Lynna Banning

The Lone Sheriff


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       “You’re here to help?” Jericho echoed.

      “Of course. I am Madison O’Donnell. The Smoke River Bank hired me to help catch the gang robbing their gold shipments.”

      Jericho stared at her.

      “I believe you were expecting me?”

      He snapped his jaw shut. The last thing he’d expected was this frilly-looking female with her ridiculous hat. In her green-striped dress, and twirling her parasol like that, she made him think of a dish of cool mint ice cream.

      “Whatever is the matter, Sheriff? You have gone quite pale. Are you ill?”

      He jerked at the question. Not ill—just gutshot. “Uh, yeah. I mean, no, I’m not ill. Just…surprised.”

      She lowered her voice. “Most clients are surprised when they meet me. It will pass.”

       Hell, no, it won’t.

       AUTHOR NOTE

      During my research for this book I was pleased to discover there were a number of women Pinkerton agents; in fact Allan Pinkerton stated that some of his most valuable operatives, particularly during the Civil War, were women.

      So I thought a female agent in the Old West deserved her own story.

      The Lone Sheriff

      Lynna Banning

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      For Joe Walsh, with love

      

      With grateful thanks to:

      Suzanne Barrett

      Carolyn Comings

      Kathleen Dougherty

      Tricia Adams

      Brenda Preston

      Susan Renison

      Ann Shankland

      Austin Sugai

      David Woolston

      LYNNA BANNING has combined a lifelong love of history and literature into a satisfying career as a writer. Born in Oregon, she has lived in Northern California most of her life. After graduating from Scripps College she embarked on a career as an editor and technical writer, and later as a high school English teacher.

      An amateur pianist and harpsichordist, Lynna performs on psaltery and harp in a medieval music ensemble and coaches in her spare time. She enjoys hearing from her readers. You may write to her directly at PO Box 324, Felton, CA 95018, USA, email her at [email protected] or visit Lynna’s website at www.lynnabanning.com

      Contents

       Cover

       Introduction

       Title Page

       Dedication

       About the Author

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Chapter Twenty-One

       Chapter Twenty-Two

       Chapter Twenty-Three

       Epilogue

       Copyright

       Prologue

      TO: SHERIFF JERICHO SILVER, LAKE COUNTY, OREGON

      

      

      SENDING TOP AGENT MADISON O’DONNELL TO ASSIST CAPTURE OF ARMED GANG STEALING WELLS FARGO GOLD SHIPMENTS

      

      

      ALLAN PINKERTON

      PINKERTON DETECTIVE