Montana Surprise (McCutcheon Family Series Book 12) by Caroline Fyffe

Author:Caroline Fyffe [Fyffe, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western historical romance, western fiction, Montana fiction, Texas fiction, Wyoming fiction, historical fiction, clean romance, cowboy novel, sweet, series, whispering, Fiction, ransom, inspirational, saga, mail-order brides, spurs, boots, mail order brides, mail order husbands, Wyoming men, Texas men, Montana men, bachelors, Creek, Caroline Fyffe, Cove, McCutcheon family, Pioneer, wedding, desert, horses, buckaroo, rodeo, historical western romance, groom, arraigned marriage, Pioneer Hearts, Harbor, Lonesome, Mail-Order Brides of the West, Love, Happiness, Prairie Hearts, touching romance, page turner, Coldwater, Indie books, Award winners, Family life, brothers, sisters, mystery, Amnesia, Gambling, Medical, Second chances, Genre Fiction, Frontier, Literature, Feelgood novels, Feel good books for women, Feel good fiction, Uplifting novels, books, Uplifting books for women, Light reads, Light reading recommendations, Western, cowboy, Cozy romance, Cozy mysteries, Happy romance, Happy Books, Family sagas, Heartfelt romance, Sweet and clean romance, Uplifting family fiction, Lighthearted romance, Lighthearted read
Published: 2023-07-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty-Five

The warm evening air curled about Justin as he slowly made his way down the boardwalk. All the stores were closed, except the Hitching Post. He’d checked in the saloon a few minutes before and learned Abe was still bedbound, but the new man, Cole Mercer, was busy helping Fancy run the place. Justin was glad for it. Mercer was a large man. An army man. Nobody in their right mind would mess with Fancy with him watching over the saloon—and her. They’d had a good crowd tonight, but the place had thinned out by ten. She’d said they’d be closing soon.

Justin stopped and quietly tried the doorknob of the leather shop, not wanting to upset old Mr. Herrick by waking him with a rattling door—or getting shot in the process. The man was still angry about losing two new bridles, as well as the money. Justin was irritated, too. Solving this mystery was paramount for him and before his father returned. As much as Justin didn’t like to think it, the shadow of his father’s large reputation was hard to fill. As was Brandon’s. Determined to stay up all night if he had to, he walked on, trying the door of Lichtenstein’s and then Doc Handerhoosen. The doctor was still over in Pine Grove.

Madison had told him about Jack Jones coming into the mercantile with Cole Mercer at the time Mr. Lichtenstein said he’d been robbed. They’d said a brief hello to the women and then disappeared into the back of the store. They weren’t there long before exiting the store again. Justin had followed up on the lead directly, exasperating Jack with questions.

The former deputy didn’t like being under suspicion—since he considered himself a model citizen. He claimed to be showing Mercer some tools.

As crazy as that sounded, Justin had gone to the hotel and found Cole in the dining room, who corroborated Jack’s story and then clammed up. Why tools?

That left the Hicks children, and Justin’s assumption was Dodger Hicks could be responsible.

They’d been in the store at the right time, unsupervised in the back, where the theft had happened. Ever since Justin’s arrival in Y Knot, he’d been rubbed the wrong way by Dodger Hicks. The insolent kid always had a smart remark at the ready, but never within hearing distance of his father, Jed. The boy was large and strong from moving logs with his father and uncle. Riley Hicks, a year younger than his cousin, was amiable and did his best to please. At fifteen, he was large and strong, as well. Was there any possibility Nancy Hicks was involved? She was only ten, and as quiet as a mouse, or acted so whenever Justin was around.

Unsure of anything, Justin lifted his shoulders, working out the strain. The thought of Brandon and what he was going through was never far from his mind. He’d never dreamed the sheriff would be so close to death’s door. They’d all just believed he’d busted his leg. The thought of anything other than him recovering was unthinkable.

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