Brodie's Gamble Read Free Page A

picked up the message from Colin, knowing he had no choice but to join Sarah and him for supper.
    Pushing up from the desk, he grabbed the keys before heading to the back. Four cells lined the back wall. During his weeks as sheriff, he’d never had more than two people locked inside.
    The cell where Bob Belford had slept off his drunken night was in good order. The furniture consisted of two beds, a small desk, and a chair. More than in most jails. He suspected Jack had something to do with nothing being amiss. Perhaps the lad would make a good deputy . The thought brought a smile to his lips. Turning toward the front, Brodie let out a deep sigh, knowing he had to send a message to Colin.

    “Let’s go to lunch, then see if we can find him.” Sarah MacLaren glanced at Colin as he escorted her downstairs to the hotel dining room.
    A large town by most frontier standards, Conviction boasted four hotels. All offered meals, although the quality had always been best at the Gold Dust.
    This afternoon, though, Colin found it hard to enjoy his venison stew and biscuits. His mind kept returning to Brodie and how much he missed him. Perhaps his cousin would listen to reason and return home. He couldn’t imagine running the ranch without him.
    “Look there.” Sarah stared out the window at the jail.
    Turning in his chair, following her gaze, he saw Brodie ride up on Hunter and dismount. Scanning the boardwalk, he tipped his hat at a passing couple, then disappeared inside the jail.
    “At least we know he’s in town.” Colin finished eating, pushing his plate away, noticing Sarah watching him. “What?”
    “You don’t plan to charge over there and demand he come home, do you?”
    “As much as I’d like to, no. We’ll invite him to supper, find out if he’s met the new neighbor south of us, and that’s all. No matter how much I don’t like or understand it, I know it’s his decision.”
    Walking across the street, Colin noticed several more stores than he’d seen on his last trip to town, and new buildings seemed to be going up on every corner. The hotel clerk mentioned two more saloons and a few shops would be moving into the spaces. The growth made him realize how much Conviction needed a strong sheriff. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, he knew Brodie would make an exceptional lawman, better than anyone Colin could think of.
    Opening the door to the jail, they spotted Brodie walking from the back where the cells were located.
    “I wondered when you two would be coming to pay me a visit. Good afternoon, Sarah.” Brodie brushed a kiss across her cheek before setting the keys on his desk, shifting to look behind Colin. “Quinn didn’t come with you?”
    “Not this trip. Sarah and I rode in alone. We’re hoping you can take time to join us for supper tonight.”
    “We’d like to spend time with you, Brodie. Please say you will.” Sarah reached out, taking his hand and squeezing it.
    He sent her a broad smile, unlike the wary welcome he’d offered Colin. “I’d like to meet you for supper, as long as you don’t try to change my mind about taking the sheriff’s job.” He nodded toward a couple chairs.
    “You keeping busy?” Colin asked, pulling out a chair for Sarah.
    “You’d be surprised—”
    Brodie’s head snapped around as the door burst open and a woman he’d never seen dashed inside. Taking deep breaths, she looked out the window, then turned toward Brodie, gasping for air.
    “Can I help you, ma’am?”
    “Are you the sheriff?” She turned to glance out the window once again.
    “Aye.”
    Shifting back toward him, she wrapped her arms around her waist, eyes wide. “I hope you can help me. I think I killed my husband.”
     

Chapter Two
    Sarah’s shocked expression mirrored Colin’s and Brodie’s. The woman looked to be no more than seventeen years old. She wore a thin coat over a calico dress with a ruffled collar and white pinafore, which seemed more suitable for a much