“Run it together?” Mary Lou’s protest was incredulous.
“I have no intention of sharing my inheritance with a perfect stranger.” Jared wouldn’t give up the last claim he had to a family connection. He had no living relatives and wouldn’t let what was rightly his slip away from him to pacify a small-town sheriff or placate a woman who had entrenched herself in his grandfather’s life. Possibly for the sole purpose of gaining his fortune at his death.
“It’s not your inheritance.” Mary Lou took a step toward him. “It’s mine. You may be blood kin, but I was the only family Jacob Ivy had for the last eight years.”
The sheriff opened the door. “The two of you can argue all you want. I won’t dispossess either of you. The judge should be through town between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Learn to work together until then.” He stepped through the doorway. “Mr. Ivy, I’d recommend you stay in the rooms upstairs that your grandfather used. Mary Lou lives in the quarters attached to the back of the building.”
“He can’t stay here!” Mary Lou was indignant.
“Sheriff, you have the authority to evict her.” Jared made another attempt to settle the matter today.
“I do, but I won’t be the one to throw an orphaned girl into the street without the judge’s say-so.” He tipped his hat to Mary Lou. “Good day to you both.” And he was gone.
An orphan? Mary Lou was a grown woman. One who could take care of herself. It wasn’t his responsibility to provide her with a home. No self-respecting woman would allow a man to take care of her in such a fashion.
“Oooo, the nerve of that man! He is forever taking the easy road as sheriff.” She stood with her back straight and her fists clenched at her sides. The wrath of Mary Lou Ellison seemed to be a force to be reckoned with.
How would he endure one month with this fiery creature? Much less two?
He’d try a different approach. Perhaps he could reason with her. “Miss Ellison, I appreciate that you were close to Grump. I’m sure he loved you a great deal.”
“He did. And I can tell you he wouldn’t cotton to the way you’re trying to put me out on the street.” She turned on one heel and went back to the work she’d been doing when he’d arrived.
“I’m not trying to put you out on the street. I can give you a handsome sum so you can set yourself up in a nice room somewhere. Enough to get you through until you find work.”
“A few measly dollars so I’ll give you my paper? I am not interested, Mr. Ivy.” She fished through the tray in search of another letter. Nimble fingers slid it into place beside the others.
“It’s not measly. It will be more than a judge will give you when he comes to town and sees the paper is rightfully mine. He could even require you to pay me for the time you refuse to leave.”
“Pay you? I earn my way here. Don’t be surprised when the deed I bring to the judge has him sending you on your merry way. You and your will. A man’s actions speak to who he is. A fair judge will see you as a grandson who only wanted an inheritance. This entire region knows I’ve worked on this paper since I was a schoolgirl. My time under your grandfather’s tutelage will show how close we were.”
“You’ve been here since you were a girl?” Why would Grump take in a young girl?
“Mr. Ivy knew my uncle well. When he got sick, I didn’t know what would happen to me. Before he died, Mr. Ivy promised that he’d take care of me. I’ve been here ever since.”
Was she right? Surely a judge would consider blood kinship when deciding a man’s claim. His grandfather was dead. No other living soul shared his blood. Jared was the end of the Ivy line.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” He dipped his head to emphasize the sincerity of his words. He found it difficult to be alone in the world. It must be harder on a woman. Though he’d seen no sign of weakness in this one.
She nodded in response. “Thank you. Losing Mr. Ivy has been the hardest thing I’ve ever faced.”
His head shot up. “Losing Grump? What about your own kin?”
Mary Lou shook her head. “My own kin didn’t want me or love me. Not like Mr. Ivy did.”
“But you said he knew your uncle well.”
“He did. He knew well how little my uncle wanted me in the first place.” She fingered the letter she held in her hand and stared at it as if seeking an answer. “No one ever understood me or was kind to me like your grandfather. It’s a loss I’ll not soon forget.” She cleared her throat and slid the letter into place. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got work to finish to get the paper ready to print.”
“I’ll need you to show me how to set up the paper.” He took off his coat and hung it on the coat tree near the door. He dropped his hat over the coat and pushed up his sleeves. The sound of tiny letters hitting the floor and scattering caused him to turn around.
“Look what you made me do.” Mary Lou went down on her hands and knees to gather the errant letters.
Jared bent to pick up the composing stick she’d been using to set the letters for the story she was working on. He turned it over in his hand and put it back on the table. “How long will it take to redo this?” He got down on his knees to help her.
“Maybe an hour.” She scooped up more letters and sat back on her heels. “Unless someone causes another delay.”
He put his hands up in a defensive posture. “I only volunteered to help. I’m sorry you dropped this, but I can’t think it was my doing.”
The air went out of her in a huff. “You’re right. I’m sorry for being rude.”
“An apology? I’ll admit you have surprised me, Miss Ellison.”
She reached for another stray letter. “No more than you surprised me, Mr. Ivy.”
How did she feel? What would it be like to have your business and home taken from you by a stranger? He was sorry for her, but at the same time it was his business. His home. It hadn’t been hers to take in the first place. He’d be civil with her, but he wouldn’t allow himself to be sympathetic to her plight to the point of giving up the only thing he had left of his family legacy. He must remind himself that, whatever her intention, she stole that from him. And he would get it back, no matter what.
Gunfire erupted in the street behind him. He took cover under the desk as Mary Lou scurried to her feet, reached for a pad and pencil, and headed for the door.
Mary Lou let out a yelp when Jared reached from under the desk and caught her by the arm.
“You can’t go out there! It’s not safe!”
She jerked her elbow from his grasp. “It’s my job.” She left him, mouth agape, and went to the front window. She could see several people spilling out of the swinging doors at Winston’s Grand Saloon on the opposite side of Pine Street. Someone she didn’t recognize ran up the sidewalk in her direction. He had a pistol in one hand and a man lay prone in the street behind him.
“Lord, help me.” She didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud as she pulled the door open and stepped into the path of the fleeing gunman. The man tried to avoid her and ran headlong into a post on her porch. As he tripped and landed on his back, the gun he held flew across the ground and skidded into the middle of the dirt street.
“What are