Noah by Kelli Ann Morgan

Author:Kelli Ann Morgan [Morgan, Kelli Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 26842372
Publisher: Inspire Books
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Not quite the type of excitement I’d hoped to find at a well-respected ranch like White Willow,” Mr. Stiles told Nate, who’d taken over responsibilities as sheriff.

Noah and Levi wrapped up poor Mr. Thomas’s body in a grey sheet tied off with rope over several locations on his body and lifted him atop the undertaker’s canvas stretcher that had been laid out on the floor in front of the couch.

Kate had seen too much death—enough to last anyone a lifetime—and she was disheartened at the thought of anyone dying alone, without someone to mourn their passing. She was saddened that she didn’t know whether or not Clifford Thomas had any kin or friends to grieve his loss.

“What did you know about this Mr. Thomas?” Nate asked, his broad shoulders pulled back as he stood at his full height. His dark hair, sprinkled with grey flecks, had been cut short, and a toothpick protruded from his mouth. He tilted his head with a crack, then began pacing in front of her and Dell, one eye half shut as he looked at them.

“Only that he’s from Abilene,” Kate volunteered from her seat in the rocking chair next to the cool hearth, “but he’d been working as a drover on a cattle drive through Colorado.” She didn’t know what else she could tell the new lawman. “He only just arrived a few days ago,” she told him.

“Why was he here? Was he staying here, Kate? At White Willow?”

She looked down at the floor. It wasn’t her fault Mr. Thomas was dead. Was it?

Dell handed Nate a copy of the Boulder Chronicle newspaper with the ad she’d placed, and stabbed a finger at the precise spot it was located, nearly tearing the paper from the sheriff’s hands.

How did he get that?

Nate pulled the newspaper down, away from him to read the fine-sized print. Then, after scanning the ads, his gaze shot up at Kate.

“This true?” he asked. “You looking for a husband?”

“Well,” she glanced over at Noah, arms folded, eyes scrunched together and staring at the sheriff, “yes, sir.”

Nate looked over his shoulder and stepped back as if noticing Noah, Levi, and Eamon for the first time.

“Walker,” he stepped toward the trio, nodded at Eamon, and held out his hand. “Levi,” he offered the same courtesy. When he stood in front of Noah, the handsome would-be suitor stood up tall and held out his hand.

“Noah Deardon, Sheriff.”

“Didn’t I see you last week after the hanging?”

Noah nodded.

Kate’s gut twisted at the memory of the deputy marshal hanging from the rafters in that cabin.

He can’t hurt you anymore, she echoed the sentiments she’d shared with Stella. Or anyone else. It seemed like ages ago that she’d seen the man responsible for her father’s death and was surprised that she’d hardly thought about him since…since…Noah arrived at White Willow.

“New in town?” Nate took the toothpick out of his mouth with one hand and shook Noah’s hand firmly with the other.

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you here to marry Miss Callahan?”

“Yes, sir,” he said without hesitation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.