Page 13 of Kissing the Sheriff

“Are you coming home for lunch?”

Billy held up the sack he carried. “I have mine.”

“That was nice of your mother to make you one.” She smiled at Conrad. “I suppose you want me to make yours?”

“On the contrary, I could fetch some at the hotel and bring it here. Dora always makes too much.”

She smiled. “Dora is a good cook. You tempt me, Conrad Darling.”

He came down the porch steps. “Then let me tempt you some more. I might even talk her into making some lemonade. I hear the captain brought lemons back from his supply run.”

She gave him a sly smile. “That he did. And a good many other things too.”

He walked her to the gate. “He’s an odd fellow, but likable. What else does he bring back from his trips?”

“All kinds of things,” she said. “Toys for the children, citrus fruits that Alma doesn’t carry often. Things that folks here don’t have the time to go to Virginia City for.”

“Does he sell these items to you?” Conrad asked out of curiosity.

She shook her head. “No. He gives them freely. But we go to him to get them. Except the children. He’ll deliver whatever gifts he’s brought back.”

Conrad looked at Billy sitting on the porch steps. “The man’s a proverbial St. Nicholas. Even looks like him.”

“That he does,” she said with a laugh. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to my office then make my rounds.”

“Rounds?” he said with raised eyebrows.

“I am the sheriff.” She turned and walked away.

He wanted to call her back but there was no reason to. Instead, he watched her a moment, then joined Billy on the steps. “Well young chap, shall we get to work?”

Billy studied him through narrowed eyes. “Are you getting Sheriff Cassie lunch?”

“I am. But don’t think I’ll get you some. You brought your own.”

Billy clutched the sack his mother gave him. “Mine’s got pie in it.”

“It does?” Conrad stared at the sack as if willing it out of Billy’s hands. “Come to me, my lovely little pie …”

Billy squealed and clutched the sack tighter.

Conrad laughed. “No worries, I’m sure Dora baked something.” He looked to see where Cassie had gone but she was already out of sight. He got to his feet, went to the bucket of tools he’d brought and pulled out a sack of nails. “Now, the first thing we’ll do is inspect the porch for anything else that might need fixing. Then we’ll look at the back porch.”

“Okay.” Billy stood straight and stared ahead.

“I say, but what are you doing?”

“Waiting for orders.” Billy tapped his heels together and stood straighter.

“Oh, yes. I quite forgot that you’re the captain’s first mate.” He handed him a hammer.

“That’s right, sir. What are your orders?”

Conrad did his best not to laugh and failed miserably. “Tell you what, why don’t we go to the back porch now? You can use that hammer to check the boards for wood rot and see if any fall apart.”

Billy’s eyes got big. “What?”

“Some are quite rotten and need to be replaced. The porch is unsafe.”