Cooper’s Redemption (Crimson Romance)

by D'Ann Lindun

  Together they went outside, then she whirled around. “That despicable jerk. I can’t believe he let someone bully him. Who told him not to help you? Tom? Sheriff Marlowe? I can’t believe any of this.”

  “Believe it, Elizabeth.” Cooper didn’t look at her. Shame filled him that she had witnessed that. A deeper wave of sickness went through him when he realized how close he had come to punching the mechanic. Would he ever be able to leave his legacy of violence behind? “This is getting deeper by the day. Take me back to my place, then you better get on home.” Ignoring the hurt on her face, he ushered her into her vehicle and tried to quiet his inner voice telling him he would miss her.

  As they drove, Elizabeth said, “How are you going to get your truck, and how will you feed your animals? I’m supposed to help you, remember?”

  “I have insurance, and I’ll get a new truck in the next few days. Like I already told you, I can hook up the horses to the sleigh to feed the cows.”

  “I can drive over to help you,” she volunteered.

  “No, don’t.” Cooper spoke more harshly than he intended. “Look, Elizabeth, I appreciate everything you’ve done, but I’ve got a life to live. And it doesn’t include you.”

  “Fine.” She bit off the word.

  He felt like a world-class asshole. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but if she didn’t cut clear of him, she was going to get hurt in ways he didn’t want to think about. He didn’t want to admit he cared about Elizabeth, but the truth was it would be too easy to fall for her. And he wouldn’t risk it for both of their sakes.

  She pulled up to the barn and parked. Without getting out, she flipped a switch and the rear door of the SUV lifted. Mischief jumped out and rolled joyously in the snow. Cooper grabbed both saddles and turned to go in the barn.

  As he walked away, Elizabeth drove off without even a goodbye.

  Chapter 8

  Both geldings stood at the barn door, and when he opened it they rushed in, eager to be in inside.

  Cooper quickly hitched up the sleigh, then stepped onto the vehicle and picked up the reins. The team went out the wide double doors and onto the snowy lane that led to the bottom pasture.

  After opening the gate, Cooper directed the horses to a fenced stack of hay that looked like a giant loaf of bread. Expertly maneuvering the team beside it, he tied the reins to the brake and jumped down. A ripple of pain jarred him. With determination, he righted himself and yanked back the corner of a protective orange tarp. For a minute, Cooper allowed himself to wish Elizabeth was here to help. Although he doubted she could lift any of the heavy bales it would’ve been good to have her moral support.

  It took him over an hour to get enough of the sweet mountain timothy on the wagon to feed the cows. Hurting, tired, he hauled himself aboard and unwrapped the reins. With a lunge, the horses started. Loosely wrapping the reins around the brace bar, he began pitching the loose hay to the ground. Like frozen shadows, the cows began to emerge from the storm, one by one, their coats covered by snow. As the team made their way across the field, Cooper counted the heifers. His count was off by ten. He recounted and came up with the same number. Dammit to hell.

  As he threw the last forkful of hay off the sleigh, he picked up the reins and wheeled around. As he drove back past the herd, he recounted. Only then did he begin to realize that some more of the Herefords were missing. Puzzled, he checked every corner of the two hundred acre pasture. No matter how hard he looked, Cooper realized he wouldn’t find his cows. Once again, he’d been robbed.

  • • •

  Cooper balled his free hand into a fist. His other wrapped so tightly around the phone his knuckles turned white. Sheriff Marlowe was on the other end of the connection.

  “I’m tied up today, Cooper. Are you sure your cattle haven’t just holed up somewhere to wait out the storm?”

  “I’m sure,” Cooper said through clenched teeth.

  “Did you talk to Russ yet?”

  “Yeah,” Cooper said. “I have another problem that needs your attention, though.”

  “I’m running out of time,” the sheriff warned.

  “I want to report an accident. I was run off the road last night. When I came back this morning I saw the truck had been vandalized. The windows were broken out.”

  “Did you see the make or model of the vehicle that ran you off the road?”

  Cooper held his temper in tight check. “No.”

