Read Online Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Miralee Ferrell
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an answer to allay the worry growing inside.
Alex stepped out the door and peered up the dusty street, hoping to spot Samuel’s stooped form heading her way. The sauntering figure of a man coming toward her drew her attention.
“Miss Travers.” Sheriff Carl Ramsey paused to tip his hat, exposing his shaggy gray locks. “Business with Samuel?”
She hesitated then pulled the door closed behind her and joined the sheriff on the walkway. “Yes, but he’s out right now. May I speak to you in your office?”
His gray brows rose but he nodded and gestured for her to move ahead. “Certainly.” He adapted his long stride to her shorter one. How she hated wearing a skirt. Trousers gave a sense of freedom that this tangled mass of fabric could never do. She was sorely tempted to disregard her father’s wishes and wear them to town, but Martha would scold her if she tried. Wearing men’s pants while working on the ranch was one thing, but doing so in town was another.
Sheriff Ramsey ushered her into his office. He waited until she had seated herself and then sank behind his desk, sticking his long legs out to the side and propping one foot over his knee. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” His smile crinkled the corners of his mouth and reached up to his twinkling eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the small window positioned above his desk and threw sparkling rays over the scattered papers. Sarah must have cleaned again; the shining windows testified to her handiwork. Alex sniffed, taking in the scent of freshly scrubbed floors. “You’re lucky to have a wife who loves to clean.”
He chuckled and straightened the pile on his littered desk. “Yep. Sure am. Drives Sarah plumb batty that I won’t let her touch my desk. I know she’s itchin’ to come in when I’m gone and make everything neat and tidy, but I told her ‘Hands off.’ She don’t need to be worryin’ about who’s busted out of jail or wanted by the law.”
Alex grinned. “Sounds like Sarah. You’re lucky to have her, you know.” She removed her straw hat and placed it on her lap then smoothed her hair back from her face. “You heard about my father taking out a note against the ranch?”
His eyes widened a bit then narrowed. “No, sure haven’t. Surprises me, though. Your pa didn’t seem the type who’d go in debt.”
She nodded. “Exactly. You asked about my business with Samuel. It seems Papa may have found gold on our land.”
The sheriff’s mouth dropped open. “Ah-huh. Well, now.” He sucked in a breath and shook his head as though trying to clear it. “Who’da guessed it.”
“He dropped ore samples off to be assayed, and I’m hoping to get the report. I was hoping he might’ve mentioned it to you, maybe given you an indication where it was located. With the gold gone that he borrowed from the bank…”
“Gone, you say?” Sheriff Ramsey leaned forward and placed his large hands flat on the desk. “What do you mean, gone?”
“Mr. Elton said Papa borrowed money and took it in gold. It wasn’t found on him, and I’ve not found it at the house. I’ve searched the area where he fell but didn’t find anything. Uncle Joe knew he’d found gold, but Papa never told him where.”
“Uh-huh. That might bear lookin’ into some. Yes, sir. Think I’ll take me a little ride out to where he fell for another look-see around.”
“Thanks, Sheriff; another set of eyes would help.”
The sheriff held up his hand. “One more thing, Alex. You’ve known Carter Foster for years. His pa and yours were friends and neighbors. He might be a good man to turn to if you keep havin’ trouble.”
She placed her hat back on her head and tied the ribbon under her chin. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I don’t think it’s anything Uncle Joe and I can’t handle. Just thought you should know, you being the law and all. I’d best get back and see if Samuel’s returned.”
He pushed up from his chair, making it creak in protest as
Alex stepped out the door and peered up the dusty street, hoping to spot Samuel’s stooped form heading her way. The sauntering figure of a man coming toward her drew her attention.
“Miss Travers.” Sheriff Carl Ramsey paused to tip his hat, exposing his shaggy gray locks. “Business with Samuel?”
She hesitated then pulled the door closed behind her and joined the sheriff on the walkway. “Yes, but he’s out right now. May I speak to you in your office?”
His gray brows rose but he nodded and gestured for her to move ahead. “Certainly.” He adapted his long stride to her shorter one. How she hated wearing a skirt. Trousers gave a sense of freedom that this tangled mass of fabric could never do. She was sorely tempted to disregard her father’s wishes and wear them to town, but Martha would scold her if she tried. Wearing men’s pants while working on the ranch was one thing, but doing so in town was another.
Sheriff Ramsey ushered her into his office. He waited until she had seated herself and then sank behind his desk, sticking his long legs out to the side and propping one foot over his knee. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” His smile crinkled the corners of his mouth and reached up to his twinkling eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the small window positioned above his desk and threw sparkling rays over the scattered papers. Sarah must have cleaned again; the shining windows testified to her handiwork. Alex sniffed, taking in the scent of freshly scrubbed floors. “You’re lucky to have a wife who loves to clean.”
He chuckled and straightened the pile on his littered desk. “Yep. Sure am. Drives Sarah plumb batty that I won’t let her touch my desk. I know she’s itchin’ to come in when I’m gone and make everything neat and tidy, but I told her ‘Hands off.’ She don’t need to be worryin’ about who’s busted out of jail or wanted by the law.”
Alex grinned. “Sounds like Sarah. You’re lucky to have her, you know.” She removed her straw hat and placed it on her lap then smoothed her hair back from her face. “You heard about my father taking out a note against the ranch?”
His eyes widened a bit then narrowed. “No, sure haven’t. Surprises me, though. Your pa didn’t seem the type who’d go in debt.”
She nodded. “Exactly. You asked about my business with Samuel. It seems Papa may have found gold on our land.”
The sheriff’s mouth dropped open. “Ah-huh. Well, now.” He sucked in a breath and shook his head as though trying to clear it. “Who’da guessed it.”
“He dropped ore samples off to be assayed, and I’m hoping to get the report. I was hoping he might’ve mentioned it to you, maybe given you an indication where it was located. With the gold gone that he borrowed from the bank…”
“Gone, you say?” Sheriff Ramsey leaned forward and placed his large hands flat on the desk. “What do you mean, gone?”
“Mr. Elton said Papa borrowed money and took it in gold. It wasn’t found on him, and I’ve not found it at the house. I’ve searched the area where he fell but didn’t find anything. Uncle Joe knew he’d found gold, but Papa never told him where.”
“Uh-huh. That might bear lookin’ into some. Yes, sir. Think I’ll take me a little ride out to where he fell for another look-see around.”
“Thanks, Sheriff; another set of eyes would help.”
The sheriff held up his hand. “One more thing, Alex. You’ve known Carter Foster for years. His pa and yours were friends and neighbors. He might be a good man to turn to if you keep havin’ trouble.”
She placed her hat back on her head and tied the ribbon under her chin. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I don’t think it’s anything Uncle Joe and I can’t handle. Just thought you should know, you being the law and all. I’d best get back and see if Samuel’s returned.”
He pushed up from his chair, making it creak in protest as
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