The Sheriff and the Lady — Dorothy A. Bell

A Laura Creek Sweet Romance Escaping the machinations of her conniving, ruthless uncle, the intrepid Wren O’Bannon forms the Big O’ Corporation and purchases, sight unseen, a mercantile located in the remote Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon. Driving her own freight wagons full of merchandise, with her dog Mac as her sole companion, Wren arrives at her destination. Is she heralded as a hero for arriving alive with her cargo intact? Is she welcomed as a savior, bringing staples and supplies to this out-of-the-way, podunk little village? Not a bit! No sooner does she alight from her wagon than she finds herself accused of thievery, chicanery, and out and out fraud. Sheriff Telt Longtree, confronted with a potentially explosive situation taking place on the street of his heretofore peaceful little town, finds himself serving as a mediator between the accuser, banker Howard Buttrum, and one grubby little muleskinner gal who claims to be the new owner of the mercantile. A farce ensues, and the stubborn, indefatigable entrepreneur Wren O’Bannon flies in the face of the banker’s prejudice against women owning and operating a business, while she denies her inclination to get all gooey inside whenever the sheriff is near. Although confused, Sheriff Longtree, intrigued to find this muleskinner gal is not grubby at all but rather lush and utterly fascinating, grows relentless in his pursuit to uncover all her secrets. One by one, the citizens of Laura Creek add their voices, their complications, and their speculations to the controversy. Meanwhile, the real, vindictive, and very dangerous enemy, Wren’s ruthless uncle, plots and plans his destruction of her dreams.