Read Online Outlaw for Christmas (9781101573020) by Lori Austin - Free Book Online Page B

this house.
    In truth, every day was interminable, and the nights were worse. Eight years since his wife had died. Twelve since he’d last seen his daughter.
    Robert glanced at Ruth over the chessboard. Twelve years since he’d seen his real daughter.
    â€œYour move, Ruth.” His voice was sharper than he’d meant for it to be. It usually was whenever he dealt with Ruth.
    She jumped, cast him a guilty look, and focused on the pieces. Ruth tried, but she could never be Susan, never replace Cora; her presence only reminded him of all that he’d lost.
    He had not wanted to take an orphan from the train, but Cora had been inconsolable at the loss of their only child. They’d tried to have another, but the doctors had said that the time had passed, and after two years even Robert had to admit they were right. So when the Aid Society came to town, approached him as the town founder, and asked about parents for lost children, he’d told Cora, and soon Ruth had been theirs.
    Then Cora had gone and died on him, taking what was left of his heart. He knew Ruth deserved to be loved, wanted him to love her, probably needed it, too. But he just couldn’t do it. He had nothing left to give.
    Ruth made a foolish move, and before he could stop himself, he
tsked
at her. He’d never been a patient man. But Ruth brought out the worst in him. Which wasn’t fair. What he felt, or rather didn’t feel, wasn’t her fault.
    Ruth fingered the necklace he’d given her. She’d
oohed
and
aahed
over the thing as if she adored it. She no doubt did. But the sapphire that had looked so perfect in Kansas City did not look perfect on Ruth, and he couldn’t figure out why. In fact, most of the jewelry he’d given Ruth over the years—for birthdays, Christmas, and to stifle occasional pangs of guilt—did not look right. What did it matter? Ruth wore the jewels regardless.
    She’d given him the chessboard over which they were battling. Robert saw the gift for the ploy it was. She wanted him to spend more time with her.
    Robert sighed. Perhaps he should have purchased the earrings that matched the necklace, as well.
    After squinting at the chessboard for several minutes, Ruth threw up her hands and let Robert take her queen.
    She’d been distracted all day. Robert couldn’t blame her. Leon Harker had proposed again, and this time she hadn’t turned him down flat. The boy fancied himself in love with her. Maybe he was. But Robert knew Leon, and more than love for Ruth fueled the sheriff’s ambition. He wanted both Ruth and all that came with her.
    Robert gave a mental shrug. Whatever it took. If Leon professed love, perhaps Ruth would acquiesce. What Robert needed was an heir for his legacy and a strong young man to keep it intact.
    He was getting too old to battle this wilderness and all the animals in it. He was definitely too old to make an heir of his own, then wait for the child to grow up, even if he could bear the thought of touching anyone else but Cora.
    Leon loved Kelly Creek. He cared for the people. He was good to Ruth. But he didn’t possess the killer instinct of Robert Kelly. Deep down, Leon was just too damned nice. Robert sighed. Well, hell, nobody was perfect.
    Still, the sheriff
had
protected this town for years. He should be able to manage the Kelly empire. But Robert had always hoped someone stronger would come to Kelly Creek. As usual, his hopes, and his prayers, had not been answered.
    He sipped mulled wine as the scent of the Christmas goose wafted through the house. The bird would be far too big for the two of them, one old housekeeper, and an equally ancient groom to eat, but then it always was. Robert listened to the clock chime five. How many hours until another Christmas ended?
    Far too many.
    He searched for a cheerier topic of thought and conversation. “How are the plans coming for the New Year’s Ball?”
    Ruth, who was still