Free The calamity Janes by Sherryl Woods Page A

this is about more than her friendship with Sue Ellen. It’s not as if Emma Rogers and Sue Ellen Carter have maintained close ties all these years, is it? She said as much to me at the reunion.”
    Ryan shrugged. “I doubt it, but I have no idea. What difference does it make? Sue Ellen needs the best lawyer there is, and by all reports that’s Emma. We certainly don’t have anyone in town who’s up to this.”
    “Representing Sue Ellen is going to be damned inconvenient with Emma living in Denver, though.”
    “Apparently she doesn’t think so.” Ryan’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. “You did agree that all of this is off the record, didn’t you? I’ll be real unhappy if any comments I make about Emma wind up in the paper.”
    Ford nodded. “Not a problem. This is just background.”
    “The tension back there between you and Emma…you’re not going to let it get in the way of giving Sue Ellen a fair shake, are you?” Ryan asked, his expression even darker.
    “Reporters and lawyers are natural enemies when it comes to something like this, at least until the dust settles and everyone knows whose side everyone else is on.”
    “Do you have a side? I thought journalists were supposed to be impartial.”
    “I am. I just want all the facts so readers can make up their own minds. Of course, you said it yourself back there, this is an open-and-shut case. And that comment was not off the record.”
    Ryan’s scowl deepened. “Then I suppose you’d better add this to go along with it. It would be an open-and-shut case if Emma Rogers hadn’t agreed to handle it.”
    Ford jotted down the new quote. “Duly noted.” He studied the bleak expression on the sheriff’s face. “Why do I get the feeling that this whole mess is personal where you’re concerned?”
    “Like Emma said, Sue Ellen is a friend.”
    “And that’s all? What about Donny? Wasn’t he one of your classmates, too?”
    Ryan stiffened visibly. “What are you implying?”
    Ford held up a placating hand. “I’m not implying anything. I’m asking straight out if there’s something between you and Sue Ellen. I noticed you were quickto jump to her defense at the dance, and you sound mighty protective right now. I don’t hear a lot of regret for the fact that her husband is dead.”
    “Of course I regret it, though to be perfectly honest, my reason for regretting it has more to do with what this will do to Sue Ellen than any sorrow over Donny. He was a pitiful excuse for a man.” Ryan frowned at Ford. “And that is definitely off the record.”
    Ford studied him curiously. “How do you see her? As a suspect or as a victim?”
    “A victim,” Ryan said without hesitation.
    “I still get the feeling that your concern for her runs deeper than it might for some other victim,” Ford said, watching Ryan’s face for a reaction. There was an unmistakable tightening of the sheriff’s jaw before he spoke.
    “She was a married woman,” Ryan said finally. “And she loved her husband.”
    “That wouldn’t necessarily stop another man from caring about her,” Ford pointed out.
    “No more than I care about any other citizen in Winding River who’s the victim of a crime. As for my actions at the dance, they were meant to keep the peace. I didn’t want Donny starting a brawl and ruining the night for everyone else.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I do. Now leave it be and tell me how you intend to get back in Emma’s good graces.”
    Ford accepted the change of topic, even though the new one put him on the defensive. “Being in Emma’s good graces doesn’t concern me one way or another,” he said flatly.
    Ryan gave him a wry, disbelieving look. “Yeah, right.”
    “It doesn’t.”
    “Your denials aren’t getting any better despite all the practice you’ve had making them today.”
    Ford sighed. “Look, there was never a chance of anything happening between me and Emma Rogers. She’s an uppity, uptight lawyer from Denver. I’m just a