The Rancher's Christmas Proposal. Sherri Shackelford

to family, always searching for a place where they belonged. Memories of her own childhood returned with an unsettling jolt. They deserved better.

      Although this was hardly a perfect solution for all of them, it was the best one she could think of. What other choices did any of them have? She glanced at Shane and a curious sensation passed through her, a gentle warmth, like the heat of the sun shining through a glass windowpane.

      She’d learned his wife had passed away almost six months before. How much did he miss her? What would he think of such a suggestion? She sensed an unyielding resolution about him. Most folks took the easy way of things, drifting along like flotsam. Not Shane. He hadn’t given up his children because that was the easy way out; he’d given them up because he felt it was the right thing to do.

      What of her own situation? This was a clean slate. A new start. They were strangers with no preconceived notions about each other. He was a kind man, and she was a good person at heart. She’d simply never had the opportunity for demonstrating her better qualities.

      There was only one little snag in her plan. Unlike the children, Shane definitely didn’t adore her. She wasn’t certain if he even liked her. Then again, he was a widower, and no one expected him to fall at her feet. They only needed to get along. She’d seen too much of the darker side of human nature to harbor any hope of a fairy-tale ending anyway.

      “Find yourself a wife, Shane,” Cora declared. “I’m brilliant. A mail-order bride solves all your problems.”

      Cora was brilliant, all right. The idea was as inspired as it was obvious.

      All Tessa had to do was convince a virtual stranger to spend the rest of his life with her.

       Brilliant indeed.

      * * *

      Alyce tugged on Shane’s pant leg, and he hoisted her into his arms.

      The marshal shook his head. “Leave Shane alone, Cora. He doesn’t want to marry a stranger.”

      “You did.”

      Garrett’s ears flamed. “I knew your mother. She wasn’t a stranger. She was from town.”

      Shane had never seen the marshal shaken, but Garrett sure looked shaken now. Wondering if Tessa was enjoying the exchange as well, Shane grinned at her, but her expression was distant and shuttered, as though she was puzzling out some great difficulty.

      “Yes, Mama was from town.” Cora rolled her eyes. “But you weren’t. You’d only been here a few months. You barely knew her.”

      “I knew her well enough,” Garrett muttered, his scarlet ears turning even redder. “You’ve been listening to rumors again, haven’t you?”

      “Mrs. Stuart does ramble on,” Cora continued. “But that doesn’t mean getting married isn’t the perfect solution. Shane is quite a catch. Any lady would be privileged to have him. Let’s put his picture on the church bulletin boards in Wichita.”

      “No.” Instantly panicked, Shane broke into the conversation. He figured his ears matched the marshal’s right about now. “No one is putting my picture anywhere. Ever.”

      Agitated by his raised voice, Alyce hugged his neck. Shane tickled her stomach until she grinned. Taking good-natured enjoyment from the marshal’s discomfort was one thing; hearing Cora talk about him as “a catch” was a whole different matter.

      Garrett scrubbed his hand down his face. “Your mother and I didn’t know each other very well, I’ll admit that. But not everyone can be as fortunate.”

      Shane’s amusement faded, and their friendly quarrel disappeared into the background. Alyce was staring at him with her wise, solemn eyes, and his whole chest ached. Freezing in a snowdrift didn’t seem so bad if it meant seeing the children. Even if he saw them only once a week. Even if he didn’t get a full night’s rest until they were full-grown. He was used to hardship.

      Cora’s voice grew exasperated. “Maybe if Shane left the ranch once in a while, he might have more options. Except for that trip to Wichita, he doesn’t go anywhere. How’s he supposed to meet anyone around here? Miss Spencer is the only new single female we’ve had in town in months.”

      A strangled noise sounded from Tessa’s direction, and Shane kept his attention averted. Cora was three for three—she’d mortified all the adults in the room.

      The marshal ushered his daughter toward the back of his office once more. “This conversation is over. We’d best check on that coffee and find your mother. Can’t leave the stove unattended.” He motioned for Shane. “Bring the kids by the house when you’re ready.” He touched his forehead. “Miss Spencer, it was a pleasure meeting you. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance during your stay.”

      The door closed resolutely behind them.

      While grateful the awkward conversation was at an end, Shane didn’t relish being alone with Tessa after that mortifying exchange.

      She craned her neck, following their hasty retreat. “What is behind that door, anyway?”

      “A jail cell and stairs to an apartment on the second level. The marshal keeps the space closed off unless there’s a prisoner. The deputy lives upstairs when there’s an inmate overnight.”

      Cora’s words rang in his ears. Tessa was definitely the only single female they’d had in town in a while. He almost laughed out loud before catching himself. Even if she didn’t have one foot out the door, she’d never settle for someone like him. She was too smart and too pretty for a lonely widower who lived on an isolated ranch with nothing but a bunch of uncouth men for company.

      All the same reasons she couldn’t watch the children. Mrs. Stuart at the mercantile had practically tackled him when he’d stepped off the train with Tessa by his side. No doubt the old busybody had been watching them like a hawk, searching for any sign of impropriety.

      At least Tessa didn’t appear shocked by the Cains’ ribbing. Their candor could be disconcerting. He shook his head. The idea was crazy. Out of the question. He’d already got married once for the sake of the children. What kind of fool made the same mistake twice? Clearly he wasn’t marriage material. As for sending away for a bride, who in their right mind would come all this way to marry a man sight unseen? The idea was ludicrous.

      Tessa perched on a chair and lifted Owen into her lap. “I was starting to think that door had mysterious properties.”

      Shane chuckled. “JoBeth, the marshal’s wife, comes in through the back as well. It’s a shortcut from the telegraph office where she works. She must be around here someplace. The kids didn’t make that walk alone. She’s probably upstairs.”

      Voices and footsteps rumbled overhead, and a welter of emotions swirled around him. He envied the Cains’ easy camaraderie and close-knit family. After his father left, he’d quit school and supported his mother by working as a cattle hand. A man’s job that hadn’t left him much time for anything but eating and sleeping.

      Following his mother’s death, he’d worked even harder, saving up money for his own place. That was all he’d ever known—work and responsibilities. The kids were the best thing that had ever happened to him. They deserved a childhood. Although he supposed most folks didn’t think about such frivolous things, having surrendered his own youth, he wanted more for them.

      A burst of laughter from overhead filtered through the vents. The Cains liked each other and enjoyed spending time together. Sometimes they tried to pull him into their antics, like this afternoon, but he always kept a distance. Even when his family had been together, they’d never shared that sort of lighthearted connection, and he wasn’t certain how to fit in.

      He caught sight of Owen and grimaced.

      The boy had turned away, making an exaggerated point of ignoring Shane. Of the two children, Owen had taken the change the hardest. He’d been sullen and withdrawn since the move. While understandable, his rejection still hurt.