Free Mail Order Bride: Westward Christmas Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 11) by Linda Bridey Page A

nights when you have town council meetings,” Randall said.
                  Joe stopped and looked Randall in the eyes.  “I do, don’t I?  I’ve even got a bet going with Dean about what color tie he’ll be wearing for the funeral when he does finally croak.”
                  Randall couldn’t help the fleeting smile that crossed his face at that remark.
                  Joe laughed but sobered quickly.  “Do you know how much time that is to waste?  I need something else to do, Randy.”  He sat down again on the sofa.  “I don’t have enough to do to keep me busy.  That’s why I gamble.  I’m bored, Randy, so I gamble to fill the time.”
                  Randall nodded.  “That sounds plausible, even probable.”
                  “I can’t gamble until next week.  What am I going to do with myself?  It’s a slow week because of the holiday, but even when we are busier, I’ve got all kinds of people doing the work for me.  That’s what I pay them for.  To do the work so I don’t have to,” Joe said.
                  Randall didn’t say anything.  He’d known Joe since he was nineteen and he knew when Joe was talking to him or to himself.
                  Joe looked at Randall again and said, “I need a job, Randy!  That’s what I need.  There’s something I never thought I’d say.”
                  Randall cocked his head at Joe and said, “You have one, sir.”
                  “What’s that?” Joe said.
                  “Joe, you are the mayor of Dawson.  That is your job.  I’m sure there are matters that could use your attention instead of your money,” Randall said.  “Things to improve the town, issues to resolve that might need more than the time a council meeting takes to deal with them.”
                  Dumbfounded, Joe stared at Randall, and then a smile spread over his chiseled features.  “Hot damn, Randy!  You’re a genius!  It’s time I stop playing mayor and start being mayor.  Is that what you’re drivin’ at?”
                  “It is, indeed, sir,” Randall said.
                  Joe got up, kissed Randall’s head and said, “You are not allowed to ever die, because I don’t know what I’d do without you.”  Then he slipped money into Randall’s jacket pocket and patted it.  Going over to the door, Joe put his hat on and exited the house. 
                  Randall grinned as he pulled the money out to see how much Joe had given him this time.  The hundred was very generous.  He went over to the coat rack by the door, took Joe’s from it, and went to stand by the door.  Almost as if on cue, Joe opened the door, said, “Damn, it’s cold out.  Thanks, Randy,” took the coat and left again.
                 
                  Sasha began thinking about something as she followed Ben from the camp out to the main road.  In her mind’s eye she saw how tender and sweet Ben had been with the children.  He’d also been kind and respectful to the women.  But when Raven had come after him, he’d become violent in an instant. 
                  It had happened so fast that at first she had been so startled that it didn’t really register with her until now.  How did a doctor who did so much good, also hurt people?  And he had hurt Raven.  The young man hadn’t been able to breathe properly, if only briefly, after Ben hit him.  How had Ben known where to hit or who he was hitting?  What if it had been a woman or one of the children?
                  She thought about the fierceness, the restrained power in Ben, and wondered where it came from.  The two sides of Ben intrigued her.  How did they exist together inside of one man?  She intended to find out.
                  When they arrived at the main road, Ben