Read Online When Love Comes by Leigh Greenwood - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leigh Greenwood
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wonder if they hadn’t coddled her too much.
“I’m sure he won’t do that. Besides, you never go to town, so you wouldn’t have to put up with unkind remarks or falsely sympathetic looks.”
“But people would know. ”
“Everybody knows Papa was an honest businessman. That’s why we always had so many customers at the saloon and the diner.”
She’d heard rumors of dissatisfaction recently, but she credited that to people liking her father better than Corby. Her father was always friendly, taking an interest in people and their problems. Corby was only interested in helping himself.
“I want that man out of town,” her mother said. “I want you to ask Sheriff Mercer to force him to leave.”
“I intend to go into town.” But she didn’t plan to see the sheriff. She needed to go to the bank. She wanted proof her father had paid for everything he’d bought.
Maybe she could find something to show that Broc wasn’t a part of this plot, that somehow he’d been forced into it against his will. Maybe he was married, and there had been threats against his family. Maybe he was in debt and this was part of his way of working it off. There could be any number of reasons, but she hoped his being married wasn’t one of them.
The setting sun painted the early evening sky with broad swatches of orange and red, but Broc didn’t notice the sunset, the lengthening shadows, the increasing chill, or the quiet descending over the prairie as birds and small animals sought refuge for the night. Wrapped in thought, he had come to several conclusions, the first of which was that he ought to tell the sheriff what he had done. He didn’t know what actions the Liscomb family might take, but they were almost certain to talk to the sheriff about him. It would be difficult to convince the sheriff of his honesty if Gary got to the man first. It was always possible to send someone to Crystal Springs to check on his story, but Texans were reluctant to approach officials. There was so much dishonesty in the Reconstruction government that ordinary people assumed you were dishonest if you had anything to do with it. Shrugging off worry about circumstances he couldn’t change, he brought his horse to a stop in front of the sheriff’s office. He tied his mount to the hitching post and went inside.
This office was not substantially different from the one in Crystal Springs, but it boasted two windows, two pictures on the walls, and an imposing metal cabinet behind one of two scarred, wooden desks. “What can I do for you?” the young man behind the smaller desk asked.
“I want to see the sheriff.”
“I’m the sheriff. What can I do for you?” he repeated.
Broc had expected an older man instead of one who appeared to be somewhere in his midtwenties. He knew better than to evaluate competence by age, but he knew it was hard for a young man to get the respect of older, established businessmen. Still, the sheriff seemed relaxed and sure of himself, so maybe he’d already proved he could handle the job.
“I need to explain why I’m here,” Broc said. “My presence in your town has already caused some discomfort. I expect it’s going to cause more.”
The sheriff’s scrutiny of Broc grew more intense. “I don’t like the sound of that. You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
“I’m really just passing through, but it’s more complicated than that.”
The sheriff’s attention didn’t falter. “Tell me.”
He listened without comment as Broc told about the fight, the judge’s decision, and the Liscomb family’s reaction to the news he’d brought. “Either I stay here and try to collect a debt everyone in the Liscomb family says doesn’t exist, or I go back to Crystal Springs and go to jail.”
The sheriff didn’t appear to have any sympathy for Broc’s dilemma. “The Liscombs are well liked by everyone in Cactus Bend. Aaron was a respected member of the business community. I helped settle his affairs
“I’m sure he won’t do that. Besides, you never go to town, so you wouldn’t have to put up with unkind remarks or falsely sympathetic looks.”
“But people would know. ”
“Everybody knows Papa was an honest businessman. That’s why we always had so many customers at the saloon and the diner.”
She’d heard rumors of dissatisfaction recently, but she credited that to people liking her father better than Corby. Her father was always friendly, taking an interest in people and their problems. Corby was only interested in helping himself.
“I want that man out of town,” her mother said. “I want you to ask Sheriff Mercer to force him to leave.”
“I intend to go into town.” But she didn’t plan to see the sheriff. She needed to go to the bank. She wanted proof her father had paid for everything he’d bought.
Maybe she could find something to show that Broc wasn’t a part of this plot, that somehow he’d been forced into it against his will. Maybe he was married, and there had been threats against his family. Maybe he was in debt and this was part of his way of working it off. There could be any number of reasons, but she hoped his being married wasn’t one of them.
The setting sun painted the early evening sky with broad swatches of orange and red, but Broc didn’t notice the sunset, the lengthening shadows, the increasing chill, or the quiet descending over the prairie as birds and small animals sought refuge for the night. Wrapped in thought, he had come to several conclusions, the first of which was that he ought to tell the sheriff what he had done. He didn’t know what actions the Liscomb family might take, but they were almost certain to talk to the sheriff about him. It would be difficult to convince the sheriff of his honesty if Gary got to the man first. It was always possible to send someone to Crystal Springs to check on his story, but Texans were reluctant to approach officials. There was so much dishonesty in the Reconstruction government that ordinary people assumed you were dishonest if you had anything to do with it. Shrugging off worry about circumstances he couldn’t change, he brought his horse to a stop in front of the sheriff’s office. He tied his mount to the hitching post and went inside.
This office was not substantially different from the one in Crystal Springs, but it boasted two windows, two pictures on the walls, and an imposing metal cabinet behind one of two scarred, wooden desks. “What can I do for you?” the young man behind the smaller desk asked.
“I want to see the sheriff.”
“I’m the sheriff. What can I do for you?” he repeated.
Broc had expected an older man instead of one who appeared to be somewhere in his midtwenties. He knew better than to evaluate competence by age, but he knew it was hard for a young man to get the respect of older, established businessmen. Still, the sheriff seemed relaxed and sure of himself, so maybe he’d already proved he could handle the job.
“I need to explain why I’m here,” Broc said. “My presence in your town has already caused some discomfort. I expect it’s going to cause more.”
The sheriff’s scrutiny of Broc grew more intense. “I don’t like the sound of that. You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
“I’m really just passing through, but it’s more complicated than that.”
The sheriff’s attention didn’t falter. “Tell me.”
He listened without comment as Broc told about the fight, the judge’s decision, and the Liscomb family’s reaction to the news he’d brought. “Either I stay here and try to collect a debt everyone in the Liscomb family says doesn’t exist, or I go back to Crystal Springs and go to jail.”
The sheriff didn’t appear to have any sympathy for Broc’s dilemma. “The Liscombs are well liked by everyone in Cactus Bend. Aaron was a respected member of the business community. I helped settle his affairs
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