by Carol Finch
Damnation, he thought as he hobbled off on his supposedly gimpy leg. He needed to convince Alexa to hightail it back to Santa Fe so he wouldn’t have to fret over her safety and whereabouts while trying to do his job.
He wondered if she would figure out who was behind her sudden abduction if he hired someone to haul her back to her father. Coop grinned. He predicted that he’d be able to hear her ranting and raving at him all the way from the territorial capitol.
Alexa had been dreading her dinner with Elliot since his message arrived early that morning. She had dressed in her best silk gown, one that she usually saved for her father’s special political functions. Selma Mae had ironed the expensive garment and laid it out carefully so it wouldn’t gather wrinkles. Then she helped Alexa with her coiffure before going home for the night.
Miguel had driven her into town a quarter of an hour earlier and she had ambled down the boardwalk for a few minutes before entering Webster’s mercantile shop. She was especially pleased to note that no customers were on hand. They had gathered at the southeast corner of the town square in his competitors’ dry goods store.
Obviously the citizens had heard about Webster’s false accusations the previous night and were boycotting overpriced merchandise. Good for them.
“Yoo-hoo, Elliot!” she called out in a singsong voice. “Are you in here?”
“Coming, my dear.”
She manufactured a cheery smile when Elliot appeared. She had secretly hoped he’d dropped off the edge of the earth during the day. No such luck.
He halted in front of her and Alexa pirouetted around, allowing him to survey the rose-colored gown that displayed her figure to its best advantage. The streaming colors of sunset poured through the window, spotlighting her. She had his attention. Too bad she couldn’t hypnotize him and get him to divulge the name of his mysterious informant.
“You look positively enchanting,” he breathed appreciatively.
She twirled in another circle, smiling as if her greatest aspiration in life was to become the goddess of high fashion. “Do you really think so, Elliot?”
He swaggered forward to bow over her hand. “Your beauty puts all other women to shame, Alexa.”
She resisted the urge to jerk her fingertips from his grasp before he slobbered on them. Pretending to preen beneath his flattery, she batted her eyelashes and tittered. Inwardly, however, she compared Elliot to Coop and found him sadly lacking in every way imaginable.
Alexa allowed Elliot to escort her from the store. She scanned the street while he locked up shop. Miguel was leaning casually against the carriage that he’d parked in front of The Collins House, the hotel next door to Webster’s store. Miguel had volunteered to keep an eye on the other dry goods store after Coop informed him of Elliot’s spiteful scheme to smoke out his competition. Hopefully, the scoundrel took Coop’s advice and didn’t start any devastating fires this evening.
“I know I put you in an uncomfortable position last night,” Elliot remarked as they strolled down the boardwalk. “I was upset when my cattle went missing and some of my men thought they had seen Hampton’s cowboys on my property.”
“I do hope you locate your missing cattle,” she replied with just the right amount of concern in her voice. “But I still cannot imagine my friends being involved.” She flicked her wrist and smiled. “But that is over and done and we shall forget all about it.”
“If it were only that easy,” Elliot countered. “You cannot wave your arm and magically clear the air. I’m afraid you will have to pick sides, Alexa.” He halted to bow over her hand again. “I’m hoping you will choose me. You know how fond I am of you. And I’m anxiously awaiting your answer to my proposal.”
Alexa inwardly tensed. “I shall make my decision soon. I promise. But let’s just enjoy our evening, shall we?”
“Whatever you wish, my dear,” he said smoothly. “I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
Alexa smiled brightly, even though she knew what a liar and cheat he was. She sat at the table and ordered the most expensive item on the menu. The man was going to pay for all of his transgressions eventually. In addition, sharing her company was going to be expensive. Her first preference, however, was to dump a plate of food on top of his blond head and storm off.
Coop stepped from Valmont Saloon in time to see Webster and Alexa stroll across the town square to reach Donovan’s Café. Lord, she was lovely, he thought admiringly. Her rose-colored gown, trimmed with pearls and lace, made her appear surreal. The pastel colors of sunset seemed to form an aureole around her that captivated and beguiled.
Possessive jealousy stung like a wasp.
Coop cursed himself soundly. He was too emotionally attached to Alexa and that made him vulnerable. She symbolized everything he wasn’t—well educated, well connected and well accepted. Plus, she was all tangled up in his personal and professional life and he couldn’t separate one from the other because of his intense feelings and obsessive desire for her. He’d never had that problem before.
