Free His Prairie Princess (Prairie Brides 1) by Kit Morgan

about to comment but never got the chance.  The Sheriff’s voice cracked with excitement as he spoke.  “Man alive!  You mean your daddy owns the Big J? He’ll be riding in here any day now with guns blaring if he’s anything like folks tell about!”  He pushed Harrison out of the way and hurried out of the office.  “Charlie, Tommy!  Get some food and fresh horses.  I got a message for you to deliver!” 
    He spun on his heel to go back inside.  Harrison stopped him.  “What’s wrong?”
    “What’s wrong?  Nothing son! You done rescued the daughter of one of the biggest cattleman in three territories!  In these parts that makes her like royalty!” He hurried back inside and slammed the door closed behind him. 
    Harrison stood in openmouthed shock for a moment.  He stole a glance at Mrs. Dunnigan and wondered whose mouth hung wider.  He snapped his shut.  “Well, Mrs. Dunnigan.  It seems we have the daughter of a King in our midst.  A Princess.”
    The woman’s mouth opened and closed a few times but no sound came out.  The men in the crowd leaned forward and watched the spectacle.  They’d never seen her at a loss for words before.  After her face turned a few shades of red she scooped up her hatchet and stomped off toward the mercantile.  The men in the crowd broke out in riotous laughter again as she made her retreat.  For once, Mrs. Dunnigan had nothing to say.
     
    * * *
     
    “It’s all right.  He can’t hurt you locked up in there.”  Harrison whispered into her ear from behind. “Is this one of them?”
    His voice calmed her and Sadie had to force herself to look at the man sitti ng in the jail cell.  He wasn't wearing a hat and no bandana covered his face.  How could she tell if he had been one of her kidnappers?  “I’m not sure.”
    The man in the cell smirked. If he recognized her he certainly gave no indication.
    This was terrible.  Everyone was counting on her to identify him.  Sadie turned to Harrison and the Sheriff.  She looked from one determined face to the other and thought a moment.  “Make him say something,” she whispered.
    “What for?” the Sheriff whispered back.
    “I couldn’t see their faces while I was with them.  But they talked in front of me a lot.  I might recognize his voice.”
    The Sheriff eyed the outlaw who eyed him back just before he spit. “I don’t suppose we can let our new prisoner starve.  You hungry?”
    The outlaw’s entire demeanor changed.  “Now Sheriff ya’all knows I haven’t had a thing today! I can't hardly see straight I’m so hungry!”
    Sadie’s eyes lit with recognition.  She looked quickly to Harrison and whispered,  “I think his name is Cain.”
    The Sheriff again eyed him.  “I’ll see we get you something.”
    “Much oblige, Sheriff.  I’m not worth being accused of anything on a empty stomach.”
    All three stared at the man who hadn’t a clue he’d just been found out.  Harrison took Sadie by the hand and led her to the front office of the jail.  The Sheriff followed.  Once he’d closed the door to the cell area, he sighed in relief.  “I can’t thank you enough, Miss Jones.  I’ve been after this gang for a long time now.  What else can you tell me?”
    “I’m pretty sure his name is Cain.  There was another man , Jeb. I think he was the leader. The other two were never called by name.”
    “Well this is a mighty big help Miss Jones.  A couple dozen missing cattle probably don’t seem like much to you, but around here it can be life changing.  Folks will be happy to know we caught one of that thieving bunch.  Only a matter of time before we catch up with the rest. I sure hope it’s only one gang.  Still might be another.”
    “Be it one or two different gangs, let us hope they don’t leave the area before you have a chance to apprehend them, Sheriff.”  Harrison commented.
    “You could be r ight.  As soon as me and the boys have a rest, we’ll set out