Yuletide Cowboy by Debra Clopton Page A

happens.”
    Anger. It was true he was angry. And he was in a crisis of faith. Brady had him pegged. But then, he was a sheriff with skill in reading situations. “Yeah, it happens. I’m sorry. I’d like to help out, but even though I’m out of sorts right now I still have confidence that God’s going to send the right man to Mule Hollow.”
    Brady nodded. “You’re right. I’ll just keep plugging away best I can. I’ll also pray He’ll help sort out things for you.” He started to sit up straight and let Chance get back to his table but halted halfway and leaned back toward him, speaking quietly again for only Chance’s ears. “Lynn over there is a great gal. She’s sorting through her own issues at her own pace. Dottie and I are praying God sends the right man into her life when the time is right. She deserves it.”
    Chance wasn’t sure if he was getting a warning but he nodded. “She seems like a good person.”
    â€œShe is. All these women are, in the shelter. They’ve had it rough but they’re fighters. Lynn’s their advocate in many ways, pushing them to heal and move forward with their lives, but…” He paused as steaks were broughtto his table. “I’m talking too much. It’s time to eat, then I have an auction to get underway. You think about what I said. If you need to talk, come by my office.”
    â€œI’ll do that.” Chance glanced up and saw Lynn making her way toward him. She took the empty seat at Brady’s table directly across from him, and as she sat down she caught Chance watching her. Again. She gave him a tentative smile, then began talking to a pretty blonde whose gaze was riveted on one of the cowboys—a nervous fella who was barely getting his job done for looking back at her.
    â€œWho is that lady sitting beside Lynn?” he asked Wyatt.
    â€œThat’s Stacy. She and Emmett are planning on getting married— if she ever decides on who is going to per form the ceremony. And if you haven’t figured out who Emmett is, he’s the cowboy who keeps bumping in to tables because he can’t function without looking at Stacy.”
    It was pretty obvious who Emmett was. The red-faced cowboy was going to dump a steak on somebody if he didn’t watch out where he was going. Chance remembered Lynn asking if he performed weddings. “So, if they’re getting married why is he one of the waiters? Didn’t you say the waiters were the ones getting auctioned?”
    â€œThey needed more men and since he’s a nice guy who is grateful the shelter brought Stacy into his life, he offered to fill in.”
    â€œI see,” he said, but really he didn’t. He sliced a piece of his steak. It was tender and, like all the steaks at a shin dig like this, cooked medium to save on confusionand time. He watched the cowboys pass out the last plates, flirting with the ladies as they served. “From the looks of things the shelter might make a pretty penny.” His gaze slid toward Lynn. She was watching him, though she looked away quickly and concentrated on her own meal the moment their eyes met.
    â€œHey, cousin, we want to auction you off.” Cole cocked a brow.
    â€œThat’s the plan,” Wyatt agreed, and the rest of the table nodded enthusiastically.
    â€œOh, no, you don’t.” Chance got all hot under the collar looking at them—his ears were hot, he was so tense.
    â€œI told y’all not to go gettin’ any ideas,” he warned, glancing across at Lynn and seeing a pink stain on her cheeks. Though she wasn’t looking at him, he got the feeling she’d heard everything.
    Wyatt shot him one of his piercing looks and Chance could see the wheels in his lawyer’s head chugging away. This wasn’t good. When Wyatt got an idea about something there wasn’t much to stop him. Even so, Chance tried.