New Release The Sheriff (Friendly Creek Book 2) by Agnes Alexander

 

Friendly Creek Sheriff Buck Beaumont suddenly has his hands full when several strangers show up in his small town. Though this is usually a welcoming community, one of the newcomers, Sam Rayfield, doesn’t set well with sheriff, and Beaumont is not sure just why that is.

Those feelings become clearer when the town’s mayoral race takes off. Friendly Creek chooses sides between a well-respected, long-time resident and the smooth-talking Rayfield. It seems that Rayfield has more than becoming mayor as his goal—he also has marriage on his mind.

Wynona Murdock, the newly hired schoolteacher, revels in her new-found independence that comes with her job. But Sam Rayfield openly vies for her attention to the point of making her uncomfortable. Yet, how can she avoid him, maintain her independence—and stay safe?

With Rayfield’s subtle intimidation of the townspeople, Sheriff Beaumont gives him a warning he can’t ignore, and forces his hand. How does the arrival of these strangers connect them to one another, and to Rayfield? When murders begin to happen, it’s up to Beaumont to unravel the mystery and keep Wynona safe…or die trying.

EXCERPT

Buck had just pulled the papers he wanted to work on out of the desk drawer when the peaceful morning was interrupted by a blast of gunfire.

Jumping up and heading out the door with his peacemaker in his hand, he saw immediately the bank was being robbed. Three men ran out and mounted their horses and spurred them into a fast gallop as they headed out of town. He fired, and one man tumbled from the saddle.

Hurrying to the bank as fast as his long legs would take him, Buck rushed inside with several men following him. He saw Clifford Daniels, the teller, lying in the lobby. He was moaning in agony, but Charlie had arrived and was headed to help him.

He then saw Jarvis Pearlman, the owner and president of the bank, leaning beside the safe with blood pouring from his shoulder. He waved in the direction of the other side of the room.

Buck’s head turned quickly to see a woman in the green printed dress crumpled on the floor. His heart came to his throat as he rushed and swept her up into his arms.

“Oh, God! No!” He screamed. “It can’t be you, Rebecca.”

Her eyes fluttered as she looked up at him and whispered, “Don’t grieve, my love. You made me happy.”

Then, she closed her eyes and died in his arms.