Free Mail Order Mayhem (Mail Order Romance Book 2 - Benjamin and Annie) by Kate Whitsby

and the creature proceeded lightly along its way, as if it knew already where they were going and had wanted to show him the reason for it.
    As he sat there pondering the situation, a low drumming drew his attention back to the pass. A horde of riders crested the rise and streamed into the valley, rushing toward him. Had he not just ascertained that the bandits rode north, he might have been concerned. Instead, he correctly surmised this must be the sheriff’s posse, come to search the Iverson Ranch for the gang of marauders. Sure enough, Sheriff Martin Christopher pulled up his mount a few yards away, and his deputies arrayed themselves behind him as he glared at Benjamin.
    “You again!” he exclaimed. “You keep comin’ back like a bad smell, don’t ya?”
    Benjamin shrugged noncommittally but didn’t answer.
    “Well, what are you doin’ here?” the sheriff demanded. “I told you to stay out of this.”
    “I guess I just don’t do as I’m told,” Benjamin apologized. “I never was much good at that.”
    “Are they gone again?” the sheriff scanned the surrounding homestead.
    Benjamin nodded. “Looks like it.”
    “Do you know when they left?” Christopher asked.
    “Yesterday morning sometime, I guess,” Benjamin responded evasively.
    “Were you here?” the sheriff questioned. “Were you here when they left?”
    Benjamin looked away. “Yeah, I was. Or, at least, I was here just before they left.”
    “You confronted them, didn’t you?” the sheriff interrogated him. “Come on, tell the truth. You just couldn’t keep out of it, could you? You had to come in here and get in their faces.”
    Benjamin shrugged again. “You’re right. I did.”
    The sheriff sniffed in annoyance. “I thought so. You look terrible. You look even worse than you did the other day at your place. You look like they’ve had another crack at your wooden head. Well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    “No, I won’t say that,” Benjamin mumbled.
    “Is Annie with them?” the sheriff softened his tone slightly. “Did you see her?”
    Benjamin nodded. “Far as I can tell, she’s okay. She tried to run off. Two nights ago, I guess it was. I snuck in here and showed myself to her, and she ran. I meant to meet her over by the creek, but we missed each other, and then when we met up in the dark, we got separated. They found her and took her back. I reckon they’re makin’ her cook for ‘em. From the way she was goin’ in and out, fetchin’ water, and the smoke comin’ out of the chimney, I guess that’s what they’re keepin’ her for. Didn’t see as she was hurt any, and she ran okay when she did get away.”
    “That’s good,” the sheriff confirmed. “What else can you tell me about ‘ em?”
    “Not a lot,” Benjamin returned. “They’re father and son, like you told me, but I can’t tell you anything else. Looks to me like they went north.”
    The sheriff scowled. “What do you mean? How could they go north? There’s no trail.”
    “Well, look at the tracks,” Benjamin pointed toward the ground in the direction he indicated. “If they didn’t go north, there’s no reason for all those tracks goin’ up the valley. If they went south, there should be no tracks goin’ that way at all. How else can you explain it?”
    “Well, I just don’t believe they went north,” the sheriff bristled. “That makes no sense at all.”
    “Unless their hideout is in the mountains somewhere,” Benjamin explained.
    The sheriff tossed his head. “They could’ve gone back toward Eckville. There’s more farms and houses that way for them to raid.”
    “That’s assuming they’re looking for farms and houses to raid,” Benjamin contradicted. “If they aren’t, if they’re making a run for their hiding place, then they have no reason to go south at all.”
    “Don’t tell me you plan to go after them again,” the sheriff exclaimed. “Not after you just had another run-in with ‘em. You’re