Page 64 of Kissing the Sheriff
She smiled and took the pan from him.
“Really, you’re blushing. What’s that about?” He went to the other side of the worktable and smiled at her.
She looked him in the eyes. “As my deputy you have to do what I say.” She smiled again.
“Oh dear, does that mean you’ll have me sweeping the sheriff’s office and cleaning the cells?”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but I’ll add them to my list.”
He smiled as his chest warmed. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was flirting. Was she? “I shall endeavor to be a good deputy for you, I promise.”
“No, you’ll swear. Why do you think they call it a swearing in?”
His eyes got big. “Oh, yes, of course. You’ll swear me in then pin the badge on me?”
“After lunch. Phileas and Billy can be witnesses.” She started greasing the pan.
“It sounds almost like a wedding,” he quipped.
Her cheeks pinked again. “Don’t be silly.”
Aha! Shehadbeen flirting! He came around the worktable to stand beside her. “You’re not going to stab me, are you?”
“What?” She shook her head and started dropping dough into the pan. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“The pin on that badge is so long,” he commented.
“You have nothing to worry about. I’m an expert.” She gave him a look as if to say,go ahead, challenge me.
He did. “Am I the first man you’ve deputized?”
“No. I got to pin the stars on Pa’s deputies.”
“And how long did they hold those positions?”
“About five years.” She got a faraway look. “They died with Pa.”
“I’m sorry. They were some of the townsfolk?”
“Seth Crawford and Joseph Kirk.”
“Sarah’s husband and Alma’s father?”
She nodded, dropped a few more biscuits into the pan, then put it in the oven. “These will take about twenty minutes.” She wiped her hands on her apron and looked at the table. “You haven’t set that yet.”
“I’m shirking my duties already. Forgive me.” He went to the table and began to place the dishes.
“You’re not my deputy yet,” she commented.
He couldn’t resist a devilish grin. “But I will be. Then you shall have to instruct me on all the duties of the office.”
Her grin was just as evil. “Oh, don’t worry, I will.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
“Do you, Conrad Darling, solemnly swear to perform the duties of deputy in Apple Blossom, Montana Territory, so help you God?”
Conrad, his right hand on Cassie’s Bible, looked her in the eyes. “I swear.”
