“Your mother is very nice.”
“Yes, she is, but don’t be fooled. She has a backbone forged in steel.” He laughed, remembering all the times when she’d shown that fortitude. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Would you like to sit for a moment or two?”
“I think that would be wise. It feels like my feet are humming.”
“I’ve never heard it said that way, but I agree. It does rather feel like your feet are humming.” He gestured to the hay bale, waited until she took a seat, then sat next to her. “Royce packed a bottle of brandy. Would you like a glass?” He grinned at her, hoping to get her to smile again, as he pulled the picnic basket closer. “For purely medicinal purposes, of course. It’ll help chase away the cold. I have sandwiches, too. And some shortbread cookies.”
“No, thank you, but I think I will try that glass of brandy.” She did smile at him, one eyebrow raising ever so slightly. “For medicinal purposes. It’s a little colder now that we’ve stopped skating.”
He made quick work of digging the brandy out of the picnic basket, finding the glasses, then pouring a splash in each. “It’s apple brandy. I hope you like it.”
Sheridan accepted the glass and took a tentative sip.
“What do you think?”
“It’s very good.” She took another sip. “It doesn’t burn.”
“It shouldn’t, unless it’s a bad batch.” He turned the bottle toward her so she could look at the label. It read “MacLean’s Fine Brandy.” Underneath, it read the flavor, in this case, apple.“My brother, Kyle, has a small farm halfway between here and Santa Fe. He grows apples, pears, and cherries and makes brandy.”
She finished the small amount he’d poured her and handed him her glass. “I liked it. It’s very warming.” She licked her lips, which he found to be innocent, yet erotic, at the same time.
He stared at her mouth, unable to look away before he mentally shook himself and forced his gaze up to her eyes, which was a mistake. A man could drown in those deep pools of shimmering green, and his heart skipped another beat. “Are you ready to get back on the ice? Take one more turn around the pond?” He drank the last of his brandy, feeling the warming effects of the liquor, though he wasn’t sure if it was the liquor or if it was the nearness of her, then put both their glasses back in the picnic basket.
He stood. “I can introduce you to Marshal Goodrich.” He pointed to the marshal, Tresia, and their daughter skating together. “You already know his wife, Tresia.” He nodded toward his friends, who only had eyes for each other. “And there’s Rafael and Ventura Zepeda. He’s one of Serenity’s deputies. You’ve already met Merrill and Polly at her shop. I’m surprised Lucy and Ben aren’t here. Lucy loves to skate.”
“Yes, I’m ready to skate. I think. My feet still feel like they’re humming, though.”
He laughed, then held out his hand. “You’ll get used to that.”
Sheridan didn’t hesitate, and slipped her hand in his, as he led her toward the ice once more.
They took a turn around the pond with him facing her and acknowledged the fact that she was getting better at this.
“I think I’m ready to try it on my own.”
He admired her bravery. Before tonight, she’d never done this. “Are you sure?”
She shook her head and laughed. “No, I’m not, but I have to try.”
He let go of her hands—reluctantly. And immediately, she lost her balance and reached for him, ending up in his arms, exactly where he wanted her to be. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with—he wasn’t even sure what those emotions were— but he certainly liked the way she was gazing at him.
“I guess I wasn’t ready.” She gave a wry chuckle.
“It’s all right. It’s your first time. You’ll get there. Give yourself some grace.”
“What’s happening over there?” She nodded toward a group of people gathering at the other end of the pond.
“Someone might be hurt.” He led her in that direction and heard the murmuring of the small crowd as they drew closer. Above it all, a strident female voice, louder than the others, pierced his ears.
“You shouldn’t be here. None of you should! There are children here who shouldn’t be exposed to…to women like you!” The woman’s voice rose in both volume and harshness, as Wyatt pushed his way through friends and neighbors. He still held Sheridan’s hand, unwilling to let go, although he could feel her tense.
Sheridan pulled her hand from Wyatt’s grasp without a word. She recognized Samantha from the Emporium. The memory of feeling inferior as the woman had looked at her was nothing compared to the anger tightening her belly now.
Face red with anger, body stiff, Samantha stood not more than a foot away from Barrie, who held the hand of a young man.She pointed her finger in Barrie’s face. “You shouldn’t be skating with my son, trying to corrupt George with your…your…wanton ways.”
