Tempting the Marshal: (A Western Historical Romance) (Dodge City Brides Series Book 2) by Julianne MacLean
Authors: Julianne MacLean
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faring?”
His question caught her off guard, and she had to remind herself of the role she must play. “I’m much better, thank you.”
Zeb rested his hand on Fletcher’s shoulder. “I have every confidence that this man’s presence will discourage such crimes in the future. It’s why I brought him here in the first place.”
Fletcher responded in good humor. “I thought it was because my sister missed me.”
Elizabeth approached from behind. “Oh, but it was, dear brother. You have no idea how I hounded my husband about it. He had no choice but to finally give in.”
Fletcher walked to the edge of the platform. “Leo, come and meet my sister.” The boy ran around to the stairs while Fletcher began the introductions. “Mrs. O’Malley, this is my sister, Elizabeth Stone.”
Too much was happening at once. Jo had not wanted any of this. She had only wanted to get her bag out of the privy floor and return home again. How had she ended up here, shaking hands with the woman she had tried to make a widow? “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Stone.”
“No, it’s my pleasure, Mrs. O’Malley. My brother spoke to me about you, and I can assure you he plans to do everything in his power to apprehend the man who shot you. I was beside myself thinking of it. You, my brother and my husband, all nearly killed in one shootout.”
Jo found it increasingly difficult to look into this woman’s kind eyes. She seemed so different from Zeb. How had she ended up as his wife? She could not possibly know the truth.
Fletcher affectionately rested his hand on Leo’s shoulder and introduced him to Elizabeth. They shook hands, then Elizabeth turned to Jo.
“Will you come for tea sometime? I’m starting an embroidery club on Tuesday evenings if you would like to join us. Tonight we’re meeting at the Presbyterian church on Central Avenue at seven o’clock.”
Scrambling for a polite reply, Jo smiled. “I shouldn’t commit myself. Things are busy on the ranch this time of year and so much has fallen upon my shoulders….” An awkward silence ensued until Leo offered a needless explanation. “My pa died last winter.”
Elizabeth nodded serenely. “I’m very sorry about that. Unfortunately, I know what it’s like to lose someone you love.” She directed her gaze at Jo, who felt shaken. “Will you at least stop by for tea when you are in town next?”
After a long pause, Jo gave in. “Of course.” She felt Zeb’s inquisitive stare.
Elizabeth kissed her brother on the cheek. “We’ll see you at supper, Fletcher? We missed you last night.” Smiling, she headed for the stairs. “I must go and speak to Mrs. Jennings about this evening. Excuse me. It was a pleasure meeting you both.” She descended from the platform and met an older woman at the bottom. Jo watched them converse, envious of such a simple existence where the greatest concern was in acquiring the proper color thread.
She glanced back at Leo. “We must be getting home. There’s work to do.” She turned to go, hoping the departure would not be difficult.
“But wait,” Leo called after her. She halted, closing her eyes with sinking hopes. “I need to talk to Mr. Stone.”
Jo wheeled around, and felt the impatient crowd listening and staring, waiting for her response. “I’m sure he’s very busy, Leo. Perhaps another time.”
She stood tall and silent, willing Leo with her eyes to follow, but knowing she would have to remain and control the damage to come.
“What is it, son?” Zeb asked, resting his hand on Leo’s shoulder. The intimate gesture made Jo’s skin prickle.
Leo looked up at him hopefully. “The men who killed my father were never caught. Now that you’re going to be mayor, I thought you might be able to do something about it.”
Revealing nothing, he replied, “Such as?”
“You could spread word around. Marshal Collins said he’d help, and if he becomes sheriff, then—” Zeb’s eyes darted suspiciously at his
His question caught her off guard, and she had to remind herself of the role she must play. “I’m much better, thank you.”
Zeb rested his hand on Fletcher’s shoulder. “I have every confidence that this man’s presence will discourage such crimes in the future. It’s why I brought him here in the first place.”
Fletcher responded in good humor. “I thought it was because my sister missed me.”
Elizabeth approached from behind. “Oh, but it was, dear brother. You have no idea how I hounded my husband about it. He had no choice but to finally give in.”
Fletcher walked to the edge of the platform. “Leo, come and meet my sister.” The boy ran around to the stairs while Fletcher began the introductions. “Mrs. O’Malley, this is my sister, Elizabeth Stone.”
Too much was happening at once. Jo had not wanted any of this. She had only wanted to get her bag out of the privy floor and return home again. How had she ended up here, shaking hands with the woman she had tried to make a widow? “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Stone.”
“No, it’s my pleasure, Mrs. O’Malley. My brother spoke to me about you, and I can assure you he plans to do everything in his power to apprehend the man who shot you. I was beside myself thinking of it. You, my brother and my husband, all nearly killed in one shootout.”
Jo found it increasingly difficult to look into this woman’s kind eyes. She seemed so different from Zeb. How had she ended up as his wife? She could not possibly know the truth.
Fletcher affectionately rested his hand on Leo’s shoulder and introduced him to Elizabeth. They shook hands, then Elizabeth turned to Jo.
“Will you come for tea sometime? I’m starting an embroidery club on Tuesday evenings if you would like to join us. Tonight we’re meeting at the Presbyterian church on Central Avenue at seven o’clock.”
Scrambling for a polite reply, Jo smiled. “I shouldn’t commit myself. Things are busy on the ranch this time of year and so much has fallen upon my shoulders….” An awkward silence ensued until Leo offered a needless explanation. “My pa died last winter.”
Elizabeth nodded serenely. “I’m very sorry about that. Unfortunately, I know what it’s like to lose someone you love.” She directed her gaze at Jo, who felt shaken. “Will you at least stop by for tea when you are in town next?”
After a long pause, Jo gave in. “Of course.” She felt Zeb’s inquisitive stare.
Elizabeth kissed her brother on the cheek. “We’ll see you at supper, Fletcher? We missed you last night.” Smiling, she headed for the stairs. “I must go and speak to Mrs. Jennings about this evening. Excuse me. It was a pleasure meeting you both.” She descended from the platform and met an older woman at the bottom. Jo watched them converse, envious of such a simple existence where the greatest concern was in acquiring the proper color thread.
She glanced back at Leo. “We must be getting home. There’s work to do.” She turned to go, hoping the departure would not be difficult.
“But wait,” Leo called after her. She halted, closing her eyes with sinking hopes. “I need to talk to Mr. Stone.”
Jo wheeled around, and felt the impatient crowd listening and staring, waiting for her response. “I’m sure he’s very busy, Leo. Perhaps another time.”
She stood tall and silent, willing Leo with her eyes to follow, but knowing she would have to remain and control the damage to come.
“What is it, son?” Zeb asked, resting his hand on Leo’s shoulder. The intimate gesture made Jo’s skin prickle.
Leo looked up at him hopefully. “The men who killed my father were never caught. Now that you’re going to be mayor, I thought you might be able to do something about it.”
Revealing nothing, he replied, “Such as?”
“You could spread word around. Marshal Collins said he’d help, and if he becomes sheriff, then—” Zeb’s eyes darted suspiciously at his
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