“Coffee,” Jacob answered.
“I’ll have the same,” Lincoln added.
The waitress turned her expectant gaze toward Amey. “What can I get you, miss?”
“Water, please,” Amey replied.
“Two coffees and a water,” the waitress repeated. “I’ll be right back.”
As Lincoln reached for his fork, he said, “Why don’t we eat our food while it’s hot, and then Amey and I will go speak to the sheriff?”
“Do you believe him?” Lincoln asked as they walked down the uneven boardwalk toward the sheriff’s office.
“I do,” Amey replied. “I don’t think Jacob is capable of murdering his wife.”
Lincoln bobbed his head. “I agree. He truly seemed distraught about his wife’s passing.”
A wistful note came to her voice. “I didn’t think it was possible for a man to love his wife so fiercely.”
Lincoln glanced over at her with a curious expression on his face. “Why is that?”
“My parents got along nicely, but it was a marriage of convenience,” she revealed. “My father’s first wife, Eleanor, died during childbirth, leaving him with a newborn. He knew he couldn’t raise a baby on his own, so he married Eleanor’s younger sister.”
“So, your brother is actually your half-brother?”
She nodded. “He is, but I have only ever considered him my brother.”
Lincoln’s alert eyes scanned the main road as he shared, “I never lacked for love in my home. My parents were devoted to one another, and I often saw them kissing.”
“It must have been nice to know that your parents loved each other,” she murmured.
“It was.”
Amey stopped in front of the sheriff’s office and waited for Lincoln to open the door for her. As she stepped inside, she saw a lone desk in the center of the room and an empty jail cell along the back wall.
“No one’s here,” she remarked.
Lincoln came to stand next to her. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait for the sheriff.”
A man’s deep voice came from the doorway behind them. “You won’t have to wait long. I’m Sheriff Manley,” he said, walking into the room with a cup in his hand. “How can I help you?”
Amey watched as the white-haired sheriff placed his cup on the desk. “We were hoping to have a moment of your time.”
“Go ahead and talk. I’m listening,” the sheriff replied, glancing between them.
Lincoln closed the door and turned back to face Sheriff Manley. “We are Pinkerton agents…”
“Blasted Pinks!” the sheriff exclaimed. “What are you doing in my town?”
Not appearing perturbed by his outburst, Lincoln continued. “Mr. Tiner hired us to investigate his wife’s death.”
Sheriff Manley frowned. “He did?”
“He did,” Lincoln confirmed.
“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by that piece of news,” Sheriff Manley remarked. “He’s become increasingly frustrated that I haven’t found his wife’s killer.”
“I’m sure that you’ve been doing your best,” Amey said.
“I thank you for that.” The sheriff sat down at his desk. “I’ve worked with Pinkerton agents in the past, but I’ve never met a female agent before.”
Amey squared her shoulders and declared, “That’s a shame. We are usually more proficient than our male counterparts.”
Sheriff Manley laughed loudly. “I like you.”
“Allow us to introduce ourselves,” Lincoln said. “My name is Lincoln Hoyt, and this is my partner, Mrs. Hoyt.”
“You two are married?” the sheriff asked with an uplifted brow.
“We are,” Lincoln confirmed.
Sheriff Manley leaned back in his chair. “Married Pinks,” he said with a shake of his head. “Now I’ve seen everything.”
“As I stated previously,” Lincoln began, coming to stand closer to the desk, “Mr. Tiner hired us to investigate his wife’s death.”
The sheriff reached for his cup and took a long swallow. After he placed his cup back down, he remarked, “I’m man enough to admit that I need help tracking down Doris’s killer.”
“Do you have any suspects?” Amey asked.
“None.”
“What about leads?” Lincoln questioned.
Sheriff Manley shook his head. “Don’t have any.”
Amey grabbed a chair that was against the wall and repositioned it in front of the sheriff’s desk. As she sat down, she asked, “Why don’t you tell us what you do have?”
Sheriff Manley opened a drawer and pulled out a file. He placed it in front of him and opened it. “I have very little to go on,” he revealed. “Doris’s body was found in the woods near her home, and she’d been strangled.”
The sheriff picked up a paper and extended it toward Lincoln. “Here are my notes. I interviewed all the cowhands, but no one saw anything. Furthermore, I spoke to Mary Price, who owns the general store. She was the last person to see Doris alive. She told me that Doris had purchased some blue fabric.”
“Mr. Tiner mentioned that you haven’t located the fabric,” Amey commented.
“That’s correct,” Sheriff Manley confirmed. “I searched the woods near her body, but I was unable to find it.”
“Have you considered that Doris may have been killed at another location, and her body was deposited near her home?” Lincoln questioned.
Sheriff Manley closed the file. “I have, but I’m afraid I haven’t had the time to complete a thorough search of the woods or the surrounding areas.”
“We can help with that,” Amey remarked.
“I would be most grateful for that,” Sheriff Manley said. “This town doesn’t have the funds for a deputy, and the majority of my time is dealing with the mishaps from that blasted saloon.”
“Just so you know, we’ve ruled out Mr. Tiner as a suspect,” Lincoln shared.
The sheriff bobbed his head in approval. “I have known Jacob his whole life, and I know he’s not capable of killing anyone, much less his wife.”
“Mr. Tiner mentioned that everyone in town loved Doris,” Amey said. “Would you agree with that?”
“I would, wholeheartedly,” Sheriff Manley replied. “This is a caring town, and Doris was actively involved in helping those who were less fortunate than herself.”
“Is there anyone who you’d suspect would want to harm Doris?” Lincoln asked.
“No,” the sheriff replied.
Amey shifted in her seat. “Mr. Tiner owns a large cattle ranch. Was anyone jealous of his success?”
Sheriff Manley frowned. “Jacob has never flaunted his
