Read Tempting the Marshal: (A Western Historical Romance) (Dodge City Brides Series Book 2) for Free Online

wished she knew more.
    “Strange. I hadn’t heard anything about that. Whatever happened to Marshal Peavy?”
    “I don’t know. When he rode out to check on us a few weeks ago, he didn’t mention anything about leaving Dodge, although folks have been saying that ever since he took a bullet in Caldwell last year, he’s been wanting to retire to California.”
    Leo broke in. “What’s everybody so surprised about? I knew Marshal Collins was coming to town. I saw Zeb Stone on the McCaffrey land the other day when I was fixing the fence. He came over to talk to me.”
    Jo winced at the sound of Zeb’s name on her son’s lips. “You didn’t tell me about that.”
    “Sorry, Ma, but you didn’t ask. You haven’t asked about much lately.”
    It was true, and she regretted having become so obsessed with Zeb, that she had neglected the person she loved more than anything in the world. She tried to hide the fact that she was shaken, and got straight to the heart of the matter. “What did Mr. Stone say to you?”
    “Nothing much, except that he was on his way to the depot to meet the new marshal.”
    “That’s all? You didn’t bother him with any questions about your pa, did you?”
    For the past six months, Jo had tried to keep a low profile and steer clear of Zeb’s watchfulness, but Leo’s newfound interest in solving his father’s murder had become such a dangerous problem it had driven her to desperation. Good Lord, what was she going to do about all this?
    “No, ma’am.” Leo lowered his gaze.
    Jo’s head was pounding. She knew Leo must have said something and was afraid to tell her.
    Matilda gave Jo a nod. “We best be getting on home. Your mother needs her rest.”
    Leo moved forward to hug her.
    “Be a good boy for Mrs. Honeyworth until I get home,” Jo said, patting Leo’s back and trying to keep her voice from quivering around the lump forming in her throat. Oh, she missed him so terribly much, and he was becoming a man so fast, changing every day, it seemed. She didn’t want to let him go.
    “I will.” He gave her a carefree smile that only a child could muster, then walked to the door.
    Matilda leaned down and kissed Jo on the forehead. When the door swung closed behind them, Jo looked at the window. Through a crack in the closed curtains, she could see the first glimmer of dawn, but sadly, the new day did not carry with it new hope.
    * * *
    With the morning sun uncomfortably hot on his back, his cane in hand, Fletcher limped down a Front Street boardwalk to get some breakfast. He could feel the curious stares from the townsfolk, ladies standing around with parasols, shopkeepers and barbers gathered in groups at their windows, chatting quietly. People wanted to get a look at the new marshal who had fainted in the middle of his first gunfight in town.
    Fletcher clenched his jaw. What a circus. Now he had a reputation to fix. Hobbling around Dodge like a wounded dog didn’t exactly strike terror into the hearts of the local criminal element. He tugged the brim of his Stetson down over his forehead to cover the bandage and wondered if he could manage without the cane.
    When he reached the Dodge House Hotel, he walked into the wallpapered dining room, removed his hat and chose a table by the window to watch for Deputy Anderson and his posse.
    “You must be the new marshal,” the dark-haired waitress said, approaching. She carried a silver coffeepot and a newspaper, which she promptly set down on the white tablecloth. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m Gert Bezel. My husband owns the place. Coffee?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    She turned over the flowery china cup already placed in front of him and poured the coffee. “It’s a downright shame what happened to you last night. I saw them carry you off to the doctor. You looked like a big sack of flour. Most people thought you were dead.”
    Fletcher felt his cheeks grow hot. “I’m still breathing.”
    “Mr. Stone’s done so much for