Free The Reluctant Bride by Leigh Greenwood

gun directly at a very startled Stocker.
    “Why are you pointing that gun at me?” he asked. He wiped his hand across his mouth. It came away bloody. “He’s the rustler.”
    “If you think he’s guilty, produce some proof, then let the sheriff arrest him. It’s not for you to take the law into your own hands, especially not when you’re drunk and waving a gun about in a restaurant full of people. If you’d shot Russ, you’d be a cold-blooded murderer, a worse criminal than you accuse him of being.”
    Stocker gaped at Tanzy, clearly more dazed by the force of her words than the impact of Russ’s fists.
    “She’s right, Stocker,” the banker said. “You can’t go taking the law into your own hands.”
    “How am I supposed to get proof with murderers guarding my valley, ready to shoot any honest citizen who approaches?”
    “I expect Russ would be willing for a responsible delegation to go to this valley and inspect his herd,” Tanzy said. “That way you could settle the dispute once and for all.”
    “Sounds like a good idea,” the banker said.
    “He won’t let anybody in,” Stocker said.
    “You can ask him when his head clears,” Tanzy said. “Do you think you can walk?”
    “Of course I can walk. I’m not incapacitated by a few drinks.”
    Tanzy had no idea how much whiskey it took to make Stocker drunk, but she was certain he’d drunk more than enough.
    “You need to go home. You’ll feel better after a good night’s rest.”
    “I won’t feel better until he’s dead in his grave,” he said, looking at Russ, who was sitting up, groaning and gently touching the lump on his head.
    “Try to put the past behind you and think about the future,” Tanzy said.
    “I am thinking about the future,” Stocker said, “when I can get back what this murdering thief stole from me.”
    Russ cradled his head in two hands. “You’ll never prove I’ve stolen so much as one cow from anybody, so why don’t you quit trying?”
    “This young lady has said you’d be willing to have a group of ranchers inspect your herd,” the banker said. “To prove you’re not rustling,” he added when Russ directed a menacing look at him.
    “Nobody is setting a foot in my valley,” Russ said.
    “See,” Stocker said, “that’s proof he’s a thief.”
    “I’d be a fool to let any committee of your choosing on my land,” Russ said. “You got a jury to convict me of murder when everybody knows your brother drew first. What reason do I have to expect fair treatment from anybody in this town?”
    Tanzy noticed an uncomfortable shuffling of feet, several averted faces. Apparently some people believed there was truth to what Russ had said.
    “Why don’t each of you choose people you trust?” Tanzy suggested.
    “I can’t trust anybody in Boulder Gap,” Russ said. “Stocker’s got everybody in his pocket.”
    “You could choose some officers from the fort,” Tanzy said. “I see no reason to suspect their honesty, and I doubt anybody in Boulder Gap would be able to intimidate them.”
    “The colonel has a reputation for integrity,” the banker said. “He caught the agent who was cheating the Indians, and his partner who was rustling their cattle.”
    “There,” Tanzy said, taking both Russ and Stocker in her glance, “what more could you want than a man who’s known for his integrity and is familiar with rustling as well?”
    “As long as Colonel McGregor is in charge of the committee, they can inspect my herd,” Russ said. “Now go away. I can barely think, my head is pounding so hard.”
    A man tried to steady Stocker on his feet, but Stocker angrily shook him off and stalked out of the restaurant, stumbling into two tables before he managed to reach the door. The other diners returned to their tables, but Tanzy could feel surreptitious glances still being directed toward her.
    “Maybe you ought to go to your room,” Tanzy said. They had finished their meal so she didn’t see any reason