Time After Time by Elizabeth Boyce & Becky Lower & Marie Patrick & Emma Barry & Rachel Donnelly & Ivory Lei & Andrea Cooper & Elizabeth Meyette & Elf Ahearn & Emma Barron

Author:Elizabeth Boyce & Becky Lower & Marie Patrick & Emma Barry & Rachel Donnelly & Ivory Lei & Andrea Cooper & Elizabeth Meyette & Elf Ahearn & Emma Barron [Boyce, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical
Published: 2014-07-07T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

The sky was black as sin — no silver moon or stars to light the way, only a faint yellow glow from the hotel window, casting an eerie shadow on the deserted walkway.

Christie’s heart thumped hard against her ribs.

She made a beeline across the street to the jail.

Boisterous laughter from the saloon taunted louder.

She quickened her pace.

Leigh hadn’t come home for supper, which meant he was still having a good run of luck at the card table. The last thing she wanted was for him to spot her and blab to Uncle Will that she’d gone to the sheriff. Leigh supported the lynching. After the Everetts took pot shots at him in the miner’s cabin, he’d like nothing better than to see Hank hang.

She didn’t like going against Uncle Will’s wishes, but she couldn’t stand by and do nothing. A man’s life was at stake — a no-good criminal life, but a life just the same.

While she was at it, she planned to acquaint the sheriff with the assault she’d witnessed. She couldn’t change what had happened to Flossie, but she could do her best to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Uncle Will might consider it interfering, but if everyone hid behind lace curtains with their lips tightly sewn, how would things get done?

She wrinkled her nose at the pungent scent of cigar smoke floating out of the saloon. She could only guess what other distasteful, if not sinful, activities were going on inside. The only way to improve that establishment was to burn it to the ground.

A voice from the alley made her jump. “Kind of late for a stroll, isn’t it?”

At first she was so startled she didn’t recognize the speaker. But, something familiar in his taunting drawl gave her pause. And despite the fact she knew she shouldn’t, she turned around.

Nat Randall.

What was he doing here, skulking about in the dark? He was supposed to be in Virginia City chasing after Hank’s brothers. A whisper of a breeze blew up her back, causing her to shiver. She drew her shawl closer and thrust her chin in the air. “I came to speak with Sheriff Brimley.”

“He’s busy right now.”

His arrogant tone grated, especially since she was there to ensure the protection of his prisoner. Not that she was doing it for him. It was purely a humanitarian gesture. “I’m afraid this can’t wait. It’s imperative I speak with him at once.”

He took a step forward, bringing the sharp angles of his grim profile to light. He spoke slowly and distinctly as though speaking to a child. “This isn’t a good time. Come back tomorrow.”

She gritted her teeth.

Since when did he decide the sheriff’s appointments?

Gad!

He was so bold and full of self-importance, you’d think he was the law in Murdock. Well she wasn’t about to buckle under his bullying. It had taken a great deal of time to muster up the courage to come here, not to mention ripping the hem of her favorite blue muslin gown on a nail going down the back stairs.