“Of course not, Sheriff. Jane is terrible with a rifle. I was thinking more along the lines of the sickle, a weapon designed specifically for the close-combat techniques of an Attendant.”
Sheriff Snyder’s smile fades and he nods. “Hold on a moment, I think I got something.” He disappears into a room off the side and returns with a pair of sickles.
My sickles. My much-loved and much-used sickles.
“That man Redfern left these behind. If you think they’d be useful, your girl can have them.”
Katherine inclines her head regally. “Thank you, Sheriff. And as soon as I am able to reach my uncle by telegram, I am sure he will tell me how happy he would be to repay your generosity.”
“Not necessary.” The sheriff approaches Katherine, reaching around her to offer me the sickles. He’s closer than would be considered decent by any standard, but Katherine doesn’t step backward. “Would you privilege me with a moment of your time?”
“Of course, it would be a pleasure.” Katherine’s smile reveals none of the discomfort that emanates from her. Maybe the sheriff doesn’t notice how she’s shifted her weight back, putting a few more inches of space between the two of them, but I do. I’ve known Katherine for a long time, and the last thing she wants to do is spend another moment in the sheriff’s presence.
But this is the role that I’ve asked her to play, and Katherine is not one to back down from what’s required of her. She’s a much better person than I am.
I take my sickles from the sheriff, then open the door. Katherine exits, the sheriff close behind. I’m about to follow when from behind me one of the men calls out.
“How’s that back of yours?”
It takes every bit of discipline I have to keep walking, to not look back. Mocking laughter follows me as I leave the building, hurrying after the sheriff and Katherine.
They’re deep in conversation, him leaning in, her using her parasol as an effective barrier against him getting too close. My boots echo on the boardwalk as I approach, and he glances over his shoulder and grunts. “I daresay you’re safer with me than anywhere else in Summerland. Why don’t you send your girl to see to your house and I’ll drop you off after we enjoy a short stroll?”
Katherine gives the sheriff an indulgent smile. “A lady’s Attendant is not there just to protect her from the restless dead. She also protects my virtue and my reputation, Sheriff.”
“Miss Deveraux, do you think that I am a threat to your virtue or reputation?”
“I would say that you are the only one who knows the answer to that question, sir.”
The laugh that booms out of the sheriff is genuine, and an ugly feeling rises up in me. He’s looking down at Katherine like he’s a starving man and she’s a steak that just landed upon his plate. It’s an expression I don’t care for one bit. I could kill the man without a single shred of remorse, and I’m near about to do just that when the sound of hoofbeats stays my hand.
“Sheriff! Sheriff!” A man I don’t recognize rides up in a cloud of dust, and both Katherine and I shrink back into the shade of the boardwalk while the sheriff strides out into the middle of the street to meet the rider.
“What is it, Bean?”
“Bob, Bill, and now Bean,” Katherine mutters. “Is it a requirement your name has to start with the letter B to work for the man?”
I only catch snippets of the conversation, but I do hear the words breach, eastern fence, and townsfolk. Whatever is happening, it’s enough to turn the sheriff’s expression stormy, as he sends the rider off with low-voiced instructions.
Sheriff Snyder comes back, giving Katherine a deep bow. “I’m sorry to cut our conversation short, Miss Deveraux, but there is an urgent matter I must attend to.”
Katherine actually manages to look disappointed. “What seems to be the issue?”
“Nothing that me and the boys shouldn’t be able to take care of, but I’d caution you to get inside of your house and stay there. Keep your girl close. There might be some trouble afoot, and I wouldn’t want you to get caught up in it.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
He gives Katherine one last tip of his hat before striding out smartly back toward his office, yelling for Bob and Bill. They come running, rifles in their hands. All three of the men jump on their horses and ride off, kicking up a generous cloud of dust as they go.
“Well, that is interesting,” Katherine says, eyes narrowed.
I grab her by her elbow and pull her a little. “Come on, this is our chance.”
“Chance for what?”
“To snoop around the sheriff’s office. If you haven’t noticed, there’s still too much about this land that we don’t know. They might have a map and compass so we can navigate once we hightail it out of here.”
I leave Katherine sputtering on the boardwalk and make a beeline back to the sheriff’s office. It’s nearly midday and the streets are deserted. The morning patrols would be out and the evening patrols getting what sleep they can, so this is the perfect time to get in a bit of uninterrupted sneaking.
I dash down the boardwalk, skidding to a stop in front of the office. Katherine is close on my heels, huffing and puffing even though it was only a couple hundred feet. I glance at her over my shoulder. “Are you wearing a corset?”
“Yes, Jane, I am. Because a lady wouldn’t go about without one.”
I shake my head and walk inside, pulling Katherine in as well. She leans back against the wall next to the door, fighting to catch her breath.
“What is it you said you’re looking for?”
I shrug. “A map, a compass . . . Anything that seems like it could be useful.”
Katherine’s eyes skim around the room. “Well, that’s vague enough.”
I roll my eyes. “Why don’t you search that room over there? I’ll go
