Sarah's Surrender by Vickie; McDonough

“Thank you. I have the perfect solution.” She turned to Sarah, sending a chill skittering up her spine. “You can stay with me, and Mr. Jensen and Luke can share the room you vacate.”

    An hour later, Sarah returned to her room with Jack and Luke following. She’d much rather have a room to herself than share with prissy Nannette. The woman’s idea had merit though, especially with the storm clouds on the horizon and thunder in the distance, but she wouldn’t admit it out loud. And she certainly couldn’t begrudge her friends a bed for the night.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t mind sharing a room with Miss Hawkins?” Jack gazed at Sarah with apprehension filling his eyes.
    Sarah smoothed out the blanket she’d lain on while resting and fluffed the pillow. Thankfully, she hadn’t hung her nightgown on one of the pegs on the wall. “Of course. It’s only for a few nights.”
    Luke leaned against the doorjamb. “We appreciate it. I don’t mind sleepin’ outdoors, but it’s uncomfortable in the rain.” He straightened. “I’ll walk Sarah to Nannette’s room then head back to the livery to get my gear.”
    Jack nodded. “I’ll go with you. Still need to find out where the registration booths are.”
    Sarah packed her brush in her satchel and glanced around the room, reluctant to join Nannette. The woman had been kind, but Sarah hadn’t liked the way she’d flirted with Luke—not that it was any of her business. But still … “That’s all of my belongings.”
    Luke crossed the small room in three long-legged steps and took her bag. “You ready then?”
    â€œWhy don’t we drop off my bag, and then I can accompany you and Jack to look for the booths.”
    â€œIf you’re sure you want to fight that crowd again.”
    She wasn’t, but right now the crowd sounded better than spending the afternoon in Miss Hawkins’s presence. “I’ll be fine.”
    A few minutes later, they knocked on Miss Hawkins’s room on the third floor. With the door at the end of the hall open and two large windows at half-mast near the stairway, a warm breeze attempted to cool the long hallway. But with the moisture in the air from the approaching storm, the breeze failed to stop the sweat trickling down Sarah’s temple and spine.
    Jack knocked on the door of room 303 and stepped back. Quick footsteps came their way, followed by the door opening.
    Nannette beamed a smile as her gaze skittered past Jack and Sarah, landing on Luke. “Why, I didn’t expect all three of you.” She stepped aside. “Please, come in.”
    Sarah shot a peek at the men beside her. It had been stretching propriety for her to be in the hotel room with two men she knew and trusted with her life, but it was something altogether different for Miss Hawkins to invite them into hers.
    Luke cast a quick glance at Jack then shook his head. “Thank you, but we have things we need to do. We’re just dropping off Sarah’s bag.”
    Nannette’s disappointment was obvious. “Surely you could stay for a few minutes.”
    Jack cleared his throat. “I don’t believe that would be proper, and we do need to be going.”
    â€œVery well.” Nannette stared at Sarah, her gaze less than welcoming.
    Sarah smiled and stepped into the room. This one was plush compared to the one downstairs. The dark cherry wood furniture gleamed and a wall-to-wall carpet covered the floor. The large bed sat to her left, with a sofa and two chairs on the right in front of a fireplace. Her gaze shifted back to the bed. Would she have to share that with Miss Hawkins?
    She hadn’t minded sharing a bed with Jo when they first arrived at the Coulter ranch, but she’d been only twelve then, and though she’d never admitted it, she’d been a bit afraid in the strange house with no one she