Read Online Winchester Christmas Wedding by B.J. Daniels - Free Book Online

as you are.”
    Overly aggressive? He laughed again. “You’ve apparently already forgotten about this morning on the road when you and your horse practically took out my pickup with me in it.”
    â€œOh, was that you?”
    As if she didn’t know. He had to admire her ease at lying, and right to his face. She looked so damned innocent another man might have believed her. But why would she lie?
    â€œWhen I saw you, you know what I said to myself?” he asked.
    â€œI can hardly imagine.”
    He cocked his head at her. “I said I had to find that woman and give her a piece of my mind.”
    â€œYou’re sure you have that much to spare?”
    He shook his head but couldn’t help grinning. Didn’t she realize she was no match for him? “Do you always ride like that?”
    â€œYes.” Again that defiant upward tilt of the chin and that steely-eyed look that radiated both warning and challenge.
    He studied her for a moment. Nothing could convince him, not even that angelic face or those sweet lies on her lips, that she hadn’t recognized him earlier this morning. But he could see he wasn’t getting anywhere with her. The timing felt wrong. Or maybe he just wanted an excuse to see her again.
    Her horse moved restlessly under her, but the mare wasn’t half as restless as the rider was to get away from him, and it was no act just for his benefit.
    â€œI like the way you ride,” he said.
    A small smile curved her lips. “I could say the same of you.”
    â€œSo, where are you from?” he asked glancing around and seeing nothing but wild open country. “From?”
    â€œYou must live around here somewhere.”
    â€œThe McCormick Ranch over that hill,” she said.
    â€œSo you’re a McCormick.”
    She shook her head. “A friend of the family. Are you a Winchester?”
    â€œNo, I’m just working there.” He held out his hand, moving his horse closer to hers. “Name’s TD Waters.” He waited for her reaction as she took his hand. None at the name, but he felt her wince at his touch—just as he’d seen her surprise when he’d said he was working at the ranch.
    As cool as the woman was pretending to be, she was jumpy as hell. Understandable, he assumed, given thata stranger had just chased her down on horseback. But he wasn’t a stranger, was he?
    â€œLizzy Calder.” She pulled back her hand the moment he released it.
    â€œLizzy? Short for Elizabeth, right?”
    â€œIt was my mother’s name.” She seemed to bite her tongue as if she hadn’t wanted to get that personal with him. “I really should be getting back before my hosts come looking for me.”
    â€œA little late for that,” he said and motioned behind her.
    She turned and stiffened and he knew she’d seen what he had. A lone rider was headed in their direction. It was her reaction that surprised him. Lizzy Calder looked scared.
    Â 
    A NNE ? W HAT WAS SHE doing riding this way? Lizzy’d had the feeling that neither Anne or Janie rode anymore.
    She swore under her breath and turned, not sure how she was going to handle this. But to her surprise, TD Waters was just dropping over a rise out of sight in the distance.
    â€œLizzy?” Anne said as she rode up. Her gaze was on the horizon where Waters had just disappeared. “Who was that? One of the Winchesters?”
    â€œNo,” she said resenting the question but feeling compelled to answer since she was a guest on the ranch. “It was someone who works for them.” She’d been surprised when he said he was working there. Working as a rogue agent on some undercover assignment? What else could he be doing there?
    â€œWhat was he doing on my land?” Anne demanded. She sounded angry and Lizzy again felt the bitterness in her old friend. What had happened to her over the years that had made her this way? Anne used to be