The Sheriff Wears Pants (6 page)

“Will?  Would you like to come inside?”  Darcy asked politely, happy to see him.  She wanted… no, she needed to have a serious talk with him.  She wanted to know what really happened with Priscilla.

He nodded and followed her into the house, and into the front parlor.

“Please have a seat,” she invited, taking her place in the rocking chair that was ‘hers.’ Hopefully, they could talk things through and put an end to their arguing with each other. Oh, how she hoped Gram was right and there was a reasonable explanation for what she saw!

Will sat down, thankful for the courtesy Darcy was showing him.  “I came to apologize for the way I treated you in the store yesterday.  I was out of line to suggest that you weren’t running for office because you were afraid to be beaten at the polls.  I didn’t stop to think how all of this would affect Miss Eleanor.  Does she know about the robbery attempt?” he asked in concern, his dark eyes full of worry.

“She read Waldo’s special edition before I had a chance to tell her as gently as possible.  She didn’t react well and I had to run for Louisa.”  Her green eyes filled with burning tears.  “I thought I was going to lose her, Will!”  Tears streaked down her cheeks, and Will reacted without thought.  He pulled her from her chair and took her into his arms, and simply held her while she tried to control her emotions.  It felt right.  He loved Darcy and he wanted to be with her.

Darcy felt right at home in Will’s strong arms.  He knew how much she loved Gram, and he loved her, too.  It felt right to share her concerns with him, and she wanted to clear things up so badly it hurt!

“Darcy, I’ve missed you,” Will whispered.  “I would like to explain now if you are willing to listen?”

“I want to know,” she surprised him by saying.  “I should have listened to you then, but I was too angry and too hurt.  You know that Priscilla Clemons and I have never gotten along, and I was only too willing to believe the very worst.”

“I know, and someday we are going to discuss that.  But, right now, let’s talk about that damn kiss.  Sit down over here, honey.” He pulled her over to the settee and seated her beside him.

All Darcy could think about was the last time he sat there.  He pulled her over his knee and gave her the first spanking of her life!  “Why
did
you spank me, Will?  Was it out of anger?  Or were you really afraid for me… and the town?” She had to know.

“I spanked you to get your attention, honey. Being a lawman is hard work.  I don’t think it is a fit job for a woman, mostly because it is dangerous.  I know you have studied that fancy fighting, but sheer strength and size can overwhelm someone as tiny as you are.  Also, you are too tender hearted.  Sometimes you have to be mean.  Sometimes you have to serve an eviction notice when a banker repossesses someone’s home or ranch.  It’s hard physically and emotionally. How in hell do you put out a family who has three little kids, two of them still in nappies, and know they have nowhere to go and no money at all?  I cried over that one,” he admitted and then added, “I gave them money from my own pocket and then found both of them jobs.  I had to do that to ease my conscience.” 

He looked at her.  “You needed that spanking to break through your anger.  My only regret is that I did it in front of that jerk, Waldo Phares.  For that part, I do apologize.”

“Did you split his lip?” she asked curiously.

“I did, and I am proud of it.  Did you really break his nose?”

“I did, and I am proud of it.”  They both grinned.

“Darcy, I didn’t kiss Priscilla Clemons.  I know how it looked to you, but it wasn’t like that.  She’d taken her father lunch and a couple of his employees were trying to hoist a large crate up to the second floor.  A rope frayed and was going to snap, right when Priscilla walked under it.  I lunged forward and knocked her out of the way just in time to save her life.  Once she was over her hysterics, she threw herself at me and kissed me full on the mouth.  I swear I did not kiss her back, and I pushed her away as soon as I could.  That is why you saw my hands on her.  I wasn’t holding her… I swear, as miserable as I’ve been the last few weeks, I’ve wished I would have let the crate smash her!”

Darcy giggled. “I’m glad you didn’t do that because it would have haunted you, Will.  You are too good a man for that.  I need to say this.  I am sorry I jumped to conclusions and didn’t give you a chance to explain.  I intend to work on this, it’s a very bad habit of mine.”

“I’m going to help you break that habit, Darcy Elizabeth,” Will said firmly.  “I think a good spanking now and then will cure you of that bad habit.”

