Emmy (Gold Rush Brides Book 2) by Cassie Hayes Page A

because I thought a hair color was a funny name for a town.”
    For the first time since Marie had died, real hope flared in Mason’s chest. All of the long months spent chasing down the faintest of leads had led to nothing but disappointment. Even when he discovered Roy Kirby’s secret, the scoundrel had slipped through his grasp. With no firm idea of where Kirby and his men had run, he’d nearly resigned himself to the fact that Kirby was going to get away…again.
    But now Kirby was once more in his sights, and it was all thanks to this exasperating, infuriating, vexing devil-in-disguise who had singlehandedly offered up the bandit on a silver platter. If it hadn’t been for her, Mason might never have discovered Kirby’s true identity. And now she might have figured out exactly where he was hiding out.
    “Oh, you brilliant little minx!” Mason had never hugged a woman dressed in men’s clothes before but, as he pulled Emmy into a fierce embrace, he thought it was quite nice. There were no corsets or whalebones poking at him, only a soft, yielding woman pressed against his chest. It had been so long since he’d had a woman in his arms that he was loathe to let her go. Besides, she didn’t seem in any hurry for their embrace to end either.
    The sound of someone clearing his throat brought Mason falling back to reality. He pushed Emmy upright in her saddle and awkwardly patted her back.  
    “Excellent information, Miss Gibson,” he said, trying to gain his composure. “Well done.”
    Turning to his men and ignoring their smirks, he said, “To Auburn, boys!”
    ~ * ~ * ~
    Emmy was still reeling from Mason’s hug as he and his deputies kicked their horses into gallops. Blaze grunted and chomped at his bit, eager to join his equine friends in a race to the finish, but Emmy could only sit and blink.
    Of all the men who’d tried to court her in New York, the most they’d ever done was kiss her hand. Besides her father, only one other man had tried to wrap his arms around her, and he was the reason she was in California now. A shudder rippled across her skin at the memory of his touch.
    Then her mind turned to Mason’s embrace. Big strong arms tucking her into his chest, his strong male scent overwhelming her senses, a sense of safety washing over her. Instinctively, she’d nuzzled a little closer, or as close as she could from the back of a horse.  
    In an instant, he was gone, and she was left swaying in her saddle, hoping she wouldn’t tumble off. Confused thoughts pinged around her brain, making her even dizzier. Was she attracted to the sheriff? Did he feel the same? Is that why he shoved her away and ran off like a cat on fire?  
    She clutched at Blaze’s mane and dipped her head to rest against his neck. His solidity was comforting, but he sure did smell bad. The stench almost made her gag. What on earth—?  
    Then she understood. Mason hadn’t been attracted to her. He’d been repulsed by her! The bear fat smelled so terrible that even she couldn’t stand it. She’d been wearing it for so long that she’d sort of forgotten about it until she’d snuggled up to Blaze. The smell was concentrated in the close quarters.
    Mason must have acted impulsively — he was simply excited about having a specific place to search for Roy — and realized his mistake when he caught a whiff of the malodorous grease. But that didn’t change the fact that she’d felt something while she was in his arms.
    Fred’s story the night before had shed new light on why Mason was the way he was. She’d never loved anyone the way he must have loved his wife, but she’d loved her father. When he died, so did a part of her. She couldn’t imagine losing a husband or, God forbid, a child — especially to a murderer — and sympathy for the sheriff welled in her heart.
    Even her dreams were filled with him. In her favorite, he ran down Roy with his horse, and just before the evil swine drew his last breath, he signed her