“Buy you a drink, gringo?” Miguel questioned.
Coop cursed his preoccupation with Alexa. Ordinarily he was attuned to his surroundings and to potential danger. But he hadn’t heard Miguel walk up beside him. Worse, Miguel knew what had distracted him because he glanced pointedly from Coop to Alexa then smiled wryly.
“Not to fret,” Miguel murmured as he sauntered down the street toward one of the many saloons. “You are not the only man who has trouble thinking straight when Lexi is in the vicinity. She has scores of hopeless admirers in her social class.”
“I know where I belong,” Coop assured him. “So don’t preach.”
“So do I, gringo. I believe a man is much happier if he accepts his limitations and restrictions. Don’t you agree?”
“I’m not sure happier is the right word,” Coop replied. “Maybe the best a man can hope for is to accept what cannot be changed.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Miguel said before he entered the swinging doors of the saloon.
“Dinner was delicious,” Alexa gushed as she and Elliot trotted off in the carriage toward his ranch. “For such a small community, the cuisine is amazingly good.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to discuss a more serious topic,” Elliot said, glancing at his watch.
“Yes, of course, how silly of me, going on about the meal.” She offered him a contrite smile, for appearance’s sake. But she knew what was coming. It wasn’t too difficult to second-guess Elliot.
“You were placed in an awkward situation last night because of your loyalty to Kate,” Elliot commented. “Whether you believe it or not, Percy lacks integrity and I don’t trust him.”
Alexa yearned to tell Elliot that she thought he was the untrustworthy scoundrel who lacked integrity, but she held her tongue and played her role.
“I don’t want you placed in potential crossfire again so I want you and your bodyguard—” he glanced over his shoulder at Miguel, who trailed a short distance behind them in the rented carriage “—to take rooms at the hotel. I couldn’t bear it if you were injured.”
“But how will I explain that to my dearest friend without hurting her feelings?”
Elliot checked his watch again. “I’m sure you’ll think of something appropriate to say. You have years of experience in dealing with such matters since you’ve been your father’s hostess. You can be diplomatic if need be.”
Alexa gnashed her teeth. Her hands curled into fists. She wanted to tear into this arrogant chauvinist. However, it was his narrow-minded perception that enabled her to outsmart him so she kept silent. For now.
“You’re right, of course,” she patronized him. “When I have time to sit myself down and think about it, I can come up with a logical reason to move into town. But I still don’t believe Percy—”
“Believe it,” he interrupted harshly.
Alexa feigned a startled gasp. “Really, Elliot, I’m not sure I know you as well as I tho
ught. Perhaps my consideration of your proposal should be postponed a while longer.”
The comment forced him to change his tune, as she knew it would.
“So sorry, my dear Alexa,” he cooed. “Last night’s unpleasant incidents, and my concern for your safety, have put me on edge. Forgive me?”
Alexa patted his arm. “There, there, it’s all right, Elliot. I know you care about me.” Care about my money and connections, she silently amended.
“Then perhaps you will put me out of my misery and end the suspense. I would like to announce to all of Questa Springs that you have agreed to be my wife.”
Alexa had planned to accept. Temporarily. But the ruggedly handsome image of Coop popped to mind and refused to let her agree. Heavens, it wasn’t as if she and Coop had a promising future together. She had assured herself a dozen times that she didn’t need a man to lead a productive, rewarding life. Her father had managed to function without a woman since her mother boarded a train for Boston and never looked back.
“Alexa?” Elliot prodded.
“You know I am fond of you, too.” She forced the lie from her lips and manufactured a smile to go along with it. “Nothing would make me happier than to live nearby Kate. Of course, if there is a long-standing feud between you and Percy that might put a strain on our friendship.”
“You have to choose, Alexa,” Elliot insisted. “Me or them.”
Alexa sighed dramatically. “Well, I suppose the time will come when Kate takes a husband and moves away from the area. So I cannot rely too heavily on my friend indefinitely.”
“No, you cannot. I’m the one you can rely on to take care of you, to support you,” Elliot purred.
“All right then, Elliot, I will send a telegram to my father after I move to the hotel.” Staying in town would make it easier to come and go without the Hamptons’s servants and cowboys seeing her, she reminded herself. “If Papa gives his consent we’ll announce our betrothal….”
Her words trailed off when Elliot leaned over to kiss her full on the mouth. His scent, his taste, the feel of his thin lips were all wrong. It was all she could do not to shove him backward and send him cartwheeling off the seat.