“Just promise me you won’t ever do that in front of anyone again.”

“I promise I won’t do that.  I also won’t spank you over all that padding you ladies wear.  I’ll toss up your skirts first.”

“But, we’re not married yet!” Darcy was shocked.

“You are wearing pantalets, aren’t you?” Will asked of her, wiggling his dark eyebrows up and down comically.

Darcy grinned, and then asked, “Are you planning to spank me now?” Her green eyes were full of trepidation.

“Do you think I should?”

“I think I probably do deserve a spanking, but I heartily wish you wouldn’t.  I’ve suffered a lot while we’ve been apart.  However, if spanking me will put your ring on my finger again, then I’ll lie still and accept whatever you feel I’ve earned.”

“I think we have both punished ourselves enough, honey.”  He reached into his pocket and took out his mother’s ring, and held it in front of him.  He took her hands in his, and then slid forward to kneel on one knee in front of Darcy.  Her lovely green eyes were full of happy tears as he said, “Darcy, my love, would you do me the honor of marrying me and making me the happiest man in the world?”

“Yes, yes, and yes!” She threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately.  She then held out her hand and he had to hold it still because she was shaking so much.  He slid the
beloved ring on her finger, and then he kissed her again.  “I love you, Will, and I am so sorry I overreacted.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make an effort to explain.  I love you, too, honey, and I am now a happy man.”

“Goodness, what is going on in here?” Eleanor asked.  “Will, it is good to see you.”

“Miss Eleanor, I’ve missed the pleasure of your company, too,” he said, walking over to her and leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

“Gram, look!”  Darcy said, holding out her hand.  “Will and I are engaged again!”

“Oh, how wonderful!  You two are not allowed to fuss again.”

“There won’t be any fussing, Miss Eleanor.  I’ll just put this little one over my knee and we’ll settle things before they become issues.”

“You sound like my beloved husband,” Eleanor said with a fond smile.

“Gram, you never told me about that!” Darcy exclaimed, surprised as could be.

“It
is
rather personal, Darshana,” the elderly woman insisted, and Darcy noticed that her cheeks were pink with embarrassment.

“Yes, I understand that.” Darcy nodded in agreement.

“Will, I hope you will be having dinner at our table tonight?” Eleanor invited him, expressing her approval of the situation.

“I would love that, Miss Eleanor.  I’ve missed your company… and Greta’s cooking.”

Eleanor smiled.  The young man had no idea that Darshana cooked a lot of the meals he enjoyed so much.  They might have ‘help’ in their home, but her granddaughter helped cook and clean, too.  Eleanor wasn’t so foolish not to teach her how to do those things.  Darcy could sew, too.  Eleanor was positive that Will would be surprised to learn that his wife could care for a home.

Dinner that evening was a festive affair.  It was wonderful to have Will at the table again, joining into their conversation, and passing out compliments on the food. 

“I fear bringing this up, but have either of you heard how Priscilla Clemons is doing?  I am positive Geoffrey was livid with her for having her name appear in Waldo’s paper.”

“She came by here this morning to let me know how much she hates me, Gram.  She also said her father thrashed her.  She wasn’t happy, and that much is a fact, not rumor.”

“Her father didn’t understand the situation, and he overreacted, just as you did, honey.  Maybe we should have a conversation with him?”  When she didn’t immediately agree, he said, “Darcy, I know you two girls don’t get along well, but if it was Jenny Middleton, wouldn’t you go and speak with her father and explain?”

“Yes, I would.  Okay, I’ll go with you, Will.  I’ll not let you near her alone.” Darcy wasn’t taking any chances where Priscilla Clemons was concerned.  She just didn’t trust her around Will!

Will chuckled and said, “I won’t be alone.  You can be my bodyguard, although I assure you there has never been anything between Priscilla and me. We barely know each other, honey.”

After they helped Greta clear the table, Will and Darcy walked across town to the Clemons residence.  Will knocked on the door, and Priscilla opened the door, looking at Darcy with contempt.  Will thought it long past time the two of them were sat down and made to talk out the reasons behind their dislike for each other.  It was mutual, and according to Miss Eleanor, had been going on for years.

