Page 53 of The Sheriff and the Outlaw

Daxton turned to face him. “He said he had to run an errand and took the day off. He’s been working so much that I told him to go when he asked.”

“Sherriff.” Mr. Carson stepped closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Be careful with him. There’s something about him that I don’t trust.”

Daxton raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why’s that?”

Mr. Carson shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I get an uneasy feeling when he comes into the store. He walks around and picks up things, as if appraising how much everything is worth. And he takes notice every time the register rings.”

Daxton narrowed his eyes. “How often does he come in?”

Mr. Carson let out a deep breath. “While you were gone, several times a day.”

“I’ll have a talk with him.” Anger welled up within his chest. He knew that James was getting on the shopkeepers’ nerves, but he had no idea it was this bad. “I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again. He shouldn’t be coming into your store at all unless he needs something.”

Mr. Carson nodded. “Thanks, Sheriff.”

Daxton walked off, his boots pounding rhythmically against the wooden planks. As he headed down the walkway, nodding to the shopkeepers and passers by, he wondered how the towncame upon the gossip of Josey so quickly. Who knows? Andrew may have innocently told Shawn and then he told his mother, and so on. Daxton sighed. It was bound to come out anyway.

When he finished his rounds, he went back to the Sheriff’s Office and sat on one of the rocking chairs out front. He decided that he couldn’t walk around the town anymore that day. With James, the shop keepers had had enough of prying eyes.

Daxton had found a piece of wood while he was walking, so he pulled out his pocketknife and began whittling. He used to whittle a lot when he was a child but hadn’t done it in years. But now, he thought he’d make something for Josey, although he wasn’t sure what.

As he whittled, thinking of her, he looked at the wood and it seemed that it wanted to be a cross. He had a knack for looking at a piece of wood and seeing what was locked inside, what it wanted to be. It sounded crazy, he knew, but each time he completed his vision and listened to the wood, the piece always came out much prettier.

Before long, he had a small, wooden cross. He vowed to sand it and polish it before giving it to Josey, but he was already pleased with his work.

Later that night, Josey had dinner ready when he came home from work. It was nice coming home to a clean house and the children dressed and clean. Although the children had done a good job of keeping the house and taking care of things over the past few years, it was nice to have a woman’s touch.

The next morning, he woke before sunrise, so as to get an early start to Laramie. It was the day of the rodeo, and the children were excited. He made a pot of coffee, and it was ready when Josey came out of the bedroom.

“Do I smell coffee?” she asked, smiling.

Daxton handed her a cup. “Yes, you do.” He poured one for himself, too. “I thought we’d get an early start to Laramie.”

“Drive carefully,” Josey replied, and then took a sip of her coffee.

“Josey, I’d like for you to go to Laramie with us today, too,” Daxton gently broached the subject.

Josey shook her head. “No, I’d really rather stay home. There’s some things I’d like to catch up on.”

Daxton liked the way she had referred to his house as her home, too. In fact, he liked it a bit too much. He lowered his voice. “Josey, I don’t want you to be here alone.” He didn’t want to say it, but in case her husband showed up while he was gone. Even though he knew it wasn’t his place, he didn’t want Josey to have to face him alone.

She nodded, understanding. “I’ll be fine. You go ahead and enjoy yourself with the children and don’t worry about me.”

“Josey, it would be nice for you to get away with us,” he insisted, taking her hands into his own. “And if you’re worried about running into him at the rodeo, I’ll be there. Actually, I’d feel better if I was there when you see him again.”

“I won’t see him,” Josey said flatly and then headed into the kitchen and started making breakfast.

Daxton walked up behind her and took the skillet carefully from her hands. “Josey, please. Come with us.”

“Yes, come with us.”

Daxton looked around and Andrew was standing there.

“What’s everyone doing up?” Lillian came out of her room, rubbing her eyes.

“Today’s the rodeo!” Andrew announced. “And Josey’s coming with us!”

Lillian’s eyes widened. “Really?”

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