Black Hills Bride by Deb Kastner

you, Mr. McDonnell. I’m sure you’ll be perfect for the job. A real asset to our staff.” She stopped speaking and shifted her gaze to Erik. “I have absolute faith in Erik’s judgment.”
    Erik’s heart leapt around like a newborn calf when her gaze met his. Her sparkling blue eyes were full of laughter—and challenge—neither of which he could figure.
    But then again, he’d never claimed to be an expert on women. He’d brought her the best carpenter in South Dakota, as far as he knew. How could she find fault with that?
    Besides that, Ed McDonnell was a vocal Christian influence in Custer, attending church as often as the doors were opened. So what was the problem?
    He sent Ed to survey the property, claiming they’d catch up with him in a minute. He might not know women, but he was relatively positive Dixie had a few words for him, and he might as well get it over with.
    Impossible woman.
    “I will not be intimidated, Mr. Wheeler,” she ground out sharply as soon as Ed was out of hearing range.
    One thing he was learning about Dixie—she called him Mr. Wheeler when she was angry. Clearly, he’d done something to upset her, whatever that might be. He had no clue. But he sure as shootin’ had done something wrong.
    At least in her mind he had.
    “What?” he snapped back, feeling just as prickly as she looked.
    “What did you do, spend all morning looking for the biggest man in the county?”
    The biggest man…?
    “What?” he asked again, rubbing a hand across his jaw. The woman made less than no sense. “The biggest man? I brought you the best man in the whole county. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
    “Oh, right. I see. And you’re going to stand there and tell me size had nothing to do with your selection.”
    She marched up to him, planted her clenched fists on her hips and thrust her chin in the air as their gazes met and locked.
    At six-foot-even, Erik towered over Dixie. Goliath to the Biblical David, if he remembered his childhood stories from Sunday school.
    She was a petite little thing, that’s for sure. But she sure did pack a punch.
    And then it struck him right between the eyes. He knew what had her so riled up. She thought he’d picked Ed McDonnell to frighten her off.
    She couldn’t be more wrong.
    He pressed his lips together and tugged down on his cowboy hat. He’d never do anything so low, even if he did believe she didn’t belong here.
    And for some reason, it really bothered him that she thought he was capable of such an act. He’d already decided he wanted her to stick around for a while. But just until he got his colt and filly, of course.
    “I’m going to join Ed now,” he stated gruffly.
    She placed a hand on his arm and he froze, inside and out. Even his lungs refused to work.
    “Oh, no, you’re not. Not until you assure me Ed McDonnell can do the job. I’m not paying men to intimidate me.”
    Erik pulled his arm away and glared down at her until the rim of his hat was touching her forehead. Blood pounded in his head, which felt like an entire continent of oil drummers playing their song.
    “Listen up, and listen good,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “Because I’m only going to say this once.”
    She didn’t so much as blink, though her bottom lip quivered slightly, no doubt from anger.
    He pulled in a deep, calming breath and continued, though what he really wanted to do was turn and walk away. Or maybe kiss some sense into her. She didn’t look like she’d been kissed much. And she should be.
    He shook his head. Only the thought of that colt and filly stopped him from doing something irrational—or maybe that was rational. And then just barely.
    “I wouldn’t hire someone who couldn’t do the job,” he said in a low monotone, struggling to keep his anger under wraps. “Not even for you.”

Chapter Seven

    M aybe she’d made a mistake, but he didn’t have to get so huffy about it.
    Okay, so he’d been right. Again.
    A mere week had proven