Cassandra Austin by Callyand the Sheriff Read Free Book Online

no respect for his elders.”
    Andrew rose and followed the old man out the door. “Sir, I don’t want you to take this personally.”
    “No other way to take it, boy,” Sweeney said, stalking away.
    Andrew pulled the office door closed. He stood for a moment looking after the would-be deputy. The oldman barely made it off the boardwalk without stumbling. Unfortunately, he had been one of the better applicants.
    Andrew shook his head and turned in the other direction, toward Dr. Briggs’s house. His run for the doctor the night before was fresh in his mind. He had been hesitant for a second about leaving DuBois alone but knew he could do nothing for him. By the time he and the doctor had returned, the old man was nearly gone.
    Dr. Briggs answered the knock. “Good afternoon, Sheriff. What can I do for you?”
    Andrew stepped inside and considered for a moment how best to approach the subject. He couldn’t very well demand that Briggs tell him exactly what he had said to Cally. “I have a few questions about Mr. DuBois’ death,” he said.
    The doctor offered him a chair and once they were seated, Andrew continued. “You suggested last night that it was his heart. Is that still your assumption?”
    The doctor nodded. “Maybe.” Dr. Briggs was a tall, thin, middle-aged man, friendly and usually straightforward.
    “Maybe?” Andrew prompted.
    “Well—” the doctor shifted in his seat “—the man was a drunkard. All that time since his arrest without a drink was giving him the shakes. The one drink he had that night might have been what stopped his heart.”
    Andrew grew very still. “You mean the drink I gave him killed him?”
    “It’s possible.”
    Dr. Briggs did not seem to realize how horrifyingthis news was to Andrew. “You didn’t mention this last night,” he said.
    “Things got a little hectic last night.” The doctor seemed to finally notice Andrew’s expression. “Look, Sheriff, it’s just a theory. Even if it’s true, no one could think it was anything but an accident. Besides, the man was going to hang in a few days.”
    Andrew nodded and rose to go. Sure, it was a minor detail. It wouldn’t matter to anyone—but him and Cally.
    He thanked the doctor and headed back downtown, hoping his visit with the attorney would be more rewarding. He climbed the stairs to Mr. Cobb’s office and, after waiting a few minutes, was ushered into the inner office.
    Cobb stood and shook his hand motioning him to a seat. “What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
    “I need some advice,” Andrew said as he was seated.
    Cobb smiled. “That’s what I’m here for.”
    “A dying man asked me to look after his daughter,” Andrew said. “What are my legal obligations?”
    Cobb stared at him a moment, and Andrew wondered if this sounded foolish to the attorney. Finally Cob asked, “Were there witnesses?”
    “No.” Andrew shifted forward in the seat. “I’m not trying to get out of this. I want to do right by her.”
    A feral smile slowly formed on Cobb’s lips. “The DuBois girl, right?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “There’s a little land involved, if my memory serves. As her legal guardian you would control that.”
    Andrew was too surprised to object.
    Cobb pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and began making notes. “Is there family likely to come forward and challenge your right of guardianship?”
    “No. You don’t—”
    “How old is the girl?” Cobb didn’t look up from his notes. When Andrew didn’t answer, he prompted, “Marriageable age?”
    “Perhaps. Mr. Cobb, I’m not trying to steal the girl’s land. I—”
    “Of course you’re not.” Cobb finally looked up and winked. Andrew wanted to close the eye with his fist. “My suggestion is to see the girl married and demand a percentage for looking after her affairs. Forty is reasonable.”
    Andrew made one last effort to explain. “I simply want to know what my responsibilities are to the girl.”
    Mr. Cobb shook his