Stronger Than the Rest by Shirleen Davies Page B

him, and tell her how wrong she was. How could she think of herself as unattractive or uninteresting? She was a beautiful woman with a kind heart and quick mind. Her radiant smile and uninhibited laugh brought joy to those around her.
    “Tess, look at me.” Drew’s soft voice broke the silence. Her head turned in small increments toward him until their eyes met and held.
    “You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I have ever known. There is so much about you that I admire.” His words were soft, but the intense look in his eyes told her that they were from his heart. “I find it hard to believe that no one is courting you. There must be a great many fools in Cold Creek if no one recognizes the jewel right in front of them.”
    Tess was so stunned by Drew’s words that she found herself unable to respond. She stared at him as tears welled in her eyes. She swiped at them before breaking contact and looking down into her lap. When she looked up, Drew saw the most magnificent smile he’d ever seen. He wasn’t sure, but thought his heart may have missed a few beats in that moment.
    He reached over and placed his hand on Tess’s. She turned hers to fit into his large palm. Neither said a word, just enjoyed the night with its brilliant white stars.
     
    ******
     
    Ira shoved both hands in his pockets and paced back and forth in the large office. Luther’s latest attempts to scare Widow Bierdan and her men into leaving had failed. She was no more interested in selling than she had been two months ago. Luther was a brute but, in Ira’s opinion, he hadn’t exerted the right kind of pressure. They needed to go after her directly. With MacLaren already in Cold Creek, Walsh had no option but to change plans.
    He penned a quick message to the one man he was confident could make things happen, Sabastian Drago. He’d kept him out of this part of the business, preferring for Drago to concentrate on other matters. Ira felt certain that Langdon and Bierdan saw Luther as a threat. Walsh knew the man was a mere nuisance compared to the fear Drago would inflict.
    Ira poked his head out of his office and called for one of his men to take the message to the telegraph office. He didn’t like doing it this way—preferred a more subtle approach—but he wanted that ranchland. In the process, he wanted to rid Cold Creek of its most recent arrival. Ira’s thinking was like many—MacLaren was only half a man anyway.
     
    ******
     
    Eloise walked down the dirt-covered boardwalk and stopped to look at the new merchandise in the window of the mercantile. A yellow calico caught her eye. When her husband was alive she would have gone right in and bought the dress. Now? She had to satisfy herself with looking.
    “Hello, Mrs. Bierdan.” The deep, masculine voice came from behind her. She looked up to see the man’s reflection in the window. An odd feeling passed through her as she studied the sheriff before turning to greet him.
    “Good morning, Sheriff Alts. I was just on my way to see you.” Eloise always thought him a handsome man, but for some reason, his solid frame and broad shoulders had her heart beating today. It was a new feeling—something she’d never felt with her husband. She had the oddest urge to walk forward and touch him, place a hand on his shirt-clad chest. Eloise was embarrassed at the path her thoughts took, and her face must have transmitted her inner turmoil.
    “Are you all right, Mrs. Bierdan? Do you need to sit down?” Frank asked.
    “Ah, no, Sheriff. I’m fine. I just felt a little dizzy for a moment.”
    “Have you had dinner?”
    Eloise shook her head.
    “Good. I was just heading to the restaurant. I’d be honored if you’d join me.” Frank hadn’t realized how much he wanted to share a meal with the attractive widow, but the pull he’d felt toward her intensified with each meeting.
    “I’d like that, Sheriff,” Eloise replied and took the arm he offered.
    The restaurant was close,