“And me without my foot in your behind,” she said dryly. “Will wonders never cease?”
***
Laurel was studying wanted notices when Call entered the sheriff’s office. The chair behind Carter’s desk was vacant. There was a shot glass on the blotter and a bottle of coffin varnish beside it. The whiskey bottle was less than half full.
Laurel turned, acknowledged his presence by putting a finger to her lips, and tipped her head sideways to indicate the rear of the building, where the cells were. Call listened and heard snoring. He nodded and was quiet until he was beside her.
“Is it Carter back there?” he whispered.
She nodded. “He’s alone.”
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Laurel didn’t move. “I suppose Mrs. Lancaster gave me up.”
“I threatened her.”
“You did not.”
“No, but I thought about it.” He glanced sideways at the door that separated the office from the cells. If Laurel knew Carter was alone, it meant she had gone back there. “You didn’t speak to him, did you?”
“No. He doesn’t know I’m here.”
“Good. We can go then. No harm done.”
Laurel bristled a little at that. “I had no intention of doing harm. Give me some credit.”
“Please, save your annoyance with me for later. I promise I will give it all the attention it deserves.”
“Ha. You think I don’t know what that means.”
“Can we go?”
“In a moment. Did you notice the gun rack on the opposite wall?”
He had to admit he hadn’t. Besides the shot glass and whiskey and Carter’s empty chair, he’d only had eyes for her. He wished he’d never seen the glass, bottle, or vacantchair, then he could have said truthfully that he’d only had eyes for her. On the other hand, even though she looked as lovely as she did, Call wouldn’t put it past her to poke him in the ribs for spewing romantic twaddle.
“I’m going to examine the guns,” he said.
“Mm. I thought you might want to do that.” Laurel continued to examine the notices while Call went to the other side of the room. She was tempted to remove Mr. Pye’s wanted notice, which was front and center of the lot. She’d have thought that Carter would have taken it down by now, but for reasons beyond her understanding, he’d left it up. Was he even lazier than she’d reckoned? She looked over her shoulder at Carter’s desk. He was obviously feeling secure in his position because he hadn’t bothered to put away the proof that he’d been drinking.
Shaking her head, Laurel turned away from the wall and went to join Call. “I’m relieved you’re going to run for sheriff,” she said. “Otherwise I might have to do it and I don’t know how I’d find the time.”
Frowning, Call gave her a sideways glance before he resumed examining the rifle in his hands. “What are you talking about?”
“You. Running for sheriff. You’re serious about it, aren’t you? I hope you didn’t tell Sheriff Carter that simply to goad him.”
“If you recall, my announcement only goaded him to laughter. If I was a more prideful man, I believe that would have stung.”
“Would you please answer my question?”
“Yes, Laurel, I’m serious. I told you I was thinking about it before I ever told Carter. Go back to being relieved and stop planning your campaign.” He thrust the Springfield he was holding at her. “Here. Take this.”
Her mouth snapped shut as she grasped the rifle in both hands, which, she supposed, was his point in pushing it at her.
Call took down a second rifle and pointed out the government stamp on the steel lock plate. “You’re holding theeighteen sixty-one model. This is an Enfield, produced in England. Put yours up to your shoulder.” When she did, he said, “Feel how that stock is curved so it sits well against your shoulder. That’s one of the features that adds to its accuracy as a long-range weapon.”
“What about the one you have?” she asked, lowering the gun.
