Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) Read Online Free Page A

couldn’t recall exactly what he’d said that set her off. Obviously it was enough to make her think she ought not speak to him for a few days.
    She chuckled at her own stubbornness, then got up and went downstairs to find Jefferson. She knew he planned to go into Clear Creek that day, and needed to let him know she’d be riding along. A thrill went up her spine at the thought – but then, one always did when she knew she was going to see Cutty. “Stubborn old coot,” she whispered to herself. “Why can’t you get it over with so we can wed?”
    But how could he when he was scared to death? And what was she going to do about it? She supposed she wouldn’t know until she went into town and found him.

Three
     
    “Good morning, Cutty,” Seth said from behind the counter as Cutty entered the hotel.
    “Mornin’, Seth. Have ya seen Newton yet?”
    “No, not yet. Maybe he decided to sleep in.”
    “Hmm, could be. I’ll mosey up to his room and check.” He ascended the grand staircase to the second floor, walked to his son’s room, raised his fist to knock …
    … and stopped. What was he going to say? Not that Newton would refuse to help Ryder, especially after all the time he’d spent with the Jones brothers of late, but still … “Oh dagnabit! Get over it!” he chastised and knocked on the door.
    Nothing. “That’s funny,” he muttered and knocked again. Still, Newton didn’t come to the door.
    “I wonder where he went.” Cutty scratched his head. Maybe Seth hadn’t seen Newton go down to breakfast.
    He returned to the lobby and went straight to the dining room, but the only people there were Sheriff Hughes and Cyrus Van Cleet. “Have either of ya seen my … Newton this morning?”
    “Haven’t seen him, Cutty,” the sheriff said. “Have you had your breakfast yet? Why don’t you join us?”
    “Ain’t got time,” he said. He turned and headed back to the lobby.
    “What’s the matter?” Seth asked. “Can’t you find him?”
    “Ain’t in his room, ain’t eatin’ breakfast. Maybe he went out to Nettie and Amon’s place.”
    Seth glanced at the hotel’s double doors. “Sometimes he likes to go for a ride early in the morning. Maybe that’s where he went. Sheriff Hughes and Cyrus are in the dining room – why not sit and eat something with them?”
    “Yeah, maybe I could grab a bite while I wait.”
    “I’ll let you know when he comes in,” Seth assured.
    “Much obliged,” Cutty said and headed off.
    “Changed your mind?” Sheriff Hughes asked as he re-entered the room.
    “I cain’t find Newton, so I might as well. What did Mrs. Upton make this morning?”
    “Pancakes, bacon, eggs, fried potatoes – you name it, she’s got it,” Cyrus replied. “I had to come into town early and Polly wasn’t feeling well, so I told her I’d eat here. I’m glad I did.”
    “Better not let your wife hear you say that,” Sheriff Hughes said with a chuckle.
    “I won’t,” Cyrus said. “I might wind up with nothing but tea and toast for the rest of the week.”
    Cutty and the sheriff laughed as Mrs. Upton came into the dining room with a plate laden with food. “Here you go,” she said, setting the plate on the table. “Eat up, honey!”
    “How did ya know I was here?” Cutty asked.
    “It’s my job to know. Now sit yourself down and eat.”
    He did. Everything looked and smelled wonderful.
    “Where’s Imogene?” Mrs. Upton asked as he took the first bite. “I haven’t seen her in days.”
    Cutty’s face reddened. He swallowed the food and gave her a sheepish look. “She and I had what ya might call a disagreement.”
    “Had yourselves a good fight, eh?” she said with a raised eyebrow.
    “It weren’t no fight.”
    “That’s not what I heard,” Sheriff Hughes said.
    “Me neither,” Cyrus added. “I heard it was a real row.”
    Cutty’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Where did ya hear all this from?”
    “The newlyweds, who else?” Mrs. Upton