This Violent Land by William W. Johnstone

said, passing a list over to the merchant.
    â€œI’ll be glad to.”
    â€œI’ll not be riding back up to the cabin with you,” Smoke said to Preacher a moment later as Schemerhorn was moving about the store, gathering the supplies on Smoke’s list.
    â€œI figured as much,” Preacher replied.
    â€œIt’s just that, if I’m going to deputy for Marshal Holloway, I don’t think I should be taking too much time away.”
    â€œTell the old coot I said hello when you get back there.”
    â€œOld coot?” Smoke laughed, then took a swallow of his beer. “Funny, that’s just what he called you.”
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    PSR Ranch, office, near Bury
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    â€œGovernor of the Territory of Idaho,” Wiley Potter said. “How does that sound?”
    â€œDo you think Governor Bennett is going to just step aside and let you be the governor?” Stratton asked.
    â€œI know he’s plannin’ on givin’ it up. That means there will have to be a new governor.”
    â€œYou forget, governors of territories ain’t elected,” Richards said. “They are appointed by the President, and Grant is the President. There ain’t no Yankee general gonna give an appointment like that to someone who fought for the South.”
    Potter chuckled. “We wasn’t exactly what you would call loyal to the South. Besides which, ever’one knows that his brother-in-law, Corbin, can get anything from Grant you want, if you pay him enough.”
    â€œHow much is enough?” Stratton asked.
    â€œI don’t know, but however much it is, it’ll be worth it. Just think about what I can do for all our business enterprises if I’m the governor.”
    â€œHe has a point, Muley,” Richards said.
    They heard someone come into the house.
    â€œJaney, is that you?” Richards called.
    She stepped into the ranch office to join Richards and the others. “Yes.”
    â€œJaney, pour the four of us a drink,” Richards said, pointing to the liquor cabinet. “We’re celebrating.”
    â€œWhat are we celebrating?”
    â€œWiley, here, is going to be our new governor,” Stratton said.
    Janey smiled. “Really? When did that happen?”
    Richards shrugged. “It hasn’t happened yet. But it’s going to happen.”
    â€œWell then, why don’t we drink to it when it does happen?” she suggested.
    Stratton laughed. “Josh, this woman sure has control over you, doesn’t she?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Richards answered. “Do you have control over me, Janey?”
    She walked over to him, then leaned into him and kissed him. “What do you think, my sweet?”
    â€œBoys, I think maybe Janey is right. We’ll drink to Wiley being governor when he has the presidential appointment in hand.”
    Hearing the laughter behind her, Janey walked up the stairs to her room. More than a room, it was a suite, almost a private apartment. She had a bedroom, a sitting room, a private bathing room with running water and a wood-burning stove to heat water for her bath. Financially, she had it better than she had ever had it at any time in her entire life. But there was more to living than just being financially secure.
    She thought of the families she had seen during her recent trip to Denver. Men and women, happily married, with children. Even as she thought of it, she realized that it was something she would never have.
    She knew that Richards would marry her—he had suggested it more than once—but somewhere in the back of her mind was the idea that one should be in love before getting married. She loved the luxury Josh Richards was able to provide for her, but she didn’t love him .
    Also, she knew that if they did get married the relationship between them would change, drastically, and not for the better. As his wife, Richards would have authority over her, and she had no