a critical eye this time before flouncing off into a back room.

      Without another word, Reid took himself off to the section sporting all manner of leathergoods. Ellie appreciated his broad back and firm backside before moving over to a table laden with fine hand-knit items.

      “Can you tell us about the latest fashions in England?” one of the trio asked as she sidled over to Ellie.

      She considered that a moment. “It’s the cutting edge of hauteur, but as to specifics, I’m woefully unaware of what is in vogue there.”

      One of the trio frowned. “But you just came from there.”

      It was Ellie’s turn to don a mantle of confusion. “No, I just came from Denver where I’ve lived most of my life.”

      The trio exchanged confused looks. “But aren’t you Mr. Barclay’s fiancée?”

      “Heavens no,” Ellie said, stunned they’d assume so. “I’m a friend of Mrs. Leach’s and I agreed to assume her duties on the Crown Seven Ranch while she’s away helping her sister.”

      Instead of understanding, the trio took a collective step backward in perfect synchronization that would make a chorus line proud. The censure in their eyes was as unsettling as the sudden hush that fell over the store.

      “Have you and Mrs. Leach been friends long?” one of the women finally asked.

      Ellie hesitated for a suitable reply, for speaking the truth would surely rouse Reid Barclay’s suspicions. She decided to expand minimally on a passing remark she recalled in one of Mrs. Leach’s letters.

      “You could say that,” Ellie Jo said and affected a secret smile as if she were fondly recalling the past. “Mrs. Leach lived in Denver for a good many years.”

      Two of the young women raked her with a condemning look before walking away. The woman that tarried pulled her lips in a thin line of disapproval.

      “There’s no need to say more,” she said, and turned up her nose and joined the small klatch that had formed near the rear of the store.

      How rude! Ellie was a heartbeat from launching into a lecture on the merits of gainful employment for women when the storekeeper stepped in front of her.

      “Pay them no mind,” she said in a hushed tone. “They have nothing better to do than spread gossip, and would delight in causing trouble if you argue with them.”

      Ellie couldn’t afford trouble, not now when so much was at stake. She turned her attention to the handmade woolens and gave the thick muff a longing look before crossing to the window.

      Sunlight 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

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