Page 57 of Kissing the Sheriff
Dora held up a hand. “Not now.” Her eyes darted to Billy and back.
Conrad nodded. “Understood. But this is still a conversation I’d like to have.”
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Cassie rode back to town and spent the rest of the day warring with herself over Conrad. She wanted to spend time with him, loved the way he made her feel. She was lighter when he was around and the darkness that had haunted her the last few months was gone. She didn’t want to get immersed in that again. It took her a long time to crawl out of the pit of despair after losing Pa. Now she saw light-filled days ahead and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize them.
She sat behind her desk and stared at the wall. She’d spent most of the afternoon riding around the outskirts of town, checking on the Atkinses, the Smythes, the Andersons, and of course, the Crawfords. She even rode alongside a stage heading to Virginia City. The driver said he hadn’t heard of any trouble in the area, so she headed back to town.
Back in the sheriff’s office, she looked around and sighed. She missed visiting Pa in the middle of the day. Even when he was sheriff, nothing much happened around Apple Blossom. It was such an out-of-the-way place and there wasn’t much here worth stealing. Yes, there was the bank, but how much money could it have in a town this small? What were those outlaws thinking the day they robbed it? They killed all those men for what, less than a thousand dollars? And to think their gang was made up of at least fifteen men. Divide the money up and they each got maybe sixty dollars apiece …
Her chest burned at the thought as she left for home. She needed a dose of Conrad, whether it was wise or not. She wanted to see his smile, look into his intelligent eyes, talk with him. She wanted to listen to him laugh and joke and tease Billy.
When she got home, she was smiling just thinking about him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there. “Conrad?” She went through the house but there was no sign of him.
In the backyard she found Pa’s furniture placed in a neat line: the bed, dresser, nightstand, table, bookcase, chair and washstand. She noticed the pictures had been placed in the parlor. She went to the chair and sat. Was Conrad planning on coming back to take the furniture inside?
She got to her feet and went to inspect Pa’s room. She’d been so intent on finding Conrad, she didn’t take the time to admire his work. The whole house smelled of fresh paint and she’d have to open a few more windows. A small price to pay for the improvement.
She stood in the middle of Pa’s room and smiled at the light-yellow walls. At least she could admire a job well done after Conrad and his brothers left.
But her heart sank as she left the room. “I have to get past this.” She went to the stove, stoked the fire, then added some wood. She’d make herself dinner then move some of the furniture back inside. She couldn’t shift the bed or dresser by herself, and hoped Conrad planned on returning soon.
She made some vegetable soup, a ham sandwich, then sat down to eat. There was still no sign of Conrad, and she would have to get Pa’s furniture back into the house quickly. She didn’t want to try to do it in the dark.
When she was through eating, she put her bowl in the dry sink just as someone knocked on the front door. “Cassie?” Conrad called.
Her heart leaped and she shivered. “Good grief,” she muttered.All he did was call her name!
“There you are,” he said as he came into the kitchen and looked around. “Were you talking to someone?”
“Just myself.” She went to the stove. “Did you eat?”
“At the hotel. You … weren’t here at lunch.”
“No, I had work to do.” She looked at the floor. “The paint looks good.”
“Ah, yes. I had lots of help.
She looked up and met his gaze. “Billy?”
He grinned. “And Phileas.”
She smiled. “That explains it.” She nodded at the back door. “Is it safe to put a few things back?”
“That’s why I’m here.” He started for the door. “Care to assist me?”
She smiled and followed him. Outside they tackled the dresser first and got it into the bedroom, then brought in the nightstand, chair and desk. “Phileas will be here momentarily,” Conrad announced.
“Why?”
“To help bring in the bed and to carry a few things downstairs. Your sewing machine?”
“Oh, yes.” She’d been relatively quiet since his arrival and decided she’d better stir up some conversation. “Did Billy have fun painting?”
“Fun? He complained half the time. Usually about being hungry.” He chuckled. “That boy. Phileas is growing fond of him. We all are.”
“He’s a nice boy,” she agreed.
