My Heroes Have Always Been Hitmen (Humorous Romantic Shorts) (Greatest Hits Mysteries) Read Free Page A

t? I was here to do a job, and pursuing a woman who had turned down the most powerful man in town seemed foolish.
    Jeb didn 't come down to eat, instead meeting me on the stairs to say he was riding out to the ranch for the day to inquire about the foreman position. That gave me a whole day free to find out all I could about Marshal Figgins.
    Felony, Texas was not a large town. There was the main street, intersected by four other roads, each with a couple of streets and back alleys all their own. I decided to leave Norbert in his stables and walk.
    The day was hot and getting hotter. Dust swirled in the air every time someone stepped off the boardwalks and into the streets. I guess ed this was better than mud, but I was completely coated with dust before half an hour was up.
    Most of the legitimate businesses were on the main street —a dry goods store, a dentist/barber, and the hotel with its restaurant and the saloon were bookended by a bank at one end and a very large house at the other.
    I stopped in the dry goods store and bought a few toiletries, inquiring politely about the large, two-story house at the end of the street.
    A young woman with brown hair pulled severely back in a bun, looked nervously around the store before answering.
    " That's the marshal's house, mister. Take my advice and don't get too close or ask too many questions." She was then shooed away by a thin, balding man I assumed was the manager. He curtly asked if there was anything else I needed. I got the distinct impression he wanted me to leave. I touched the brim of my hat and gathered up my purchases and left.
    After returning to the hotel to drop off my items in my room, I headed back out for more exploration. While getting change at the bank, I asked about houses for sale in the area. A pinched looking man frowned and said I had to build if I wanted anything around here. I asked who had built that large house at the end of Main Street. He shook his head and closed his window.
    I had better luck at the stables as I checked on Norbert. My horse was happily eating a bucket of oats which had fresh hay next to it. I swore his eyebrows went up when he saw me, as if to say, I'm fine. Go away.
    Two young boys were holding down the fort. They spoke animatedly about the town and its most fearful resident.
    "And whatever you do, mister, watch out for the marshal!" the boy with red hair said as he hopped from one foot to the other.
    " Yeah!" the taller kid with blonde hair added. "He lives in the biggest house I ever saw," He pointed in the direction of the house. "And nobody lives there but him and his servants! Can you imagine that? A big house for just you!"
    " He doesn't have any family?" I asked as casually as I could. No family meant a few less grudge holders after I killed him.
    The redhead shook his head . "Nope! Just him!" The boy started to dance around the stables. He looked a bit like Miss Philpot, but maybe that was just because they shared the same hair color.
    " What's your name, son?" I asked.
    The boy grinned . "Percy! Percy Philpot! And I'm seven years old!"
    This information startled me. Did Penny have a son? Or was he a younger brother?
    "You stayin' at the hotel, mister?" the other boy asked. When I nodded, he said, "Percy's sister, Penny, works there. You probably seen her." He hoisted his thumb to his chest. "I'm Ned. My dad runs these stables. Percy's my cousin."
    " I help!" Percy giggled, before beginning to run in circles. Clearly the boy had too much energy.
    " I see." I was a little rattled by this new information. But why should I be? I wasn't courting Penny Philpot. Okay, so maybe I harbored the fantasy that she would ride into the sunset with me when this was all over, but now I knew she had family here.
    I tossed the boys each a coin and asked them to take extra care of my horse. Norbert snorted as if he were laughing at me, and then buried his snout in oats.
    As I walked out into the street, I had this strange feeling I was