The Texan's Reward by Jodi Thomas

job. You’ve fired too many of us.
    In a matter of days you’ll be crawling around on the floor in filth wishing you’d taken Mr. Farrow’s offer.” She
    glanced at Walter Farrow and ran from the room with Gypsy in her wake.

    Walter folded up his case. He straightened his clothes and faced her. “I am sorry for the awkward beginning,
    Miss Smith, but I assure you I believed we had a straight business deal when I arrived.”

    “A deal you intended to see that I held to,” Nel said.

    “Only because I believe it would be in your best interest.”

    He saw the anger in her stare and quickly added, “Both our interests. I don’t suppose you’d reconsider sel ing
    me the Stockard place?” The smiling side of him was back. “I truly am in need of land, and I will give you a fair
    price. I’d like to keep the place in the family.”

    “I didn’t know Henry Stockard had family,” the sheriff mumbled. “Seems like he told me he’d tried to contact
    them a few times, and a lawyer sent a letter back saying they were al dead.”

    “We hadn’t spoken in years. My mother would not tolerate his drinking,” Farrow answered. “He was my
    mother’s brother. I find it irresponsible of him not to leave the land to someone in the family.”

    “Like you,” Parker guessed.

    “Like me. In fact, I have evidence that he may have been under the influence of strong drink when he made out
    the will.”

    Parker smiled. “Henry was ‘under the influence’ every day that I knew him, but that didn’t mean that he was
    fool enough to leave what little he had to a family that disowned him.”

    “That’s not the point. I mean to have the land back. I’l buy it if I have to. I brought an offer with me in case I
    found you already married. Maybe you’d be willing to sign it with witnesses so there will be no
    misunderstanding this time.” He seemed to hint that he stil believed he’d been tricked.

    Nell noticed Randolph Harrison still reading through the papers. “I’ll have my accountant look over the papers.”
    She raised an eyebrow at Harrison, and he nodded slightly, accepting her job offer. “If Mr. Harrison agrees, we
    will set a price.”

    Walter Farrow looked bothered but agreed and promised he’d check back as the sheriff and Jacob showed him
    the door.

    Nell leaned forward as Harrison sat down across from her to explain the papers. “I’ll pay you a fair price,” she
    said, “if you will give me your opinion.”

    The thin man smiled. “I’ll charge you a fair rate and dinner as a retainer. But why trust me and not Mr. Farrow?
    I’m as much a stranger as he, and we’re both offering marriage because of the land.”

    Nell winked at him. “Because I know Marla asks everyone who walks into her kitchen to help, and you were
    willing to roll up your sleeves and give her a hand. I believe you’re the kind of man I can trust.” His last
    statement had proved it, but she didn’t say more.

    He smiled then. “I real y had little choice. You see, I’m hungry. If I help, maybe we’ll eat sooner.”

    “And can you cook, Mr. Harrison?”

    “Very little, I’m afraid. But I can help. My mother was a boardinghouse cook until the day she died. Every time I
    passed through the kitchen, I was drafted into peeling or washing, or cutting something. I didn’t realize how
    much I missed her until I started peeling potatoes a few minutes ago in your kitchen. I had the strangest feeling
    of being home.”

    Nel touched Mr. Harrison’s hand in comfort. Jacob and the sheriff stepped back into the room.

    “He’s gone,” the sheriff said, dusting his hands. “But, I fear, like mold, he’ll be back one rainy day.”

    Mr. Harrison stood and released her hand.

    She didn’t miss Jacob’s lifted eyebrow, but she said nothing. The information about Mr. Harrison was his to tell,
    not hers.

CHAPTER 6
    JACOB DALTON WALKED INTO THE EVENING SHADOWS of the porch and pul ed a thin cigar from his vest