Free Yuletide Cowboy by Debra Clopton

wait.”
    No. She spun, startled by Chance’s voice. “I need to go pick my boys up,” she said, praying for strength in her words.
    â€œLook, about what happened in there—”
    Miraculously she calmed. “I won’t be railroaded, Chance. And that’s exactly how it felt in there. I’m the first to know the auction was for a great cause, but I would have bid on a man if I’d wanted one. And I didn’t, don’t and won’t be forced, no matter how good the intention.”
    â€œAnd I’d have put myself in the running if I’d wanted a woman.” He stopped a few steps from her. “Believe me, the last thing I want is to railroad you. I just came out here to say I’m sorry if we offended you. I know thatis the last thing my family wanted to do. They thought they were doing you a favor—”
    â€œThey were trying to match us up.”
    He had the decency not to deny it. “You’re right. I think that was apparent. But still, there was no offense intended. I can tell you’re upset. Are you okay? Is there something I can do?”
    She shook her head, tears suddenly threatening. “I—I’m not offended. Not really. Look, I have my own plans and I’m hoping everyone can understand that and honor my wishes.”
    â€œYeah, sure they can. I’ll relay that to my family.” He stepped toward her, concern written in his expression.
    â€œYou aren’t okay.”
    â€œI’m fine.” She pulled open her car door. “Don’t worry about me. You have your own plan you came to town to work on, I’m sure.” Why she added that she wasn’t certain, but he got an odd look on his face. His jaw tightened and he glanced down the street for a long moment. Pain? Was that what she’d just seen?
    When he looked back at her his eyes were troubled, con firming that she had just seen a flash of hurt. “I do have my reasons for being back here. Anyway, you be careful picking up your kids. The deer are getting hungry this time of year and probably thick along the roadways.”
    Her heart tightened for him as he headed down the street in the direction opposite from the community center. Apparently he’d had enough, too.
    She got inside her car and sat in the silence, giving herself time to calm down before driving. This wasn’t a new thing to her. She’d been upset far too many times inher life and knew driving while her world was spinning was risky.
    She was still thinking about that troubled look in Chance’s eyes when she finally headed to pick up the boys. Instead of worrying and dwelling on what had happened to her, she couldn’t stop wondering what had brought Chance home.
    She’d heard there had been a tragedy and a cowboy had been killed by the bull he’d been trying to ride. But that didn’t explain why Chance had come home. He was a rodeo preacher—tragedy happened. And he was a man of faith. So what had put that pain in his expression…in his heart?
    It was none of her business.
    And she wanted it to remain that way. She did not want to get into Chance Turner’s business and she didn’t want him in hers.
    Period.
    With a capital P.

Chapter Six
    C hance just couldn’t let it go. Sitting in the truck at the end of Lynn’s drive he stared at the house in the early morning sunlight.
    It had a steep gable roof and a porch on the front with a matching roofline. It was one of those roofs that Christmas lights looked great on, but a man could break his neck hanging them on the high pitch. The thought of Lynn attaching those lights herself bothered him as he pressed the gas and drove down the gravel driveway. Not to mention the fact that he couldn’t stop thinking about how upset she’d been last night. He’d noticed that even upset as she was she’d shown concern for him in the end.
    Pulling to a halt in front of the house, he stepped