“Yes. Monsieur Jalbert is letting me design some more casual jewelry, different from the expensive, heavy pieces that you’d only wear at balls or galas.”

“Of which we have none,” Russ commented. “But I have heard of the man. My wife used to buy that kind of jewelry, before she moved to Rawhide.”

“Did you bring any other pieces with you?” Tori asked, still staring at the earrings. “I don’t know how they’re priced, but Sarah and Jennifer might be interested in carrying them in their store.”

Sisters Sarah and Jennifer, both married to Randall cousins, owned and operated Rawhide’s popular general store. “They’d have to work out a deal with Monsieur Jalbert,” Melissa said. “What I design is his right now.”

“Too bad. If you got my name for the Christmas gift exchange, I sure wouldn’t mind taking a pair off your hands.” She grinned at her cousin.

“Have we drawn names already this year?”

Russ replied, “Yeah. Your mom drew one for you. And I can tell that all the women are going to be hoping you got their name.”

“I might make something for a Christmas present. I am already itching to get back to work.”

“But could you work here?” Tori asked.

Melissa answered carefully. “I can make a few gifts. But as long as I’m under contract with Monsieur Jalbert, I can’t produce any work to sell.”

“And when does your contract expire?” she asked.

“January first,” Melissa confessed. “But don’t mention that to Mom or Dad. They’ll think it might mean I could stay here, but—” She cut off that thought. “We’ll renew my contract as soon as I return.”

Tori was undaunted. She continued to probe. “Why didn’t you renew before you came home?”

Melissa looked down at her coffee, avoiding both Russ and Tori’s gaze as she said, “There wasn’t time. I decided to come home at the last minute.”

Before anyone could comment, they were distracted by two men yelling at each other on the other side of the café. Russ, she noticed, kept a particularly watchful eye on them. The argument got heated and the men stood up, going face-to-face. When one of them picked up a knife, Russ wasted no time. He took out his cell phone and dialed 911.

“There’s a fight at the café,” he said into his phone. “One of the men has a knife,”

“Surely you don’t think they’re really going to fight?” Melissa asked.

“What, they don’t have fights in France?” Russ asked.

Melissa didn’t respond.

“Better safe than sorry,” he stated. Almost as he spoke, one of the men threw the first punch, and in no time they were knocking chairs over as they fought. The knife fell to the floor, but not before it drew blood from its victim.

As the diners looked on, aghast, the café door opened to admit Harry Gowan.

The badge on his winter coat announced that he was a member of the Sheriff’s Office. His actions left no doubt, either. He waded in and stopped the fighting, though he had to take one man to the ground to get him to halt. He called the other man by name and warned him to back off. When he had them both subdued, he called the hospital to alert them that a patient was on the way.

Russ stood. “I’d better help out.” He crossed the room, taking a bunch of napkins to press on the wound of the combatant standing. Harry welcomed his assistance, asking him to escort the man to the hospital, just down the street, while he took the other guy, now in cuffs, to jail.

In a couple of minutes, the normal buzz of conversation was restored, as if nothing had happened.

“Well, that was interesting!” Melissa said in amazement.

“Now you see why everyone in town loves Harry,” Tori said. “In the old days, the deputy might’ve drawn a gun, which would endangered everyone here. But he looks for ways to intervene without that.”

“He’s certainly impressive, but surely sometimes he has to use a gun.”

“Yes, I suppose, but not often. First of all, everyone knows he’s a crack shot. Mike tests his men every month. Secondly, have you seen Harry’s muscles? They’re very impressive.”

“Actually, I have. He was doing some weight lifting when I got to the station.”

Tori’s eyebrows rose once again. “But that was in the men’s facility, right?”

“I didn’t go in,” Melissa hastily said. “I just peeked in to see if I could spot him. And I did. He had his shirt off while he lifted weights.”

Her cousin smiled. “And was it worth the look?”

“Oh, yes,” Melissa said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, the guys got so perturbed that I opened the door to a ‘men’s facility,’ as they kept calling it, that I had no choice but to close it.”

Tori laughed out loud. “Honey, if that story makes its way to your dad, you’ll never hear the end of it!”