  “Any idea of who would want to do such a thing?”

  “No.”

  “Then who would you like me to apprehend?” Marlowe’s voice held a mocking ring.

  “That’s your job, isn’t it?”

  “A deputy already checked the accident. He said it looked like you got caught on ice and ran off the road. Harper confirmed you’d been drinking in Ruby’s bar last night. Sounds like you had a couple too many, drove careless and ended upside down in a ditch. Maybe it’s you I ought to arrest.”

  “Harper wouldn’t say one good thing about me if he had to, but I didn’t drink last night,” Cooper said. “There were a dozen witnesses in the bar, including my ex-wife, who can testify to that.”

  “I’ve got an accident report on my desk written by Deputy Rodriguez,” Marlowe said ignoring Cooper’s comment. “It says your truck is a total loss. Do you have an insurance agent?”

  Cooper slammed the phone down, wishing he could throw it through the wall instead. Marlowe had reacted just the way Cooper expected him to, with absolutely no concern. If this kept up, he’d have no cows sooner rather than later. Anger bubbled like lava in his stomach.

  Tamping it down a little, he dialed another number. His insurance agent picked up on the third ring, and unlike the sheriff, she was extremely helpful. She assured him an agent would look at his ruined truck and Fed-Ex a check to him by the end of the week. There would be a cashier’s check for a rental truck to him in the next hour. He could get the money at his bank in Salt Lick.

  Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he walked to the window and peered out into the storm. Frustration wracked him. Who was stealing his herd? Who could be brave enough to take then right under his nose? When had the latest theft occurred? Last night, when he’d been distracted by Elizabeth? Or today, when he’d been gone?

  If he could only think of where to look. His gut told him the cattle hadn’t left the area. He glanced at the clock above the mantle. A little after three. Too late to start out in a blizzard. He’d start a search bright and early, right after moving his remaining cattle into the corrals near the barn.

  • • •

  Elizabeth wouldn’t admit it, but she was afraid to go home. After she dropped off Cooper, she’d taken a few minutes to run back into Salt Lick to check in at the sheriff’s office. As usual, they had no news. She also swung into the tiny grocers to buy ingredients for veggie lasagna.

  The two-story house came into view as she turned the corner. A chill ran down her backbone. The old farmhouse looked like something straight out of a horror novel — desolate, run-down and haunted. Heavy gray clouds hung low in the sky, still dumping piles of wet snow. The white stuff had piled up almost a foot since the previous night and it didn’t look like the storm was going to quit any time soon.

  Telling herself she was being silly, Elizabeth climbed out of the SUV and trudged across the yard. The sagging barn gave her another creepy feeling. Hard to believe a man had been murdered in there two nights ago.

  Her mood lifted a little as her feet made a fresh trail in the pristine snow. Glancing around, she saw that no one had been here recently, at least not since the storm had begun. Not another track marred the white blanket.

  As Elizabeth went inside, she noticed the furnace blasting full bore, but her house seemed as cold as outdoors. Leaving her sacks on the kitchen table, she went to check the thermometer. The gauge said it was set on seventy-five degrees. But it felt more like minus zero. She nudged the thermostat up a few notches while Fancy cried, demanding to be fed. />
  Elizabeth fed the hungry cat and went into the front room where the empty fireplace seemed to mock her. All she wanted to do was sit and brood. Lighting a fire took her a few tries, but she finally got it blazing. Sinking into the ugly sofa, she stared into the flames. The now-contented cat curled up in her lap and went to sleep.

  The house depressed her. The Harpers hadn’t been much for decorating, their taste running to old and faded. She sat in the near-dark and tried not to think about the previous night spent in Cooper’s arms on his lumpy couch. A tingle ran through her that had nothing to do with cold. Why couldn’t she get her mind off the man? God, the man consumed her thoughts day and night. She’d come here to find her mother, not make a love connection. She needed to get her head straight, concentrate on her mom’s whereabouts, and forget about the rancher next door. He’d made it clear that he wanted her out of his life, so that’s what she’d do.

