Much Ado About Marshals (Hearts of Owyhee) (2011) Read Online Free PDF Page A

across the head with it.
    “And another thing—you should be much more organized with your accounts. I shall speak to Mr. Gardner about it.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Daisy replied, keeping her voice calm as she turned the pages to Mrs. Courtney’s account. The widow was hopelessly in the red, but Daisy doubted the haughty woman even knew it. Her father had said that widows needed a little extra help in the winter months. Last year he crossed off her remaining debt and started her anew for the spring. He’d probably do the same this year.
    “Five dozen eggs and three pounds of butter,” the widow reiterated.
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Now, about that marshal. I strongly suggest that the city withhold his pay until he is completely recovered.”
    “But then he’d leave, and we still wouldn’t have a lawman.”
    “Bah! If he’s honest, he won’t take money he hasn’t earned. This will be a test, won’t it?”
    Daisy finished recording the merchandise trade. Yes, Mrs. Courtney tested Daisy’s patience, no doubt about that. “All finished, ma’am. May I help you with anything else?”
    “You already said that.” She pivoted away from Daisy, stuck her nose in the air, and marched out.
    Sarah stepped up to the counter. “Do you think she’s telling everyone that the marshal’s half a man?”
    Daisy nodded. “Your dad’s right. She needs a nap.”
     
    “Ya hear that? I’m gonna be the new deputy of Oreana!” Bosco slapped his knee and jumped out of his chair, then sat back down.
    Cole closed his eyes and pressed his hand to his forehead. “Bosco, wipe that goofy grin off your face and get me out of this damned place. Now .”
    “Hell’s fire! He’s gonna swear me in, same time’s you.”
    “I won’t be sworn in, and neither will you.” Cole sat up, wincing from the pain in his thigh. “It’s not honest.” He cast his best glower at Bosco, who seemed oblivious to the impending danger of discovery.
    But Cole hadn’t forgotten. Not for a minute. He had to stay away from Daisy’s sister at all costs. Daisy, too, for that matter. That woman scared the hell out of him.
    “Bosco, I just want to know how in all fire blazes you got me into this mess in the first place. You know very well that it’s flat out not honorable for me to accept the marshal job, especially with the law after us.”
    “Oh, I had a powerful thirst, what with the dust and all, so I stuck you under a bush and rode into town. But before I so much as got to the saloon, this little scrawny feller run full-tilt out of the telegraph office hollering for Miss Daisy, saying the marshal was riding in, ‘cepting he had a wounded leg. Said he’s a big ‘un, too. So I brung you on in.”
    “You lied to Miss Daisy? First you try to rob a bank to stop them from financing the miners—not too damned smart of a plan in the first place—then you lie and tell her I’m the blasted marshal?”
    “I swear,” Bosco stood at attention and put his hand over his heart, “that I didn’t lie. Cross my heart and hope to die.” He drew an imaginary X across his chest. “I didn’t tell no one that you was the marshal. No, sirree. Miss Daisy figgered you was the marshal. All’s I did was not say elsewise.”
    Cole had to get home—now—to uphold his duty to his brother. Because of Cole’s own foolishness, Thomas couldn’t support his wife, Etta, and baby daughter. Cole sure as shootin’ couldn’t run the ranch from a jail cell—or dangling from a rope.
    “You got us in a fine pickle.” He doubted his scolding sank in since Bosco was so pleased to be deputy. “Iris could identify us at any time. Hell, she might even come in with her father to swear us in. Then what do you plan to do?”
    Bosco flashed a toothless grin. “She ain’t coming in. I heard the doc say he wanted to spark her some tonight. ‘Course, I’m thinking the little lady’ll tell him to tie it in a knot. She’s scarier than a bumblebee on a baby’s butt. I heard her