Tempting the Marshal: (A Western Historical Romance) (Dodge City Brides Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

a rickety buckboard came to a slow stop in front of the doctor’s office. A young boy hopped down and landed with a thud on the dry street. An older woman set the brake and tied the reins, and with some difficulty, wiggled her wide bottom down from the high seat.
    Before Fletcher had a chance to stand, the door opened. “Where’s my ma?” the boy asked in a panic, pausing in the open doorway. “She was shot.” Fletcher stared into the same wide-eyed, fearful innocence that had thrown him off balance in the back room a few minutes ago.
    “I just met your ma. She’s fine. What’s your name?”
    “Leo.” His shoulders relaxed slightly.
    The older woman appeared behind him. “Go inside and close the door, Leo. The mosquitoes are getting in.”
    As they moved into the dimly lit room, Fletcher managed to rise to his feet, silently cursing his sore leg. When the woman noticed him, she pulled her black shawl tighter around her shoulders and raised her chin. “You’re not the doctor.”
    “No, ma’am. I’m the new marshal. And you are…?”
    “Shouldn’t you be out looking for the man who shot Mrs. O’Malley? From what I hear, and no thanks to you, he’s roaming the town as free as a wild prairie dog.”
    Fletcher’s annoyance doubled as he hopped to keep his balance. “It’s being taken care of. And your name is…?”
    Indignantly, she lifted her double chin even higher.
    Her cheeks were fleshy and red like a couple of ripe tomatoes. “I’m Matilda Honeyworth. I work for Mrs. O’Malley. Where is she?”
    Fletcher gestured toward the back room. “The doctor’s with her.”
    “Can I see her?” Leo asked, his dark eyebrows drawn together with worry.
    When Fletcher remembered the tragic details about the late Mr. O’Malley, his heart went out to the boy. He must have been terrified when he heard about his mother. “You’ll have to ask the doctor, son. He should be out in a minute or two.”
    Leo leaned into the front hall and tried to peer past the stairs. “So you’re the new marshal?” He turned to Fletcher and held out his hand. “I’m a rancher.”
    “Is that right?” Fletcher replied, trying to suppress a smile that might insult the young man’s proud spirit. “I’m Fletcher Collins.” He shook the boy’s hand.
    “Did you see it happen?” Leo asked.
    “If you mean did I see your ma get shot, no, I’m afraid I didn’t.”
    “But you saw the rest of it? Were you there? Is that why you got that bandage around your head?”
    “Leo! That’s none of our business!” Mrs. Honeyworth scolded.
    Leo ignored the reprimand. “Did you shoot anyone?”
    “Leo!”
    “Gunfighting’s a serious matter, son. I do my best to avoid it. When I can.”
    Dr. Green walked into the room and stopped in the doorway. “Mrs. Honeyworth, it was good of you to come.”
    “How’s my ma?” Leo asked.
    The doc smiled down at him. “She’s going to be fine, Leo. Would you like to see her?”
    “Yes!”
    “Come this way, both of you.”
    Fletcher watched them walk down the hall. He limped to the bench and sat down again, looking out the window at the slowly brightening sky, then he rubbed his tired eyes and listened to the quiet laughter coming from the back room. They seemed like a nice enough family. Obviously been through a lot lately.
    Hell, he didn’t want to tarnish Mrs. O’Malley’s reputation any more than it was already, especially after meeting her son, but the lover she was protecting might have seen something that would help solve this case. Was Fletcher to set aside his personal oath to uphold the law because he felt sorry for her and her son? Wasn’t that the same kind of thing that had caused his own father’s tragic death?
    Fletcher pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. It was impossible to leave that rock unturned, he knew. The way things stood at the moment, he had nothing to go on, not a single shred of a clue, and that didn’t help his present mood. It was the kind of