Page 36 of A Bride for Brodie

Mike turned and walked to the front of the office. “What do you care if Jake knows you’re in town?”

“He’s kidnapped Lottie.” The words burst out of Brodie with more vehemence than he’d wanted to show. “I want her back, and I don’t want Flannery to do this to anyone else.”

“Why did he take Lottie? Not that it really matters, kidnapping is kidnapping. I’m just curious.” Mike sat back in his chair and pointed at the two chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

Brodie and Ross sat on the hard, wooden slat-back chairs.

“I owed him money, and he said he took her to make sure I don’t forget to pay, but he more than doubled the amount I owe. He said I could give him part of the ranch in payment.”

Ross pounded his fist on the desk. “That will never happen. Ever.”

Mike sat straight in his chair. “That won’t happen, Ross. We’ll see to it. What do you want from me?”

“We want him arrested for kidnapping. Here is the ransom note he sent that proves he kidnapped her. If I thought extortion would work, I’d ask you to include that, as well, but it would be his word against mine. But Lottie—” Brodie stood, unable to stay seated. “I’ll kill him if he’s hurt her.”

“Now, Brodie, let me handle Jake.” Mike rose, too.

Brodie’s lips formed a flat line, and he gave him a single nod. He looked over at Ross…who was smiling. “What’s the matter with you? This isn’t the time for smiling.” His voice was low, and he spoke slowly.

Ross smiled wider. “You’ve fallen in love with your wife. How strange is that? Seems like all of us are now in love with our wives. That’s not an outcome I predicted with this experiment. I just wanted to find Black Bart, and Fiona was my best shot. I figured I would never get to him, but she could leave prison, so I suggested the idea of mail-order brides.”

Brodie blinked several times, and his brows furrowed.Am I in love with Lottie?“I guess you’re right. I hadn’t even considered the idea of love, just of…getting along enough to have kids and a decent marriage.”

Mike pounded his desk. “Gentlemen, what should we do about Lottie? It seems to me, you should go to Flannery and do the exchange. I will come with you and then arrest him for kidnapping. You’re right, he can’t continue to flaunt his disrespect for the law.”

“All right. Let’s go. I want my wife back.”

Sheriff Knoll grabbed his hat from the peg on the wall behind him and followed Ross and Brodie outside.

The Copper Lady Saloon was across the street and down at the other end of the block from the sheriff’s office.

The three men crossed the street and walked calmly up the boardwalk to the saloon.

As soon as they moved through the door, Brodie saw Joey head to Flannery’s office. Brodie, Ross and the sheriff strode back to the bar to wait.

The bartender came over. “What can I get you, gentlemen?”

“Nothing today, Ted. We’re just here to see Jake, and he’ll be here shortly.” Brodie watched the hall Jake would be coming down and looked for Lottie, but didn’t see her.

Flannery walked up to him. “Did you bring my money, besides bringing the sheriff?”

“I’ve got your money. Where’s my wife?”

Flannery looked surprised. “I haven’t any idea what you’re talking about. Why would your wife be here?”

Brodie grabbed him by the coat lapels. “You sent me a note, which I still have, and my wife is gone. Where…is…she?”

Joey stepped forward. “Mr. Campbell, you’ll want to release Mr. Flannery now.”

Brodie looked at the sheriff.

He subtly nodded.

Brodie pushed Flannery away. “You won’t mind if I check all your rooms, then, will you?”

“The sheriff can check the rooms, but the Campbells will stay here at the bar.” Flannery bowed and waved his arms toward the stairs and straightened again. “As soon as you give me my money, the sheriff can look anywhere he’d like.”

Brodie fumed, but nodded. “Here’s your money.” He set the four packets that Ross had given him earlier on the bar.

Jake took the packets and pulled them toward him. Then he looked up at the sheriff. “Go ahead, Mike. There is no one here.”

Sheriff Knoll walked up the stairs.

Brodie heard him open and close each door.

Mike came back down. “Lottie’s not here. I’m sorry, Brodie.”

“Stop!”