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Hazen, planting her feet to stay put. “I was there, Ray. That man had it coming. He stole from Mr. Wainwright right in the middle of my parlor.”
    The mayor appraised the newcomer from head to foot. “What’d you do for a living back east, Wainwright?”
    His amused gaze flicked to Cora briefly and then returned to Ray. “I was a businessman.”
    The mayor grunted. “I heard you bought a ranch. I just left the district court where I spoke with Judge Murtagh.”
    Tarnation. Here it comes. They’re going to arrest the man.
    â€œAnd?” Wainwright crossed his arms over his chest, his expression calm. She had to admire his lack of concern, but perhaps that came from all the cold-blooded killing.
    The mayor dug inside his coat pocket, searching for something. “We’d like to offer you a badge. You’re just the sort of man our town needs as its next sheriff.”
    Deputy Hazen’s grip suddenly dropped, freeing her, and she stumbled forward with her legs tangling in her petticoat. Wainwright caught her waist, breaking her fall. She grabbed his solid shoulders to steady herself and saw a confused look in his blue eyes as their gazes collided briefly. He frowned and released her to stand on her own.
    â€œRay, are you out of your mind?” she exclaimed after she regained composure.
    â€œThanks, but no thanks.” Wainwright held up a hand to the mayor as if warding off the offer. “You’ve got the wrong man.”
    Cora’s thoughts exactly. The very last thing she needed was a sheriff who was more dangerous than the one she’d shot, and look where that lawman was now, lying in his grave, fodder for worms with the unruly town worse than ever. No, God willing, Kit Wainwright wouldn’t accept the mayor’s crazy invitation.

Chapter Four
    Kit downed a shot of whiskey while trying to ignore his present company, Deputy Hazen, glaring at him from across the saloon table. How many drinks would it take to forget the reason why he was still in this wretched town? Five? Six? Sunset was too early in the evening to get drunk, but that had never stopped him from raising a glass before.
    â€œAre you even listening to me?” The lawman slapped the table.
    Kit lowered the drink and considered which would have more satisfying results, punching the ill-tempered deputy in the mouth or smacking his forehead with the tumbler. He’d been alone in the deputy’s company no more than three hours and had already determined that the sheriff’s killer had chosen the wrong victim.
    â€œTalk to me one more time in that manner.” Kit’s voice came out in a low rumble, his disgust boiling to the surface. He glared at the annoying little man. “I meant to shoot that thief where I did. Think about that before you choose your next words to me.”
    Hazen’s sneer quivered slightly as uncertainty crept into his eyes. “My apologies, Sheriff .”
    Kit winced and glanced down at the damnable new metal star adorning his vest. How in the hell had he allowed himself to get into such a mess? He’d had no problem declining the mayor’s initial offer of a job, arguing the man didn’t even know him. Why, he could be a negligible liar whose only desires in life were to drink and chase women—all true. Yet for some reason, Thorntree thought him capable of protecting a town and its citizens from murders and thieves.
    â€œWith your sharpshooting skills, you’re the perfect choice to send after the sheriff’s killer and bring the criminal to justice,” Thorntree had declared. Kit had flatly refused. He didn’t need the money. He was loaded with cash, bonds, land. Then the mayor had trumped all his arguments with the one thing Kit couldn’t refuse. “When I told Judge Murtagh my idea to hire you, he figured you wouldn’t accept. That’s why he said to remind you about some debt you owe him.”
    And