Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland Page A

K.C. Granger has the guns. And , she also has the power to throw you in jail.” He tilted his head in the direction of the jail. “Shall we? I haven’t met our lawwoman, and I’d sure like to.”
    Mrs. Murphy frowned and narrowed her eyes. “No need to go to all that trouble.” With bad grace, she gave in. “But I will carefully inspect the room before I refund the money.”
    Tyler felt almost disappointed not to fight longer. “Miss Maxwell,” he addressed Lily formally, for there was no use in providing Mrs. Murphy with fodder for gossip. “I’ll watch Dove. You go pack, then I’ll come inside to load everything into the wagon.”
    Lily pursed her lips, considering his proposal.
    Tyler felt an unexpected urge to drop a kiss on them. But Mrs. Murphy made an effective chaperone, and, instead, he reached for the dog.
    Lily handed Dove over and walked into the house.
    Mrs. Murphy shot him an annoyed glance and then followed her.
    Left alone with Dove in his arms, Tyler looked down at the little varmint. “You sure are stirring up a pack of trouble today.”
    Dove looked up at him with limpid brown eyes that proclaimed her innocence.
    Tyler couldn’t help responding to the dog. He ran a hand over her head and rubbed behind her ears. Dried from the swim, her fur was silky. He gave a gentle tug to one of her floppy ears.
    She wiggled with happiness and swiped his hand with her tongue.
    Yep. Tyler had a feeling that this little critter’s fall into the river might just have changed his life. And he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
    Confused as all git out, that’s for sure.

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    On the way home, his bad mood banished after besting Widow Murphy, Tyler had to keep his grin inside his face, lest Lily, who still vibrated with anger on the seat next to him, caught his amusement. He had a feeling she might have a temper, and he didn’t want it stirred up against him.
    Although…in other circumstances, riling her up, seeing the color animate her face, and her eyes spark, yep, in other circumstances, a good fight might lead to a good time. Tyler shifted on the hard seat.
    Considering how eager he’d been to get rid of her, he should be sorry to be driving her back to the ranch. But he wasn’t sorry…not at all.
    That thought sobered him. Best I help her do her work before I become too attached, and she makes me sorry she’s leaving. “Where do you plan to paint next?”
      “I saw some flowers near the house that will work. Maybe you can suggest some other places within an easy walk.”
    He cast his mind around the ranch, searching for the kind of wildflowers she’d want. Most were too far to walk to and inaccessible by wagon. He had a feeling getting her back on a horse might be a difficult proposition. Not to mention hauling her equipment on horseback. “The best places are along the river.”
    She shuddered. “Not by the river.”
    He frowned. “You can’t avoid rivers for the rest of your life.”
    “Not all rivers. Only the one on your property. When I think of what almost happened to Dove….” She paled.
    He transferred the reins to one hand, took her fingers in his, and squeezed. “You can’t do that, Lily. Thinking about what could have been. That’s enough to keep your mind spinning. Not good for your body either. Makes your heart race, gives you shortness of breath. Makes you not sleep at night.”
    He sounds familiar with the experience. “I can’t help it.”
    He gave her hand a little shake, trying to get through to her. “Dove’s alive and well, Lily. Focus on thankfulness for that instead.”
    She took a deep breath. “You’re right. Guess I need to thank God each time I’m tempted to dwell on Dove in that river.” She looked up at him. “I’ve been thanking God for you being there…for you risking your life for Dove. I’ll never forget it, Tyler. I’ll never forget you .”
    At her words, something inside him melted. Maybe it was his heart that had been