“He wasn’t naked.” Instead of saying it in a defensive tone, Melissa wore a small smile, making Tori think she was imagining that very picture.

“It’s a good thing,” she said. “But I think you’ve hit on the problem you’re having with Harry.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think you may have embarrassed him. Harry’s a very modest person.”

“Tori, it was just his chest. If we went swimming, I’d see that much of him. That can’t be it.”

“Maybe it’s the way you looked at him that disturbed him.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Melissa said nonchalantly.

“Did you gaze at him as if you were imagining him without the shorts?”

“I did not!” Melissa protested. But her reddening cheeks told a different story.

Tori broke out in laughter. “Maybe you should try for more modesty when you see him at Sunday dinner.”

“Are you sure he’ll be there?”

“I think so. He may even be there for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

“Oh.” It came out more of a moan than a reply.

As if saving her from further embarrassment, their food was delivered just then, along with Russ’s pie.

“Will Russ come back for this?” Melissa asked.

“If he doesn’t, I’ll get it boxed up and take it back to the office.”

They ate in silence for several minutes, before Tori asked, “Did Camille mention her health problems to you?”

Melissa’s head jerked up. “What are you talking about? Mom’s fine.”

“Okay.” Tori lowered her eyes, staring at her sandwich.

“Don’t brush me off after asking that question. What’s going on with Mom?”

“You really ought to ask Caroline. But it appears Camille will have to have a complete hysterectomy. Apparently she’s asked them to hold off until after you’ve gone.”

“Why does she have to have it? And who will take care of her?”

“I don’t know the answers to those questions. Again, you need to ask Caroline.”

“Will she tell me? Does Dad know?”

“I’m not sure, Melissa. I’ll probably get in trouble for telling you, but I thought you should know.”

“Of course I should!” She pushed her plate away. “I’m going to go see Caroline right now.” She reached into her purse for her wallet.

Tori stopped her. “No, Melissa, it’s my treat. Consider it a welcome-home present. I’ve missed you.”

“Thanks, Tori,” Melissa said, standing and bending down to kiss her cousin’s cheek. Then she rushed toward the door, anxious to find out about her mother.

In her mind she debated the information Tori had given her. If her condition was serious, wouldn’t her mother have told her? Wouldn’t she have gone ahead and had the surgery? Why would she wait until after Christmas? It came every year. Surely she would—Maybe that was it. Maybe they’d told her there would be no more Christmases.

Melissa started sobbing as that thought took hold. She’d been away for six years, and she’d missed all that time with her mother. But her mom wasn’t old. What was going on?

She wasn’t even aware of the tears that streamed from her eyes. Arriving at the hospital, she reached for the door just as someone came out. She pushed past him and was surprised when he caught her arm.

It was Harry Gowan.

“What’s wrong? Can I help?”

“No. I have to find Caroline.” She tugged on her arm, but Harry didn’t let go.

“She’s patching up the guy who got cut. You’ll have to wait a few minutes. Come in and sit down. I’ll tell them you’re here to see Caro. Is it— I mean, are you sick?”

“No, but I need to see her at once!”

He led her to the waiting area. “Just sit here. I’ll be right back out as soon as I talk to her.”

Melissa wondered why he could talk to Caro and she couldn’t. Caro was her cousin, not his!

She fixed her gaze on the door through which he had disappeared, trying to be patient, but her thoughts were bouncing off the walls of her mind.

Harry came back out and sat down beside her on the couch. “She’s got about ten more minutes of stitching up the guy. Then she’ll be out to talk to you. I told her what you said, that you needed to speak to her.”

He pulled out a handkerchief and started wiping her cheeks as if she were a child. Leaning closer, he said, “It won’t do me any good to mop you up if you keep crying.”

Melissa stared at him as if she couldn’t comprehend his words.

When he reached out to her again, she tried to pull away, but he held her in place and pressed his handkerchief to her cheeks once more.

One of the nurses opened the door. “Harry?”

He stood. “Come on, Melissa. Caroline’s free now.”

Melissa followed him, so anxious to see her cousin she didn’t even think about why Harry was with her.

Caroline turned as they entered her office. “Melissa, what’s wrong?”

