Free Much Ado About Marshals (Hearts of Owyhee) (2011) by Jacquie Rogers Page A

report your crimes to your parents unless you violate your sentence. Understood?”
     
    “But Daddy!”
    “You only call me ‘Daddy’ when you’re mad, but I will not relent. You can take supper to your marshal this evening, but starting tomorrow, he eats here with the family. There’s no sense in making your mother go to all the extra work when the marshal’s well enough to chase bandits down the street.”
    “But—”
    He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest. “And that’s final. You tell him.”
    Daisy huffed, grabbed the supper box, and made for the door.
    “And another thing,” her father continued, “I don’t want to see you tumbling down the street with your skirts flying over your head. Do you hear me?”
    She stopped in her tracks and rolled her eyes. Of course she heard him. Did he actually think she had planned on humiliating herself in front of the whole town?
    “Yes, Dad,” she said in an even tone, even though her throat tightened. Lots of detective work lay in front of her, and she couldn’t let a quibble with her father interfere with it. And maybe, just maybe, her fingerprinting kit would come on the freight wagon the next week. She only hoped that was soon enough.
    The short walk to the marshal’s office was pleasant. The sage-scented June breeze blew away the noxious odors of the livery and butcher shop across the street. People were eating supper, so she didn’t have to worry about getting sidetracked. The stranger wouldn’t wake up until later the next day, so she didn’t have to worry about him.
    Marshal Adler would be so impressed once he knew about her superb detective skills. A tingle fluttered way down low, as she remembered his kiss. Oh, what a kiss! She sighed, never for a moment had she understood… uh, certain things. More would be good. She smiled, wondering when he’d propose. Once he did, they’d marry soon, and do the things she’d never even consider doing with a man. The wedding night didn’t seem nearly so daunting as the old ladies made it out to be. In fact, she rather looked forward to it.
    Pausing before she entered his office, she took a deep breath and donned her most winning smile. Soon, he’d find that she was not only a competent detective, but that she could cook, too. She’d made the biscuits all by herself, surprising the bejeebers out of her mother.
    Daisy opened the latch and walked right into Cole. He grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling, and she threw her hands around his shoulders. But the basket did fall, and her lovely biscuits rolled onto the boardwalk. She didn’t much care at that moment, though, because he held her tight and her brain went all fuzzy again. She had a hard time even thinking why she was there in the first place.
    Cole chuckled. “I think you can let go, now.”
    She sprang back at the realization that she was standing on Main Street , embracing the marshal. Oh, good gravy! She took a quick look to make sure no one saw. Of course, if someone had seen, the marshal would fairly be forced to propose, and that wouldn’t be bad. It wouldn’t be good, either, since she wanted him to love her as much as she…
    “Are you all right?” Cole asked, bringing her out of her thoughts.
    “Um… ” She turned away and stooped to pick up the biscuits, throwing them back in the basket. When she stood and faced the marshal, he eyed the basket warily.
    “Come on in.” He motioned for her to enter his office.
    She sat the basket on his desk. “I, um, made biscuits for you. Special.”
    “Thanks.”
    “I’ll spread your supper.” Her heart still hadn’t stopped pounding from his embrace. She wondered how she could ever endure being married to a man who made her twitterpated whenever she was near him. Was there something wrong with her?
    She removed the freshly ironed napkins, spread one on his desk, and put the food beside it. The meal looked pathetic, with gravy in the green beans and meat in the