The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

"Fraud."
    "You're that lady who runs the séance parlor," Henrietta exclaimed.
    "Yes. The Last Word ."
    Betty smiled. "What we need is something that would pass the time away. Did you bring a deck of cards, Henrietta?"
    "Nope. I was working upstairs when the law decided to haul us in."
    "They interrupted a séance I was holding for several customers when they visited The Last Word ." Rose sat back for a moment and gazed at the group of women. "I can't stand just sitting here in this cramped space."
    "Yeah, it's a shame there's nothing to do," Henrietta drawled. She gazed quizzically at Rose. "Not unless you lead us in one of those—what did you call it? Sea ..."
    "You mean séance?" Rose asked.
    "Yeah."
    "Let's do it!" Buckskin Sue said, jumping up from the floor. "Tucker Burnett won't like it one bit."
    "The marshal wouldn't be happy at all to hear I'm speaking to the dead here in his jail," Rose replied.
    "That's the more reason to do it," Betty agreed.
    "All right," Rose said, focusing her anger and her fears momentarily pushed aside. "Form a circle. Hold onto your neighbor's hand and close your eyes."
    "What are you women doing?" the man two cells down cried.
    "Ignore that man," Betty said flippantly.
    "Okay, let's find out who died in this jail," Buckskin Sue said as she grabbed hold of Henrietta's hand, closing the circle.
    Henrietta shivered. "That's scary."
    Rose started to sway and moan. It was a performance of a lifetime as she cried, "Spirits, heed our call. Visit with us once again so that we can glean from your wisdom."
    "Marshal!" the man yelled, banging his tin cup against the steel bars. "Stop them. Stop them or let me out. They're performing some kind of magic in here. Let me out!"
    Tucker Burnett burst through the door and strode to the cell. "What the devil is going on in here?"
    Rose smiled for the first time since she'd been arrested. "Marshal Burnett, would you care to join us? I'm trying to contact the spirits in your jail."
    "Lady, you aren't doing any such thing. Not in my jail."
    "Why? You don't believe I can speak with the dead, remember?"
    Tucker frowned. "Lady, your kind of trouble I don't need. You've got my jail in an uproar."
    "Then let me out."
    "Can't do that, Miss Severin. Now don't be holding any more rituals in my jail."
    Without waiting for a reply, he headed toward the door.
    "Marshal?" Rose called.
    He turned back, a frown on his face. "What now?"
    "Come here." Rose walked up to the barred door and stretched her hand through the bars. "Give me your hand."
    "What for?"
    "Just do as I ask."
    Reluctantly, he gave her his hand. She pulled his palm up to where she could see through the bars. With one finger she traced the lines on his palm. She dropped his hand, smiled, and took a step back.
    "What?" the marshal asked, annoyed.
    "You have a troubled past, Marshal," she said, taking another step back, her voice shaking. "Your day of reckoning is coming. Soon."
    He shook his head. "You're trying to scare me, and it's not going to work."
    She shrugged. "I trust you have a will?"
    He looked at her oddly. "I lived through my youth. I'm not too worried now."
    "Maybe you should be."
    "Miss Severin, this won't work. I've got to leave."
    Abruptly, he turned and hurried out of the cell area. The women cackled as they watched him disappear through the door.
    Laughing, Rose sank down on the bed and pulled her knees up, resting her chin. She let herself enjoy the last few moments just a little longer and then she sighed. If only she had listened to Isaiah and waited for his return, she wouldn't be in this cell. But she'd gotten bored, and the need to make as much money as possible before they moved on had urged her to continue working.
    An hour passed before she heard the outer door open once again and the deputy stepped through. "Miss Severin, your fine's been paid."
    Rose jumped up and hurried to the cell door. "By who?"
    "Get your things. Let's go," he said as he fitted the key into the cell lock. When the bars swung open, she hurried through the open portal. The claustrophobia she'd held at bay was suddenly released and she shuddered. Freedom! she thought and took a deep breath.
    She turned and waved to her new acquaintances. "Good-bye, ladies."
    "Good luck, Miss Severin."
    Opening the outer door to the marshal's office, she half expected to see Isaiah waiting for her, but instead she stumbled to a halt.
    Stunned, she watched Mrs. Burnett hurry toward her. "Dear! I came as soon as I heard.