Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) by Kit Morgan Read Free Book Online Page B

front. Apple found it, went into the bank looking for Mr. Van Cleet, and, well, that's when Deputy O'Hare came along.”
    “I hid under a desk and couldn't see him, only his boots and part of his legs. When I saw him bend down to look into the safe, I thought he was robbing it. Not only that, I didn't fancy getting shot. So you see, I had several reasons for doing what I did.”
    Penelope stared at her a moment before she spoke. “What a brave thing to do.”
    “It was a stupid thing to do,” Apple said, her face downcast. “He almost died because of me.”
    Penelope reached across the table and took her hand. “But he didn't, did he?”
    “No, but he sure is mad at me,” Apple said with a pout. “And probably will be for the rest of his life.”
    Fina studied her sister. “Let's not talk about this anymore,” she said then turned to Penelope. “It upsets Apple and she needs to not think about it for a while.”
    “I agree,” said Penelope. “It must've been horrible for you, not knowing if the man was going to live or die, not to mention the time it took to find Mr. Van Cleet so he could open the safe.”
    “That's just it,” said Apple. “Mr. Van Cleet wasn't in town, he stayed home sick that day.”
    “And Levi had gone out to help Colin and Harrison at the Triple C,” added Fina.
    Penelope gasped. “Then how did you get the safe opened?”
    “Dr. Drake opened it,” said Apple.
    “The doctor?” asked Penelope, perplexed.
    “He wasn't always a doctor,” explained Apple as she stood up from the table. “Should I go tell Levi it's time for supper?”
    Fina gave the soup pot another stir as she peered into it and smiled. “Yes, I think it's done, and the subject of Deputy O’Hare is closed, all right?”
    Apple looked at Penelope. “I'll not say another word if you don't want me to,” said her cousin.
    “I'd appreciate it,” said Apple. “I really don't want to think about it anymore.”
    “Very well, we shant speak of it further,” said Penelope. “And I'm sure by the next meeting of the ladies sewing circle, folks will have forgotten all about it.”
    Apple blanched. “Sewing circle?”
    “Of course, cousin,” said Penelope. “It meets every week, and we are in dire need of practice.”
    Apple closed her eyes and cringed. “Do I have to go?”
    “I think it would be good for you if you did,” answered Penelope.
    Apple stared at her them a moment before giving in. “Very well, I'll be there.” With that, she left the house like a woman walking to the gallows, and let the men know it was time for supper.
     
    * * *
    Over the next week, Apple did her best to avoid any and all conversations regarding what happened with Deputy Brandon O'Hare. Thankfully, her family was sensitive to her need not to talk about it, and so let the matter lie.
    The ladies sewing circle, on the other hand, wasn't quite so compliant. Especially Fanny Fig, who gobbled up the news with relish, chewed on it, and then spit out her own version of the whole affair. “I heard that when they finally got poor Deputy O’Hare out of the safe, he was dark blue!”
    “Tarnation Fanny!” snapped Grandma. “If the man was that blue, he'd be dead!”
    “He was blue, just the same,” countered Fanny. “I heard Doc had to hit him on the head just to get him breathing again.”
    Grandma rolled her eyes and put her sewing in her lap. “You do not hit a man on the head to get him breathing!”
    “How should I know these things?” huffed Fanny. “I'm not a doctor!”
    “Well I'm married to one and live with another, and I'm telling you, you do not hit a man over the head to get him to take air into his lungs!”
    “I'm only saying what I heard,” countered Fanny.
    “Maybe if you held your breath, we could watch you turn blue and see how long it takes before you pass out,” suggested Mrs. Dunnigan with a wry smile.
    “Irene!” gasped Fanny. “How could you even suggest such a thing?”
    “The same way you can