Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland

wanted to beat Lily’s escort.
    “Dove slept in a box I have for her,” Lily said in a reassuring tone. “So you don’t have to worry that she made a mess.”
    The woman pointed the broom at Dove. “I won’t have that creature in my house.”
    “But Mrs. Murphy,” Lily protested. “I’ve booked the room and paid for several days in advance.”
    “I’ve had to put up with orphaned hooligans and the son of a murderer.” Mrs. Murphy shook her head, and her wattle swung like an angry turkey’s. “I’m not allowing a dog to cross my threshold!”
    Lily didn’t understand what orphans and murderer’s sons had to do with her. “I promise you, Dove won’t be a problem.”
    Mrs. Murphy pointed back toward the garden. “That creature can sleep in the shed,” she said as if making a great concession.
    Outside? Lily drew back as if hit. “Dove always sleeps beside my bed. I couldn’t make her sleep outside, especially after she fell in the river today and almost drowned ,” her voice rose.
    “No! And that’s my final word.” The woman opened the kitchen door, preparing to go in.
    Lily’s shoulders drooped. “But where will I stay?”
    “That’s not my concern,” Mrs. Murphy snapped.
    What am I going to do now? There’s no hotel in Sweetwater Springs, and I can’t leave the area. I must finish the botanical drawings!
    ~ ~ ~
    Tyler kept a tight rein on his anger. He couldn’t give in to the impulse to pummel a lady. Well, she’s not a lady. Widow Murphy doesn’t deserve the honor of the term. She’s a witch.
    “Miss Maxwell can stay with me. Mrs. Pendell …” he made sure to emphasize the housekeeper’s name so Mrs. Murphy would know Lily was well chaperoned “—will be happy to cosset her and the dog.”
    “Humph.” The widow set the broom down and leaned the handle against the wall.
    Tyler figured they were safe from the witch. “I believe Miss Maxwell is due a refund for the money she advanced.”
    “She stayed here, didn’t she?” Her bony hand waved a circle in the air toward the house. “Took advantage of me being gone on an errand of mercy. Her dog’s probably soiled my house, spread fleas everywhere, chewed on the furniture.”
    “She did not,” Lily fired up. “And Dove doesn’t have fleas. I bathe her regularly.”
    Tyler tried to insert some levity. “Certainly not after her swim in the river.”
    Lily cast him a fulminating glance before turning her attention back to the widow.
    Guess she’s not ready to joke about what happened to her dog today. But Tyler couldn’t be sorry he’d tried to tease her. He admired how anger animated Lily’s countenance, flushing her cheeks and sparking her violet eyes. Mrs. Murphy’s riled up the mother bear , he thought with some amusement.
    He held up a placating hand. “Mrs. Murphy, you can check on the condition of the carpet and the furniture. If there’re no wet spots or tooth marks, I think you can agree to refund Miss Maxwell’s money.”
    Greed warred with common sense on Mrs. Murphy’s face. Greed won. “No,” she said firmly.
    Tightening her hold on the dog, Lily hissed in anger.
    Tyler caught her attention and winked.
    Startled, she relaxed.
    “Heard we have a new sheriff in town.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the jail. “I say we lay the problem before him…well, her.”
    Lily gave him a puzzled look.
    “We have us a female sheriff,” he drawled.
    “Outlandish,” Mrs. Murphy sniffed. “The woman strides around in men’s clothing like she owns the place. Carrying guns. I object to having her here, and so I told John Carter and Reverend Norton. But there was no budging those men.” She crossed her arms over her scrawny chest. “I’m not going to pay that female any mind.”
    Tyler found himself enjoying the sparring match. Too long had passed since he felt so charged up by anything but the situation with Laura, and that one had been much too painful. This one was sort of fun. “As you said,