Wanted

"Now that most of the introductions are done, we need to find out what happened in Miller's barn." The sheriff walked around and unlocked the handcuffs on Colt.

The boy rubbed his wrist.

"Son, why don't you join your brothers and sister on the floor so your mother can have your chair. This might take a while."

He turned the chair for her comfort and waved to offer her a seat.

She hesitated. "Am I to be cuffed to your desk?"

The sheriff laughed. "Not unless you are the ringleader, Ma'am."

 "I don't believe so."

As she sat, the sheriff said, "Ma'am, I didn't catch your name."

   She smiled. "No, you didn't."

   The sheriff cleared his throat. "That means I would like to know your name, Ma'am."

   Her laughter was like music. "And I didn't catch your name either, Sheriff."

   Slowly the sheriff walked to his chair, sat and smiled. "Sheriff Daniel Tucker." With a slight twinkle in the eye, he studied her for a moment before he spoke, "This is serious business and not a laughing matter, Ma'am, so unless you want to share the cell with your hoodlums tonight, you had best tell me your name."

   She sat up in her chair. "They are not hoodlums, Sir."

   Kelly Dee gasped. "You would make our ma spend the night in jail because she won't tell her name?"

   "You can't do that," Thane popped in.

   "You're cranky, and not saying your name, that is not a crime, Mister." Murphey glared.

   Colt nudged his brother. "Hush it up, Murphey."

   "Well, he is cranky. Ma says, 'Don't talk when you're cranky cause you'll say things you probably don't mean." Murphey glanced at the sheriff then dropped to the floor.