Nell fled.
Pretty sure Nell is getting revenge for me stressing her out. I said nothing but pressed my lips together.
"Have a seat, Miss Josephine," the sheriff said a little too casually.
With a deep breath, I turned and sat the best I could in the snug bodice in what I hoped was a proper sit. I had missed loosening one of the ties, though, shifted twice and soon found myself leaning again to relieve the pressure around my chest.
The sheriff was studying me. "You all right, ma'am?"
"A little tired."
He looked me over but said nothing else about my odd position.
"Let's start with what happened a year ago, when you disappeared," he said, resting his hands on the desk behind him in a stance that was deceptively relaxed. His dark hair was mussed from the hat, and the six shooters he had slung on his hips rested against the desk.
He looks like a real cowboy, I thought, momentarily mesmerized by the combination of quiet strength, handsomeness and low, quiet command. The exotic slant of his cheekbone and chiseled features were straight out of a movie.
"I don't remember," I replied.
"Convenient."
My eyes narrowed. "You aren't interested in what happened a year ago," I assessed.
My empathic memories weren't working. Nor were the historical records I was supposed to be able to access. Without either, it was going to be harder to figure out what the sheriff wanted. Philip's motivation was clear: he wanted my land, money and me lying dead in a ditch.
Such things meant nothing to this stranger, but he was after something from me.
"You're right. I'm not," he replied calmly. "I am interested in how you keep appearing every few months and leaving again. Every time a little different. A little lost."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"We suspected the other girls were after John's wealth. They must've heard about his missing daughter and were trying to take advantage. John's mind is too far gone for him to understand this."
I listened. "So you want to interrogate me to protect John. That's very sweet of you." For some reason, that made me feel a little better about being there.
"Partly true." The enigmatic sheriff offered a half-smile. "And partially because I want to know what's really going on."
I wanted to be the real-Josie for John because he needed peace of mind before he died. With the sheriff … well, it was more of a survival instinct. The man was dangerous and too quick to sentence people to hanging.
"I appreciate you looking after my father in my absence. But I really don't know what you're talking about," I said firmly. "The doctor will verify I have no memory of the past year. My dear cousin Philip and governess will verify that I have knowledge only I can possess."