Yours Again (River City Series) Read Online Free Page A

that there was no way of convincing anyone that
his wife had lied about everything that had happened in their short marriage. The
story was just too juicy for the townspeople to drop.
    Mr.
Hardin greeted him with a nod and took the list Taos offered, gazing at it
through the half glasses that sat on his nose. The man’s wife smiled, “It’s a
fine day today, isn’t it Taos?”
    He
nodded, “I suppose it is.”
    “Might
even rain if we’re lucky,” Mrs. Hardin smiled at him while her husband gathered
the items in his order.
    The
Hardins had known Taos’s father for years before he died and had gone out of
their way to let Taos know they didn’t give a hot mouse turd what anyone said
about him. Mrs. Hardin always made a point to speak to him even if no one else in
town did. He appreciated her effort, but he knew it was no use. She probably
did, too, but it was still nice to at least see a friendly face.
    Once
his father had died, there had been nothing to stop the rumor mill from working
overtime. Jake Williams had been larger than life and had the kind of
personality that could win over anyone about anything. Taos often thought the
man should have run for office, but Jake was content to stay on the ranch after
his wife died and raise his three boys. Taos only hoped he’d be as good a
father to his son, Tommy.
    Taos’s
brother Charlie had the same personality as their dad, and as annoying as it
was sometimes, it certainly came in handy on occasion. He wished Charlie had
been around today to take care of this little chore, but he’d been escorting a
prisoner over to Taos for Sheriff Blake as he often did, and wasn’t due back
until late this afternoon.
    “Taos!
Taos Williams!” a female voice squealed.
    He
groaned inwardly and pretended not to hear. It was one of Mertie Mae Morrison’s
daughters. He wasn’t sure which one, but it really didn’t matter; they could
both scare off a whole flock of crows with their screeching.
    “Mr.
Williams?”
    He
turned toward the girls’ mother. Mertie Mae Morrison was never far from her precious
offspring and she looked ready to pounce on Taos today. A tall hawk-beaked
woman with an abnormally long face and teeth too big for her mouth, Mertie
Mae’s face closely resembled that of a horse. Taos had no idea how a man could
kiss a woman like that and not have his horse look at him funny every day
afterward.
    “Mr.
Williams, I’d like to discuss some business with you, if you don’t mind.”
    Oh
boy. He knew exactly what kind of business she wanted to discuss, and he
absolutely did not want to hear it. Mertie Mae was determined to foist off
those girls of hers on someone and if she could get some water for her parched
farm out of the deal, he was sure she would consider that a win.
    “Uh,
I’m just picking up a few things. I’ve got to be on my way.”
    The
woman gave him a disbelieving glare. “It won’t take but a moment and I’m sure
you have time to spare in your social calendar.”
    The
comment drew a few whispers from the handful of spectators and instantly pissed
him off. She couldn’t resist pointing out he had absolutely no social calendar
and preferred it that way. The last thing he wanted in his life, or his son’s life,
was a meddling woman.
    “Actually
I don’t, Ma’am. I have a meeting. “
    She
didn’t budge.
    “At
the saloon ,” he leaned forward for emphasis and saw her twitch. Mertie Mae
was a bible thumper and wouldn’t dare follow him into the saloon. He didn’t
really have any business there, but if he had to hide out and have a shot of
whiskey to get rid of her while Hardin filled his order, then so be it.
    “Fine,
but I intend to discuss this business with you as soon as possible.”
    Taos
never ran from confrontation. In his mind it was better to get it over with than
have to face it another day. “Look Mertie Mae, I’m not interested in your girls,”
he cast a glance at their embarrassed faces and instantly softened his