Page 18 of Kissing the Sheriff
She blushed. “Do you?”
He watched her blush deepen. “Does the town have them often?” She stared at him a moment and said nothing. “Um, Sheriff?” He wanted to use her first name but it didn’t seem right. Billy was there and he wanted some formality in play.
“Not really,” she finally said. “Not since a barn raising because the Smythes’ barn burned down. But that was years ago.” She sighed. “Long before the schoolhouse caught fire.”
“Dear me. Then this town is due for one. When will you have it?”
“Alma thought we should have it while you’re still here.” She blushed anew. “That way there will be men to, um, dance with.”
He smiled and hopedhewasn’t blushing. “A jolly good idea.”
She smiled, then began to gather what she needed to make sandwiches. He watched her, glancing at Billy now and then as he wolfed down his own food. When she was done, she brought him a sandwich, Billy a half, then sat with her own. She didn’t make eye contact and he wondered what could be bothering her. She was a puzzle, to be sure.
“What kind of cookies do you have, Cassie?” Billy asked.
“That’s Sheriff to you,” she said, her eyes narrowed in seriousness.
The boy gulped. “Yes, ma’am. Sheriff.” He looked at his empty lunch sack. “So … what kind?”
Cassie smiled. “I’m afraid I’m out. Sorry.”
Billy’s face fell. “Aw shucks.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll see you get some on the way home,” Conrad said. “We’ll stop by the hotel. Dora always has something baking in the oven.”
“No wonder, with the six of you there,” she said.
Conrad shrugged. “We do like our sweets. I think she’s trying to keep us as permanent residents.”
She smiled weakly. “She’s had it as hard as the rest of us.”
“And what about you?” he asked, then took a bite. He chewed, swallowed, then smiled. “How do you get paid?”
She took a sudden interest in her water glass. “That’s a boring story.”
“I don’t mind.” He smiled again.
“Mayor Featherstone swore me in. I took over Pa’s pay, and that was that. No one else wanted the job and though Agnes put up a fuss, no one questioned my decision to step into Pa’s shoes.”
His eyes gravitated to her gun belt. “How good are you with that?”
“Good enough.” She smiled. “Would you like to see?”
He laughed. “Well, so long as you don’t use me as a target, why not?”
“I wanna come!” Billy chimed.
“No, you should go home when you’re done working,” she said.
“But what about fishing?”
“Why don’t we plan on that tomorrow?” She took a bite of her sandwich as Billy frowned.
“She’ll have baked cookies by then,” Conrad sang.
Billy smiled. “Well, that’s worth the wait.”
Conrad laughed. “You remind me of me, my young chap.”
