Page 73 of Kissing the Sheriff

She blinked a few times, then smiled. “You’re right.” She laughed. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

He shrugged. “Because you’ve never had a deputy before?”

“You’re right again, I haven’t. I should make you work.” She set off, smiling mischievously. “When we get back, we’ll drop off the wallpaper and let Phileas battle with it. You can go on my rounds with me, then I’ll make everyone lunch.”

“Except Billy, of course,” he added.

“Yes. I hope he doesn’t eat the whole bowl of muffins before lunch time. What a bellyache he’ll have.”

Conrad nodded in agreement. “So, rounds. What exactly do they consist of?”

“All sorts of things. I’ve had to help catch chickens, gather eggs, feed a baby, settle a dispute, and weed the captain’s garden when he’s making a supply run.”

“My, that’s a lot. Do you ever arrest anyone?”

“In Apple Blossom?” She laughed.

He sighed. “I thought it might be fun to lock someone up.”

She smiled. “Hey, that’s an idea.”

“What?”

She stopped and faced him. “The dance. We could arrest people for not dancing and having fun.”

“Considering no one gets arrested around here, that’s an interesting thought. But that means they’ll be at the sheriff’s office while everyone else is at the dance.”

“No, we could make a jail in Captain Stanley’s barn. Maybe use one of the horse stalls.”

“Brilliant,” he said. “I’m sure we can come up with some system to arrest people.”

“We’ll talk about it later,” she said. “Right now, we need to get this paper to Phileas and get to work.” She made a face. “He won’t mind, will he?”

“No, of course not. Wallpaper and Phileas are friends. It’s poor Billy I worry about.”

She laughed and they continued. When they reached the house, Billy took one look at Conrad’s armload of wallpaper and ran. “Mr. Darling!”

“Good heavens,” Conrad said. “He screeched like a little girl.”

“He’s playing,” Cassie assured him. “Putting on a show for Phileas.”

“And my brother will play along, you’ll see.” They entered the house to find Billy hiding behind Phileas.

“I say, but what’s all the fuss?” Phileas spied Conrad’s load and smiled. “How nice.” He reached them in two quick strides and took a roll. “This matches the paint perfectly.” He looked the rolls over. “Only four?”

“That’s all Alma had,” Conrad said and handed him the rest. “Mind if I help Cassie with her rounds?”

“Not at all, I have Billy here.” He handed the roll back to Conrad then peeled Billy’s arms from his waist. “I’ll teach him how not to get attacked by wallpaper.”

“It won’t work,” Billy cried. “That stuff hates me!”

“Nonsense,” Phileas said. “It’s not a living thing.”

“Yes, it is!”

Phileas rolled his eyes. “Be back to rescue me as soon as you can.”

Conrad laughed. “Did he eat all the muffins?”