Mail Order Bride and The Mix-up (A Western Romance Book)(COMPLETED)

Chapter 08

Anthony poked his head into the dining room at his hotel to make sure that Belle and her friends were still busy eating their breakfast. Belle glance in his direction and her face immediately changed from a smile to a scowl. She turned back to her plate and ignored him.

It was fine with him if that's what she intended to do. He'd attempted to tell her last night that Sheriff Anthony Pace was most definitely not Hale Mackery. It all made sense to him now—well, almost.

The sheriff had clearly used a fake name when he'd planted that ad in the paper, the only question was why and what did it mean for Belle. He could almost understand if the sheriff had simply wanted to keep his affairs private. That did not seem so out of the ordinary to him. Ira was rather a private man himself at times.

However, that did not mean that the sheriff could continue lying to Belle. It was inexcusable. He was worried what it might mean. He did not know Anthony Pace terribly well, they'd only ever met in passing or at society functions both were forced to attend, like the mayor's ball, but he had the sneaking suspicion there was more to the man's character than he was letting on. He was too good, too proper. No man could live up to such high expectations as the town placed on him. Inside the sheriff, there was undoubtedly a cruel man dying to get out.

If the sheriff meant to have a little fun with Belle and then send her packing, Ira would kill him, sheriff or not. What judge wouldn't understand a thing such as defending a woman's honor?

Ira left his hotel and went straight to the sheriff's station, uncertain what Belle's plans were for the day but certain they would include coming down here at some point. He wanted to beat her here, and so long as she was busy with breakfast, he knew he had time.

The sheriff looked up when Ira walked in. The station itself was small. There were two desks and a two jail cells, both of the cells pressed against the back wall. There was a closet and an outhouse in the back.

Stanley Lyons, the sheriff's head deputy, greeted him warmly as he came in. "Hello there, Ira. Fine day out, isn't it? Another month and the chill is gonna start to set in more regular." He had red hair and green eyes and a friendly nature that was not easily ignored.

"Hello, Stanley," Ira said.

Anthony was leaning back in his chair. He straightened himself up at Ira's presence and glanced at his deputy. "Stanley, could you give us a minute or two?" he asked.

Stanley looked at the men uncertainly then rose from his chair. "Sure thing, sheriff," he said and went outside.

Once alone, Ira stepped closer to the sheriff's desk. Anthony stood up, facing him. "I don't know what you think you're playing at," Ira said, getting straight to his reason for coming, "but if you hurt Belle Reid in any way, I'll kill you."

Anthony's eyes widened. Ira expected him to yell or defend himself at the very least, but he just stood there with his head tilted to the side as if sizing Ira up.

"What's your relationship to Belle?" Anthony finally asked.

"I intend to marry her," Ira said.

Anthony's eyes widened. "That a fact?" he said, rubbing his hand over his chin.

"It is."

"And what does Belle say to your proposal?"

"She doesn't know about it yet. She still insists she's got to marry you—or should I say, Hale Mackery?" He lifted his eyebrows, certain he'd caught the man in his lies now. "You didn't think anyone knew about your little scam, did you?"

"What scam is that?" asked Anthony.

Ira rolled his eyes. "To lure a woman to Mellow Pass so you can have your way with her, then send her back to wherever she came from a broken woman."

Anthony laughed now. "Is that what you think I'm doing? No wonder you followed us to the restaurant last night," he said.

Ira felt his face color. "I was only watching to make sure she was safe."

"Belle will always be safe with me," Anthony said.

There was something in his voice and his eye that told Ira he meant what he said. That did little to make Ira feel better though. If Anthony's intentions towards her were pure, then Ira had no right to interfere.

Ira rolled his shoulders back. "Why did you lie to her about your name?"

Anthony paused then shrugged. "I didn't want anyone to know what I was planning until it was done. People here look to me for leadership, and I was afraid a few of them might react badly to the idea of my taking on a bride by mail."

Ira licked his dry lips. "Do you intend to marry her?"

"What did Belle say about it?" he asked.

"She says you do."

"Well, if that's what she tells you, then I've got no reason to contradict it."

You mean it's true?" Ira asked. "You're really going to be married? I've no chance at her?" His face crumpled for a second before he set it right again.

He caught a look in Anthony's eye softer than anything he'd seen till now. "Talk to her about it," he said. "I've said all I've got to say."

"If I can't marry her, I'm going to make sure that whoever does is an honest man."

Anthony nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The door opened behind him and Belle stepped into the room. "Sorry I'm a bit late," she said. "My breakfast went a bit long. I was distracted. Ira kept peeking in on us." She paused when she saw him there, her mouth dropping open. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"Leaving," he said and brushed past her. The easy way she'd walked into the station, talking about him like he was a pesky fly, gnawed at him.

She went after him but stopped at the door. "Ira, you can't keep following me," she yelled.

"I was here first," he said. "How could I be following you?"

She blinked and looked away. He waited to see if there was more, but then she turned and went back into the station. Ira watched the door a moment, wanting to go after her, knowing it was futile. She'd made her choice, and he would have to live with it.

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