The Intriguing Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Read Online Free Page A

you. I do. I’m just not convinced you’re the best person to be Sam’s wife.”
    “I understand. Gina will be here in a few minutes. She’s headed to town, so I’ll go outside and wait for her.”
    “That isn’t necessary.”
    “I’d rather.” Feeling uncomfortable and a little hurt, Sylvia took her small case and went out to sit on the stoop. I guess I made a bad impression on her. She loves Gina. Who wouldn’t? But I’m not my sister, and she knows it. It was a relief to see Gina’s car coming down the drive.
    She took her bag and walked down the steps. When Gina stopped, Sylvia opened the door and got in.
    “In a hurry to leave?”
    “Just drive please.” Sylvia stared out the side window and blinked her tears away. Thank goodness, Gina didn’t ask any questions. They drove silently into town.
    Once she’d parked, Gina turned to Sylvia. “I have to do some grocery shopping. Do you want to go along or stroll through town?”
    “Stroll.”
    “How about I meet you at Millie’s place in about an hour?”
    “I’ll be there.” Sylvia got out and started walking down the street away from the grocery. She felt Gina’s stare between her shoulder blades. She just wasn’t ready to talk, not even to her. How could she explain how she felt when she didn’t understand her own mixed emotions?
    Her body felt heavy, and she had a tightness in her chest. Sylvia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The clean air had a crisp, fresh smell to it. In the distance the mountains reached toward the sky.
    She focused her attention on the town. Many of the buildings were made of wood and the walkways were wood planks. They’d retained a lot of the old-West character. As she walked she passed the local drugstore and a clothing store. In the distance she saw the sign for the medical office where Rand Brodie worked. She didn’t want to see him, so she crossed the street and right in front of her was the sheriff’s office. Being curious, she stepped inside.
    “Did you come to apply for the job opening?” A tall man with a weathered face stood to greet her.
    “What is the opening?”
    “I guess you didn’t see the ad in the local paper.” He looked closer. “You’re Gina’s sister.”
    “Right. I might be interested in the job if I knew what it was.”
    He waved his hand around the room. “I need a secretary who doesn’t mind keeping things straight and sometimes having to deal with some shady characters. The last one quit when old Higgins came into town after being shut up in his cabin for the winter. He looked like an old grizzly and was just about as pleasant. Most of the townspeople aren’t interested in the job.”
    “I’ve dealt with more bad people than you’ll ever see here.”
    “That’s right, Graham had to go overseas and rescue you.” He looked her up and down. “Are you all recovered?”
    “No, I have to go to rehab three times a week for my wrist, but it only takes an hour. And”—she touched the side of her face—“eventually I’ll have this fixed.”
    “What you’re saying is you might not be around too long.”
    She had to smile. He knew people well. “I probably won’t be, but being idle drives me crazy.”
    The sheriff walked around his desk and put out his hand. “Welcome aboard. You can stay as long as you want. The pay’s not much. It’s certainly not what you made before. But I’m pretty flexible about hours, as long as the place is in order where I can find things.”
    “I accept the job, Sheriff. Actually, I’d have worked for free.” She liked his hearty laugh.
    “Let’s get the paperwork signed and sealed. You can start Monday. I have six deputies. Two of them work with me during the day, and I have two for the evening shift, and two work at night.”
    “That’s a large staff for a small town.”
    “I know. We could go down to one deputy a shift, but if something happens, which occasionally does, I’d lose a man. The townspeople can afford the extra