Page 14 of Kissing the Sheriff
Billy looked suitably horrified. “That will never do.”
“Right you are. Let’s get to work, shall we?” He grabbed his bucket of tools, left the front porch, and went around to the back of the house.
Billy trotted after him with the hammer. “What else are you going to do here? Pa says Cassie’s house is in sad shape.”
“Your father is correct.” Conrad went to the porch railing and tapped one corner with the end of a mallet. A chunk of wood came off. “This one will have to go.”
Billy stared at the house. “Mr. Darling? Do you think Cassie is sad?”
He stopped and turned to the boy. “Why do you ask?”
Billy shrugged and looked at the ground. “She looks sad. She doesn’t talk to people anymore. Not like when Sheriff Laine was alive. She used to smile and laugh a lot then.”
Conrad went to the steps, patted one, and sat. “She doesn’t laugh anymore?”
Billy joined him. “Ma says it’s ‘cause she’s lonely.” He looked at Conrad and smiled. “You should marry her.”
Conrad snorted. “Oh, well, I don’t …”
“Why not?”
“Well … I don’t know her. We only just met.”
“Maybe when we go fishing, you’ll get to know her then. That’s how I got to know the captain.” Billy leaned back and rested his elbows on the upper step. “I know Captain Stanley real good from spending time with him. I like him. He brings me things.”
“So I’ve heard. What else does he do?”
Billy made a face. “He makes us study our reading, spelling and arithmetic. But that’s okay. He’s a good teacher.”
“That’s good to hear. What about your regular schoolmaster? Come to think of it, does Apple Blossom have a school?”
Billy shook his head. “No, Rev. Arnold teaches us. But he falls asleep a lot so we don’t really learn anything.”
“That’s terrible.”
Billy grinned. “We don’t think so.”
“No, I suppose you don’t.” Conrad glanced at the back porch. “We’d better get to work. I take it the reverend won’t miss you in class?”
“No, sir. We only have school a few days a week. That’s all the reverend can do. Ma says we shouldn’t tire him out or he can’t preach come Sunday.”
“Good grief,” Conrad said. “Seems Apple Blossom needs more help than we can give. But we’ll do our best.” He smiled and motioned Billy to precede him up the porch steps. It was time to get to work.
CHAPTERFOUR
“It’s not that I don’t trust anyone, Pa, it’s … well, okay, I don’t trust anyone.” Cassie tossed a daisy onto her father’s grave and stared at the simple headstone. Jean Campbell had to order it from Bozeman along with everyone else’s and have it delivered to Apple Blossom. It was expensive and took what little money she had, but it was worth it. Pa deserved whatever she could afford and then some.
She looked up. It was a beautiful day with a few high clouds dotting the blue sky. Pa liked to go fishing on days like this and they often went together. They had their favorite spot, and she would take a book to read and keep an eye on their poles while Pa snoozed, his hat over his face.
She smiled at the thought, tossed another flower and stared at the grassy ground. “About the Englishmen, one is working on the house. He fixed most of the porch but still has a lot of work to do. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Billy wants to go fishing. He invited the Englishman along. His name is Conrad Darling. He’s a horrible flirt. You know, the kind you told me to stay away from? He wants to work on the house. Your room, the parlor, all of it. Should I let him?” She scooted closer. “He even wants to fix your chair.”
Cassie sighed and continued to stare at her father’s headstone. Sometimes she swore she heard him answer, but most of the time it was only the wind blowing through the trees, birdsong, the occasional croak of a frog. Pa’s voice was just in her head. Wishful thinking.
She set the rest of the flowers onto Pa’s grave and got to her feet. She missed him and liked talking to him, even if he was no longer alive to talk back. Besides, talking to him here was acceptable. She didn’t want to get caught doing it at the sheriff’s office.
She headed back to town and thought about those that lost a loved one in the “incident.” She supposed having the Darlings help for a time wasn’t so bad, so long as they behaved themselves. Agnes Featherstone wasn’t happy about it but had been quiet the last few days. Was it because Letty and Sterling were courting? It was obviousAgnes didn’t like it and Cassie wondered why. If Letty married Sterling, then maybe he’d settle here. Having another able-bodied man around could only help Apple Blossom in the long run.
