Free Dorothy Garlock by River Rising Page B

might be breaking the law, and it would be easy for you to look the other way. You must do your duty as a police officer regardless of who is doing the wrong thing.”
    “I have a lot to learn.”
    Corbin placed two books on the desk. “Study these books. If Evan and I are successful in getting you an interview with the city council, you’ll be halfway prepared for some of the questions they’ll ask you.
    “Now you’d better get over and see Annabel and Murphy. She’s been complaining that you’ve not been around much lately.”
    A smile lightened Jack’s face. “When’s the baby due?” “Pretty soon now. In a day or two I’m going to tie Doc’s leg to the post on my porch.”
    Jack laughed. “He said that you were a pain in the butt when Murphy was born. I think he called you an
id-idiot
.”
    “Wait until his wife has a baby and we’ll see how he acts.” Corbin stood. “I’ll keep in touch and let you know how things are going. There’s one man on the council that’s against anything I’m for, but he’s on good terms with Evan. I’ll let Evan handle him.”
    In spite of the cloudy day, the world seemed brighter when Jack left Corbin’s office. He wondered what Ruby May would think about his being a policeman. He had always thought that someday he and Ruby would be married. They had known each other since before they started school. But, hell, he didn’t have anything to offer her now; they’d have to live in the house with his pa and Eudora. He couldn’t ask her to give up her teaching job for that.
    She’d gone out twice, that he knew of, with that smart aleck who worked for the electric company. The man’s wife hadn’t been cold in the ground before he was out looking around. Ruby was smart. But was she smart enough to see that what he wanted was a woman to take care of his kids? She’d not fall for that smooth-talking lineman even if he did have a house and a good job.
    But oh, God. What if she did?
    “Well, for goodness’ sake!” April sat at the desk with Doc’s ledger open in front of her and struggled to read some of the scribbling he’d made during the weeks before she arrived. She figured that HC stood for house call and OC was for office call.
     
   
OC Tim M. pain pills
   
1.00
   
HC Little Phillips girl sore throat
   
1.00
   
OC cash
   
.50
     
    April ran her finger down the list. There were very few charges for more than a dollar and very few notations identifying the treatment. Only occasionally was there a date beside the entry and no indication that any of the patients had paid for his services.
    A half hour later, still trying to figure out Doc’s strange bookkeeping, she looked up as the door opened and Joe Jones stepped inside.
    “You’re still here.” His words surprised her.
    “Didn’t you expect me to be?”
    “Wasn’t sure. I thought Doc’s ladies might have scared you off.”
    “Laws,” she snorted. “It would take more than a few jealous cats to run me off. He’s in the house if you want to see him.”
    “I don’t. I’d rather talk to you.”
    She put her pencil down and folded her arms. “Go ahead. Talk.”
    “How do you keep that cap perched on top of your head?” “Bobby pins.”
    “How do you keep that uniform looking as crisp and new as a two-dollar bill?”
    “Wash, starch and iron. In that order.”
    “You look damn fetching in it.”
    “Thanks. Anything else?” She tried not to smile at him and failed miserably.
    “Can’t you say something nice about me?”
    “Give me a day or two and I’ll think of something.”
    His eyes were warm and friendly, and with that devilish grin on his face he was sinfully handsome. He stood with his booted feet spread, his hands in his back pockets.
    “How’s Daisy?”
    Her mouth opened, then closed before she said seriously, “The last time I saw her she was still sitting beside Mrs. Poole’s house trying to shake the wet leaves off her hat.”
    “She’s a tough old