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

said.
    Cutty’s face twisted up in confusion. “How would Nettie and Amon know?”
    Mrs. Upton took a coffee pot off a nearby teacart and poured him a cup. “Well, considering how much time you spend with them, how wouldn’t they?”
    “Well, it was a disagreement, not a fight. Mind yer own business!”
    “Now, Cutty, she didn’t mean anything by it,” the sheriff soothed.
    “She didn’t try to get her facts straight neither. We did not have a fight!”
    “With the way you’re acting, though, I can certainly see how you could have,” she said and set the coffee pot down with a loud clank . “Enjoy your breakfast!”
    Cutty watched her stomp back to the kitchen. “She’s in a mood this morning, ain’t she?”
    “Only because you got her upset,” Cyrus said. “So, does this mean you and Imogene are getting serious?”
    Cutty’s cheeks grew hot. “What do ya wanna know for?”
    “Now, now, it was just a friendly question.”
    “What if we are?”
    “Then I’d say congratulations are in order,” Cyrus said with a smile.
    “About time,” Sheriff Hughes said and slapped Cutty on the back.
    He almost choked on his eggs. “Hey! Watch what yer doin’!”
    “Sorry about that,” Sheriff Hughes said. “Looks like we’re going to have another wedding.”
    “There ain’t gonna be no wedding,” Cutty grumbled.
    “No?” Cyrus drawled. “Why not?”
    “Just because two folks spend a lot of time together don’t mean they’re gonna get hitched!” Cutty took a quick bite of pancake.
    “You can’t put the woman off forever,” said Sheriff Hughes. “Women are funny about these things. She might get tired of waiting, run off and find herself another fella.”
    This time Cutty did choke. “In … cough … this town? Ya must be jokin’!”
    “I’d think about it, if I were you,” the sheriff said.
    “Ain’t nothin’ to think about. There ain’t no men in this town to marry any more than there are women.”
    Sheriff Hughes sat back in his chair and grinned. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. I fancy myself a right fine bachelor of respectable age. Same age as Imogene, as a matter of fact …”
    Cutty stood so fast he knocked his chair over. “Don’t even think about it!”
    Sheriff Hughes burst into laughter. “What did I tell you. Cyrus? He’s got it bad!”
    Cyrus’s face split into a wide grin. “Yes indeed, we’re going to have a wedding soon.”
    Cutty took a deep breath to calm down. They had him and they knew it. He picked up his chair and sat. “Well, there ain’t gonna be no weddin’ ‘til I say so.”
    “Promise you’ll tell us when that is?” Cyrus said as he chuckled.
    “Yeah, we want to be able to prepare,” Sheriff Hughes added.
    “Prepare?” Cutty asked. “Prepare what?”
    “You!” Sheriff Hughes said and burst out laughing again. He elbowed Cyrus. “Remember what we went through getting Anton Duprie ready for his big day?”
    “Good grief! How can I forget?”
    “Stop it, both of ya. I ain’t no dirt-covered Frenchie that ain’t had a bath in a decade!”
    “No, but you’re gonna need help just the same,” Cyrus said.
    “Fine, fine. I’ll let ya know.”
    The sheriff winked at Cyrus.
    Cutty wanted to punch them both. Unfortunately, they were right – he was going to marry Imogene, it was only a matter of time. He just needed to take care of one little detail …
     
    * * *
     
    After breakfast Cutty returned to the lobby and sat. Seth was nowhere in sight, which meant there was no one to talk to. “Figgers,” he muttered. He was bored not having Imogene to spend time with the last week, and wondered when he’d see her again. Maybe she’d read to him, or he could read to her one of their favorite adventure stories. He sighed, took off his hat and scratched his head.
    His eyes went wide. “What the …?” He patted his noggin to make sure. “Tarnation!” His mouth dropped open in shock. “Well, I’ll be.” For the first time since he’d