“You have to tell me! Mom—”

“Did your mother say anything to you?” Caroline’s tone changed from a concerned cousin’s to that of a physician.

Melissa shook her head.

“Then I can’t discuss her case with you, not without her permission.”

Melissa took a deep breath, gathering herself together. “Give me the phone. I’ll call her and get permission.”

“Melissa, she didn’t want to spoil your holidays at home,” Caroline said softly.

Melissa ignored her and dialed. As she did, she heard Harry ask Caroline, “Is she going to be okay to drive herself home? She was sobbing as she came in, and the tears haven’t stopped.”

“I’ll make sure she’s okay, Harry. Thanks for taking care of her.”

“My pleasure. Call me if you need me.” He left without a word to her. Before she could call out to him, her mother answered the phone.

Without preamble, Melissa blurted, “Mom, I have to know how you are. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself just so I can enjoy the holidays. I want to help take care of you. It’s my privilege.”

She had to push her mother to get permission to talk with Caroline. And she had to promise not to tell her father. Melissa couldn’t believe her mom was keeping something this important a secret from her husband. It was another example of her mother’s strength that few people ever saw.

“Thanks, Mom,” she said. “Now tell Caroline it’s okay.” She handed the phone to her cousin.

After speaking to Camille a moment, Caroline hung up the phone. “I wasn’t sure you’d convince her, Melissa, but I’m glad you did.”

“Me, too. Now tell me.”

“Your mother has a tumor on one of her ovaries. Since she’s past childbearing age, we suggested she have a complete hysterectomy.”

Melissa studied Caroline’s face. “What are you not telling me?”

The woman hesitated, and finally said, “I was hoping to impress you with my doctorly manner so you wouldn’t ask questions.”

Melissa said nothing, just continuing to stare at her cousin.

With a sigh, Caroline said, “There’s the possibility of cancer.”

“Then why in hell are you waiting? Won’t it improve her chance of survival the sooner it’s treated?” Melissa demanded.

“Yes, and we explained that to your mom. We also told her it’s possible it’s not cancer. But she refused surgery until after you went back to France. She promised we could operate the moment she put you on a plane back to France.”

Melissa shook her head. Her worry turned to anger. “I’m going to wring her neck just before I march her down here.” Then, realizing what she’d said, she asked, “Can you do the operation here?”

“Yes. Both Jon and I have a lot of experience with this type of surgery. It’s not unusual. And we’ve expanded the clinic since I came back home.”

That was true. Melissa hadn’t stopped to notice before how big and up-to-date the facility was, compared to when she’d lived in Rawhide six years ago. Caroline and their cousin-in-law, Jon Wilson, must have worked day and night to elevate the level of care they could provide right here in Rawhide. If anyone was capable of that, she knew Caroline was.

“You’ve done a hell of a job, Caro,” she said.

“Thanks.” Caroline smiled. “Jon and I can clear our schedules with a day’s notice. I hope you can convince your mother. I had no idea she had such steel inside of her.”

“She doesn’t reveal it unless an issue is important to her. I can’t believe she hasn’t told Dad.”

“You can’t tell him, either,” Caroline warned. “Not unless she agrees.”

Melissa nodded. “I’ll talk to Mom now. I’ll call you and let you know what she says.” She hugged her cousin, grateful for her expertise and support.

As she made her way to the door, Caro called out to her.

“I almost forgot. Harry wanted to know if you would be okay to drive home. It might be nice if you stopped off at his office to tell him you’re okay.”

Melissa wrinkled her nose. “He’ll probably run in the opposite direction.”

Caroline gazed at her in surprise. “He seemed very concerned when he brought you in here. Harry is the sweetest man in town, next to Mike, of course.” She grinned.

“He didn’t look too sweet when he was breaking up the fight in the café.”

“Well, no, he knows when he needs to be sweet, like when he found you sobbing. Not when he’s breaking up a fight.”

Melissa had to admit the logic in Caro’s response. And she acquiesced. “Okay, I’ll stop by and thank Harry. Then I’m going home to fight Mom.”

“I hope you win,” Caroline said, her face suddenly serious.

