Montana Cowboy Daddy. Linda Ford

there was during the trip home, talking about her plans to set up a temporary schoolroom. The others settled back, weary from their long day.

      Dusk wrapped about the town as he reached Bella Creek. The air grew colder. He let Sadie out at the hotel and escorted her inside, waiting until she reached her door before he returned to the buggy. A few yards farther, he pulled up in front of the doctor’s house. A figure stepped from the shadows.

      “Doc?”

      “What can I do for you?” Dr. Baker climbed down and went to the man.

      “Got a bad hand.”

      “Come along.”

      Kate didn’t wait for Dawson to help her down but hurried after her father. Soon a lamp glowed inside the examining room.

      Isabelle took his hand as she stepped to the ground. She stared at the unlit living quarters and shivered. “It’s dark.”

      He fought a brief mental war between his desire to keep his distance from this woman and the dictates of gentlemanly manners. The latter won out. “I’ll go ahead and light a lamp.”

      Entering the house, he groped toward the kitchen, where he’d earlier noticed a lamp on the table. He lit it then went to the stove, stirred up the embers and added some wood.

      “Thank you. I will handle it in the future.”

      He hadn’t heard her step into the room and jerked about to face her. In the glow from the lamp, her features were golden, her smile gentle. She removed her hat and set it on the table. The light touched her hair, filling the dark strands with a fiery glow.

      Why was he staring? He shook himself and bolted for the door. Forced himself to stop and face her. Now he could say all the things he hadn’t been able to with Grandfather listening and dreaming an old man’s dream on Dawson’s behalf. “Miss Redfield, I must warn you not to encourage my daughter’s fascination with you.” He rushed on, ignoring the shock in her eyes. “She’s young and vulnerable. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

      Isabelle’s eyes snapped. “You’re suggesting I mean to hurt her?”

      “Not on purpose but—” How did he say all he felt in a word or two? “She belongs here in the West, on a ranch.”

      “And I don’t? And may I ask how you’ve come to that conclusion?”

      His gaze lingered on the fur collar of her coat, then went down to the fine leather boots, also with fur lining.

      She nodded, her expression icy. “I see.”

      “I doubt you do. But you’re city and we’re country.” Before he could say more, he turned on his heel and strode away.