The Texan and the Lady by JODI THOMAS

shame to throw out the fried chicken we’re going to have for lunch.”
    “It sure would,” True mumbled between bites. “I guess I could stay awhile. But don’t start thinking I need mothering. I can make it fine alone.”
    Jennie tried to hide her giggle as she scrubbed her face. “Well, I’d better go take care of the marshal before he decides to come looking for True.” She studied herself in the mirror for a moment. No one had reminded her in over twenty-four hours how plain she was, and she wasn’t about to remind herself.
    Thirty minutes later Jennie passed the marshal’s table for the third time with a hot pot of coffee. “Would you like another refill?”
    “I’d like a minute to talk to you about a few things.” The marshal’s none-too-sunny mood had darkened a little with each of the ten cups of coffee he’d already had.
    “I’m sorry.” Jennie’s words were so sweet no one in the room could have guessed she was lying. “I’m working right now. I know you’ll be wanting to get on the road to Texas, so I’ll just say good-bye and I hope to see you when you pass this way again sometime.”
    Austin had had all the coffee and stalling he was going to take. He stood, fully intending to have his say with Jennie, even if he had to do it in front of everyone at the Harvey House. But before he could get his throat cleared, an old woman stepped between him and Jennie. She was no more than five feet tall, but with her arms folded, he could tell she thought herself as impenetrable as a union fort.
    “That’s him, Sheriff.” She pointed at Austin as if he’d massacred half of Texas and now planned to do the same to Kansas. “That’s the man who’s been bothering one of my new girls all morning.”
    To Austin’s amazement, an old man wearing a tarnished badge moved beside the little lady as if he thought himself to be some help to her. “Now, you don’t want to cause Mrs. Gray any trouble, do you, son?” The fellow took a toothpick out of his mouth and pointed it at Austin as though it were a weapon. The old sheriff’s mustache curled at the tips, making him seem as if he were smiling, while the stubble across his chin made him seem more the town drunk than a lawman.
    “No one’s called me son in years, Sheriff.” Austin whispered the words between clenched teeth. He could never remember using force against anyone so old, but there might be a first time hatching real soon.
    The old sheriff put his arm on Austin’s shoulder. “Well, son, why don’t we go outside and you can properly introduce yourself to me?”
    Austin didn’t budge. Suddenly all the stubbornness accumulated over his entire life grounded him to the floor like railroad spikes through his feet. “I’m Marshal Austin McCormick, and I’d like to talk to this lady about an incident on the train yesterday without interference.” He relaxed a little, thinking that he’d given just enough information to get these two aging pillars out of his way.
    The old man laughed with a sudden snort and slapped him on the back. “Well, it’s good to meet you, son. I’ve been waiting for you to show up to claim your horse for three days.”
    When Austin raised an eyebrow, the sheriff continued. “I’ve got your orders from the home office in Washington.” The old man smiled so big whiskers pointed out in every direction. He lowered his voice as though not wanting all the room to hear official business. “I’m happy to tell you, you’ve been reassigned here for the time being.”
    “What!” Austin forgot all about Jennie and the lecture he’d planned to give her on being a better parent. He’d just been ordered to spend time in hell, and the old guy acted like it was a promotion.
    “I’m Jim Morris, sheriff, justice of the peace, and part-time blacksmith in these parts. If you need your horse shod, your daughter married, or your drunk brother-in-law thrown in jail, just ask me. Most folks just call me Spider.” The sheriff