Melissa left the hospital, wrapping her coat more tightly around her. In one pocket she felt a damp cloth, and pulled out a man’s handkerchief. It must be Harry’s. She had a vague memory of him wiping her cheeks.

She received some curious stares as she walked along the sidewalk in Rawhide, where she’d grown up. It seemed almost no one remembered her, except for her cousins. Thank goodness for them, she thought. It certainly seemed strange to be almost anonymous in a town like Rawhide.

She made a mental note to ask Caro how it felt being away for so long and coming back to town.

Her mother had told her about Caroline’s belief that she couldn’t have children. She hadn’t wanted to come home from Chicago, where she did her internship, because all the Randalls seemed focused on babies. Then she’d met the sheriff and they’d fallen in love and gotten married one Christmas, and now she and Mike Davis had two little boys.

Melissa knew the family thought the world of Mike. But she herself wasn’t ready to settle down. Especially in Rawhide. It was like a company town, and the company was named The Randalls. It seemed at least half the population was kin to her.

Deep in her reverie, she almost walked past the Sheriff’s Office. Stopping, she opened the door and stepped in. There sat Harry Gowan, doing some paperwork. She cleared her throat.

Without lifting his head, Harry said, “You got anything to report, Wayne?”

Blinking in surprise, she said, “There was an hysterical female, but she’s recovered.”

He got to his feet and walked around his desk to where Melissa stood. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. I wanted to thank you for helping me. I was…a little distressed.”

“A little?” he questioned with a smile.

She lifted her chin. “Yes, a little.” Then she remembered she needed to keep him in a good mood so he’d agree to her request. “I, uh, need to ask you something.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“I know I lost my temper and I’m sorry, but…could you not tell my father about our meeting this morning?”

“You mean about opening the door when you shouldn’t have? And shoving the cookies at me and stomping off?”

She gritted her teeth. Did he have to list every offense? “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“I think I can manage to forget that.” He smiled at her. “The cookies were really good, by the way.”

“I’m glad you liked them,” she said, but she didn’t smile. “I should warn you that my father was matchmaking. You need to be on your guard.”

Harry looked puzzled. “Why would he do that?”

“He wants me to stay here in Rawhide. He’s trying to find someone to marry me.”

Harry grinned and raised his brows. “That shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“If that’s a compliment, thank you, but I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Dad has chosen you as the prime candidate for my not-so-future husband. You’d better start running in the other direction whenever you see me.”

“Assuming I’m not interested.”

“It doesn’t matter if you are or not,” she told him, her voice firm. “I’m going back to France after Christmas.”

“Oh, yeah? Then I might as well kiss you goodbye,” he said, as if his words were normal, acceptable.

Without any more warning than that, he pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips like none she’d ever received. When he had her reeling, he abruptly put her away from him.

“Have a nice trip, Melissa Randall.”

She stared at him blankly, unable to figure out what she was supposed to do. Then reality poured in and she glared at him. “I will!”

And she left the Sheriff’s Office the same way she had earlier.

Chapter Three

Harry buried his head in his arms after Melissa Randall left the office. He figured he’d just made a bad mistake. He’d been tempted by her several times since he’d met her, but he’d merely imagined how it could be between them. Now he knew.

She had the most kissable lips he’d ever tasted. She fit against him perfectly.

Could she be right? Could her father be looking for a husband to keep her at home?

Harry didn’t want that role. Forcing a woman to do something she didn’t want to do was a losing proposition. He’d seen it in his parents. His mother had had hopes of going to Hollywood and being a star. His father had gotten her pregnant and married her, to keep her with him. They’d had a miserable marriage, and he and his sister had suffered.

He thought he’d learned that lesson, but when he finished college he’d almost made the same mistake as his father. The woman he’d been seriously dating had wanted to go to Denver, a big city, and he’d chosen Rawhide. He’d assumed she’d change her mind and come with him. Fortunately for both of them, she’d gone to Denver.

Forced relationships meant someone was sacrificing something that mattered a lot. He suspected whatever Melissa was doing in France—and he didn’t know what that was—it mattered to her a great deal. If she chose to live abroad, then there was no hope for a relationship. He could accept that.

As long as he kept his distance.

