The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) by Nancy Fraser, Patti Shenberger Page A

robbers fired into the air in an attempt to scare the barkeep so he would hand over the money.”
    “Since you’ve got your medical bag with you, I’ll take you over to the jail and you can check on both men.”
    “Did you flatten the other one as well?” she asked.
    “No. I shot him.”
    Suzanne shook her head, the frown playing across her beautiful face causing him concern.
    “Let’s go then, Marshal.” She started toward the jail, stopping long enough to say, “I’d really rather you not add to my workload any more than necessary.”
    “It’s not like I do it on purpose,” he argued. When she didn’t respond, he caught up with her in two long strides. “It’s my job.”
    “Yes, I know. And, because of your job, I now have to do mine.”
    Zack was overcome with regret. Not that he would have done anything different where the two men were concerned. His regret stemmed from the fact he’d once again disappointed Suzanne, her reaction only serving to convince him of why they were unsuited for a real relationship.

    Zack closed the door to his office, the last of his reports on the day’s incident complete. He turned down the main street of town and, within moments, had reached his destination. “Deputy Bailey said you were looking for me,” Zack said as he came through the clinic door.
    Suzanne looked up from the list of patients seated in the waiting room and met Zack’s gaze. “Yes, I have a patient in the back I wanted you to see.”
    “Sure thing. Just lead the way.”
    “Mrs. McCorkle,” Suzanne called out, looking up from the list to the four women seated in front of her. “If you’d like to take a seat in the exam room, I’ll be with you in a couple of minutes.”
    “Certainly, Dr. Martindale,” the woman said in agreement before rising from her seat and starting down the narrow corridor.
    Suzanne nodded in Zack’s direction and went in the opposite direction toward the infirmary. Once they’d entered the room, she turned to Zack and explained her reason for concern. “Mr. Larson here is another of the lumber mill workers. He spliced his arm on a jagged nail that was sticking out of one of the main support beams.”
    “I thought McLeary fixed those beams,” Zack said, his voice low, gruff. He balled his hands into fists at his side, his jaw twitched as if he wanted to rant at McLeary’s shoddy practices. Suzanne suspected he felt as angry as she.
    “He did,” Sven Larson responded. “I helped with the repairs myself.”
    “Then how did this happen?” Zack asked.
    “Somebody’s been messing with the site, Marshal. They’ve been purposely removing studs and weakening the structure.”
    “Do you have any idea who might be doing such a thing?” Zack asked. “Has Mr. McLeary got enemies?”
    Larson shook his head. “Not that I know of, other than his competition, Beaton Woodworks. They’re set up just outside Prosper Springs. I know they wanted this site too, but McLeary’s bid was better plus his family already owned the property along the water.”
    “I’ll do some checking into Beaton’s owners and see what I can find,” Zack said. “In the meantime, though, you and the others out at McLeary’s need to keep your eyes and ears open for strangers.”
    “Will do, Marshal,” Larson agreed. “You leave it to me and the boys.”
    Zack left moments later to send a telegram off to the district marshal’s office in Jackson. Suzanne turned to Sven Larson and explained, “You need to stay here for another hour or so to make sure the medication I gave you for pain has done its job. I’m going to see to my other patients, and I’ll be back to check on you later.”
    “Thanks, doc,” the man said. “I sure do appreciate the good care.”

Chapter Seven
    Suzanne answered the knock at her front door shortly after six. Zack stood on the threshold, a grin rearranging his usually serious countenance.
    “Evening cher ,” he said when she stepped back to allow him