The Trouble with Patience Read Free Page A

Miss Patience trying to interfere. Maybe she was simply being impulsive, but somehow she didn’t strike him as being that kind of woman. And he sure would like to know how she came to take him up on the offer of coffee. But he was one up on her since she’d nearly choked on it. He took another sip and grinned once more.
    Actually, she had really pretty green eyes, though her expression had been accusing and dour looking. When she’d walked out, he couldn’t help but notice, in spite of her simple calico dress and apron, her clothing did not hide her feminine curves.
    He sighed. No need to even give her a second thought. She spelled trouble, and he wasn’t looking for any. He was new in town, new on the job, and didn’t need anything she had to offer. But he couldn’t deny he had been hankering after one of those fresh, hot biscuits Monty bragged about. His own cooking left something to be desired, so he ate most of his meals at the Longhorn Café. Maybe he’d give Creekside Inn a try . . . maybe get her ire up again. Another grin.
    But then he closed his eyes, and another face, this onesmiling, floated behind his eyelids. Emily worked at the Longhorn. Now there’s a woman he’d like to get to know better, but that would mean eventually opening up about some things he didn’t care to reveal. He sighed and turned back to the stack of papers he’d probably never get through at this rate.

2

    Not even a slight breeze had moved through the trees until a clap of thunder broke the heavy , eerie atmosphere . Jedediah remained motionless on his horse in the clearing , his shirt soaked with perspiration and stuck to his back . Two other men on horseback flanked him , staring up into the huge elm tree . He felt the bile creep up into his throat as he watched a man hanging above them in the hot air . The victim had been caught stealing cattle , and by law Jedediah and his vigilantes had every right to string him up . One of the men , Cash , chewed on his cigar , then turned to Jedediah with an unspoken question . On the other side , Ned moved uncomfortably in his saddle . Jedediah finally snapped open his pocket watch and nodded to Ned . “ Cut him down and haul the body over to the two docs in town — they use ’ em in their anatomy lessons .”
    Ned walked his horse forward, standing up in the stirrups to reach the rope, just as another bolt of lightning split the clouds and struck the elm tree with a loud crack, once more breaking the stillness of the hot summer—
    The clatter of Shorty’s metal water cup against the cell bars jerked Jedediah from his nap. “Cut that out!” he barked as his feet slammed down from the desk to the floor. Blasted fool . The dream had taken him by surprise, and reliving it brought up the scene he’d just as soon repress. While it was legal to string up a horse or cattle thief, those memories haunted him still. With each incident, he had tried to justify it to himself. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not.
    â€œI wuz jes wantin’ some cold water,” Shorty whined. “When’s dinner in this fancy hole-in-the-wall you put me up in? Hope it’s fried chicken.” He gave a snort that said far more than his words.
    Irritated, Jedediah walked over to the cell, grabbed Shorty’s cup, and filled it from a pitcher behind his desk. “Supper is when I say and what I say it is.” He shoved the cup back to his prisoner through the bars.
    Shorty gulped the water down. “How long you gonna keep me in here?” he grumbled, wiping an arm across his mouth.
    â€œUntil the circuit judge shows up. If you’re lucky—and I am too—it could be Friday.”
    â€œGuess I’ll have to make do watching you and that nice lady argue.”
    Jedediah did his own version of a snort. “Don’t plan on that happening again.”
    Shorty grinned, exposing an unhealthy row of teeth.