A Family for the Holidays by Sherri Shackelford Page A

flashed her one of his odd half winks. “May I join you?”
    He kept his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his elaborate waistcoat. That single piece of clothing must have cost a fortune. Every inch of the expensive fabric was decorated with colorful, intricately embroidered peacocks.
    â€œI’m afraid I was just leaving.” Lily sprang to her feet. Vic’s obvious wealth should have excluded him from any interest in the inheritance of a couple of orphans, but he’d been awfully eager in turning her attention toward the gunfighter. “Please tell Regina how sorry I am that I missed her this morning.”
    Though Lily doubted his attention was personal, she tossed in the reminder of his sweetheart. He struck her as the sort of man who preferred conquests to relationships.
    â€œCertainly,” he said. “You seem agitated. Is something amiss?”
    â€œNot at all. Except I wasn’t given Emil’s address since he was supposed to meet us at the livery.” She scrambled for an excuse for her abrupt departure. “Do you know where he lives? Perhaps the children and I can discover a clue to his disappearance.”
    â€œWhat a curious little thing you are. If only you could stay longer.” Vic took her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “Emil owns the barbershop across the street. His rooms are on the second floor.”
    Lily resisted the urge to wipe her knuckles against her skirts. “Thank you.”
    â€œOh, and, Miss Winter, you can catch this evening’s stagecoach after all.”
    Hope bloomed in her chest. “Then you’ve found Emil.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œThe sheriff has granted me temporary guardianship of the Tyler children.”
    â€œHe can’t do that.” Her blood instantly chilled. “I don’t understand. The judge in Missouri was very specific. The children are to be delivered to their grandfather.”
    Vic splayed his hands. “You’re in Nebraska now, Miss Winter. You’re under the laws and jurisdiction of this state, not Missouri. That means the sheriff is the authority.”
    Glancing at Sam and Peter’s worried expressions, she offered a reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “ Jurisdiction seems like an awfully big word for the sheriff. Are you certain the change in guardianship was his idea?”
    â€œRegina says you were being paid.” Vic reached into his pocket and retrieved a fat wad of bills, then licked his thumb and rested the pad on the top layer. “I’ll settle the debt.”
    She stumbled backward. “There’s no need.”
    â€œI insist.” He peeled off enough bills to cover Lily’s salary for six months. “For your trouble.”
    Sam stood and she gave a quick flick of her hand, urging silence. “That’s very kind of you, but I’d be shirking my duties if I left the children.”
    â€œOh, dear.” Vic’s pale lips turned down at the corners. “I’m not certain you have much choice, Miss Winter. You’ve involved the sheriff once already.”
    She snatched the bills and clutched them against her stomach. She needed him gone, she needed time to think, and Vic wasn’t leaving unless he thought he’d won.
    â€œThis is very generous of you.” She lifted her eyebrows toward Sam and Peter, willing them to follow her lead. There’d be time enough for panicking later. “A trip to the mercantile is in order. The children were well-behaved on the trip. They deserve a reward.”
    Anything to stall for time and escape the hotel.
    â€œIt was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Winter. I hope you’ll visit our little town again one day.”
    â€œI doubt I’ll be back.”
    â€œYou might be surprised.”
    â€œMy stay has certainly been filled with unexpected revelations.”
    If he caught the implied insult, he let the