Page 35 of Kissing the Sheriff
“No, but Dora and Alma were. If they can’t find our sheriff when they need you, then the position should be given to someone else.” She turned to her husband. “Isn’t that right, Francis?”
Mr. Featherstone peeked over the book he now held in his hands. “Now Agnes, don’t jump to conclusions. We don’t know if they were looking for her because of sheriff business.”
“Why else would they need her?” Agnes snapped.
“The dance comes to mind.” Cassie smiled again.
“Dance. Poppycock!” Agnes spat. “Who thought to have a dance?”
“Alma. And Dora.”
Agnes narrowed her eyes. “Oh, did they? Well, we’ll see about that. The last thing this town needs is for its residents to have their minds filled with frolic.”
“As I recall, you enjoyed the Smythes’ barn raising as much as the next person.”
“That was years ago, and besides, it was before the incident.” Agnes marched back to her chair and sat. “Be off. Go arrest someone.”
Cassie laughed. “Like who?”
“One of those Englishmen, to start. I still don’t trust them.”
“They mowed the orchards for you. You trusted them then. And to think, you didn’t have to dip into the town treasury to pay them.”
Agnes’ face reddened. “I still don’t trust them.”
“Then I suggest you don’t ask them for any favors.” Cassie headed up the street. Agnes would squeeze what she could out of Conrad and his brothers, so long as she didn’t have to pay them, then get rid of them. If she couldn’t use them herself, she’d push them to leave. Never mind that they were still helping others.
Her heart went out to the woman. What a miserable way to live, using people to meet one’s own ends. But that was Agnes, and she would never change barring some sort of revelation.
When she reached home, she sat on her own porch and admired the new boards. She’d have to paint them at some point – or maybe Conrad would do it for her. She smiled. Better yet, she could paint the porch with him.
When she went inside, she straightened up a few things in the kitchen before going upstairs to bed. She wanted to get up early and bake cookies for Conrad and Billy. She had to admit, Conrad wasn’t what she expected. He hadn’t flirted the way she thought he would, nor had he made any advances that would make her slap his face. Maybe she’d read him wrong.
She put on her nightdress, crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling. What if she let herself enjoy his company while he was here? Problem was, she might like it. Even if she and Conrad were no more than friends, how would she cope? It was hard enough dealing with Pa’s death. The loss of a friend wasn’t much different, was it? If Letty decided to go to England, would it be like losing Pa all over again? She’d miss her terribly. Maybe she could scrape up enough money to visit.
Her mind drifted back to Conrad. What if he was married with a family of his own by then? Cassie sighed and shut her eyes. Okay, so what if she was too? She couldn’t picture herself married. The void in her heart was too big for any one man to fill. Yet spending time with Conrad and Billy helped, and for that she was grateful. She just had to remember that it wouldn’t last.
The next morning, she baked cookies and waited on the front porch for Conrad and Billy to show up. She smiled as they came up the front walk. “Good morning.”
Conrad waved. “I’m surprised you’re still here.” He trotted up the porch steps. “I’m glad you are. Dora and Letty said they’ll come by the sheriff’s office later today to discuss the dance.”
“That must be why Dora and Alma were looking for me last night.”
“Yes … wait a minute, how did you find out?”
“Agnes. She’s not happy about the town having a dance.”
“My, she’s cranky, isn’t she?”
“Always has been.” Cassie smiled at Billy. “Guess what I made for you?”
He held up a finger. “Give me a second.” He sniffed the air. “Sugar cookies.”
Cassie laughed. “Yes. And be sure you leave me some.”
“You baked?” Conrad asked.
“This morning. Can’t you tell?”
