“Let me get this straight. You tried to frame an innocent woman for murder just because you were jealous?”
Her chin came up. “Yes. But you don’t understand. She didn’t deserve to be a Colton. She got Whitney to adopt her, when it should have been me.”
Despite himself, Cord felt a pang of pity for the other woman.
“I have no choice but to arrest you for falsifying evidence,” Briggs intoned. He read her rights out loud.
“Wait,” Sarah interrupted. “You should know that Piper Colton was with us, right before we came here. Cord dropped her off in town. You need to go looking for her right now.”
Reid shook his head. “That’d be weird,” Reid drawled. “But I highly doubt it since Cord’s a bounty hunter and could sure use the money. I think if he found her, he’d damn sure bring her in.”
Grateful, Cord sent Reid a look of thanks. He held his breath. Sure enough, Briggs nodded. Since Sarah had been lying all along, no one believed her now.
“I take it this should be enough to drop all charges against my sister?” Reid asked. “And get rid of that warrant the sheriff has on her right now?”
“Yes.” Briggs didn’t sound too happy. “If you have a way of getting the word out to her, she’ll be cleared by this time tomorrow. And give her my apology.”
“Will do.” Reid sounded positively cheerful. He grabbed Cord’s arm. “I’d like a word with you before we leave.”
Cord nodded, watching as Briggs took Sarah Sleighter toward the back to be booked. Once she’d disappeared from view, he walked out with Reid. “What’s up?”
“Did you really drop off my sister right before you came here?”
“Yes. She’s at the coffee shop on Third.”
“Okay.” Reid tugged his cowboy hat down lower. “I guess I’ll meet you there.”
He strode toward his truck before Cord could say anything. Great. Cord debated sending Piper a quick text, but there was way too much to say.
*
Sipping coffee and people watching was something Piper hadn’t been able to do in far too long. Ever since this craziness with Eldridge had started. She hoped now that Cord had taken Sarah to the sheriff, he and Reid could get her to make a full confession which would exonerate Piper. Then she could have her life back.
But did she truly want that? Her life had become so much fuller now. Because of Cord? She took a quick sip of her latte, careful not to burn her tongue. It was her second one. She’d nursed her first one for so long that it had gotten cold.
Shifting in her seat, she watched as another couple walked hand and hand into the coffee shop. She felt jumpy, despite knowing her disguise was good enough that no one would recognize her. Still, the disguise came with a price. The wig itched and the long curls kept getting in her face. The oversize eyeglasses kept slipping to the end of her nose.
For what felt like the thirtieth time, she checked her phone. Only one hour and ten minutes had passed. And no texts from Cord or Reid. No missed calls, either. While she’d been able to calculate the drive time to and from the sheriff’s department, she had no idea how long the meeting would take.
With a huge sigh, she tried to relax. Difficult, considering the massive amount of caffeine she’d ingested.
The front door opened again and she looked up. Reid walked in, his green gaze scanning the room. Despite her disguise, she knew he’d recognize her, but she held utterly still, just to see.
Spotting her, he strode over, unsmiling. Towering over her, he held out his hand. “It’s over,” he said. “Now it’s time for you to come home.”
Panic flashed through her. She didn’t understand it, but she knew she had to stall, to give herself time to think.
Luckily, before she could articulate what she wanted, Cord came inside, heading straight for her.
“My sister and I need to talk,” Reid said, glowering at the other man. “Could you at least give us some privacy?”
“No,” Piper snapped, standing up. “Cord can hear whatever you have to say, but I’d rather talk somewhere else.”
“How about my place,” Cord said, his easy tone washing over her like warm honey. He placed his hand on her shoulder and, heaven help her, she leaned into his touch.
Reid glanced from one to the other. “That’ll work,” he finally allowed. “Piper, you can ride with me and we’ll follow you there.”
“I don’t think so,” Cord began.
