about women wanted for crimes. Mrs. Hannah Stewart didn’t look like a criminal, but something told him the woman was running from the law.
Images of homely, toothless women floated before his eyes. Not one of the rough drawings resembled Hannah in any way, shape or form. The sheets of paper floated onto the desktop as he leaned back and lifted his legs. He stretched the tension out of his muscles before settling his boots atop the stack of posters and folded his hands behind his head. Hannah Stewart’s body was not one of an outlaw. Her trim form was too flawless; it curved perfectly in all the right spots. No, her body was that of a wife.
Adam’s boots slapped the floor as he twisted around the empty space. Where the hell had that thought come from?
He rubbed at the frown pulling his brows together. It was something he’d thought about lately. A lot. Both of his brothers had married, perhaps it was time for him to follow suit. He was pushing thirty, and Mrs. Hannah Stewart certainly increased his available options—delightfully so.
As if Abigail Christenson could read his mind, her irritating voice filtered into his office even before she pushed open the thick wooden door. “Yoo-hoo, Sheriff McBride?”
Adam leaped to his feet, shaking off the river of shivers flowing over his body. He grabbed a piece of paper off his desk and shoved it in his breast pocket. “Excuse me, Miss Christenson, but I was just on my way out.”
She huffed and twisted her powdered face into an unsightly scowl. “Sheriff, you always seem to be on your way out. I can’t believe a town the size of Blue Spring has so many criminals you never have time for socializing.”
He attempted to step around her starched-stiff dress.
She sidestepped, trapping him. “I came by to tell you to be at Papa’s house at six tonight. You will be having supper with us.”
“Sorry, no can do.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I—I already have plans.” He backed up, pretending to search through the papers on his desk.
She followed, stopping on the other side of his desk. Every muscle in his shoulders tightened. The woman was relentless in her pursuit. A few years ago she’d set her cap on marrying one of the McBride brothers, and now that Cal and Jake were married, he’d become the bull’s-eye.
“Sheriff!” One of her silver-tapped heels stomped on the floor.
“What?”
“I asked what your plans are. What is more important than joining Papa and me?”
“Anything,” he mumbled beneath his breath.
“Excuse me?” she screeched.
The sound caused his back to stiffen. “It is official business, Miss Christenson, nothing I can share with you.” He pulled open the center desk drawer, lifted out a large ring of keys. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m needed elsewhere.” Without giving her a chance to protest, he squeezed past her and strode across the room to pull open the door.
When she didn’t move, he waved a hand toward the opening.
Thankfully, she didn’t question his gesture. Head held high, tight, blonde curls bobbed as she stomped out the door. He locked the solid entranceway, having no doubt if he didn’t, she’d be sitting inside, waiting, when he returned.
Chapter Two
Hannah’s knees still felt weak as she walked into the kitchen and plopped onto the chair near the back door. What was she going to do? Sheriff McBride knew something was up, she could feel it. Lawmen were astute. “I suspect that’s why they’re lawmen,” she sighed.
If she were still in Ohio, she would go for a walk in the woods, give her troubled mind an opportunity to process. But trees were a rarity in Kansas. She could walk from one end of Blue Spring to the other and only find the few cottonwoods planted in the city park across the street from the boarding house.
She reached behind her back to untie the long apron sash, and then stood to slip the garment over her head. After hanging it on the hook near the back door, she stepped outside,
Images of homely, toothless women floated before his eyes. Not one of the rough drawings resembled Hannah in any way, shape or form. The sheets of paper floated onto the desktop as he leaned back and lifted his legs. He stretched the tension out of his muscles before settling his boots atop the stack of posters and folded his hands behind his head. Hannah Stewart’s body was not one of an outlaw. Her trim form was too flawless; it curved perfectly in all the right spots. No, her body was that of a wife.
Adam’s boots slapped the floor as he twisted around the empty space. Where the hell had that thought come from?
He rubbed at the frown pulling his brows together. It was something he’d thought about lately. A lot. Both of his brothers had married, perhaps it was time for him to follow suit. He was pushing thirty, and Mrs. Hannah Stewart certainly increased his available options—delightfully so.
As if Abigail Christenson could read his mind, her irritating voice filtered into his office even before she pushed open the thick wooden door. “Yoo-hoo, Sheriff McBride?”
Adam leaped to his feet, shaking off the river of shivers flowing over his body. He grabbed a piece of paper off his desk and shoved it in his breast pocket. “Excuse me, Miss Christenson, but I was just on my way out.”
She huffed and twisted her powdered face into an unsightly scowl. “Sheriff, you always seem to be on your way out. I can’t believe a town the size of Blue Spring has so many criminals you never have time for socializing.”
He attempted to step around her starched-stiff dress.
She sidestepped, trapping him. “I came by to tell you to be at Papa’s house at six tonight. You will be having supper with us.”
“Sorry, no can do.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I—I already have plans.” He backed up, pretending to search through the papers on his desk.
She followed, stopping on the other side of his desk. Every muscle in his shoulders tightened. The woman was relentless in her pursuit. A few years ago she’d set her cap on marrying one of the McBride brothers, and now that Cal and Jake were married, he’d become the bull’s-eye.
“Sheriff!” One of her silver-tapped heels stomped on the floor.
“What?”
“I asked what your plans are. What is more important than joining Papa and me?”
“Anything,” he mumbled beneath his breath.
“Excuse me?” she screeched.
The sound caused his back to stiffen. “It is official business, Miss Christenson, nothing I can share with you.” He pulled open the center desk drawer, lifted out a large ring of keys. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m needed elsewhere.” Without giving her a chance to protest, he squeezed past her and strode across the room to pull open the door.
When she didn’t move, he waved a hand toward the opening.
Thankfully, she didn’t question his gesture. Head held high, tight, blonde curls bobbed as she stomped out the door. He locked the solid entranceway, having no doubt if he didn’t, she’d be sitting inside, waiting, when he returned.
Chapter Two
Hannah’s knees still felt weak as she walked into the kitchen and plopped onto the chair near the back door. What was she going to do? Sheriff McBride knew something was up, she could feel it. Lawmen were astute. “I suspect that’s why they’re lawmen,” she sighed.
If she were still in Ohio, she would go for a walk in the woods, give her troubled mind an opportunity to process. But trees were a rarity in Kansas. She could walk from one end of Blue Spring to the other and only find the few cottonwoods planted in the city park across the street from the boarding house.
She reached behind her back to untie the long apron sash, and then stood to slip the garment over her head. After hanging it on the hook near the back door, she stepped outside,
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