seemed to be satisfied with their story when the deputies failed to find the money from the robbery.
“You looking for someone in particular when you reach town, or are you planning to pass through?” Walker asked, riding closer to get a better look at the three, deciding if he and his men were in danger.
“I’m looking for my fiancée, Sarah MacGregor. Do you know her?”
Walker glanced at the men with him, then back at Colin. “Can’t say as I do. Is she related to Dougal MacGregor?” He had heard talk of Dougal and a man named Bell.
“Aye, sir. She’s his daughter.”
“Well, you’re headed in the right direction. Before we rode out of River City, I heard talk of a prominent rancher setting his sights on Dougal’s daughter.”
Colin’s gut clenched at the news, the first he’d heard about Sarah in five long years.
“That a fact? Well, the man will have a fight on his hands if what you heard is true. I appreciate the warning, Sheriff. If there’s nothing else, we’ll keep going.”
“Watch your back. We don’t know where the robbers went, but we do know they have no problem killing.” He sent Colin a twisted smile that could best be described as disturbing, then signaled his men to follow him.
Colin watched, disquieted in a way he couldn’t define. Shaking his head, he figured it was the news of Sarah and nothing more.
“All right, lads. Let’s get moving.”
Chapter Eight
“There’s one that’s open.” Quinn turned Warrior toward a restaurant down the street.
Colin didn’t want to waste any time eating now that he knew Sarah lived here. He wanted to speak with the locals, find out where she lived. His stomach’s loud growl, however, told him finding her could wait a little longer, at least until he filled the hole in his gut.
Sliding down from Chieftain, he stretched his arms above his head in an attempt to work out the kinks after the long ride. They’d been in the saddle all day, only stopping once.
“Come on, Colin. I can’t wait any longer for some real food.” Brodie strode up the steps, holding the door open for the others.
Colin led the way, glancing around before spotting an empty table close to the front. One other couple sat near it and as he moved closer, he noticed the man’s hand covering hers. A couple , Colin assumed as he continued forward. Then she looked up.
Sarah …
His breath caught and he couldn’t help the tremor rolling through him at his first glimpse of her in five years. She hadn’t changed—the same golden brown hair and blue eyes so radiant they sparkled. A few more freckles covered her nose and cheeks, and without question, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Then his gaze moved back down to the table where she gripped another man’s hand, and his movements froze at the same instant he saw recognition dawn on her face.
When something hard knocked into him, he didn’t budge.
“Ach, Colin, what’s holding you up?” Brodie’s voice came from behind him a moment before his cousin looked over his shoulder. “Ah, hell,” Brodie muttered, not hesitating in his recognition of Sarah.
The knot in Colin’s stomach grew to a cold, hard lump as he stared into her eyes. He’d come too late. The realization swept through him as his hands closed into fists.
“Colin?” Her voice trembled as her eyes widened in stunned disbelief.
His mind cleared at Sarah’s use of his name. Although little comfort, at least she hadn’t completely forgotten him. The muscles of his jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, unable to say what he wanted. Instead, he turned and stomped toward the door, slamming it behind him.
“Colin, wait!” Sarah jumped from her chair, pushing past Brodie and Quinn, uncaring of the stares which followed her. “Colin MacLaren, you stop right now,” she called, following him toward his horse.
Taking a deep breath, he turned and stared into a face which had consumed his
“You looking for someone in particular when you reach town, or are you planning to pass through?” Walker asked, riding closer to get a better look at the three, deciding if he and his men were in danger.
“I’m looking for my fiancée, Sarah MacGregor. Do you know her?”
Walker glanced at the men with him, then back at Colin. “Can’t say as I do. Is she related to Dougal MacGregor?” He had heard talk of Dougal and a man named Bell.
“Aye, sir. She’s his daughter.”
“Well, you’re headed in the right direction. Before we rode out of River City, I heard talk of a prominent rancher setting his sights on Dougal’s daughter.”
Colin’s gut clenched at the news, the first he’d heard about Sarah in five long years.
“That a fact? Well, the man will have a fight on his hands if what you heard is true. I appreciate the warning, Sheriff. If there’s nothing else, we’ll keep going.”
“Watch your back. We don’t know where the robbers went, but we do know they have no problem killing.” He sent Colin a twisted smile that could best be described as disturbing, then signaled his men to follow him.
Colin watched, disquieted in a way he couldn’t define. Shaking his head, he figured it was the news of Sarah and nothing more.
“All right, lads. Let’s get moving.”
Chapter Eight
“There’s one that’s open.” Quinn turned Warrior toward a restaurant down the street.
Colin didn’t want to waste any time eating now that he knew Sarah lived here. He wanted to speak with the locals, find out where she lived. His stomach’s loud growl, however, told him finding her could wait a little longer, at least until he filled the hole in his gut.
Sliding down from Chieftain, he stretched his arms above his head in an attempt to work out the kinks after the long ride. They’d been in the saddle all day, only stopping once.
“Come on, Colin. I can’t wait any longer for some real food.” Brodie strode up the steps, holding the door open for the others.
Colin led the way, glancing around before spotting an empty table close to the front. One other couple sat near it and as he moved closer, he noticed the man’s hand covering hers. A couple , Colin assumed as he continued forward. Then she looked up.
Sarah …
His breath caught and he couldn’t help the tremor rolling through him at his first glimpse of her in five years. She hadn’t changed—the same golden brown hair and blue eyes so radiant they sparkled. A few more freckles covered her nose and cheeks, and without question, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Then his gaze moved back down to the table where she gripped another man’s hand, and his movements froze at the same instant he saw recognition dawn on her face.
When something hard knocked into him, he didn’t budge.
“Ach, Colin, what’s holding you up?” Brodie’s voice came from behind him a moment before his cousin looked over his shoulder. “Ah, hell,” Brodie muttered, not hesitating in his recognition of Sarah.
The knot in Colin’s stomach grew to a cold, hard lump as he stared into her eyes. He’d come too late. The realization swept through him as his hands closed into fists.
“Colin?” Her voice trembled as her eyes widened in stunned disbelief.
His mind cleared at Sarah’s use of his name. Although little comfort, at least she hadn’t completely forgotten him. The muscles of his jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, unable to say what he wanted. Instead, he turned and stomped toward the door, slamming it behind him.
“Colin, wait!” Sarah jumped from her chair, pushing past Brodie and Quinn, uncaring of the stares which followed her. “Colin MacLaren, you stop right now,” she called, following him toward his horse.
Taking a deep breath, he turned and stared into a face which had consumed his
Similar Books
