Texas Tender by Leigh Greenwood Read Free Book Online Page A

too.
    â€œThat’s impossible,” he said.
    â€œWhy?” Jordan McGloughlin asked. “You’ve already handled two of the most dangerous men in Dunmore.”
    â€œIt was luck,” Will insisted. “Besides, I’m only here as long as it takes to buy the Ellsworths’ bull.”
    â€œWe don’t need you to take the job permanently,”Lloyd said, “just while we look for a man we can hire full-time.”
    â€œI don’t like fighting,” Will protested. “I don’t wear a gun, and I like to sleep late.” Not that Isabelle would let him, but they didn’t need to know that.
    â€œThat doesn’t matter,” Lloyd said. “We just need somebody to wear the badge.”
    â€œAnd be a target,” Will guessed.
    â€œNobody’ll bother you once they hear how you handled Van and Newt on the same day.”
    â€œYou’ve got to do it, Mr. Haskins,” Mara said. “You’re practically a hero.”
    Will choked. About the last thing he wanted to be—behind a husband and father—was a hero. It was an exhausting job. And any hothead looking to make a reputation would head straight in his direction. Luke Attmore always said he was more worried about crazy kids hunting a reputation than honest-to-goodness gunmen. Kids didn’t think they could die. Gunmen knew better.
    â€œI haven’t got time—” Will started to say.
    â€œWe’ll get you a couple of deputies to do most of the work,” Andy said.
    â€œWhat have you got to do besides wait for Carl to find that bull?” Lloyd asked.
    â€œWe just need someone behind the badge,” Mc-Gloughlin said. “You’ll hardly have to do anything.”
    Will was about to refuse point-blank when it occurred to him that as sheriff, he would have a legitimate reason to look into what had happened to Idalou’s bull. It didn’t seem like enough reason to do something as foolhardy as be sheriff of this half-crazy town, but he had felt guilty about not being able to help Idalou. He didn’t know why he should like such a prickly woman, but life was full of little mysteries.
    What else could account for the fact that he was even considering this crazy proposition?
    â€œPlease,” Mara pleaded, looking up at Will with wide, imploring eyes. “All the other young ladies of Dunmore need someone to protect them just like you protected me.”
    Will had a nearly uncontrollable urge to tell this foolish girl she ought to spend a few months living with Drew so she could learn how a female with a backbone and a few grains of sense ought to act, but he figured she wouldn’t appreciate being told she was a silly twit.
    â€œI don’t imagine money is an issue for you,” Mc-Gloughlin said, “but after what you did for my daughter, I’d double your wages.”
    Any successful businessman knew money always mattered, but getting out of Dunmore with a whole skin mattered more. Still . . .
    â€œWhat would it take to convince you?” Lloyd asked.
    Will thought of how little he was looking forward to eating his meals at the unappetizing little restaurant in town and decided he could put up with a bit of danger as long as he had decent food. Isabelle was a tyrant, but she had turned into a fabulous cook.
    â€œFood,” Will said.
    â€œWhat?” three male voices asked in unison.
    â€œIf you can arrange for somebody to provide me with three meals a day—cooked at home and served at a table with clean linens—I’ll be your sheriff until I buy the bull.”
    â€œYou mean you want a table set up in the jail?” Andy asked.
    â€œI’ll be happy to eat with the family. I just don’t want to be poisoned before I can get out of here.”
    The men looked at each other. “Do you think we can do that?” Jordan asked.
    â€œAfter what he did for Pepper, Dorabelle would cook for him every