The Reluctant Hero Read Online Free PDF Page B

feel like beneath his fingers. “I’m just a little slow getting started this morning. Make yourself comfortable while I see to my morning duties .”
    He went to the stove in the corner, lit the wood he’d shoved into it last night, and set the coffeepot in place. He needed coffee bad. While it was heating, he walked to the small back room where he lived and lit the lamp that sat on a table beside his bed. Other than his horse, his spring bed was his most prized possession. He’d ordered it from the Montgomery Ward catalog for two dollars and seventy-five cents. Unfortunately, the damned freight charges to have the thing delivered had darn near sent him to the poor house.
    He went over to the washstand and poured water from the ceramic pitcher into the ceramic bowl. He turned around, came up short at the sight of the woman in his doorway, then marched past her to the stove.
    â€œWhy don’t you take a seat by my desk?” he suggested.
    â€œNothing interesting happening at your desk.”
    He wrapped a small towel around the handle on his coffeepot and took it back to his room. “Nothing interesting happening here as far as I can see either.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked.
    â€œHeating up my shaving water.” He poured a little of the hot water in and carried the pot back to the stove. He opened the lid and dumped in some coffee grounds. “Coffee’ll be ready soon.”
    He returned to his room, stirred up his shaving lather, lifted the brush, looked in the mirror, and nearly yelped at the sight of her unexpected reflection as she stood in side his room, peering over his shoulder. Slowly, he turned. “What are you doing?”
    â€œObserving your day.”
    â€œI didn’t watch you get ready.”
    â€œAnd I wouldn’t be watching you if you hadn’t started your morning by lollygagging.”
    â€œDon’t push me, lady.”
    â€œDon’t push you? You told me that I’d suffer consequences if I wasn’t here early enough. So here I am. Now you can suffer the consequences for not being ready.”
    He heaved a sigh, reluctant to go back on his word. He had told her to be here or else. Well, she was here, so the or else fell to him now.
    â€œIt’s unseemly for you to watch me,” he said, conviction ringing in his voice.
    â€œI’ve watched my father shave.”
    â€œThen you don’t need to watch me.”
    He turned back around and began lathering his face. Dang fool woman stood right where she was. Paper and pencil suddenly visible in her hands. They must have been hidden within the folds of her skirt. Rolling his eyes, he picked up his straight razor, wondering if slitting his own throat might be the way to go this morning.
    â€œHow long have you been sheriff?” she asked.
    He glared at her reflection in the mirror, before tipping up his chin and scraping the razor along his neck. “Long enough.”
    â€œLong enough for what?”
    â€œTo be good at what I do.”
    â€œWhich is what, exactly?”
    â€œGuess you’ll know by the end of the day. How long are you planning on staying in town?”
    â€œLong enough.”
    He ground his teeth together to keep himself from smiling. She looked so danged pleased with herself, throwing his words back at him. If she just didn’t look at him as though he was a hero, her being here might not be so bothersome.
    She’d gone back to scribbling. What could she be writing about? She wasn’t asking questions. Whatever had possessed him last night to invite her to spend the day with him? He’d done it because he hadn’t thought she’d show. She was a tenacious little thing.
    â€œWhat are you writing?” he asked, as he finished scraping away his beard, reached for the towel, and wiped away the last of the soap.
    â€œI’m just making notes about your sparse surroundings. Do you think all sheriffs live as