“Yes?” Priscilla asked, her tone letting them know they were unwelcome and she’d rather not be standing there talking to either of them.

“We came to speak with your father, Priscilla.  Is he here?” Will kept his tone neutral and polite.  The last thing he wanted was for the two women to start one of their squabbles when they were there to make things right.  Darcy was making an effort to do the right thing.

“Father is here, but he is with a guest.”

“Who is it, Pris?” Geoffrey called from the parlor.

“It’s the Sheriff and Darcy Hamilton, Father.  The Sheriff wishes to speak with you.”

“Well, ask them inside, girl!” Geoffrey got to his feet and walked into the foyer to greet them, the look he gave his daughter one of worry and concern.  It was clear to Will that Mr. Clemons expected to hear something horrible.

Priscilla opened the door wider and let them inside the large house. 

“Come in, Sheriff!  Hello, Miss Darcy.”  Geoffrey led them into the parlor, indicating they should have a seat on the sofa, and then Geoffrey politely introduced them to Brian, before asking, “What can I do for you?”

“Sir, this is a private matter,” Will warned.

“You can speak in front of my guest.”

Will was surprised, given the man’s reputation for keeping to himself. “Fine.  Darcy and I wanted to come and assure you that Waldo’s editorial was incorrect.  Priscilla has done nothing inappropriate, and she certainly wasn’t trying to break our engagement.”

“The article claimed otherwise.”

“Waldo didn’t have his facts straight.”  Will told what happened, including the fit that Darcy had when she misjudged the situation.

“I didn’t give Will a chance to tell me the truth of the situation, Mr. Clemons, and I am the one who gave Waldo a false impression.  I do apologize for that, Priscilla. I let anger rule my tongue, and I am sorry that you were made the butt of Waldo’s editorial in that manner.  Waldo needs to be shown the way out of Cactus Hill.  He is giving everyone false impressions.  I have stated over and over that I do not wish to be elected Sheriff, but he continues to push the issue.”

Priscilla couldn’t believe that Will and Darcy were defending her to her stern father.  It wasn’t like Darcy to give her the time of day, much less to apologize for something. She did appreciate them making sure her father knew the truth of the situation, but it still didn’t make her back hurt any less.

“I thank you both for coming to give me the truth of the matter. I do feel much better.” His eyes met his daughter’s in silent apology for thinking the worst, and then he said with anger in his voice, “Waldo Phares is going to regret defaming my daughter in his paper. I won’t tolerate his type of reporting what amounts to a bunch of lies.”

“We feel the same way, Mr. Clemons,” Darcy said fervently.  She’d seen how stiffly the other woman was sitting on the chair, making sure her back didn’t touch the back of the chair, and she suddenly realized that the punishment Mr. Clemons delivered was applied to her back!  Darcy’s green eyes filled with tears and she wished there was something she could do to ease Priscilla’s pain.

“Waldo isn’t on the list of guests we plan to invite to our wedding,” Will said firmly, and then turned to Brian McCord.

“Mr. McCord, thank you for your patience.  We felt this matter best settled immediately.”

“I agree. I haven’t known Priscilla very long, but she’s not of loose virtue.” Brian was distressed to learn what the undercurrents in the house were all about.  He felt compelled to defend the pretty woman.

“No, she isn’t,” Will agreed without the least bit of hesitation. “Her reaction to not being squashed was perfectly normal! I had an elderly woman nearly hug the life out of me when I prevented her from serving poison mushrooms to her boarders.  She saw them growing in her backyard and didn’t realize they would kill anyone who ate them.  Miss Priscilla’s reaction was normal, even if the timing was bad from Darcy’s eyes.

“I am so sorry I threw such a fit and wouldn’t listen to you, darling.  I promise I am going to try and conquer that bad habit immediately.  Priscilla, I know that you and I have never seen eye-to-eye on most things, but I am very sorry for misjudging you in this matter. You were right when you said this was all my fault.  It was.  I wish I could take it all back.” Priscilla just looked at her, but she wasn’t about to say one word to Darcy.