Free McKenna, (Sweet Western Historical Romance) (Nevada Brides Series Book 1) by Clara Kincaid Page A

undertaker can’t make coffins fast enough for sheriffs in this town.” He laughed.
    “Nice you can laugh about that, but it’s going to be weird calling you Sheriff Milford.”
    “You can call me Hank, like always.”
    “We were robbed by the Bart gang. They made off with the strongbox, but that’s all.”
    “I know. I have the strongbox locked up at the bank. They caught up with them, or the strongbox at least. Seems like the gang wanted to escape more than they wanted the contents,” Hank explained.
    “Blast it. I was hoping they’d be caught this time for sure. They shot Sam.”
    “Just winged him, actually. He’ll recover nicely the men who brought the strongbox here said,” Hank informed him.
    “If I’d have known we could have been robbed, I would have carried my money on my person,” Ethel said.
    “Aren’t you William Braxton’s wife?” the sheriff asked. “You look just like the woman in the picture he carries around with him. He’s working his claim now.”
    “Good, that means I have time to freshen up before I see him.”
    “You can all check into the boarding house. It’s the best place in town to stay.”
    “Not me,” Bella said. “I’m heading over to the saloon.” She strutted right over there, too, smiling wickedly at the men who passed her by.
    “I’m sorry you had to be in the company of a woman like that, Miss,” Sheriff Milford said.
    “I didn’t mind it. She’s a nice gal, but I can’t say the same for some others.”
    Ethel slapped McKenna on the back with a laugh. “I like you, McKenna. You’re my type of woman.”
    Charles glared at McKenna. “The sooner I part company with you, the better,” he said.
    Cole took a step in Charles’s direction. “I’d watch how I spoke to my wife or about her.”
    Albert grabbed his brother’s arm. “Let’s head to the saloon. I think we both need a drink.”
    McKenna sighed. “Thanks, Cole. Will we be going to the boarding house now?”
    “We need to head to the bank first. I’ve been in contact with a Mr. Smith,” he responded.
    “Oh, yes. Mr. Smith handles all business transactions in town besides banking. He even weighs the gold prospectors bring in,” Hank explained.
    “He sounds like a busy man,” McKenna said.
    “Sure is. He should be in now if you need to see him,” the sheriff said.
    Cole carried McKenna’s bag and handed it off to his brother, who’d just pulled up in the wagon. He then made his way into the bank with her by his side.
    Inside, there were two windows with bars in front of it, presumably for the safety of whoever worked back there.
    Cole went up to one of them and said, “I’m here to see Mr. Smith. I just came to town on the stagecoach.”
    “And your name is?”
    “Cole Winters, from Halston, Ohio.”
    The woman didn’t move; a small, balding man with glasses walked out of an office that had the door open. “Come on in, Cole. I was hoping you’d show up soon.”
    McKenna proceeded her husband into the room.
    “Oh, Mrs. Winters. You can wait in the other room while us men do our business.”
    “I certainly will not! Whatever business he is doing affects me, too.”
    “Of course it does. I only meant that, well … you’re a woman.”
    “A very strong-minded one,” Cole said. “And she’s right. We handle our business together since she’ll own half of whatever I buy.”
    “Do you have the thousand dollars we agreed by telegram?”
    “Before the money is handed out, I’d like to know what we’re buying,” McKenna stated.
    “Why, the empty building next to the saloon. It’s a very sturdy building with rooms on the second floor for your living accommodations,” Mr. Smith said. “If you hadn’t gotten here today, I might have had to sell it to someone else. One never knows for sure if a buyer will actually show up.”
    “I saw there was already a store in town,” McKenna commented.
    “Yes. It’s owned by Miss Chastity Burke. Her father owns a shipping business