Piper reached up and touched his hand. “I can fight my own battles,” she told him softly, before turning to face her brother. “Reid, I know you’re worried about me, but I can take care of myself. I’m not riding with you, I’m going with Cord.” She smiled to take the sting from her words. “We can talk there.”
“Follow us.” Cord let Piper lead the way. They all trooped outside, Reid grumbling under his breath.
Once in Cord’s truck and on the way, Piper sighed. “I’m sorry about my brother,” she began.
“No need. I get it. He’s just worried about you.”
“And bossy and high-handed,” she said, smiling. “He mustn’t be thinking clearly because he knows better. Giving me an order is the surest way to get me to do the opposite.”
Glancing at her, one side of his mouth twisted in a wry smile. “You don’t say.”
She laughed. “Sad, but true.”
“You know the sheriff’s going to drop all charges. You’ll no longer have a warrant out for your arrest and they’re canceling your court date. You’re free, Piper. Free to go back to living the way you want to. No more hiding.”
Her smile faded. “I know. That’s what Reid said. He wants me to go back to the ranch immediately.”
Watching the road, he nodded. “Makes sense.”
Troubled, she tried to find the right words to ask him if he wanted her to go. “I imagine you’re tired of me imposing on you.”
“Not at all.” His answer came easily. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”
Warmth blossomed through her at his words. Until she remembered he’d asked her to help him with Renee.
“I think Renee might like that,” she said carefully. “Don’t you?”
“Sure.” He kept driving, his face expressionless. “And I really think it’d be better if we agree to keep our hands off each other.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. I mean it. Let your life get back to normal before you do anything rash. You need time.”
Though normally she would have teased him and maybe pressed for more, right now she felt too vulnerable. While Cord might really think they could stay together and keep their hands off each other, more power to him. Personally, she had her doubts.
But he was right about one thing. They both needed time. She wanted to explore this thing between them, see where it might go.
They reached Cord’s place and parked. Reid pulled in right behind them.
“Nice farm,” he said as he walked toward them.
“Thanks.” Cord gave a guarded smile. “I realize it’s not on par with what you’re used to, but it’s mine and I’m damn proud of it.”
“As you should be.” Reid glanced at Piper, who flashed him a brilliant smile to hide her uncertainty. “After we talk, I’d like to see the rest of it, if you don’t mind.”
“Sounds great.” Cord led them inside, dropped his keys into a tray by the phone. Spotting Piper, Truman ambled over, tail wagging.
“Hey, boy,” Piper crooned, scratching him under the chin. “Who’s a good boy, huh?”
Cord shook his head. “My dog has really taken to your sister,” he told Reid. “In fact, when she’s around, I cease to exist.”
Straightening, Piper grinned. “That’s not true. He still loves you. He and I just have a special bond.”
Reid watched the two of them and then cleared his throat. “Piper, we still need to have a discussion.”
Her grin faltered, but she lifted her chin. “All right. Talk. I’ll listen.”
Of course Reid shot Cord a glance indicating he should leave. Cord understood. A big brother naturally felt protective about his baby sister.
“Where’s Renee?” Piper asked. “I didn’t see her car.”
“I don’t know.” Cord looked from her to Reid. “Listen, I’d be more than happy to give the two of you some privacy. I need to check on some livestock.”
Piper opened her mouth to protest, then closed it. “Maybe that would be a good idea,” she said. Reid’s expression showed both relief and determination, but he didn’t push his luck.
“I’ll be back in a little bit.” On his way out the kitchen door, Cord gave her shoulder another quick squeeze. “Holler if you need me. I’ve got my phone.” He whistled for Truman. Unsurprisingly, the dog pretended not to hear him.
*
The instant the door closed behind Cord, Reid crossed his arms. “Awfully cozy, there. What’s going on between the two of you?”
Piper kept her chin up. Though she felt her face heat, she didn’t look away. “Now, that’s really none of your business, is it?”
