Whirlwind Groom Read Free Page B

She’s new to town. Has brown or well, maybe brownish-red hair—”
    â€œYou mean that pretty little thing who’s staying at the Whirlwind Hotel?” Charlie peered at him over the top of his glasses, his brown eyes sparking with interest.
    Mitchell stopped at the edge of the counter. “Josie Webster?” he asked eagerly.
    Davis Lee figured that a hundred unfamiliar women could have paraded through Haskell’s General Store, and Charlie and Mitchell would’ve known Josie. They weren’t likely to forget that heart-shaped face or that creamy skin. Or the graceful curves that made a man crazy to put his hands on her. He sure hadn’t been able to forget. “Yeah, that’s her.”
    â€œShe’s been in a couple of times,” Mitchell offered.
    â€œWhen was the last time y’all saw her?”
    Charlie thought for a minute.
    â€œShe was in yesterday for more thread,” the younger man said.
    â€œAnd the day before to buy fabric for the hotel,” Charlie added. “She’s making new curtains and tablecloths for Penn and Esther.”
    â€œIs that right?” So it appeared she had decided to stay, at least for a while. Did that decision have anything to do with Ian McDougal?
    Mitchell nodded at his burden. “This is the rest of the fabric Miss Webster ordered. We didn’t have all she needed so I had to go over to Abilene. I about cleaned out that store.” He edged his way out from behind the counter. “I’ll take this over to her at the hotel, Uncle. Won’t be long.”
    â€œHold up there, Mitchell.” Davis Lee stepped in front of him. “I already have to stop by the hotel. I’d be happy to deliver that for you.”
    â€œOh, I don’t mind.”
    â€œSince I’m already going there, it won’t put me out.” He didn’t need an excuse to talk to her, but delivering the fabricprovided him with a better chance of getting into her room, seeing if he could find anything to confirm his suspicions about her.
    Charlie motioned for his nephew to give the cloth to Davis Lee. “She in some kind of trouble?”
    â€œNo.” She is trouble. And he aimed to find out how much. He took the stack from the boy, who looked disappointed. “Just saving you a trip.”
    â€œIf I were twenty years younger, I’d take it myself.” Charlie chuckled. “Can’t say as I blame you, Sheriff.”
    Davis Lee grinned, not bothering to correct the man’s assumption that he was romantically interested in Josie Webster.
    A few minutes later, Davis Lee stood at the hotel’s registration desk, loaded down with four bolts of fabric. “Penn, I’ve got a delivery here for Miz Webster,” he said loudly. “Is she here?”
    â€œI believe so.” The man’s wizened features creased in a smile. “You working for Charlie now, Sheriff?”
    â€œJust helping out.”
    â€œShe’s in room 214.”
    â€œThanks.” Davis Lee started up the scratched pine staircase, his boots scuffing the freshly swept wood.
    â€œNo, no, that’s not right, Sheriff,” Penn said. “She’s not in that room anymore.”
    Halfway up the staircase, Davis Lee turned.
    â€œShe’s in room 200 now. I forgot she asked to move a couple of days ago.”
    â€œWhy would she do that?”
    â€œSaid she wanted a room at the front of the hotel so she could have a view while she sewed.”
    Davis Lee’s eyes narrowed. That was why he hadn’t seen her in the alley since that encounter a couple of days ago. Since he already thought she was hiding something, this news made him even more determined to find out what.
    â€œThanks, Penn. I’ll get this stuff up to her.” He reached the top of the second-story landing and turned to the right, going down the hall until he got to the last room. A room he knew had a bird’s-eye view of town. And