Page 56 of Kissing the Sheriff

“I hear you saw the saloon.”

Conrad nodded. “Yes, and I must say it’s more than a little interesting. Maybe we should pay the captain a visit after lunch? There’s not much to do until the paint dries. Unless of course you want to empty out the dining room.”

“I’ll help with that. And a visit to the captain would be interesting. Now, what say we head to the hotel? Billy can bring his food along.”

“But what about Cassie?” Conrad asked.

Phileas smiled. “Anxious to dine with her, are we?”

Conrad closed his eyes. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh, but I think it is, brother. Why else would you be waiting?” Phileas headed for the house. “I’ll take one last look at the dining room, then I’m going to the hotel for my lunch. You do what you want.”

Conrad watched him enter the house. WherewasCassie? Should he check the sheriff’s office or leave it be? He was hungry and needed to eat soon.

With a sigh, he went into the house, fetched Billy mid-sandwich and dragged him to the hotel with him. If Cassie came by, she’d know where to find them. He ate the soup Dora served, half a ham sandwich, and had a slice of pie.

“What’s the matter?” Billy asked. “Aren’t you hungry?” He reached for another sandwich half.

“Heavens, man,” Conrad said. “So far you’ve eaten your sandwich, one of Dora’s and now you’re going for another?”

Billy grinned sheepishly. “I can’t help it. I’m hungry.”

Dora smiled. “Oh, let him eat. It’s not going to hurt him. Unless of course you work the boy too hard.”

“Not after he’s eaten all that,” Conrad said in alarm.

“Why aren’t you eating with Cassie?” Dora asked.

“I don’t know where she is. She didn’t show up for lunch.”

“I saw her ride out of town earlier,” Jean stated, bringing a pie to the table. “She went to check on some of the farms and ranches.

“Of course,” Conrad said. “She’s needs to check everywhere, I suppose.”

“She does now and then, but not as often as her Pa used to,” Doris said. “She checks things around town on foot. There’s no need to ride.”

Conrad thought a moment. “Does she like being sheriff?”

“What do you think?” Dora asked. “On the one hand, she’s the most qualified for it. Out of everyone in town she’s the best shot.”

“I’ve yet to see her shoot,” Conrad said. “Still, she’s …”

“A woman?” Dora raised her eyebrows. “So far she’s done the job just fine. Agnes even approves, once she got used to the idea.”

“Agnes? I’m surprised.”

“I think Cassie makes a good sheriff,” Billy said. “Besides, so long as no bad men come to town again, she can handle things. That’s what my pa says.”

Dora and Jean exchanged a look. Conrad caught it. “You worry about her, don’t you?”

Jean began slicing the pie. “Cassie wanted to become sheriff and no one argued with her.”

“No one?” Conrad took the slice of pie she offered. “I find that interesting. Are there a lot of lady sheriffs in this country?”

The women exchanged another look. “Very few,” Dora said. “We’re proud to have one.”

Conrad slowly nodded. “So long as she can protect herself and the town, then fine. But one woman up against an entire gang of outlaws …”