Mail Order Bride - Westward Justice: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 6) (14 page)

              “I know ya’ll are wondering why I called this meeting today.  As many of you know, I’ve suffered some hardships over the past couple of years.  Now, I realize that it’s not the same kind of hardship that many of you deal with on a daily basis.  Yet, you came out and helped Lacey and me in our time of need.  I want you to know that I haven’t forgotten your kindness and generosity. I used to be known for being a womanizing, hard-drinking playboy.”

              The crowd erupted with cheers and laughter.

              Joe waited for them to quiet before continuing.  “Yes, that used to be true, but as soon as I met Lacey, that all changed.  The smartest thing I ever did was marrying her and I couldn’t love her or our little one who’s on the way any more if I tried,” he said with a genuinely loving look over at Lacey.  “After our barns burned and we lost five of our horses, including my beloved Lance, I didn’t know if my ranch was going to survive.  But with the help of so many of ya’ll here today, we rebuilt and the business is growing again.”

              “I want to help our town the way it helped us.  There are those who want to cut important services and positions in our community.  This will be detrimental to Dawson and I am not going to let that happen.  Our economy needs a boost.  We need to help everyone make a decent wage so that they can put food on their tables and give their children the best lives possible.”

              “We need to make sure our citizens are safe by employing enough civil servants, like Sheriff Taylor who took over when Sheriff Allen passed on.  He is painfully missed, but we’re fortunate to have Mitch.  We need more lawmen, not less.  I’m concerned that there are certain parties who do not want to hire any deputies.  I’m not going to let that happen, either.”

              “For these and many other reasons, I am officially announcing here and now, my candidacy for mayor of Dawson!”

              “This has to be your best prank yet, Dwyer!” Gus called out.

              Laughter rippled and swelled through the crowd.  Joe put his hands on his hips and looked around with the deadpanned stare that always let people know he wasn’t kidding.

              “Good god, he’s serious,” Gus said.

              “That’s right, Gus.  I am
dead
serious, folks.  My past is just that; my past.  I’m not quite the same man everyone used to know.  I’ve grown up.  Getting married and preparing to be a father will do that to a man.  I don’t want to live in a dangerous place where the law enforcement is overrun because of lack of staffing.  I don’t want my wife and child to have to worry for their safety when they walk down the street.  I don’t want
any
of our townspeople to worry about that.”

              “We need to invest in the futures of our children.  They deserve a quality education and I intend to make sure that they get it.  We have a new schoolhouse thanks in large part to the generosity of Geoff and Maureen O’Connor.  We’re fortunate to have Claire Samuels, a highly qualified teacher, to educate our kids.  We must keep supporting our school.

“I want everyone to have enough money to live in a decent house and be able to stay warm in the winter,” Joe shouted.  He was becoming more impassioned now because the sentiments the speech contained were from the heart.  Joe used his experience as a performer to get his audience to feel how much he cared.  “Every single person in Dawson and the surrounding area deserves a chance for a happy life.”

              His band began softly playing patriotic music behind him.  “As your mayor, I would invest the time and effort needed to affect a positive change in our community.  But, I’m only one man, and can only do so much by myself.  We are here to help each other, just like ya’ll did when Lacey and I needed you.”

              “Together we can accomplish so much instead of just keeping things the way they are now.  If you don’t want to improve our way of life, vote for Jessie.  If you want your lives to change dramatically and to really count for something, then vote for me!  Everyone around here knows that when I say I’m going to do something, I do it.  If you elect me mayor, I promise to do my utmost to make Dawson a safer, more prosperous place to work and raise your families!  Thank you!”

              Even before Joe was done, the crowd was cheering and clapping.  As Joe left the gazebo, people came to shake his hand and offer their support.  He spent close to an hour talking to many about his ideas and being teased about his past. 

              Jessie Wilkes stood off to the side.  He watched the throng surrounding Joe and felt very threatened.  If there was anyone who could beat him in an election, it was Joe.  He left the square and began to plot in earnest about how to best deal with his new opponent.

              “We’re gonna have to get more furniture,” Sammi said.  She sat on Mitch’s lap in the single chair in the parlor.

              Mitch hugged her and said, “Oh, I don’t know.  I kind of like this arrangement.”

              Sammi chuckled and squeezed him back.  “Well, it’s ok for us, but when we have company they should have some place to sit.”

              “I suppose,” Mitch said with a dramatic sigh that made Sammi laugh.

              Mitch was dressed for work and Sammi began to play nervously with his badge.  “Um, so how soon do you want to get married?”

              Her fiancé said, “I was thinking sometime next year.”

              Sammi looked at him with wide eyes.  “That far away?”

              Mitch smiled and said, “I’m teasing.”

              “Shame on you,” Sammi said.  “Be serious.  How soon?”

              “I would get married tomorrow if we could, but we’re going to have to do some planning.  I am the sheriff after all and it’s gonna be a big wedding since I’m a public figure,” Mitch said.

              Sammi groaned and buried her face in his shoulder.  Mitch rubbed her back. 

