The Replacement Bride by Cynthia Woolf

Author:Cynthia Woolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Firehouse Publishing
Published: 2016-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Sam didn’t wait to be seated. “Jo tells me the dynamite you took from George Simmons is gone. Stolen.”

“Right out of our barn,” said Clare as she returned with Jesse’s shirt. She stopped next to Jesse, who stood near the door. “Let’s get this on you.”

Together they got the shirt on and Clare buttoned it.

“You know Harry Smith took it.” Jesse came farther into the room and sat in one of the light blue Queen Anne chairs on either end of the couch.

Clare, sat on the end of the sofa closest to him and Jo, with baby Paul, next to her.

Sam stood in front of the cold fireplace.

“Clare did you see him take it? Or anyone take it?” he asked.

“No.” Her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“Even though we know it was Harry Smith, without some evidence…” Sam shook his head. “There’s nothing I can do, Jesse. You know that.”

“I know, but I was hoping you’d have a great idea about how to catch him before he uses the dynamite.”

“I wish I did, but I don’t.” Sam sat in the chair at the opposite end of the couch from Jesse. “You’ve put two guards round the clock at the mine entrance. I think you should increase the crew to three and that third man should be one of my deputies. Then Harry will have to come directly at you if he wants his revenge. I trust my men implicitly. I’ve worked with all of them for years and have enough to supply one man for each twelve-hour shift. You’ll have to pay him in addition to his regular salary from Hope’s Crossing.”

“Wait, Sam, what do you mean when you say that Harry will have to come directly at Jesse? Are you setting him up as bait?” Clare practically shouted. “Oh, no, you’re not. He’s weak and injured and can’t protect himself. You are not using him as bait. Tell him Jesse.”

She waited for Jesse to say something. When she heard nothing, she looked over at him. He had the biggest grin on his face.

“Do you hear that, Sam? My wife already likes me enough to want to keep me around for a while.”

“Sure sounds like that to me,” agreed Sam.

“Don’t you men put any more into her words than is meant to be there,” said Jo. “She’s just become a bride, for Pete’s sake. She doesn’t want to be a widow.”

“I’m not making her a widow,” said Jesse. “I can take care of myself.”

Clare sighed and shook her head. “Yes, I can tell that because you always have stab wounds you’re healing from and then you greet our friends wearing only your pants.”

“All right, admittedly, this looks bad.” Jesse pointed at his wounds. “But you got me a shirt so I’m dressed. As to the other, I really can take care of myself otherwise I’d be dead right now.”

“He’s right,” agreed Sam. “George Simmons was a big man but he was fast. I’m surprised Jesse got away with just a few scratches—”

“Scratches!” yelped Clare.

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