Novels: The Law is a Lady by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online

"Do you want some of this, or are you just going to throw it at me?'
    The idea was tempting, but so was the scent of the coffee. "Black," he reminded her shortly.
    Tory drained half a cup, ignoring her scalded tongue before she went to Phil. "What do you want for breakfast?" she asked as she passed the cup through the bars.
    He scowled at her. ' 'A shower, and a sledgehammer for your friend over there."
    Tory cast an eye in the next cell. "Silas'll wake up in an hour, fresh as a daisy." She swallowed more coffee.
    "Keep you up?"
    "Him and the feather bed you provided."
    She shrugged. "Crime doesn't pay."
    "I'm going to strangle you when I get out of here," he promised over the rim of his cup. "Slowly and with great pleasure."
    "That isn't the way to get your shower." She turned as the door opened and Tod came in. He stood hesitantly at the door, jamming his hands in his pockets. "Good morning." She smiled and beckoned him in.
    "You're early."
    "You didn't say what time." He came warily, shifting his eyes from Phil to Silas and back to Phil again.
    "You got prisoners."
    "Yes, I do." Catching her tongue between her teeth, she jerked a thumb at Phil. "This one's a nasty character."
    "What's he in for?"
    "Insufferable arrogance."
    "He didn't kill anybody, did he?"
    "Not yet," Phil muttered, then added, unable to resist the eager gleam in the boy's eyes, "I was framed."
    "They all say that, don't they, Sheriff?"
    "Absolutely." She lifted a hand to ruffle the boy's hair. Startled, he jerked and stared at her. Ignoring his reaction, she left her hand on his shoulder. "Well, I'll put you to work, then. There's a broom in the back room. You can start sweeping up. Have you had breakfast?''
    "No, but—"
    "I'll bring you something when I take care of this guy. Think you can keep an eye on things for me for a few minutes?'
    His mouth fell open in astonishment. "Yes, ma'am!"
    "Okay, you're in charge." She headed for the door, grabbing her hat on the way. ' 'If Silas wakes up, you can let him out. The other guy stays where he is. Got it?"
    "Sure thing, Sheriff." He sent Phil a cool look. "He won't pull nothing on me."
    Stiffiing a laugh, Tory walked outside.
    Resigned to the wait, Phil leaned against the bars and drank his coffee while the boy went to work with the broom. He worked industriously, casting furtive glances over his shoulder at Phil from time to time. He's a good-looking boy, Phil mused. He brooded over his reaction to Tory's friendly gesture, wondering how he would react to a man.
    "Live in town?" Phil ventured.
    Tod paused, eyeing him warily. "Outside."
    "On a ranch?"
    He began to sweep again, but more slowly. "Yeah." "Got any horses?"
    The boy shrugged. "Couple." He was working his way cautiously over to the cell. "You're not from around here," he said.
    "No, I'm from California."
    "No, kidding?" Impressed, Tod sized him up again. "You don't look like such a bad guy," he decided.
    "Thanks." Phil grinned into his cup.
    "How come you're in jail, then?"
    Phil pondered over the answer and settled for the unvarnished truth. "I lost my temper."
    Tod gave a snort of laughter and continued sweeping. "You can't go to jail for that. My pa loses his all the time."
    "Sometimes you can." He studied the boy's profile. "Especially if you hurt someone."
    The boy passed the broom over the floor without much regard for dust. "Did you?"
    "Just myself," Phil admitted ruefully. "I got the sheriff mad at me."
    "Zac Kramer said he don't hold with no woman sheriff."
    Phil laughed at that, recalling how easily a woman sheriff had gotten him locked in a cell. "Zac Kramer doesn't sound very smart to me."
    Tod sent Phil a swift, appealing grin. "I heard she went to their place yesterday. The twins have to wash all Old Man Hollister's windows, inside and out. For free."
    Tory breezed back in with two covered plates. "Breakfast," she announced. "He give you any trouble?" she asked Tod as she set a plate on her desk.
    "No, ma'am." The scent of food made