Christmas for Ransom by Tanya Hanson Page B

just like he’d recognized his old name “Canyon” on wanted posters, the logic of the alphabet made more and more sense inside his skull. A poem of his own began to birth itself. A poem of love.
    Suddenly Eliza’s lashes flickered.
    “Enough for now,” he said. Her weariness disappointed him because tonight was all they had. “You’ve had quite a day.”
    “That I have.” She nuzzled her head against his chest. An image of him holding her close after the act of love burst behind his eyelids.
    “But you know the best part?”
    He smiled. The berry stain at the corner of her mouth tempted him. “The pageant.”
    “No. It was the kiss.” She buried her face, coy. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.”
    “Then you can think about this all night.” With his forefinger, he raised her chin, bent his face to hers, and near burst into flame when their lips met. Her mouth opened sweetly, shy, to let him in, and without thinking, he laid his hand on one breast. She didn’t slap it off, and his cock took that as a good sign. But damn. Like any woman, she wore too darn many layers. The search for her skin was fruitless.
    “And for days to come,” he said in his false-soft voice. He couldn’t leave without some sort of good-bye.
    “What do you mean, Ransom?” She pulled away from his hand.
    Clearing his throat, he had to tell her now. “Crusty just described a fella I tracked some time back. Lost the scent. It would be a real good thing if I met up with him around here.” He stopped talking, wanting to make sense without tripping himself up. As gentle as he could, he touched her cheek, first with his hand, then with his mouth. Seemed to settle her.
    “Seems lucky all around we stopped here at the Star,” he went on without her saying anything. “So you wait for me here a day or two. Keep Miz Ida company. Sort out this mess with Oneida. I’ll get back soon and get you to your granny.” He meant it all with his whole heart.
    Her lips parted in protest, so to stop her, he kissed her again, loving it, already missing her. “I sure hate to leave you. I’ll be back. Believe me, all righty?”
    “I want to. But is the man dangerous? Do you think he’s a horse thief? I don’t want you hurt.” The dread in her voice touched his heart.
    His fingers traveled down her cheek one more time, catching his breath in his throat. “Nope. Just a man his woman wants back home. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
    “How do you think he came across Oneida?”
    “That’s for me to find out, darlin’. That’s what I do.”
    “Oh, all right. I hope it’s all worth your while. Granny’s got a fine reward posted.” For a flash, her pretty forehead twisted like worn leather, and his gut clenched because he’d caused her pain. Oh, he was good at lying, but truth to tell, he’d never downright lied to a lady. Whore, maybe, and more than once to Hard Tack Timmon’s alley-cat sister. But never to a real live lady.
    “Stay safe. I think I’m going to miss you.” Her lips trembled.
    In the depths of Eliza’s eyes, he saw she believed he hated to leave, which was true. But she believed his last-ditch runaway husband tale, which wasn’t. Shame smacked him, but Canyon Jack Ransom had a duty to the gang. He had to find them and send them safe on their way. He owed the boys that much. They’d taken him in, no questions, when he had nothin’ and nobody. Afterward, he’d hightail it back for Christmas with Eliza because those days without her would be like living without his arms, his legs. His heart.
    Best of all, she was going to miss him. For the first time since Gram-maw passed, Jack Ransom just might have somebody after all. It had come upon him like a sledge on an anvil.
    He was in love. The thought so startled him he knocked the chalk to the floor.
    “Ransom?”
    “Sorry.” He tried to sound like any naughty schoolboy rather than an outlaw in shock. In love.
    But it got worse. He was respectable now, and a