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"Oh, would you?" She tried to sound grateful. Somehow she didn't think the cowboy was too happy about being saddled with her. She understood that, and she'd be on her way as soon as she got her car tended to.
"Sure, get in." He mumbled as he threw his saddle in the back of his jeep. "He don't usually work on Sunday either, but maybe we can get him to haul your car into town, and fix it tomorrow."
Tomorrow? Everything was tomorrow, not now! How did people get things done around here? They were losing money, closing on Sundays.
She hurriedly pulled her equipment along and after carefully stowing it beside the saddle, she climbed in and he took off down the dust filled road. He seemed in a hurry to get there, in a hurry to get rid of her.
He hardly said a word to her all the way to the station and she wasn't sure why. He seemed to have good manners. But ever since she climbed into his vehicle the man was one big wad of frowns. He'd be very good looking if he didn't frown so much, she thought. Not that she was paying that much attention to a yokel. She knew enough about red-neck cowboys to stay as far away as possible.
Five minutes later the cowboy pounded on the station door. No one answered.
There was some kind of note pinned on the gas pump though. She spotted it and handed it to him.
"It figures. He's closed for his father-in-law’s funeral, it says." The cowboy read the note, and then stuck it back on the pump.
"Closed?" She nearly yelped.
"'Fraid so. Poor Alfred."
Who was Alfred?
Savannah felt like collapsing in one big puddle of tears. What had started out as such a wonderful day yesterday was turning into a nightmare today.
Now here she was, no better off than she had been sitting with her car. And the stranger didn't seem very eager to lend her any help.
Trying to curb her fears, she suddenly sat on an old coke carton in front of the station. She no longer cared about the dress.
The man eyed her for a few minutes. He even went so far as to get in his jeep and start the motor, but something stopped him. In slow motion, he switched off the ignition and glanced over at her. The look on his face was patronizing, as if he had to put up with her for one more minute it would kill him.
"You can come to my place and stay," he offered intently aware of her stare.
Yeah, right. Do I look like I've lost my mind? She might appear helpless, and maybe even brainless, but she knew better than to run off with a complete stranger, especially to his home. Besides, his offer was definitely reluctant. But maybe he had a wife that wouldn't understand, or maybe he was a pervert. She certainly didn't know anything about him. Not even his name.
"That's okay...."
She looked up at him, and swallowed hard. She hadn't paid that much attention to him on the bus. And during the ride, it was all she could do to stay in her seat. But now, she had time and she was totally entranced by his all male beauty. From the tips of his plain leather boots, to the tops of his wide shoulders, the man reeked male. His skin was as tan as his hair. His face was an interesting contrast to his personality. He had a pleasant face, crinkles around the eyes and mouth that said he smiled a lot, although she'd not seen even the beginnings of one since she'd met him. His brown eyes were very expressive. He had a wide face, and very youthful.
"I realize you're a stranger here, but you can put your mind at ease. I'm also the Sheriff."
Oh great, her parents were probably putting out an APB for their stolen car and she had run smack dab into the Sheriff!
Could it get any worse?
Chapter Two
When he noticed her staring, he grinned, the first grin she'd seen and was it ever charming.
She tried not to let the grin affect her, but it did. Good grief the man was absolutely irresistible when he smiled. Awareness shot through her like a bolt of lightning and she silently scolded herself for reacting to a man who obviously wasn't a bit interested in her. Besides, hadn't she learned that men just couldn't be trusted? She wasn't about to get herself tangled with any man, for a long time.
"Thanks, but I'll manage," she said not knowing fully why she was rejecting the only friendly offer she'd had all day. Perhaps it had something to do with her reaction to this man. She was vulnerable right now, and she knew it.
He shook his head, the grin still in place, as he looked away from her. "I'm afraid you don't have much choice ma'am. You see, me being the Sheriff here, and well—the way you're dressed, I'd have to make an arrest if I caught you loitering around in that getup."
Savannah glanced down at herself. The first time she'd really noticed what she'd done to herself, hit her squarely. Then his words dawned and she had the sinking feeling that the worst of the day wasn't over yet.
"You're really the Sheriff?" she countered, eyeing him up and down with a long bat of her lashes.
"That's right, Ben Hogg, ma'am." He tipped his hat.
