Tumbleweed Weddings Read Free Page A

patrolmen, Murray Twichell, and—”
    “You new in town?” Murray stuck out his hand. He wasn’t smiling.
    Lane shook hands. “Lane Hutchins. I just moved here a few days ago. I’m staying at the Stables.”
    So, he does live there
.
    Murray frowned. “What’s your business in Fort Lob, Hutchins? It better be legitimate.”
    “Murray!” Callie felt like slapping him across the nose. “A person has a right to live in Fort Lob if he wants to, or anywhere else for that matter.”
    “Just doing my job.” Murray stretched to his full height, which still fell short of Lane’s by six inches. “The townspeople count on their cops to keep law and order. We don’t want any unsavory characters moving in.”
    “I understand, sir, and my business is quite legitimate.” Lane had a serious expression on his handsome face. “People in a small town are protective of their community, and rightly so.”
    “That’s right.” Murray looked at Callie. “Smart man.” He picked up his book and walked to the door. “Welcome to Fort Lob, Hutchins. See you later, Callie.” He exited the library.
    Lane turned to Callie. “Was he carrying a Herbert Dreyfuss book?”
    “Yes, the new one about gunfights. I had to order it on reserve from the Casper library.”
    He nodded. “It’s only been out a few weeks. I guess you haven’t had time to buy a copy for the Dorsey-Smythe Library.”
    “Well, that’s not the problem.” Callie looked down, shuffling some papers into a neat pile. It was hard to concentrate with Lane’s brown eyes staring at her. “Usually Miss Penwell buys all the bestsellers for our library—in fact, we bought all the other Dreyfuss books—but the town council put a cap on our spending.”
    “Oh?” Lane folded his arms. “Does that mean you won’t be able to buy any new books?”
    “That’s exactly what it means. They cut our funding, and we haven’t bought a new book in four months.” She motioned behind her at the thirty or so volumes on reserve. “I have to order books from Casper all the time now. And if they don’t have it, I call the library in Cheyenne.”
    He nodded. “I grew up in Cheyenne with my aunt and uncle, but I’ve lived in other places more recently.”
    “Oh.”
His aunt and uncle?
Maybe he was an orphan. “So were you—”
    “Say, I need your help.” He glanced up the wide staircase. “Are your reference books upstairs?”
    “Yes, let me show you.” She walked to the stairway. “What’s your topic?”
    “I’m interested in Yellowstone National Park.”
    Callie ascended the stairs. “In that case, I’ll show you the Wyoming Heritage Room. There’s lots of information about Yellowstone in there, and unlike the reference books, you can check them out.”
    “Good.” Lane moved up to walk beside her. “I figured a library in Wyoming would carry a number of volumes on Yellowstone, and this is one of the best libraries I’ve ever visited.”
    “Thanks to Mildred Dorsey-Smythe.” She didn’t mention how fast the library was going downhill—thanks to the town council.
    They entered the former master bedroom that was packed with shelves of geographical books and local history tomes. Callie scanned the volumes as she walked down the aisles. Lane followed her.
    “Here we are.” She pointed to four shelves. “Yellowstone National Park. You have a lot to choose from.”
    “Wow.” A spark jumped into his eyes. “This is great.”
    Callie wished she could stay with him, but her job of pointing out the books was done. “Let me know if you need more help.”
    “I will.” Lane pulled a book from the shelf. “Thanks, Callie.” He opened the volume and began perusing it.
    Her heart did a little flip as she left the room.
He said my name
. She almost floated down the stairs.
    A redheaded blur, in the form of eight-year-old Kincaid Watson, barreled into her as she turned toward the checkout counter. Her daydream disappeared with the impact.
    “Sorry, Callie.”