land, I reckon.”
“Yep.”
“Havens won’t be far behind.” Jack walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove in the corner.
“Keep your eye on that Delilah you told me about. She may be nothing more than his eyes and ears for getting set up, but it can’t hurt to be alert,” Cotton said, pulling out a sheaf of wanted dodgers from his desk drawer. He plopped them on the middle of the desktop and began leafing through them.
“I already went through those and didn’t spot any of the men I’ve seen,” Jack said, standing at the open door, sipping coffee, and watching every movement up and down the street.
“I did, too, but I figured maybe once more would convince me I hadn’t overlooked something.”
“You goin’ back out to the Wagner place tonight?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You got anything you want me to be doin’ till mornin’?”
“If you can get Delilah to give you a progress report on how Bart’s newest banking scheme is coming, I’d appreciate knowin’.”
“I figure I’d have to risk life and limb to keep Melody from knowin’ what I’m up to, but I could slip out and go to Delilah’s hotel room real late, maybe pry somethin’ useful outta her.” Jack set his empty coffee cup on the desk with a devilish grin.
Cotton just shook his head. “You do that.”
Cotton slipped from his saddle and was greeted at the door by Emily. Her beautiful face showed concern, her usually sparkling eyes full of trouble. Cotton saw the frown even through the shadows of the porch. He pulled her close and felt her trembling.
“What is it, Emily? What’s wrong?”
“A man came by today looking for you. A hard man with the look of a killer.”
“Did he give a name, or say why he wanted to see me?”
“No.”
“What do you suppose made him come here instead of going to town?”
“That’s what worries me.”
“Describe him.”
“Well, he was about your height, slender, with long black hair that went to his shoulders. He wore a Colt like yours on his hip, and he carried a rifle in his saddle scabbard. He wore a vest with silver conchos.”
“He wear a hat?”
“Yes. It was a broad-brimmed officer’s hat. Confederate.”
“Confederate? You sure?”
“Very. Otis had one just like it from the war. When he died, I burned it. My family came from Indiana.”
“Thanks. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re also damned observant, Emily Wagner. Now, is there any chance of a steak somewhere inside with my name on it?”
“Uh, yes, of course. I’m sorry. I was so upset by that strange visitor, I forgot to ask you to get washed up for supper.” She took his arm and pulled him inside. He tossed his hat on a chair and followed her into the dining room. Two of her hands were just finishing up when they entered.
“José, Ben, how are things in the cattle business?” Cotton said.
“Very good, Sheriff. Looks like you doin’ okay, yourself,” José said and grinned.
With hands on her hips, Emily shot them both a squinty-eyed frown. The two left the table so quickly one nearly knocked over his chair.
Chapter 17
I n the morning, as Cotton was shaving, Emily slipped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest. He lowered the straight razor to avoid accidentally cutting his own throat in case she wanted to start the day with more than a hug. When she pulled away and turned her back to him, she sounded pensive as she said, “Cotton, I couldn’t sleep all night. Kept tossing and turning, worrying about that man. Who was he and what did he want?”
“I’m not certain, but until I know, I’m not going to let it spook me. And you shouldn’t, either. I’ll be fine. But in case he does prove to be a threat, I want you to have Henry Coyote around at all times, except when I’m here, of course.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you realize how worried I am for you, Cotton Burke, but I’ll do as you say.”
She left as he continued
“Yep.”
“Havens won’t be far behind.” Jack walked over to pour himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove in the corner.
“Keep your eye on that Delilah you told me about. She may be nothing more than his eyes and ears for getting set up, but it can’t hurt to be alert,” Cotton said, pulling out a sheaf of wanted dodgers from his desk drawer. He plopped them on the middle of the desktop and began leafing through them.
“I already went through those and didn’t spot any of the men I’ve seen,” Jack said, standing at the open door, sipping coffee, and watching every movement up and down the street.
“I did, too, but I figured maybe once more would convince me I hadn’t overlooked something.”
“You goin’ back out to the Wagner place tonight?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You got anything you want me to be doin’ till mornin’?”
“If you can get Delilah to give you a progress report on how Bart’s newest banking scheme is coming, I’d appreciate knowin’.”
“I figure I’d have to risk life and limb to keep Melody from knowin’ what I’m up to, but I could slip out and go to Delilah’s hotel room real late, maybe pry somethin’ useful outta her.” Jack set his empty coffee cup on the desk with a devilish grin.
Cotton just shook his head. “You do that.”
Cotton slipped from his saddle and was greeted at the door by Emily. Her beautiful face showed concern, her usually sparkling eyes full of trouble. Cotton saw the frown even through the shadows of the porch. He pulled her close and felt her trembling.
“What is it, Emily? What’s wrong?”
“A man came by today looking for you. A hard man with the look of a killer.”
“Did he give a name, or say why he wanted to see me?”
“No.”
“What do you suppose made him come here instead of going to town?”
“That’s what worries me.”
“Describe him.”
“Well, he was about your height, slender, with long black hair that went to his shoulders. He wore a Colt like yours on his hip, and he carried a rifle in his saddle scabbard. He wore a vest with silver conchos.”
“He wear a hat?”
“Yes. It was a broad-brimmed officer’s hat. Confederate.”
“Confederate? You sure?”
“Very. Otis had one just like it from the war. When he died, I burned it. My family came from Indiana.”
“Thanks. You’re not only beautiful, but you’re also damned observant, Emily Wagner. Now, is there any chance of a steak somewhere inside with my name on it?”
“Uh, yes, of course. I’m sorry. I was so upset by that strange visitor, I forgot to ask you to get washed up for supper.” She took his arm and pulled him inside. He tossed his hat on a chair and followed her into the dining room. Two of her hands were just finishing up when they entered.
“José, Ben, how are things in the cattle business?” Cotton said.
“Very good, Sheriff. Looks like you doin’ okay, yourself,” José said and grinned.
With hands on her hips, Emily shot them both a squinty-eyed frown. The two left the table so quickly one nearly knocked over his chair.
Chapter 17
I n the morning, as Cotton was shaving, Emily slipped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his chest. He lowered the straight razor to avoid accidentally cutting his own throat in case she wanted to start the day with more than a hug. When she pulled away and turned her back to him, she sounded pensive as she said, “Cotton, I couldn’t sleep all night. Kept tossing and turning, worrying about that man. Who was he and what did he want?”
“I’m not certain, but until I know, I’m not going to let it spook me. And you shouldn’t, either. I’ll be fine. But in case he does prove to be a threat, I want you to have Henry Coyote around at all times, except when I’m here, of course.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “I don’t think you realize how worried I am for you, Cotton Burke, but I’ll do as you say.”
She left as he continued
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