Free Colorado Heart (9781101612026) by Cindy Holby Page B

the sheriff is done with his business,” he said. Then to her surprise he held a hand out to her. “Want a ride?”
    Cassie was taken aback by the offer. His eyes on her were steady yet cautious. The thought of climbing up behind him, of being that close to him . . . not just him but any man. She couldn’t show her fear.
    â€œNo thanks, I’ll walk,” she said.
    â€œSuit yourself.” If she hadn’t been standing so close she wouldn’t have seen the slight twitch of his knees that told his horse to move. The horse jumped forward at a trot and flicked its tail right in her face. Jacob Reece rode up to her house without a backward glance.

EIGHT
    â€œN ow that wasn’t a bit neighborly,” Ward said as Jake dismounted from Skip and joined him and Cade on the porch of Cassie Parker’s house.
    â€œWhich part? The part where she showed up carrying her guns or the part where we were surrounded by sheep?” Jake asked.
    â€œThe part where you just rode off and left her,” Ward said.
    â€œI offered her a ride and she didn’t want it,” Jake groused. “Of course it might be because she’s loco. She’d have to be to bring sheep into cattle country.”
    â€œMaybe we should hear her side of the story before we pass judgment,” Cade said.
    â€œI don’t know,” Ward said. “No matter what her reasons, it’s still not a good decision. I imagine the reaction when the Cattlemen’s Association finds out there’s a couple of hundred sheep around won’t be good.”
    â€œYeah, and I’ll be the one that will have to deal with it,” Jake growled. “What difference does it make to you anyway?” he asked Ward. “It’s not like you’ve got a dog in this fight.”
    â€œMy income depends upon the happiness and well-being of everyone in this valley,” Ward said. “And since things seem to come to a head in the Heaven’s Gate, I’d like to know what’s going on so I can keep the peace and my furniture.”
    â€œWell I got a feeling things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better,” Jake said as Cassie stepped onto her porch. Once more he was struck by how small she was. She barely came up to his shoulder and he was six feet tall. Next to Ward and the sheriff she looked downright miniscule. Yet she was feisty. She’d put him on his back quick enough on the trail and she knew how to hold a gun.
    â€œI’m sorry about the sheep,” she said right off as she leaned her rifle against the wall. “Not that they’re here,” she quickly amended. “Just that they got out and in your way. It’s not the usual way I welcome visitors.”
    â€œYou don’t have to explain yourself to anyone,” Cade said. “As long as you can pay what you owe you’ve got the right to do whatever you want with the property.” He handed her the tax bill.
    â€œWait just a doggone minute,” Jake began. He could not believe that the sheriff wasn’t protesting the presence of sheep. But then again, why would he? After all, the man had posed as a preacher. Allowing sheep in cattle country wasn’t that much of a reach after that.
    â€œDon’t you have something for Miss Parker too?” Ward interrupted.
    â€œTell me again why you’re here?” Jake asked Ward, who was having entirely too much of a good time. Jake took a moment to work his jaw when he realized it hurt from being clenched so tight. Something about Cassie Parker had him all twisted up inside. In the past few weeks he’d just put it down to her getting the best of him on the trail but after the recent events, he was certain she had come to Colorado for the express purpose of aggravating him.
    Right now she looked a bit paler than normal as she perused the tax bill. It had to be high, with the property being two years in arrears. Maybe she