The Sheriff and the Miner's Daughter (Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Book 4) by P. A. Estelle & Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs & Sweet Americana

Author:P. A. Estelle & Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs & Sweet Americana [Estelle, P. A.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: P. A. Estelle
Published: 2017-06-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter NINE

Chunks of beef, carrots, and potatoes simmered in thick gravy. Even with the windows open and a breeze coming in, it was warm in the house from the stove. Charlene wiped her forehead with a towel and stepped outside. Far down the creek, two figures were moving, coming her way.

Josephine had been there for three days. Charlene chuckled remembering their first morning together. Josephine had been the first one up. When Charlene joined her, coffee was already brewing and biscuits were cooking. “Morning, Charley. I don’t know where Amos is.” Just then Amos came through the door.

“Morning ladies,” he smiled. “How’d that bed work out for you, Joey?”

“Soft as lying on a field of cotton.” She poured him some coffee and then sat down across from him. “Amos, I see your bed there hasn’t been slept in.”

“Oh, well, I slept in the shed.” He quickly gulped his coffee, pounding his chest when it burned all the way down. “Fact is I don’t want anybody being rattled or embarrassed by what might be seen or maybe heard.”

A soft expression drifted across the woman’s face. She reached across and put her hand on his. “Amos, you are so kind and I am so grateful for what you and Charley are doing for me, but I won’t be kicking you out of your own bed. I’ve lived on a farm most of my life. I had two brothers and a husband. I’ve seen my share of embarrassing moments. My sensibilities can take care of themselves.” She got to her feet to take the biscuits out. “Amos, if anybody is going to sleep outside it’ll be me. No arguments.”

Amos agreed, reluctantly, and finally agreed that everybody would sleep inside.

After supper the three of them sat outside, enjoying the cool breeze of the night air. The moon was enormous and so bright one could see across the trickling stream and at least a mile passed. Night noises were everywhere, from coyotes to hoot owls. Amos had them laughing with stories of when he first came to this place and hard lessons learned about staying alive and trying to find gold.

On the other side of the house, out of eyeshot, the horses started raising a fuss. Amos got to his feet and picking up his gun said, “Something’s got them riled. Best see what it is.” Josephine kept her eyes on him as he walked into the darkness chewing on her bottom lip.

“Are you alright, Joey. You seem a bit anxious.”

“When your father and I went walking today, one of his mining boxes was broken. Somebody had tried to destroy it.” Josephine squinted to try and see Amos. ”And I had the strangest feeling we were being watched.”

“Did you tell Pa?”

“No,” she laughed shakily. “He would have just thought I was a silly old woman.” She craned her neck to see if Amos was coming back. “I don’t hear the horses anymore. He should be…”

A shot exploded making the ladies jump to their feet. Two more shots followed.

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