“Harry? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

One of the other deputies had entered.

“No, Wayne, I’m fine. I was just thinking.”

“Where’s the sheriff?”

“He went out to the Miller place, south of town. They think they’ve been having some cattle rustling out there, and he wanted to look around.”

“We haven’t had any cattle rustling in a while. Hope we don’t have it start up again. Is that what you’re worrying about?”

“Uh, yeah. The holidays are a bad time to be hit by rustlers,” Harry said, hoping he sounded believable. Compared to the attraction he felt for Melissa Randall, rustling was a small blip on the radar.

The door opened again and Mike Davis, sheriff of their county and husband to Dr. Caroline Randall Davis, came in.

Harry wondered how difficult it had been for Mike, being attracted to a Randall woman. He’d never really asked him about that.

Before he could do so, Wayne asked about the cattle rustlers. “Did you find anything, Sheriff?”

“Yeah. They were hit pretty hard. It looks like the rustlers pulled up an 18-wheeler, let down a ramp and herded what cattle they could find into the truck, then drove off.”

“That’s going to make them hard to catch,” Harry said.

“Yeah. We need to look at all the ranches along the county road. I’d bet they’ll hit again with the same MO.”

Harry jumped up and walked to the big map on the wall beside the door to the workout facility. “Besides the Miller ranch, there’s the Howser place, the Douglas place, the Windom ranch and the Haney ranch.”

“Write those down, Wayne,” Mike ordered. “Let’s assume the rustlers stick to the south. We need to notify those ranchers to move their cattle away from any pasture alongside the road.”

Mike looked at the schedule of deputies on duty. “Wayne, I’m going to leave you in charge. Harry, I’ll take the first two and you take the second two. Let’s warn them to move their herds before nightfall.”

“Yes, sir.” Harry wanted to ask to swap the Haney place for either of the others, but he wouldn’t do that. The Haney place was Griff Randall’s ranch. He and his son, John, ran the ranch Griff had inherited from his father, Bill Haney. Bill had been married when he and the only Randall daughter, Jake’s and the others’ aunt, had gotten together.

She’d gone to Chicago, pregnant and alone. She’d had Griff and taught him some bitter lessons. When she died, Griff had come back to Rawhide only to bury his mother, prepared to hate the father he’d never known. But he’d found there were two sides to every story, and his mother had lied to him.

Bill Haney had been so grateful to have made peace with his only son, he’d left everything to him. Griff, in turn, had never changed the name of his father’s ranch, though he had kept the name Randall himself.

And, of course, that ranch was where Melissa was.

“There isn’t a problem, is there, Harry?” Mike asked, breaking into his thoughts.

Harry realized he was still standing there, not having moved after being given his orders.

“No, there’s no problem, Mike. I’m on my way.”

At least no problem he was willing to talk about.

“I WANT YOU TO HAVE the surgery at once.” Melissa started talking as soon as she opened the kitchen door and saw Camille sitting at the table. “It’s silly—”

Her mother held up a hand to halt her tirade. “It’s my decision, Melissa.”

Taking a deep breath, she sat opposite her mother at the table and tried calm reasoning. “I know it is, Mom. But your health is too important to play games with.”

“I’d just prefer to wait till after the holidays.” She gave Melissa a weak smile. “I’ve waited six years to have you at the Thanksgiving table with the family.”

Melissa reached across and squeezed her hand. “You can still have that, Mom. But the faster you get this problem dealt with, the faster you’ll recover. You know,” she said seriously, “I want you around to be a grandmother to my children.”

“That’ll be hard to do if you’re living in France.”

“It can’t happen at all if you’re dead,” Melissa snapped. At her mother’s stricken look, she was immediately sorry for her tone. Before she could apologize, he father’s booming voice nearly shook the kitchen.

“What are you talking about?” Griff stood stock-still at the kitchen door.

As much as Melissa ached to tell him, she couldn’t. Only her mother could do that. She looked at Camille. “You’ve got to tell him, Mom.”

Camille just turned away, a stubborn look on her face.

“Tell me what? What does she need to tell me, Melissa?” Griff advanced to the table, concern and apprehension etched into his expression.

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