Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion by Louise M. Gouge

Author:Louise M. Gouge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Through the bank window, Justice observed Hugo Giles as he ambled up Main Street. It appeared he’d been to the library, yet he didn’t carry a book.

“Hello, Sheriff.” Nolan Means joined him by the front window. “Did you need to see me?”

“Nope. Just made a deposit.” He nodded toward Reuben Brandt, who stood inside the teller’s cage recording figures in a ledger. Earlier, Justice’s foreman delivered his mine’s latest haul and gave him a report on a new vein. With no place to keep the gold safe in his rooms over the jail, he always brought it next door to the bank right away.

“You see that fella?” He indicated Giles, who was almost out of sight.

Nolan followed his gaze. “Yes. Hugo Giles. He came in a short while ago. Hails from New Orleans.”

“Did he open an account?” Or perhaps he was scouting out the place to see if it would be easy to rob.

The banker shook his head. “He wanted to introduce himself. Said he’s thinking of settling down and wants to get the lay of the land.”

“Hmm. Sounds harmless enough.” And not exactly what he’d said to Justice.

Giles could still be considering a move to Esperanza. First he visited Justice, then the town banker. Friendly visits, the kind to demonstrate he was an upstanding citizen. He hadn’t attended church yesterday, but maybe no one invited him. Justice could invite him, or he could ask Reverend Thomas to visit the man at the hotel. Having the minister call on a new man in town instead of the sheriff would be less threatening.

“Say, how’s your house coming?” Nolan had been the first one to encourage Justice to build his own place.

“Should be finished by Christmas.”

“Are you planning a housewarming?” Nolan asked the question as if it were a reasonable expectation, but Justice grimaced.

“Not likely.”

The banker chuckled. “You let me know if you change your mind. My wife would be glad to help you with entertaining. She’s not happy unless she throws a party every other week.” He clapped Justice on the shoulder. “Our annual Christmas ball will take place on December 22. You’ll receive our invitation in the next few days.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep the evening open.” He bade Nolan goodbye and headed over to the library.

The moment he stepped into the cozy room, he knew Evangeline hadn’t recovered from last Friday’s distress, despite her peaceful countenance in church yesterday. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her cheeks appeared pinched with anxiety.

“Morning, Evangeline.” He kept his tone light.

“Good morning, Sheriff.” She buried her head in the book on her desk.

“How are you today?”

“Well. And you?”

This wasn’t solving anything. He brought a chair from one of the reading tables and set it beside her desk. “I don’t think you’re well. I think something’s troubling you and—”

“Good morning, Evangeline, Sheriff.” Laurie Northam entered the library with her year-old son on her hip. “Evangeline, Georgia tells me you had quite a rush on Friday and Saturday. I hope you still have some good books available.

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