              “I know that’s not exactly your thing, but you’re going to have to get used to it.  Especially because we have to go to functions when they occur,” he continued.

              Sammi gave him another stare.  “Functions?  I’m gonna have to wear dresses aren’t I?”

              Mitch nodded.  “I’m afraid so, honey.”

              “Ok.  I can do it.  I’ll get used to it,” Sammi said and smiled. “I won’t embarrass you.”

              Mitch kissed her nose and said, “You’re a good sport and I appreciate you being willing to adjust to your position as the sheriff’s wife.”

              Sammi shrugged.  “I knew what I was getting into.  Ok, mister, you have to get to work and I have to start conferring with my girls about a dress for the dinner Friday night.  Might as well start now.”

              “That’s the spirit,” Mitch said as he rose with her in his arms and set her feet on the floor.  He kissed her and she watched him walk out the door.  Mitch returned in a moment and said, “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”

              She eyed him suspiciously.  “Why?”

              “Just do it,” Mitch said.

              She did and felt something cold and hard placed on her palm.

              “Ok.  Open those pretty eyes,” Mitch said.

              Sammi looked down to see two keys in her palm.

              “Front door, back door,” Mitch said and turned away.  “Lock up when you leave,” he said and threw her a smile as he left again.

              Sammi laughed and danced around a little before locking the front door and leaving through the back.  She felt giddy as she locked the back door with her new key and then made her way through the yard to the alley behind Mitch’s house. 

              As she rounded the corner to her cottage, Sammi saw that her front door stood ajar.  The skin on the back of her neck prickled in warning.  She drew her gun and cautiously made her way to the door and listened for movement from within the cottage.  Hearing none, she moved quickly through the doorway and raised her gun.  A quick sweep of the room revealed that it was empty.  The same was true for the kitchen and bedroom. 

              Sammi knew she’d locked up the night before.  Quickly she dropped to her knees and looked under her bed.  Her suitcases were gone.  Then she looked behind the bedroom door and closed her eyes when she saw the bare spot where her new rifle should have been.  Sammi let out a scream of fury and ran from the cottage.  She’d left Macbeth at the livery stable the night before to get some socialization with other horses for a change, so she ran as fast as she could to the sheriff’s office.

              Mitch wasn’t there so she ran up to the Grady House.  He wasn’t there, either.  Sammi tried not to panic, but it was hard.  She asked Alice if she’d seen Mitch, but Alice said that he hadn’t been in yet that day.  Sammi asked Alice to tell Mitch she was looking for him if he came in and then ran down to the Watering Hole. 

              “Hey, Sammi,” Jake said as she came in.

              “Is Mitch here?” Sammi asked.

              “No.  Are you ok?” he asked as he saw her pale face.

              Sammi shook her head.  “No.  I was robbed, Jake.  Someone stole my gun and knife collection and worst of all, the new rifle that Mitch just bought me.”

              “Holy crap,” Jake said.  “I’m so sorry, Sammi.”

              “They broke into my cottage sometime during the night when I wasn’t home,” Sammi said without thinking.

              Jake didn’t make much of it.  What she and the sheriff did in their private life didn’t concern him.  “What kind of rifle?”

              “Maynard breech access.  Model One,” Sammi said as tears gathered in her eyes.

              Her boss whistled.  “Sweet gun.”

              “Yeah, it was.  If I see it, I’ll know who stole my stuff.  It’s not a common gun,” Sammi said.  “I have to go find him.  If you see him, let him know I’m looking for him.”

              “You got it, Sammi.  If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know,” Jake called after her.

              Sammi didn’t know where else to look for Mitch so she went to the sheriff’s office and sat at Mitch’s desk.  He hadn’t moved over to Travis’ desk yet. He’d said it was too soon to do so.  She couldn’t sit still so she got up and looked out the window.  Mitch was just riding Rico down the street.  Sammi threw the door open and ran towards her fiancé.

              Mitch saw her and knew from the way she was running that something was wrong.  A person didn’t run like that for no reason.  He dismounted and caught her as she reached him.

              “What is it?”

              “Someone broke into my cottage last night!  They got my knives and guns and my new rifle!” she said.

              “Damn it!” Mitch said. 

              Sammi told him what had happened after she’d left his place.  He gripped her upper arms and said, “You shouldn’t have gone in there without me.”

              “I can handle myself or are you forgetting?” Sammi said.

              “Come with me, please,” Mitch said and let her go.

              They walked in silence back to the office.  Once inside Mitch said, “Sammi, I know you can handle yourself, but as sheriff it’s my responsibility to look out for you.  You’re not at work, so you’re in my jurisdiction now.  Just like I respect yours when you’re working, you need to respect mine.  Understand?”

              Sammi nodded.  “Yeah.  That’s only fair.  I’m sorry.  I should have come to get you.  If something else like that happens again, I promise that I’ll get you first.”  She crossed her arms over her chest and started pacing.  “I really need to hit something right now.”

              “Yeah, me, too,” Mitch said.  He was furious that someone would invade her home and take her most prized possessions.  “I’m just glad you weren’t home when they broke in.”

