Page 12 of The Marshal's Bride
“And you like it here?”
Sam scratched his jaw wondering where she was going with her questioning. “I like what I’ve seen so far. Nebraska Territory is a big area. I’ve not actually determined where my office will be. I guess I could operate out of anywhere. Grand Platte. Last Chance. Lincoln. I heard Omaha is nice. Lots happening in a big city.”
“True, but small towns have a certain charm.”
“Last Chance is a small town.”
“Don’t be simple, Sam. I like you. Weston likes you. Don’t make me not like you.” She raised her eyebrow. “Understand me?”
Sam tried not to laugh.Did she just threaten him?He bet she didn’t weigh seventy-five pounds soaking wet and she was staring down at him as if she was going to ask him to select a switch from the creek. He bit the inside of his cheek, so he didn’t grin. “Yes ma’am,” he said solemnly.
“Flat River is the perfect small town to raise a family.”
“I don’t have a wife, Mrs. Chapman.”
“Perhaps it’s time to rectify that. There are a lot of reasons to get married; love, partnership, protection, power, and property are just a few. God didn’t make man to live and thrive alone.” She raised an eyebrow, and he took the bait.
“I have not been stationary long enough to find a partner. I saw that you spoke with Widow McGuthry this morning, and Mr. Chapman has already given me advice on how to approach you about a match, should I want to put my hat in the ring. So, let’s shoot straight. I don’t need to be warmed up to the idea of you setting up the match. I am doing my best to respect her mourning period and am aware of how rapidly gossip spreads in this town. What are your thoughts?”
“I do have a few ideas. How about a cup of coffee? Has it been sitting there all day?”
“No ma’am. It was freshly made not too long ago.”
“Good. Now I suggest you start calling me Marmee.”
“Yes ma’am,” Sam grinned. He stood and collected two coffee cups and the coffee pot before settling at the table across from her to hear the plan.
It had been an hour since Marmee left, and Sam looked up from the list he was writing when the sheriff’s door opened again.
Clearly, today was a busy day in Flat River.
“Is she gone yet?” Whit’s head poked around the corner, laughter dancing in his eyes.
Sam threw a crumpled-up paper at his friend. It hit the wall and fell harmlessly to the floor. Whit wasn’t in any danger of being hit, but there was something cathartic about tossing the paper. Maybe he needed to get out of town and expend some energy.
“I cannot believe that you left me here to deal with that on my own,” he growled.
He wasn’t angry, so much as surprised at just how quick Mrs. Chapman was. Two in-depth conversations with the Chapmans were more than he’d been prepared for today. Now he couldn’t decide if he needed to shoot something, or go fall on his knees and ask Justine to marry him. This wasn’t what he’d had on his schedule when he woke up today.
Whitney moved inside the office, leaving the door open so the cooler air could circulate inside. Pulling out a chair from the side table, he moved it closer to the wall and sat down before leaning back on two legs.
“You don’t understand,” Whitney began. “I met Marmee when I was about thirteen. Same time I met Ma.” Sam raised his eyebrow but didn’t say a word. “My Pa catted around with another woman and my real Ma had died. I didn’t have anywhere to go. He didn’t even know I was born until my real Ma died and I set out to find him. He wasn’t too happy about me showing up, and neither were his wife and kids. I remember sleeping in the barn for the first month I was there.”
“Then Marmee found out and let’s just say everything broke loose. The woman I now know as Ma and Marmee were best friends, thick as thieves. Marmee was the only person who really looked out for me. She set my new Ma straight on a few things, and I had family again. If I ever got in trouble, Marmee or Weston would be the first people I went to. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my Ma and I love my brothers and sisters, but if you are ever in trouble, then the Chapmans are the ones you want standing by your side. They’ve done a lot of good in this town, and most of that is Marmee. Yes, it might be Weston’s money, but it is all Marmee’s heart. I know better than to get in the middle of whatever she’s working on unless it’s necessary. If you can’t take care of yourself, well, I might need a new marshal.” Whitney lowered himself into a chair, and guffawed as he noticed Sam squirming.
Sam waited until Whitney composed himself before asking the question that had settled in his heart. “Is she ever wrong?”
“In general? Or in her matches? Because I don’t know that she’s been wrong with a marriage recommendation yet, but I’m sure she’s made errors in life over the years.”
Standing up, Sam collected the notes he’d been writing, grabbed his hat, and settled it on his head. “So how do I go tell a woman that I want to marry her so that no one else can?”
Whit straightened, his eyes becoming serious. “Not like that.”
“Yeah, definitely don’t do that.” A voice pulled their attention to the front door once more.
Sam shook his head. “With the amount of people surprising me in this building today, maybe you need a new marshal. I feel like I’m training again and caught unawares.”
“To be fair, I make my living by reading a room. So, I hear that you’re thinking about proposing to a gal.” Spades Matthews grinned, shifting to the chair in the corner. “At least you’re both here, and I don’t have to go far.”
