Brighter Tomorrows Read Online Free Page A

week.”
    “They your two best friends? Heard tell the Chat-a-While serves the best pie in Wyoming and more,” he said with a bright grin.
    “They’re both like sisters. And you better believe it. Laura serves good food, but her pies are absolutely scrumptious. She’ll have five or six kinds at the celebration. You’ll want try them all.”
    “Coming from you, I’ll do that. Love pie, any kind. Sheriff Millet said they do up a quite a big shindig here for the Fourth.”
    “They sure do. All afternoon, there’s games and contests, crafts sales, and socializing. Supper goes on forever. At dusk, the music and dancing start, followed by fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks.”
    “I can tell you like the fireworks the best,” he said with a chuckle. “Will you save me a dance, pretty lady?”
    His compliment arrowed straight to her heart. She trembled in anticipation of dancing with him, and that was surprising. And only four more days. “I certainly will, but I thought you’d be guarding the bank. Don’t robbers prefer to break in when no one’s there?”
    “You read too many dime novels?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. “If no one’s there, they’d have to blast it. Takes way more time, more brains than they have, and before the boom stopped there’d be people swarmin’ the place. Nope, they’ll plan it the day before or after the holiday. We’ll take turns watching the bank throughout the fourth but only as a precaution. Got men trackin’ their progress.” 
    “Would you like more coffee, Marshal?” she asked as she sipped the last of hers.
    “I’m full to the brim, but thank you, Miss L—” He shook his head. “You said you like to cut to the chase, so let’s do it. I’d more than welcome you calling me Chase when it’s just the two of us. And I’d be honored if you’d allow me to call you Callie. Callie short for another name?”
    “Calinda,” she almost gagged, “is my given name, but I prefer Callie, please.” She hadn’t meant to sound curt, but she hated the memories attached to the other.
    She noted his intense eyes probing, sharp and assessing. “And will you let me hear you say ‘Chase’ before I leave?” His lips curved slightly as he pushed back from the table.
    “Chase.” Her heart hammered at the intimacy.
    “I like hearing my name on your lips, Callie,” he said as he stood, gathered his plate and utensils and took them to the kitchen.
    “I’ll hitch your wagon before I leave. At lunch, I’ll carry in the heavy things for you, so just leave them in the wagon.”
    “Thank you, but you don’t ha—”
    “I know I don’t. Let me have the pleasure of helping.” He flashed that darn wink and left. The July heat in no way matched her bloodstream.
    ♥ ♥ ♥
    Once Callie made all her purchases at Harper’s and Jacob had loaded them in the wagon, she ran across the street to chat with Laura over coffee.
    A little while later, Callie drew her wagon up in front of Grover’s Sweet Scents and rushed inside to greet Marianne. At twenty-one, Marianne had lost her mother years ago and her father just last year. Keeping the house, she sold off most of the farm land, cattle, and horses, but continued to raise rabbits and ducks for sale. She had three cats and two dogs and, of course, one cow and a buckskin mare. She had opened Sweet Scents where she made and sold her perfumes and colognes, soaps, lotions, candles, herbs and potions. With her new Singer sewing machine, she offered ready-made dresses, gloves and hats. She now stocked men’s and women’s boots and shoes that were more stylish than what Harper’s carried.
    The two chatted like magpies while they dusted the front window displays.  Marianne turned dreamy-eyed and her smile widened. Callie felt a laugh try to escape when Marianne’s next words stopped her cold.
    “Oh, Callie, I met the handsomest, nicest man two days ago. His name is Matt Tremayne and he’s passing through to a new job on a