“Well…we didn’t take the jobs to make friends.”
They moved on to the cafe, where they met blond Tess Bonner coming out the door with a tray in her hands. She smiled at them and said, “My mother asked me to take this food over to the jail for the prisoners.”
“Better let me go with you,” Bo said. He didn’t want Tess anywhere near the prisoners with only Biscuits O’Brien around to keep an eye on things.
Scratch jerked a thumb at the door. “I’ll go on in and talk to Miz Bonner,” he said.
Bo nodded. “That’s fine. We need to start getting an election organized, and I’m sure she can be a big help with that.”
He started across the street with Tess. When they reached the sheriff’s office, he opened the door for her. As soon as it swung back, the sharp tang of whiskey hit Bo’s nose. He stiffened in surprise.
“Oh, my goodness,” the young woman said as she looked into the office.
Bo sighed. Biscuits was slumped forward on the desk again, out cold. An empty bottle lay near his hand. Obviously, they hadn’t searched hard enough, Bo thought. Biscuits had had an extra bottle squirreled away somewhere.
“Is the sheriff…all right?” Tess asked hesitantly.
“No, but he will be,” Bo replied, his voice grim with resolve. “Even if we have to kill him to make him that way.”
CHAPTER 21
Lucinda greeted Scratch with a smile as he came up to the counter and rested his hands on it. “Good morning again, Deputy Morton,” she said.
“Scratch,” he reminded her.
“Of course. Scratch. How in the world did you wind up with that name, anyway? Surely it’s not your real name.”
“Well…” He frowned. “You know, it’s been so long ago, I sort of disremember how come folks started called me Scratch. Seems like it’s always been that way, ever since me and Bo were boys back in Texas.”
“What about your real name?”
Scratch shook his head. “Nothin’ I’d want to claim.”
“Now you’ve made me curious,” Lucinda said with a laugh. “I’ll respect your privacy, though.” She paused. “Tess just left here with some meals for the prisoners. I assumed that you’d want me to feed them.”
Scratch grunted. “Your food’s a heap better’n what they deserve, ma’am. I reckon for now, though, that’ll be fine. Maybe the town can make a deal with one of the hash houses to provide meals that ain’t so good. You be sure and keep track of what you’re owed, too. Once the town council’s set up, maybe you can get paid back for it.”
“I’ll do that,” Lucinda said. “And speaking of the town council, I talked it over with Dr. Weathers and several of the local businessmen when they came in to eat breakfast this morning. They all think that the sooner we hold an election, the better.” A blush appeared on her face. “And I’m surprised to say that they were all in agreement with Bo’s suggestion that I run for mayor, too.”
Scratch grinned across the counter. “Those fellas know a good idea when they hear it. Got any idea who’s gonna run for town council?”
“Wallace Kane and Dr. Weathers agreed to. I think they’re good choices, because they don’t have any actual competition in their lines of work. I think I can get Sam Bradfield to say yes, too. We’ll need one more member. That way there’ll be four councilmen, and as mayor, I can cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.” Lucinda put her hand to her throat. “Oh, my. I just assumed that I’m going to be elected, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to sound so…so sure of myself. That’s arrogant.”
“Nothin’ arrogant about it,” Scratch assured her. “Havin’ an election’s just a formality, anyway. I don’t reckon anybody’s likely to run against any of you.”
“We’ll see. It wouldn’t be a proper election unless it was open to anybody who wanted to run, would it?”
“Reckon not,” Scratch agreed.
Lucinda half-turned to reach toward the coffeepot on the stove behind her. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”
“I sure—”
That was as far as Scratch got before he heard someone screaming outside.
“Why don’t you wait here, Miss Bonner?” Bo suggested as he and Tess stood in the doorway of the sheriff’s office. “I’ll help Sheriff O’Brien lie down on the cot in the back room.”
“That’s not necessary on my account, Mr. Creel,” Tess said. “You don’t have to protect my delicate sensibilities. I’ve seen men passed out from drinking before. We’ve lived in Mankiller for a while, and it’s really not that unusual a sight.”
“I suppose not.” Bo reached for the tray. “I’ll just take this to the prisoners. I’ll bring the tray and the plates back later. You don’t have to come in.”
“Again, not necessary.” Without waiting any longer, Tess marched into the office.
Bo shrugged and went around her to unlock the cell block door. As it swung open, one of the prisoners in the cell to the right said loudly, “Damn it, it’s about time you bastards fed us!”
Bo stepped into the aisle between the cells and drew his Colt. He pointed it at Reuben and Simeon and said, “I don’t know which of you men said that, but there’s a lady present and you’ll keep a civil tongue in your head. You understand?”
