Free Before the Larkspur Blooms by Caroline Fyffe Page B

didn’t Win come himself, like he always does? Mayhap this jailbird just wanted a moment alone with you. Do a little sweet-talking.” He jerked his gaze toward Thom. “Perhaps he’s hungry from all those years locked away.”
    Thom dug deeper for his quiet. He’d learned how to play the game, but it rankled more with Dwight than it had with any prison guard. He uncurled his fingers in an attempt to relax and took deep breaths through his nose. “I came to fix the pump, Dwight,” he said, counting backward from five. “Just doing my job. Nothing more.”
    Dwight jammed a finger into Thom’s chest, trying to push him back, but Thom held his ground. They both knew Dwight had him where he wanted him. Without Sheriff Preston here, Dwight could claim anything. “You’re to call me sir whenever you address me. You understand, mick jailbird?”
    Hannah threw up her hands. “Be serious! No one calls you sir. Why should Thom?”
    A line of crimson started on Dwight’s neck and slowly crept over his face toward the unkempt hair hanging down into his eyes. Thom didn’t like what he saw before Dwight’s small eyes darted over to Hannah. “Because I said so. That’s all the reason I need.” He looked back at Thom. “Understand?”
    “Yes, sir,” Thom said clearly, this time locking his gaze on the pink-and-green wallpaper. “Now,
sir
—can I get back to work? I have chores waiting for me back at the inn. It’s getting late.”
    “Maybe you should have thought about that before you killed Levi Smith and then ran off with your tail between your legs. You’re nothing more than a cold-blooded killer.”
    “Stop it!” Hannah shoved Dwight in the chest with both hands. “That was an accident. A boyhood fight. Levi pulled the knife to use on Thom. He stumbled and fell. Thom was cleared of any wrongdoing, and you know it! He didn’t kill Levi. Levi killed himself.”
    “Innocent men don’t run.”
    Dwight was enjoying this all too much. But he was right. Innocent men didn’t run, and Thom hadn’t. He’d just packed up one night and took off, unable to stay in Logan Meadows another day. Unable to stand the look on his father’s face every time he thought about the shame he’d brought down on the Donovan name by accidently killing a friend. But leaving Logan Meadows had only led him to Rome Littleton and prison.
    “I don’t care if you are my cousin-in-law, Dwight Hoskins. You’re mean and crude. I don’t understand what makes you that way. I’m going for Albert if you don’t stop this foolishness this instant.” She glared up at Dwight. “Thom has served his time. Don’t you dare threaten him!”
    “I don’t need you fighting my fights, Hannah,” Thom said evenly. “I don’t want you to either.” He reached for the wrench, and Dwight drew on him.
    “I could kill you right now.”
    If it weren’t for Hannah standing so close, Thom might have taken Dwight on. But there she stood, like a beautiful goddess carved from marble.
    “You could, Dwight—but you won’t,” Thom said softly. “You know why? Because you don’t have the guts.” He took a tiny step in Dwight’s direction. “You were a spineless fool back when we were boys, and you still are.”
    Dwight’s laugh was a bit too forced to be real.
    Thom picked up the wrench and turned to the pump. He withdrew two worn-out washers from the contraption’s core, then replaced them with the ones in his pocket. He refastened the spout, then the pump handle. Screwing them down tight, he gave one last muscle-popping yank, just because it felt good.

CHAPTER NINE

    J ake lounged an arm on the walnut bar top inside the Bright Nugget Saloon and lazily placed one boot on the footrest. Irritation gripped his insides. All he wanted was for Kendall to get over here and pour him a drink. Was that too much to ask?
    Through the gold-plated mirror, he watched the lean, middle-aged bartender give Daisy a stiff dressing-down at the back of the room. The girl