              “I’m not.  I would have shot their heads off,” she said.  “And I’d have been justified.”

              Mitch said, “Be that as it may, I’m glad you weren’t hurt.  Sammi, you’re moving in with me.”

              Sammi pinned him with those icy-blue eyes of hers.  “How can I do that?  We’re not married.”

              “We’ll work on that, but I don’t want you there alone.  They might come back,” Mitch said.

              Her mouth curved in a dangerous smile.  “I’m counting on it.”

              “Sammi!” Mitch yelled loud enough to make her jump.  “You don’t get it!  You’re not the law here!  I am.  It’s my job to deal with these situations, not yours.  Besides, you’re my fiancée and I would like to marry you and grow old with you, ok?  I know you’re pissed off but you can’t act like some vigilante.”

              “What am I supposed to do then?” she yelled back.

              Mitch got out a tablet and pencil and slapped them down on his desk and pulled his chair out.  “Sit your ass in that chair and write down everything that was stolen.  Do not, I repeat,
do not,
go back to your place.  If I can’t find you here, at home, or at one of your friends’ places, I’m going to make you sorry.  Are we clear?”

              Sammi hadn’t been on Mitch’s bad side until then and she decided that she didn’t want to be.  “Yes.  We’re clear, Sheriff.”  She sat in his chair and then smiled up at him.  “You know, I now get why you like to watch me work.”

              Mitch pointed at the tablet and said, “Write!” before storming out of the office.

              Sammi sighed and looked around.  She knew it was silly, but she didn’t want to be alone.  Not wanting to upset Lacey with this, she opted to go see Jamie.  Then she remembered that Jamie would be working.  She didn’t want to get her in trouble.  Sammi took the tablet and pencil and left the office.  She decided to go to the bar to work on the list and at least she’d have Jake for company.

              After examining Sammi’s door, Mitch found that there was no damage to it.  The thief or more likely, thieves hadn’t pried the door open.  Knowing how heavy Sammi’s suitcases were, it would have taken more than one person to haul them any distance.  It was for certain that it would have been too unwieldy to ride a horse and carry them.  Mitch checked around the cottage, but wasn’t able to glean any information.  He couldn’t even get Beulah on the scent because he had no idea whose scent to put her on.  If he brought her in here, all she would smell was Sammi and go for the now familiar scent.

              He closed and used his key to lock Sammi’s door.  Mitch was serious about her staying with him.  He decided that they would come get her things a little later on.  Jolene needed to be notified about the burglary and he wanted to check with hotel guests to see if any of them had heard or seen anything.  As he stepped inside the hotel, Mitch thought of another source that might have information.

              Jolene was shocked and angered about the home invasion.  She told Mitch that Sammi had two keys and she had one, which she then showed Mitch.  Jolene assured the sheriff that there were no other keys.  At this point, Mitch didn’t care that Jolene knew that Sammi didn’t always sleep at home.  He just wanted to apprehend the culprits and get Sammi’s property back.

              There were only four people staying in the hotel at the moment and none of them had seen or heard anything since their rooms were towards the front of the hotel.  Mitch left the hotel and mounted Rico.  He put Rico into a fast canter and left Dawson behind.

              Black Fox was surprised to see Sheriff Taylor walking towards him as he sat outside his tipi.  Mitch smiled at Black Fox.

              “Hi, Black Fox,” he said.

              “Sheriff.  What brings you?” the chief asked.

              “Well, I wish it was good news, but it isn’t,” Mitch said honestly.

              Black Fox sighed.  “I thought not.”

              “My fiancée was robbed last night,” Mitch said.

              “And you think someone here did it?” Black Fox said rising.

              Mitch said, “No, not at all.  Actually, I’m here to talk to Owl.  Is he around?”

              “Why do you want to speak to my brother?” Black Fox asked protectively.

              “He’s not in trouble.  He’s been working for me, following Sammi home at night to make sure she got there ok,” Mitch said.  He understood why Black Fox would be a little distrustful, but wanted to put his fears to rest.  “I just want to ask him if he saw anything strange.”

              “How long has he worked for you?” Black Fox asked.

              “A couple of weeks now,” Mitch answered.

              Black Fox’s expression became angry.  He called out something in Lakota and the chief’s son Raven came running over to them.  Black Fox said something to Raven and the boy ran away.

              “I’ve sent Raven to get his uncle,” Black Fox said.

              “What’s the matter?” Mitch said.

              Black Fox said, “He was supposed to be on sentry duty some nights.  If he was working for you, how could he do his job here?”

              “I’m sorry, Black Fox.  I would never take him away from his work here,” Mitch said sincerely.  “I assumed that it was all right for him to do it.  Marcus said he was the best person for the job.”

              Black Fox’s gaze sharpened even more.  “Silver Ghost set this arrangement up?”

             
Uh oh
, Mitch thought. 
Me and my big mouth.  Sorry, Marcus.

              “Don’t get mad at Marcus until we see what Owl says,” Mitch said reasonably.

              It didn’t take long for Owl to show up.  He looked at Mitch and then at Black Fox.