Sherryl Woods - Courting the Enemy

This is my proof, Karen murmured, stil dazed.

Proof of what?

That youre a scoundrel and a thief. You stole that kiss, she accused, managing to get the words out with a straight face.

Laughter fil ed the air.

Maybe the first one, darlin, Grady conceded. But the second one you gave me of your own free wil . You cant count that one against me. Once two people start to tango, so to speak, the blame pretty much fal s by the wayside.

She frowned at him. You would say that, wouldnt you? It serves your purpose.

And what is my purpose? he asked, studying her with mild curiosity.

To get my land, she said at once, but she was no longer as certain as she had once been. A part of her was beginning to believe that he just might be after her, instead.

Sherryl Woods

Courting the Enemy

Books by Sherryl Woods

Silhouette Special Edition

Safe Harbor #425

Never Let Go #446

Edge of Forever #484

In Too Deep #522

Miss Lizs Passion #573

Tea and Destiny #595

My Dearest Cal #669

Joshua and the Cowgirl #713

*Love #769

*Honor #775

*Cherish #781

*Kates Vow #823

*A Daring Vow #855

*A Vow To Love #885

The Parsons Waiting #907

One Step Away #927

Rileys Sleeping Beauty #961

Final y a Bride #987

A Christmas Blessing #1001

Natural Born Daddy #1007

The Cowboy and His Baby #1009

The Rancher and His Unexpected Daughter #1016

**A Ranch for Sara #1083

**Ashleys Rebel #1087

**Daniel es Daddy Factor #1094

The Littlest Angel #1142

Natural Born Trouble #1156

Unexpected Mommy #1171

The Cowgirl and the Unexpected Wedding #1208

Natural Born Lawman #1216

The Cowboy and His Wayward Bride #1234

Suddenly, Annies Father #1268

The Cowboy and the New Years Baby #1291

Dylan and the Baby Doctor #1309

The Pint-Sized Secret #1333

Marrying a Delacourt #1352

The Delacourt Scandal #1363

A Love Beyond Words #1382

Do You Take This Rebel #1394

Courting the Enemy #1411

Silhouette Desire

Not at Eight, Darling #309

Yesterdays Love #329

Come Fly with Me #345

A Gift of Love #375

Cant Say No #431

Heartland #472

One Touch of Moondust #521

Next TimeForever #601

Fever Pitch #620

Dream Mender #708

Silhouette Books

Silhouette Summer Sizzlers 1990

A Bridge to Dreams

Maternity Leave 1998

The Paternity Test

The Unclaimed Baby

SHERRYL WOODS

has written more than seventy-five romances and mysteries in the past twenty years. And because she loves to talk to real people once in a while, she also operates her own bookstore, Potomac Sunrise, in Colonial Beach, VA, where readers from around the country stop by to discuss her favorite topic

books. If you cant visit Sherryl at her store, then be sure to drop her a note at P.O. Box 490326, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

Winding River High School

Class of 91

Welcome HomeTen Years Later Do You Remember the Way We Were?

Karen (Phipps) Hanson Better known as The Dreamer. Elected most likely to see the world. Member of the 4-H club, the Spanish and French clubs, and first-place winner at the county fair in the greased pig contest.

Cassie Col ins Ringleader of the Calamity Janes. Elected most likely to land in jail. Best known for painting the town water tower a shocking pink and for making the entire faculty regret choosing teaching as a profession. Class record for detentions.

Gina Petril o Tastiest girl in the class. Elected most popular because nobody in town bakes a better double chocolate brownie. Member of the Future Homemakers of America. Winner of three blue ribbons in the pie-baking contest and four in the cake-baking contest at the county fair.

Emma Rogers That girl can swinga bat, that is. Elected most likely to be the first female on the New York Yankees team. Member of the Debate Club, the Honor Society and president of the senior class.

Lauren Winters The girl with al the answers, otherwise known as the one youd most like to be seated next to during an exam. Elected most likely to succeed. Class valedictorian. Member of the Honor Society, County Fair Junior Rodeo Queen and star of the junior and senior class plays.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Prologue

Soul-deep weary, Karen walked into the kitchen at midnight, made herself a cup of tea and sat down at the kitchen table to face the mail. She mental y weighed the usual stack of bil s against the intriguing envelope with its fancy cal igraphy.

Even if she hadnt desperately needed a pick-me-up, she would have opted for setting the bil s aside. There were always too many of them at the end of the month and not enough money in the bank. It seemed as if she and Caleb might never get their ranch in the black, might never be in a position to hire the extra help that would save them from doing al of the endless, backbreaking work themselves with only two seasonal men to pitch in.

As late as it was, she had just come in from the barn. Caleb was stil out there, trying to save a sick calf. Always at the edge of bankruptcy, they couldnt afford to lose a single animal. She had seen the stress in his face, heard it in the terse, angry words from a man whod always been quietly thoughtful and even-tempered.

She pushed al of that aside as she opened the thick vel um envelope, and removed what turned out to be an invitation to her high school reunion in Winding River, Wyoming, a hundred miles away. Immediately the cares of the day slipped aside. She thought of her lifelong friends, the women who had cal ed themselves the Calamity Janes, thanks to their penchant for heartbreak and mischief gone awry.

This was perfect. A few days with her best friends would give her marriage exactly the boost it needed. It would bring some fun back into their lives.

Though Caleb was older and hadnt gone to school with them, he had grown to enjoy their company as much as she did. And because he was the only husband whod displayed staying power, they fussed over him in a way that both embarrassed and pleased him.

She was stil thinking about catching up with Cassie, Gina, Lauren and Emma, when Caleb final y came in. She studied his face and tried to gauge his mood. Wordlessly he opened the refrigerator and took out a beer, slugging it back as if his throat were parched. Final y he glanced at her, then at the envelope she was holding.

Whats that?

An invitation. My high school class is having its reunion in July. She beamed at him. Oh, Caleb, its going to be such fun. Im sure Gina, Lauren and the others wil come back. There are going to be al sorts of events, a picnic, a dance, plus the towns annual fireworks on the Fourth.

And how much is al of this going to cost? An arm and a leg, I imagine.

His tone dul ed her enthusiasm. Not so much. We can manage it.

He gestured toward the stack of bil s. We cant pay the electric bil . The feed and grain bil is two months overdueand you want to go to a bunch of fool He gestured toward the stack of bil s. We cant pay the electric bil . The feed and grain bil is two months overdueand you want to go to a bunch of fool parties? And where exactly would we stay now that your parents have moved? You planning on driving a hundred miles each way every single day?

Motels are expensive.

We need this, she insisted stubbornly. Il find us a place to stay.