Read Online The Lawman's Surrender: The Calhoun Sisters, Book 2 by Debra Mullins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Debra Mullins
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wandering off in the middle of the night,” he said as her eyes started to simmer with thwarted anger. “Sweet dreams, now.”
He lay back on the bedroll, the short chain pulling her down and tumbling her onto her own blanket with a squeak of surprise. He arranged his Colt beside him, then lay back and placed his hat on his face as she struggled to get her hair and skirts under control.
“Don’t stay awake too late,” he advised. “We have a long day ahead of us.”
“Go to hell!” she snapped.
He chuckled and closed his eyes for some much-needed rest.
Chapter Six
Placerville was a small but growing town, whose economy depended on the nearby silver mines. The streets were crowded with miners, and every other building was a restaurant, boarding house, or saloon.
Susannah hoped Abigail Hawkins was still in the area. The sooner she cleared her name, the sooner she would be free of Jedidiah’s constant company.
As she rode into town behind Jedidiah, she became aware of people staring and pointing. She was quite used to her appearance causing a stir, and turned a smile on the nearest male bystanders. To her shock, they glared at her in disgust and turned away to mutter amongst themselves. It was the same with every person she saw. She glanced at Jedidiah and saw that the townspeople’s reaction hadn’t escaped his notice. He frowned as he gazed from face to face.
She urged her mount forward until she rode beside him. “I don’t like this,” she whispered. “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”
“I don’t know.” Jedidiah rested his hand on his gun holster just in case. “There’s the sheriff’s office. Let’s go talk to him.”
Susannah fell back and let him lead her through the congested street. She kept her eyes on Jedidiah’s back, but she could feel the hostility of the townspeople as if it were a living thing.
They made it safely to the sheriff’s office. Jedidiah dismounted and tied up both their horses, then helped Susannah down. They stepped up onto the wooden sidewalk, Jedidiah’s hand on Susannah’s arm. At this range, it was obvious to all who watched that she wore handcuffs.
“It’s her!” someone whispered loudly.
“Easy to see how she led those men to their demise,” another muttered.
“The Black Widow of Barton Falls here in our town!” a third exclaimed. “Think we’ll be famous?”
Susannah’s steps faltered. The Black Widow of Barton Falls? She turned to look at Jedidiah, who wore an expression of startled guilt.
“Now look what you’ve done!” she hissed.
“Get inside.” With a wary look at the crowd, Jedidiah shoved her into the sheriff’s office, slamming the door on the crowd behind them.
“What can I do for you, folks?” The sheriff rose from behind his desk. He was a big man, rather handsome with slick black hair and dark eyes, and he had the look of a pugilist about him. A shiny silver badge adorned his white shirt, and a six gun nestled against his thigh.
Jedidiah stepped forward, hand extended. “I’m U.S. Marshal Jedidiah Brown,” he said. “This is my prisoner. I was wondering if I could borrow your jail for a spell.”
The sheriff shook Jedidiah’s hand. “I’m Sheriff Barkley Jones. You must be the ones we’ve heard tell about.” He turned a considering glance on Susannah. “And you must be the Black Widow of Barton Falls. A lot of folks have gotten stirred up about the news of you passing through these parts.”
Susannah waited for Jedidiah to correct the sheriff’s mistaken impression.
“Then you can see why I’d like to borrow your jail for a bit,” he said, to her astonishment. “I have business to attend to here in town, and I don’t want a mob getting to my prisoner.”
Susannah let out a squeak of dismay that made the sheriff stare at her.
Jedidiah pretended not to notice.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to lock this pretty thing up,” the sheriff chuckled. “Fact is, a lot of men are all bent out
He lay back on the bedroll, the short chain pulling her down and tumbling her onto her own blanket with a squeak of surprise. He arranged his Colt beside him, then lay back and placed his hat on his face as she struggled to get her hair and skirts under control.
“Don’t stay awake too late,” he advised. “We have a long day ahead of us.”
“Go to hell!” she snapped.
He chuckled and closed his eyes for some much-needed rest.
Chapter Six
Placerville was a small but growing town, whose economy depended on the nearby silver mines. The streets were crowded with miners, and every other building was a restaurant, boarding house, or saloon.
Susannah hoped Abigail Hawkins was still in the area. The sooner she cleared her name, the sooner she would be free of Jedidiah’s constant company.
As she rode into town behind Jedidiah, she became aware of people staring and pointing. She was quite used to her appearance causing a stir, and turned a smile on the nearest male bystanders. To her shock, they glared at her in disgust and turned away to mutter amongst themselves. It was the same with every person she saw. She glanced at Jedidiah and saw that the townspeople’s reaction hadn’t escaped his notice. He frowned as he gazed from face to face.
She urged her mount forward until she rode beside him. “I don’t like this,” she whispered. “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”
“I don’t know.” Jedidiah rested his hand on his gun holster just in case. “There’s the sheriff’s office. Let’s go talk to him.”
Susannah fell back and let him lead her through the congested street. She kept her eyes on Jedidiah’s back, but she could feel the hostility of the townspeople as if it were a living thing.
They made it safely to the sheriff’s office. Jedidiah dismounted and tied up both their horses, then helped Susannah down. They stepped up onto the wooden sidewalk, Jedidiah’s hand on Susannah’s arm. At this range, it was obvious to all who watched that she wore handcuffs.
“It’s her!” someone whispered loudly.
“Easy to see how she led those men to their demise,” another muttered.
“The Black Widow of Barton Falls here in our town!” a third exclaimed. “Think we’ll be famous?”
Susannah’s steps faltered. The Black Widow of Barton Falls? She turned to look at Jedidiah, who wore an expression of startled guilt.
“Now look what you’ve done!” she hissed.
“Get inside.” With a wary look at the crowd, Jedidiah shoved her into the sheriff’s office, slamming the door on the crowd behind them.
“What can I do for you, folks?” The sheriff rose from behind his desk. He was a big man, rather handsome with slick black hair and dark eyes, and he had the look of a pugilist about him. A shiny silver badge adorned his white shirt, and a six gun nestled against his thigh.
Jedidiah stepped forward, hand extended. “I’m U.S. Marshal Jedidiah Brown,” he said. “This is my prisoner. I was wondering if I could borrow your jail for a spell.”
The sheriff shook Jedidiah’s hand. “I’m Sheriff Barkley Jones. You must be the ones we’ve heard tell about.” He turned a considering glance on Susannah. “And you must be the Black Widow of Barton Falls. A lot of folks have gotten stirred up about the news of you passing through these parts.”
Susannah waited for Jedidiah to correct the sheriff’s mistaken impression.
“Then you can see why I’d like to borrow your jail for a bit,” he said, to her astonishment. “I have business to attend to here in town, and I don’t want a mob getting to my prisoner.”
Susannah let out a squeak of dismay that made the sheriff stare at her.
Jedidiah pretended not to notice.
“I don’t blame you for wanting to lock this pretty thing up,” the sheriff chuckled. “Fact is, a lot of men are all bent out
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