His loud sigh told her what he thought about that. “Fair enough,” he said. “You’re a grown woman. But I want you to think about what Fowler’s going to do once he finds out where you’re staying. He paid Cord to find you. From what I understand, Cord accepted a partial payment. Fowler will demand a refund, and I can’t say I blame him.”
Troubled, she knew he was right. And she also knew how badly Cord needed the money. She thought of the Widow Berens, sick and in the hospital and knew Cord would do everything he could to help her. As her heart twisted, she realized she could be in real trouble. She could love a man like him. More easily than she’d realized.
“Earth to Piper,” Reid said. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” But she did. She still had a good portion of her savings left. If Fowler demanded his money back from Cord, she’d replace it. No way would she let Cord suffer because of her actions.
“Don’t take this on yourself,” Reid continued. “I know how you are. You can’t blame yourself for any of this. You’re the one stuck in the middle. None of this is your fault.”
Touched, she thanked him.
“You know, I always liked Cord Maxwell,” Reid continued. “He’s always seemed like a man of his word.”
“He is. That’s why I trust him to help me out.”
“Seemed is the operative word. Now I’m thinking differently.” Reid sat forward, reminding her of a jungle cat about to pounce. “He’s like a double agent, working for both sides at once. He took Fowler’s job, accepted payment, and then, when he found you, he lied to Fowler and agreed to help you.”
“He didn’t lie. He doesn’t do that.”
“Really? Sounds a lot like lying to me, even if it is only by omission. An honorable man would have owned up to Fowler what was going on.”
“Really?” She crossed her arms. “If he’d done that, it would have been like throwing me to the wolves.”
For the first time since they’d begun talking, Reid appeared uncertain. “Well...”
“Well what? How can you not admire someone who did what’s best for your sister?”
He thought about it for a moment. “Point taken.”
“Cord’s a really good guy,” she continued. She didn’t know why she felt so desperate that her brother see him the way she did, but she did. Maybe because even if she and Cord never saw each other again after all this was over, she’d never forget him or what he’d done for her.
And to her. Glad Reid couldn’t read her thoughts, she gave what she hoped was a casual shrug.
“You care about him, don’t you?” Eyes narrowed, arms crossed, her brother waited for her reply.
Damn.
“Maybe,” she allowed. “A little. He’s been awfully kind to me.” There. That made her sound more like she thought of him as a friend.
“I checked him out, you know.” Reid continued to watch her. “To be a fugitive recovery agent here in Texas, he has to be either a peace officer, a level III—armed—security officer or a licensed private investigator. Since he’s able to carry a firearm and have a concealed handgun permit, he can’t have any felony convictions. Just to be sure, I checked that, too. The guy’s never been arrested. His father, on the other hand—”
“You remember his father, don’t you?” she interrupted. “He worked for us as a ranch hand. He had an alcohol problem and I think Cord spent a lot of time bailing him out of trouble.”
“Correct.” The tense line in Reid’s jaw relaxed somewhat. “His sister, Denice, was also trouble.”
“I know. She was killed a couple of years ago in a car accident. Cord is raising her teenage daughter, Renee.”
He nodded. “So you know everything, then. He’s shared this with you?”
“Yes.” Laying her hand on his arm, she squeezed. “He’s a good guy, Reid. I promise you.”
Finally, Reid sighed. “I’ll have to trust your judgment on that one. Hopefully he isn’t making a bunch of promises to you. Despite what you might think, guys in his line of work have to learn to be pretty good liars.”
“I just told you. He doesn’t believe in lying.”
Reid snorted. “Right. I bet. And has he also told you to trust him? Listen, Pipe, guys who say things like that are the ones you should run from.”
Hurt, all she could do was shake her head. She knew if she protested, Reid would become even more convinced that she’d been taken in by a con artist.
But Reid hadn’t seen Cord with his niece, or with the elderly Ms. Berens. He didn’t know Cord like she did, and no amount of talking would change his mind.