  • • •

  The afternoon flew by into evening as Elizabeth busied herself studying maps of the area. Her afternoon with Cooper had shown her how big of an area she had to search, and despair filled her heart. The job was too big. Elizabeth shivered. The fire had died down, and she got up to go add a log to it.

  Maybe a window or door was open. She knew the front door had been locked when she came in. Maybe the back door was cracked.

  It, too, was firmly shut. Puzzled, she checked each downstairs window. All were snugly closed. As she went upstairs, toward the room she slept in, the air grew colder. Slowly, she entered the bedroom. Every window pane had been fully raised. Cold air blew and flakes of snow covered the bed, the floor. Her own peach-colored spread was covered by a solid inch of ice. A chill skittered down her spine, every pore seemed to constrict. Her feet felt leaden, then liquid. Her vision blurred.

  Was there a stranger, a killer here? Hiding in a closet? Lurking? Waiting to do the same to her as he’d done to Lyle Pritchett?

  With a muffled curse, Elizabeth slammed the windows shut and ran to the phone. With shaking fingers she dialed the sheriff’s office. “This is Elizabeth Adams … there’s been an intruder in my house. Someone’s been here.” She could scarcely get the words out, her tongue felt too big for her mouth. Stifling a sob, she managed, “Hurry. Please. Oh, please.”

  “Is someone still there?” the deputy asked as calmly as if he were making a grocery list.

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

  “Try to stay calm, ma’am. Someone will be right there.”

  “Okay,” Elizabeth said on a shaky breath. It took her two tries to get the phone back on the hook. Then, without thinking, she fled to the only person she could think of who would help.

  • • •

  Determined not to lose any more cows, Cooper took a short nap, ate a light supper, banked the fire and went outside a little after dark, Mischief at his heels. Ducking his head against the bitter wind, he went into the barn. Under one arm, he carried a sleeping bag and a thermos.

  The mow, stacked nearly full with hay bales, was not only snug, but a perfect vantage point to oversee the corral where he’d put the herd. A lot of them were still out on pasture, but the largest portion of the bunch was safely under his watchful eyes.

  Making himself a comfortable bed with the sleeping bag, he sank down. After counting the cows and coming up with the right number, he allowed his gaze to roam toward the Harper place. Although the snow had stopped about an hour earlier, the fog was still heavy. He could barely make out lights shining from the house.

  He wondered if Elizabeth had gotten her fire going. He’d promised her he’d help get one started. Even if he had a way to get over there, it was better if he stayed away. If last night was any indication, it would be too easy to start another kind of fire. He had to hold tight to his resolve. Turning his thoughts to the cows, he closed his eyes and leaned back against a bale of hay. Mischief would wake him if a stranger came around.

  The glare of headlights in his eyes and Mischief’s excited yip startled him. Cooper went to the window which overlooked his driveway and barnyard.

  A dark vehicle pulled to a stop. As a figure got out and stumbled toward his door. Elizabeth. He glanced at his watch. Almost eight. What was she doing here this late? With a muffled curse, Cooper climbed out of the loft.

  When he reached her Cooper said, “Elizabeth, what is it?”

  She clutched a gray cat as if she would never let go and lifted a tear-stained face to his. He could barely understand her through her sobs. “I know you said stay away, but I don’t know anyone else and I didn’t know where to go … ”

  Without answering, he bent and picked her up. She wrapped one arm around his neck as tightly as if she were a small child. Her entire body trembled, beating like a firefly’s wings in a glass. Easily, he carried her inside and placed her on the couch. The cat jumped out of her arms and scurried under the sofa.

  “Your ribs — ”

  “Are fine.” After throwing a log on the fire and filling a glass half full of whiskey, he sat on the couch next to her. Taking one of her frozen hands in his, he placed the glass in it. “Elizabeth? What’s wrong?”

  She shuddered, but didn’t speak. Staring into the fire as if mesmerized, she finally said, “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry?” Cooper asked. “For coming here?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Drink.”

