Page 5 of Home to the Cowboy's Arms

“Interesting interpretation of the law,” was her comment. She passed the basket of rolls to their guest.

“I thought so.” Matt grinned, next taking the basket and helping himself. “Cade, these rolls are a whole food group in themselves. Take another.” And the guest/defendant did just that.

For the next few minutes, eating was the order of the day. Tori was grateful for that. And she had already made a mental note to discuss a certain topic with her brother once they had an alone moment. Such as checking in with the hostess before surprising her with a dinner guest.

“That was just what I needed.” Matt grinned again while rubbing his very full stomach. “I’ll have to take that slice of pecan pie, or two, with me for a bedtime snack. How about you, Cade?”

“Would that be one of those pies that Tillie has over at the café? It looks a lot like one of them and they are indeed tasty. Tillie always has the best pies of anyone in town.”

“Really? You think so? The best pies in town?” Tori was pleased that Cade was so easy to draw into her trap. She actually smiled at the man. Which drew a quizzical look from him in return. But he took the next step blindly.

“Sorry if that might bruise the ego, Mayor. But I know you wouldn’t disagree that one of Tillie’s pies is hard to beat.”

“I wouldn’t disagree at all. I’m pleased to hear you say so. I shall certainly take the compliment.”

Cade looked confused. And Matt couldn’t leave well enough alone any longer. His hand landed a pat on Cade’s shoulder. “Hate to see a man fall so easily into my dear sister’s trap. But that isn’t Tillie’s pie on your plate. In fact, each time you eat a pie at the café…you are eating a pie baked right here in this kitchen. The baker is sending you one of hergotchasmiles at the moment.”

The light dawned across the rancher’s face. “Youdid this?”

“Indeed. I did do that pie and all those others that you just proclaimed the best ever. It’s a little hobby of mine, you might say. So now, when you go into Tillie’s and order that slab of pie, you will think of me. Isn’t that nice?” Her feigned sweet smile was perfect…in her judgment. The look in his narrowed gaze told her that he might not agree on that point. Matt pushed out of his chair and broke the moment.

“I’ve got to finish up a thing or two at the office and then want to check on Jillie at the sleepover at Janie Wilcox’s house…covertly of course. Heaven help me if she catches her dad doing such a thing.” He grinned and shrugged. “But then, I can’t help it if a report came in and I just happened to have a call in the same block…across the street even.”

“Always nice to see that devious streak is still there…even as you grow old.” Tori stood and gave him a hug.

“I’m beginning to see a definite family resemblance in the both of you,” Cade said, shaking his head as he joined the pair at the back door.

“We’ll take that as a compliment,” Matt said, taking his hat from the hat rack beside the door and pulling it down upon his head. Cade did likewise.

“So, what’s the decision, Miss Plaintiff? I was about to forget the business that brought us here.”

“I was wondering about that. Glad to see you remembered your duty, Sheriff,” Tori responded, with a glance at the tall cowboy standing in silent regard of her. The girls in the office were wrong was the sudden thought that took over her brain. Those eyes were a deep sapphire blue…not just a dark blue as they opined.And snap out of it!The color of his eyes made no difference in the matter.

“A firm warning will do…this time. So, you can cut him loose, Sheriff. I trust he has learned a valuable lesson. And knows that an appointment is always the best idea…unless one has tried that and gotten nowhere.” He wasn’t going to catch her out so easily. “Do give my favorite niece a hug and kiss for me when she gets home.”

Cade gave a slow smile that had the oddest effect on her coherent thought process. “Indeed, I have, Sheriff. I have seen a whole other side of our mayor this evening. And garnered some interesting information. I do appreciate the mercy you showed this lawbreaker this evening.”

“And on that note, we won’t push our luck any further. See you tomorrow, sis. Lock up tight.” And the two men left her to do just that.

Chapter Four

Tori wished shehad reconsidered and taken a second pill for her headache before she left the house that morning. She hadn’t slept much, tossing and turning. Finally, she had given in and gotten up before the alarm sounded the usual six a.m. morning wakeup. It was a sluggish start to an already full day ahead of meetings, a ribbon cutting on the new dry cleaners in town, a working lunch with the very busy event planning group, and the list went on and on in her brain. The throbbing at her temple had arrived about the same time as the departure of the uninvited dinner guest the previous evening.

What was it about the man that just seemed to tilt her mood in the opposite direction from what it should be? Granted, he was somewhat full of himself—somewhat? Make thata lot fullof himself—and wasn’t hesitant in stating his opinions regardless of what others might be thinking. He had a knack for taking whatever position on a given subject that was in direct opposition to hers. Had his losing to her, a mere female, been that much of an irritant to his plans? He wasn’t even planning to run, she was told, until she showed up as the only candidate. A spoiled cowboy with an ego too big for his Stetson was not her problem. He agreed that he had learned a lesson last evening and that was that. But somehow she would have to see proof of that one.

The brakes worked quite well as her foot stomped on them to the floorboard. Her front fender could be barely an inch from the fender belonging to an all-too-familiar big black truck…one that was parked dead center inherreserved parking space…again! Was the man that insane? Or just that much of an ego-maniacal fool? Did he think she was bluffing? That a smile over the dinner table would sway her opinion? Well, she would end thisright now. Jerking her phone from her bag, she hit a number that was on speed dial. Her instructions were short and sweet and delivered with a gleeful feeling that seemed to have pushed aside her headache. Hanging up, she circled the courthouse and found a space on the opposite side, directly across from Tillie’s Café. And her smile became even more pronounced as she drew the strap of her briefcase over her shoulder and in determined steps headed toward the café upon catching sight of someone she needed to share the news of the day with.

The bell over the doorway tingled its greeting along with the woman’s verbal one as she stepped inside the busy café, the morning crowd busy with breakfasts and pots of fresh coffee.

“Hi, Tillie,” she returned the greeting of the waitress behind the counter.

“Hiya, Mayor Parker. I bet you want your usual?”

“Not today. Just needing to say a quick word to that gentleman right over there. Thanks anyway.” And she headed toward the man seated with his back to her, the person she recognized from across the street as he was seated almost dead center in front of the plate glass window of the eating establishment. There were two other men seated with him and they caught sight of her first and voiced their welcome.

“Well hello, Tori. Would you care to join us?” That came from Donald Mayes, the president of the largest bank in town. And Steven Haygood, the chairman of the local hospital added his invitation as well. Both men stood in the way of well-mannered country-born gentlemen reared by country mothers who demanded no less from their family males.

“Thanks, but not today, gentlemen. Please do sit and finish your food. I just thought I would stop in and say hello and hope you all have a good day today…especially Mr. Lockwood here.”

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