Free The Courting of Widow Shaw by Charlene Sands

for a while? I’ve got my horse saddled up behind the house. We can sneak down the back stairs. I figure with you wearing this black cloak and me taking the back trails nobody would notice our midnight run.”
    Hope sparked in her eyes. “It is midnight, isn’t it?”
    He nodded. “And the streets are emptying. Most men have a hard day in the mines ahead of them. We won’t be seen.”
    Glory reached for the cloak, putting the hood over her head. Strands of her glorious blond hair peeked through. Steven took a step closer to tuck the loose hair under the hood. Then she smiled at him and, a flash of joy cut right through his gut.
    “I’m ready,” she said without hesitation.
    Steven wondered if he was ready. Traveling alone on a midnight ride with the woman he vowed to protect, the woman he owed a great debt, the one and only woman he’d ever really wanted, gave him cause to turn tail and run.
    Ah, hell, Glory. I’m ready, too. I just hope this isn’t a big mistake.
    “Steven,” she said again softly, putting a hand to his arm, “I’m ready.” She searched his eyes.
    “Let’s go.” He took her hand and led her out the door toward the back of the house. There, they descendedthe stairs quickly and faced Fancy, his steadfast horse.
    The mare snorted and sidestepped a bit. Steven calmed her with soothing words and a stroke to her nose. “It’s okay, girl.” The horse was used to only one rider, one man. But she’d be fine once Glory was atop the saddle. Fancy was one the finest horses in Virginia City.
    Every instinct Steven possessed told him this was not a good idea, but not because Glory wouldn’t be safe from the sheriff or Ned Shaw. No, he could almost assure her safety tonight from the likes of those men.
    The hell of it was that she was probably in more danger being alone with him.
    Sure, he’d displayed a world of willpower when she’d been injured and bedridden. But this new Glory, healing now, spirited and beautiful could undoubtedly melt his resolve with just one sweet smile.
    Steven spanned his hands around Glory’s tiny waist, pulling her in close first so that their bodies brushed. “Trust me, Glory,” he whispered into her ear, “but not too much.”
    He let her go briskly and mounted, shutting off her protests by reaching down to hoist her up. “Shhh. No talking until we get out of town. Stay close and hide your face against my back. With luck if anyone spots us, they’ll think it’s just one rider.”
    He settled her behind him, wrapping both her arms around his middle. “Don’t let go.”
    She mumbled something he couldn’t quite make out, but he was more than certain from her tone, he didn’t want to know what she’d said. He grinned and took off at a fast pace.
    The reverend’s daughter was no docile female.
    Though it would make his life easier if she was, that fact didn’t bother him in the least.
    But what did bother him was the feminine press of her body up against his, the soft crush of two perfectly formed breasts nestled to his back and her delicate hands splayed around his stomach. He willed his breaths to remain even, willed his body not to respond, willed his heart and mind not to take heed. He would not dally with Gloria Mae Shaw, he promised himself.
    He slowed Fancy to a pace more suitable for two riders, hoping to give Glory a smooth ride. They traveled along a narrow trail, up through hills taking them away from Virginia City, Gold Hill and Silver City. They climbed their way through a cropping of tall pines until they came upon a small running stream. Steven had been here before, many times. It was one of his favorite places and as far as he knew, no one else around these parts knew of this particular, secluded spot.
    “We’re here.” He turned to find Glory’s blue eyes taking in the scenery—as much as light from the half moon would allow. A tall rocky-peaked mountain was their shield on one side and lofty Nevada sugar pines protected them from the