  As if in slow motion, she did as he said then coughed. After she regained her breath she said, “An intruder broke into my home tonight.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” Her terror-filled gaze met his as she explained about the windows. The words came slowly, as if she didn’t want to believe them.

  “Is that what scared you so much?”

  Elizabeth took another taste of soothing drink. When she finally looked at him her eyes were haunted. “Yes, partly.”

  “What else?”

  “I called the police and spoke with a deputy. He didn’t seem too concerned. I was too afraid to wait. So I left.”

  At her explanation, Cooper’s blood pressure began to rise. “God damn.”

  “I got more and more frightened while I waited. I had myself so scared I jumped at every shadow, every noise. That house is old and the squeaks are unimaginable. I kept thinking they were going to come back to get me.”

  “They? Who?” Cooper was puzzled. “The men who broke in?”

  “Yes.” She buried her face in her hands, unable to continue.

  Folding her in his arm, Cooper couldn’t find the words he needed. This woman rendered him speechless. When her sobs subsided a bit, he held her away from him and said, “You’re staying here. I’ll help you find your mom. We’ll start searching in the morning.”

  “You don’t want to.” She hiccupped.

  “What I don’t want is you going home alone tonight.” He looked into her damp amber eyes. Resisting the sudden urge to kiss her tears away, he got up. “I’ll make you a bed in here. On the couch. I have to go back outside and watch my cows.”

  “I’m going with you.” She grabbed his hand.

  Her apparent terror struck him. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe here.”

  “No.” She shook her head wildly. “Please don’t leave me alone.”

  “It’s freezing out there,” Cooper protested. “There’s no heat.”

  “I don’t care. I don’t want to be by myself.” Her voice trembled.

  “Okay. Calm down. I won’t leave you alone.” Cooper took her hand. “Are you ready? Let’s go then.”

  Chapter 9

  Elizabeth woke to pitch black morning. With a groan, she realized she’d fallen asleep in Cooper’s bedroll. The loft was empty. Not even Mischief was in sight. Dragging herself out of the tangled sleeping bag, she wondered where Cooper had gone. Where had he slept? Not with her. She’d been alone all night. A shiver of disappointment coursed through her. A loud banging below drew her attention. Someone was in the barn. After struggli
ng to pull on her stiff boots, she climbed downstairs.

  Splash looked up from his feeder, mouth full of hay. The other horses were standing in the alley, waiting as Cooper dragged a heavy-looking harness from the tack room. He glanced at her. “I thought you were still sleeping.”

  “No. Wouldn’t it be easier to feed the cows with my car?” she asked. “We could hook your wagon to it and save the horses from having to do it.”

  “It’d probably work,” he said, “but there’s no need.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t want to put you out.”

  Elizabeth’s mouth fell open. She’d shown up on his doorstep twice and he’d taken her in and helped her through a rough time and he didn’t want to put her out? Oh, brother. How stubborn could a man get? She put her hands on her hips. “What are you talking about? It’ll take half the time. Besides, I want to help.”

  He stopped and glared at her. “Helping me has gotten you in a tub of hot water.”

  “I don’t care.” She matched his glower. “I’m doing what I want to do.”

  He put his palms up in a gesture of surrender. “Fine. Go get your vehicle. I’ll let the horses go.”

  As she left the barn, the bitter cold took her breath away. The sun hadn’t shown his face yet, and a few stars still lingered in the early morning sky. The clouds had evaporated, leaving behind icy, nearly-brittle air. “Dang, it’s cold.”

  Together, Elizabeth and Cooper made short work of feeding the cows with her SUV. After which they went inside his house, where he made breakfast.

  As she took a bite of blueberry pancake, Cooper said, “I think you better get the locks on your place replaced.”

  “I wonder if anyone from the sheriff’s office came out to check on me last night?”

  He set his coffee cup on the table. “Elizabeth, you’ve chosen the wrong way to throw your rope. If you tangle your loop with mine, no one will uncoil it but yourself.”

  “Are you innocent of killing Lyle Pritchett?” Her mouth grew dry waiting for his answer. The metaphor wasn’t lost on her. They weren’t talking about the murder. More like a crime of the heart.