The Sheriff (Historical Romance) by Nan Ryan Page A

feel her heart beating erratically. Would she see him? Was he just inside? Would he venture out when he caught sightof her? Would he step into her path so that she would have to stop? Would she get a glimpse of those sensual lips and that powerful physique?
    Kate was a few short feet away when the sheriff did indeed step out of the jail. She stopped abruptly and caught her breath.
    Travis’s dark head slowly swung around. He saw her, glanced at her with bored indifference and barely nodded. Then he unhurriedly crossed to the other side of the street.
    Kate paled at the slight. She felt her face grow warm and her stomach clench. She hurried on her way, vowing she would in future stay as far away from the city jail—and the brooding Sheriff Travis McCloud—as she could possibly get.
    She would give all her attention and all her kisses to the attentive Winn DeLaney.
    Kate hurried the remainder of the three blocks to Barton’s Emporium. Inside the cavernous establishment, Clifton Barton sat on his stool behind the counter. As usual.
    “Good morning, Mr. Barton,” Kate said in greeting. “Nice day, isn’t it?” She knew he would have a comment on the weather. He always did.
    “Nice? Why, it’s so damn hot even the lizards are looking for shade!”
    Kate smiled and went about her shopping. She moved among the large tables stacked high with various merchandise. There were dishes and fabricsand pots and pans. Hats and hammers, saddles and salt, cradles and crackers, bread and bibles. Anything a customer might want or need could be found at Barton’s.
    Except kid gloves.
    After a thorough search, Kate returned to the counter. “Mr. Barton, I’m looking for a pair of white kid gloves. Could you point me in the right direction?”
    He chuckled and didn’t move. “Miss VanNam, where do you think you are? New York City?” He shook his head. “Only gloves we have are men’s work gloves.”
    “Not a single pair of ladies kid gloves?” she asked.
    “Now what did I just say?”
    Kate nodded. “How foolish of me.”
    She was disappointed, but she doubted that the other ladies who would be attending the theater would be wearing gloves. If Barton’s didn’t carry gloves, then gloves could not be found in Fortune.
    Kate went back out into the blistering sunshine and hurried toward Dr. Ledet’s office. She was still a couple of doors away when a woman stepped out of the doctor’s office. She was a beautiful, curvaceous woman with incredibly white skin and gleaming midnight hair. She was dressed elegantly in the latest fashion. Her waist was cinched, her bosom was generous and the flowing skirts of her pastel summer dress stood out in the shape of a perfect bell, indicating there were hoops and lacy petticoats beneath.
    And on her small hands were pristine white kid gloves.
    The beautiful lady looked up, saw Kate and smiled warmly. Then she raised a silk parasol and walked away, with Kate staring after her.
    “You going to stand out there in the hot sun all morning?” the white-maned physician said from the doorway.
    “No…I…no.” Kate, frowning, came inside. “Who was that lady, Dr. Ledet?”
    “Valentina Knight,” said the doctor, then changed the subject. “What brings you to town this morning, child?”
    As if he hadn’t spoken, Kate said, “Why didn’t you introduce me to Miss Knight? Or is it Mrs. Knight?”
    “It’s Miss. I don’t think you two would have a great deal in common.” His eyebrows lifted.
    “Why not? Miss Knight looks patrician and prosperous. Does she own a gold mine? Is that why she’s here in Fortune?”
    Dr. Ledet chuckled. “She owns a gold mine, all right, one that’s made her a very wealthy woman. It’s called the Golden Nugget.”
    Kate made a face. “But that’s…The Golden Nugget, why, it’s a saloon, isn’t it?”
    “The most successful saloon in Fortune,” said the doctor. “And you know why?”
    “No, why?”
    “The lovely Valentina sings at the Golden