The Sheriff Wears Pants by Joannie Kay Read Free Book Online

said with a smile.  She liked him for taking her side.
    “Could I suggest we dispense with the Mr. and Miss?  I prefer to be called Brian.”
    “And I am Priscilla, Brian.  My father and close friends call me Pris.”
    “No, I like Priscilla for you.  It’s a pretty name for a pretty woman.  I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Clemons?”
    “No, not at all.  In fact, you may call me Geoffrey, Brian.”
    “Thank you, sir.”  While they were talking, Priscilla was bustling about, putting the coffee on that her parent requested.  To his surprise, Geoffrey pulled out a chair and indicated that he should sit down, too.
    “Sitting here will make it easier on Pris, and I am sure you have some questions that she will need to answer.  Pris is fantastic with numbers and accounting, and she keeps the books for the business.”
    “Really?  I am impressed, Geoffrey.  That is forward thinking.  Most fathers expect their sons to follow in their footsteps… and expect their daughters to marry well.  It makes me proud to hear that you permit Priscilla to work for you in that capacity.”
    “She does the bookkeeping from her office here at home.  I can’t very well permit her to be alone at the freight station, and I never know when I will have to leave in a big hurry to take care of some urgent matter.  Some of the haulers are pretty darn rough, and Pris is very pretty. I am afraid to expose her to that.  I don’t want some hauler to follow her home, either, and then hurt her.  I worry a lot about her safety.”
    “Oh, Father, you needn’t worry.  None of your workers has ever behaved inappropriately with me.  Believe me, I would inform you if something of that sort happened.”
    “You are precious to me, Pris,” Geoffrey said, reaching out to take her hand.  “I know you think me too firm, and I probably am too firm, but it is because I want to protect you and keep you safe.  I hope you know that, daughter?”
    “I know that, Father.”  Priscilla leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.  She could tell he was regretting the thrashing he gave her, and his words were all the apology she would get. 
    He was pleased when she kissed him and gave her hand a squeeze.  “Thank you, Pris.”
    “How did you get started in the freighting business, Geoffrey?” Brian asked, sensing there was more going on between the man and his beautiful daughter than either of them were telling.  He listened to Geoffrey tell his story while he watched Priscilla fill a plate with sugar cookies and bring them to the table. 
    When the coffee was finished, she served them cups of that.  Her father didn’t stop talking to thank her, but he did acknowledge her efforts with a nod.  She smiled in return, and then busied herself putting a roast in the oven, and other food in a large pot on the stove.  He knew she intended the roast for supper, but he imagined she was starting food for the noon meal, too. 
    Brian loved watching her move about the kitchen with such grace.  He guiltily looked over and blushed to the roots of his red hair when the older man smiled knowingly.  Brian suddenly wondered if Geoffrey’s invitation was for another purpose.  Perhaps finding a husband that he approved of for Priscilla was the real reason he’d been given the invitation to come and see if he would be interested in working for Geoffrey. 
    Brian smiled.  He’d been looking for a wife for a couple of years, and perhaps this lovely blonde was the one he’d been searching for.  It surely couldn’t hurt to get to know Priscilla better.
    * * * * *
    Darcy was fuming over the editorial that Waldo printed.  He made it sound like she could do anything, and that wasn’t true at all.  He also made Will sound like an incompetent fool, when he was really out of town tending to another problem.  Darcy sat at her piano and played, letting herself get lost in the music while trying to decide what she needed to do.  Waldo was nothing but a