Read Online Marrying Miss Marshal by Lacy Williams - Free Book Online Page A

murdered.”
    He didn’t ask if she’d caught Fred’s killer yet, for which she was thankful. She didn’t want to talk about Fred.
    â€œAnd you were asked to be marshal? What about the other deputies?”
    He didn’t have to speak the words for her to hear What about the male deputies. She frowned. “I’m sure the town council considered all options, but when they came to me and offered me the job, I couldn’t refuse.”
    â€œDid none of the other men want to work with you?”
    She gave him a speaking look. If they had, she wouldn’t have needed him, would she?
    â€œDid you…do something to them? Alienate them somehow?”
    She threw her hands up, tone turning exasperated. “Other than being born a woman? I worked mostly with my husband, but I have worked with the other men on occasion. Either they think I’m not competent to be marshal without Fred’s support, or they’ve been paid off.” She said the last part in jest. No one in Calvin would do that. Why would they?
    She turned the tables on him. “Tell me aboutyourself, Chas O’Grady. I should know something about my new employee, shouldn’t I?”
    He shrugged, but his gaze dropped to the leg he crossed over his knee. “I’m from Boston. Have been a detective the past five and a half years. My mother and father still live in the East.”
    â€œNo siblings?”
    â€œOne living. A younger sister. May we get down to business now? What would you have me do today?”
    His choice of words was telling—he had another sibling who had died. As was the fact that he wanted to change the subject, but she allowed it.
    â€œI thought we could ride out to some of the smaller homesteads today and ask about missing cattle. If there really is rustling going on, I have a responsibility to find out.”
    And it still irked her that the ranchers hadn’t reported any missing cattle to her. She was the marshal. She was supposed to take care of those kinds of things.
    Plus, by making the rounds of the ranches in the area, she would have a chance to watch for those funny-shaped tracks she’d seen at the site of Fred’s murder.
    â€œFine.” He stood and pinned the tin star to his chest. “I’ll need a horse.”
    She’d already thought of that. “My husband’s horse is stabled at the livery. You can borrow her until you leave town.”
    It was best to remind herself that he’d be leaving soon. That way maybe she could keep her heart from getting too attached to her attractive new deputy.

Chapter Six
    â€œP erhaps this time we should try something different. That last man, Gill, knew something. I’m almost sure of it.” Chas tried to affect a tentative tone as he offered the suggestion, but he was afraid his irritation leaked out.
    At the last two small farms they’d visited, Danna had insisted on accompanying him out to the barn to talk with the men—who hadn’t wanted to give any information in her presence. They’d been polite, but hadn’t offered one piece of information helpful to Chas or his case.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Danna’s terse question echoed his own frustration.
    â€œKeep in mind this is just a suggestion…but what if you remained inside and visited with the woman of the house?”
    Danna’s looked at him askance. “You want me to pay a social call?”
    He lifted his shoulders. “Not exactly. Just talk for a bit. She might even offer some news that we could use.”
    â€œBut you’ve never even met Mr. Early.”
    â€œThat’s all right. It might be easier to talk him round to the information we need without a woman present.”
    â€œBut I’ve never gone visiting in my life!” she burst out.
    â€œNever?” How could that be? She was a woman, wasn’t she? Wasn’t that what women did? His sister loved to gossip with her