Page 91 of Kissing the Sheriff

“Sterling knows we kissed. He saw it. And you can thank him for this moment. He made me think and search my heart.” He rested his forehead against hers. “And I discovered I loved you.”

She smiled as her heart filled with joy. “I’m sorry I ran.”

“It’s all right. So long as I’m not fired.”

She laughed. “You’re still my deputy. So, what do we do now?”

He took another deep breath. “We tell my brothers we’re madly love and wish to marry. And of course, that I’m your new deputy. Permanently.”

She smiled. “You want to stay?”

He cupped her face with his hand again. “Of course I do, darling. I’ll not deprive Apple Blossom of their sheriff.”

She threw her arms around him. “Conrad, you’ve made me the happiest woman alive!”

He held her close. “And you’ve made me the happiest man.”

She let go, faced the headstone, opened her mouth to speak and stopped.

“Cassie?” Conrad said. “Is something wrong?”

She looked at him and smiled. “No. Nothing’s wrong. We should get back to town.”

“And tell my brothers?” he said with a grin.

“Yes.”

Conrad offered his arm. “Well then, let’s be off.”

She took it, smiled at her father’s headstone, kissed her fingers then touched them against Conrad’s cheek. “What was that for?” he asked.

“It’s a sign of affection.” Cassie kissed them again, touched her father’s headstone, and they started the trek back to town.

* * *

Billy burstthrough the double doors of the saloon. “Captain Stanley!”

Captain Stanley came out from behind the bar. “Billy, lad, what’s wrong?”

Billy rested his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. “Nothing’s wrong. I have good news!” He straightened and saluted. “Permission to come aboard?”

The captain stood straight. “Permission granted. Now what’s your report?”

“Conrad and Cassie were kissing in the cemetery, and he asked her to marry him!”

Captain Stanley rubbed his hands together. “It worked lad, that’s great … wait a minute. You were spying on them?”

“Aw shucks, Captain. How else am I supposed to get the job done?”

The captain ran his hand down his beard. “You have a point. All right, spying is okay sometimes. But not all the time, have you got that?”

Billy saluted. “Aye, Captain” He took a few more gulps of air. “They kissed more than once.”

“I don’t need all the details, lad. It’s enough that he proposed.” He went behind the bar, took out a clipboard, then reached for a pencil. “All right, we can cross Conrad and Sheriff Laine off our list.

Billy joined him. “Who’s next?”

The captain looked over said list. “That would be Irving and the widow Crawford. This means Flint and Lacey will have to get to work.”