Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5)

Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) by Caroline Fyffe Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) by Caroline Fyffe Read Free Book Online
Authors: Caroline Fyffe
Tags: The McCutcheon Family Series
mind. He glanced out the door, but the street was dark. He mentally shrugged the thought away.
    “You want a beer, Sheriff? It’s on the house.”
    Sated from dinner, wine, and the champagne as well, Brandon shook his head. He needed to get home and face whatever was in that letter. “No, thanks, Abe. But I appreciate the offer. I’ll finish my walk around and get home. I’ll take you up on your generous offer another time.”
    There it was again, making his nerves tingle. I haven’t stayed alive this long by ignoring my gut. Someone is watching me, and I want to know who .
    He turned. What had raised his suspicions? Every man in the room had his head down. Reading a fistful of cards, admiring his whiskey-filled shot glass, or asleep on the table. A sound made him glance at the stairs leading to the second floor. A beautiful woman stood on the halfway landing. When she was sure she had his attention, a seductive smile curled the corners of her strawberry lips.
    “That’s Fancy Aubrey, our new saloon girl,” Abe said from behind him. “Arrived just after you left town.”
    Saloon girl? Didn’t he mean woman? No miss in Brandon’s lifetime had ever looked like that . A blue satin dress clung to her hourglass shape, and her blond hair was done up on her head, an abundance of curling tendrils framing her perfectly shaped oval face. Her chin was set just so, and her posture reflected years of practice. He could see the vivid blue of her eyes all the way from where he stood.
    “Really.” That was all he got out before the woman gracefully descended the stairs, glided across the scarred wood floor, and stopped at his side.
    “Who’s this handsome man, Abe?” she said, using her voice like a velvet weapon. She ran her hand down Brandon’s arm as he took her stock. Her blue stone earrings glinted in the light of the lanterns against her powdered skin. “You new in town, sugar?”
    Abe sputtered and reached out as if to personally take her hand from Brandon’s arm. “This is Brandon Crawford, Fancy. Sheriff of Y Knot. And you best keep your hands to yourself or Charity McCutcheon may come in here and give you what for.”
    Amused, Brandon touched the brim of his hat. “Miss Aubrey. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.” He glanced at Abe. “I keep meeting all sorts of pretty ladies just come to town. Maybe I should leave more often.”
    “That must be Evie Holcomb you’re referring to,” Fancy said. “I saw her on the boardwalk this afternoon with that handsome husband of hers. That girl has a heart of gold. She can’t understand why women cross to the other side of the road when they see me coming.” Fancy laughed, but Brandon didn’t miss the slight wobble in her lips.
    “You and Chance’s wife are friends?” He wasn’t judging, just surprised.
    “Yes, we are, Sheriff. Chance too, as a matter of fact. Does that shock you?”
    Things are getting more interesting by the second . “Maybe.”
    The saloon doors swished open and Francis, the young cowhand who worked for Charity’s family out at the ranch, came striding in. The seventeen-year-old’s face brightened when he saw Brandon.
    Brandon took a step away from Fancy Aubrey to put a decent amount of space between them, since she didn’t seem so inclined. If anything, he’d felt her inching closer.
    “Francis,” Brandon said. He came forward and the two gripped hands. “It’s darn fine to see you.”
    “You too, Brandon. I’d heard you and Charity arrived this afternoon.” The color of Francis’s face deepened, and he kept his eyes trained far away from the seductive saloon girl by Brandon’s side.
    “Aren’t you going to say hello, Francis?” Fancy said in mock hurt. “You’re breaking my little heart. I thought we had something nice going.”
    Francis stammered, then said, “Hello, Fancy. You sure look purty tonight.”
    She batted her lashes. “Thank you. I’m delighted you noticed. Abe, give Francis a beer on me.”
    Was

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