“Piper, I have to look after you,” Reid told her.
“Actually, you don’t. But I appreciate the effort.” She smiled to soften the sting of what she’d say next. “I’m going to stay with Cord for now.” Chin up, she braced herself for an argument.
Instead, Reid regarded her thoughtfully and nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Then I think I’ll go find Cord and take a look around his place.”
Rolling her eyes, she followed him to the door. “Don’t pull any of that big-brother-issuing-a-dire-warning stuff on him, okay?”
Reid exited the house without making a single promise.
*
After feeding the three horses, Cord fed the goats and the chickens. While doing his chores, he kept an eye on the house because he knew once Reid had finished reading Piper the riot act, the older man would be coming for him.
That is, if Piper had truly decided to stay. It was entirely possible Reid could convince her to pack up and return home.
And then he caught site of Reid heading his way. He wouldn’t ever admit it out loud, but a weight lifted off his heart. If Reid wanted to talk to him, he figured that meant Piper would be staying, at least a little longer.
“You keep a clean barn,” Reid said, once he reached Cord.
“Thanks.” Accepting the compliment with an easy smile, Reid continued mucking out the horse stall.
“About my sister,” Reid began.
Here it came. Bracing himself, Cord nodded.
“Piper tells me you’re a good guy. Says you don’t believe in lying. I want to know what you’re planning on telling Fowler.”
“I think that’s between Fowler and me.” Cord kept his tone easy. “And Fowler’s not the reason why you’re out here.”
“True. I’ve already warned you about hurting my sister.”
“Yes, you have.” Continuing to work, Cord finally finished and faced the other man. “I care about Piper,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Hurting her is the last thing I’d ever want to do.”
“Still, it happens,” Reid insisted. “But I just had this conversation with her and, as she pointed out, she’s fully capable of making her own choices. I would like you to promise me one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t stand in her way if she decides she
wants to come home.”
Surprised, Cord nodded and held out his hand. “I won’t. I give you my word. If that’s what Piper wants, then I’ll step aside and let her go.”
He said it like it’d be an easy thing, a simple act. And maybe, right now, it seemed like it might be. But somewhere deep inside him, way down inside his soul, he had a flash of insight and realized letting Piper go might be very difficult, indeed.
His words appeared to satisfy Reid. “All righty, then. Why don’t you show me around your farm?”
Chapter 14
Later, after Reid had gone and Cord had showered, he wandered into the living room, enticed by the scent of something delicious cooking. Both Piper and Renee looked up when he entered. “Hey,” Renee said, by way of greeting. Piper merely smiled.
“What’s in there?” he asked, pointing to the newly acquired Crock-Pot Piper had insisted he buy.
“Beef stew,” Renee piped up, grinning. “Piper showed me how to make it.”
“Smells great,” he said, walking over and ruffling her hair. “What are you doing home?”
“I have the night off.”
“She asked me to help her organize her artwork into some kind of portfolio,” Piper said. Glancing at the kitchen countertop, he saw they’d covered it with sketches of various sizes and mediums. Moving closer, he saw Renee had also taken photographs of the two furniture pieces she and Piper had remodeled. The two of them sat at the kitchen table, which was piled high with notebooks and sketch pads. Renee apparently had quite a large body of work, which made Cord realize she’d always walked around drawing pictures. He really should have paid better attention.
At least he could make up for it now.
“This one’s really good,” Piper said, her voice ringing with admiration.
“Do you mind if I see?” Cord asked, directing his question at his niece.
Though she raised her brow, Renee nodded. “Sure.”
Piper passed him the sketch pad. There, on the cream paper, Renee had drawn a portrait of Cord, saddling up one of his horses. Every shadow, every pencil stroke, combined to create a realistic likeness, both of the man and the horse. He stared, amazed at her raw talent. “That’s unbelievably good,” he said, his voice hushed. “You are one talented artist, Renee.”
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