“Then it’s settled,” Elliot proclaimed triumphantly then checked his watch—again. “I know your father will approve because I told him of my interest in you when I attended your party in Santa Fe. We can arrange a town-wide celebration and you can see to all the details.”
“That will provide me with the perfect excuse to stay at the hotel,” Alexa said with more enthusiasm than she felt—which was none whatsoever. “I do love to hostess parties. We shall invite everyone.”
“That’s a grand idea. Perhaps the party will assure my neighbors and customers that I don’t want last night’s incident to divide our community and drive off my business.”
“I have so much to do and to arrange that it’s giving me an instant headache. I do hate to cut our evening short, Elliot, but I’ll have Miguel take me back to the Hamptons to inform them of my change of plans. I’ll move into town tomorrow.”
Before he could accept or reject her plans, she twisted on the seat to wave at Miguel. He pulled up beside them immediately. She made a mental note to see that he received a monetary bonus for preventing her from spending another moment with Elliot.
“Yes, Miss Alexa? Is there a problem?” Miguel asked.
“I have a headache.”
Miguel’s discreet glance indicated that he could see why that might happen, given the company she was keeping. “Shall I take you back to the Hamptons’ now?”
“Please do.” She stood and waited for Miguel to jockey the carriage beside Elliot’s buggy so she could step easily across from one to the other.
After she listened to Elliot carry on about what a memorable evening it had been, she urged Miguel to rein toward Hampton Ranch.
“What the devil was that all about?” Miguel murmured confidentially.
Alexa pulled a face and whispered, “I was forced to accept his marriage proposal to shut him up.”
“Congratulations. You’re betrothed to a despicable sidewinder,” he teased. “That should make you happy.”
“Of course, what woman wouldn’t want to wed a snake?”
Five minutes later, while they drove down the path, Alexa reached beneath the carriage seat to retrieve her carpetbag then began rooting into it.
Miguel groaned in dismay. “Now who is coming out of hiding? Mr. Chester or the midnight rider?”
“Mr. Midnight,” she replied. “Elliot has been keeping track of the time all evening. He has a meeting with either his informant or his harlot. I will be at his house to take advantage of his absence.”
“Oh, no, you won’t. Not if I have anything to say about it!”
Alexa and Miguel jumped simultaneously when a deep voice boomed like thunder in the darkness.
Chapter Eleven
“At long last,” Miguel said, grinning. “The voice of reason.” He glanced at Alexa. “By the way, Coop told me last night that he knows who Mr. Chester and Mr. Midnight really are.”
Alexa glanced disparagingly at Coop. “That goes to show how well you can keep a secret, doesn’t it?”
He shrugged lackadaisically. “Since we’re all on the same side, what does it matter?”
“None, I suppose. And I guess I should inform you that I was forced to take Kate into my confidence last night.”
Miguel scowled. “If she becomes as daring and inquisitive as you, I will never be able to stop worrying about her safety and welfare.”
“Then why don’t you go check on her safety and welfare right now,” she suggested flippantly. “Coop and I will keep surveillance on Elliot.”
“We will?” Coop smirked. “There is no we in Cooper Investigations. It’s just me. I thought I made myself clear on that point last night.”
Alexa bounded from the carriage with carpetbag in hand. “No, you’ll have to explain it to me again, after I change into my disguise. If Elliot ventures out for the evening I intend to search his office for incriminating evidence.”
“Damn it, Alexa—”
She ducked into the bushes before he could read her every line and paragraph in the riot act.
Coop blew out his breath and glanced at Miguel for support. But the Mexican shook his head and shrugged.
“You try being her conscience for a change, gringo. I’m going to check on Kate. Alexa corrupted her when they were roommates at boarding school in Albuquerque. Kate has a few adventurous tendencies herself and I don’t want her involved in this fiasco.”
A few minutes after Miguel drove off, Coop was still waiting for Alexa to change into her masculine disguise. “I’m considering leaving you afoot if you don’t hurry up,” he called out impatiently.
“Go ahead and leave me here,” she called back, undaunted. “I’ll swipe one of Elliot’s horses from the stable after I sneak in the office window to check his financial ledgers.”
“Last time you peeked into his office you nearly fell flat on your face,” he reminded her as he mounted his horse.
“That didn’t count. I was dressed in a cumbersome gown at the time.” She stepped into view, garbed in form-fitting breeches and shirt that accentuated her alluring curves. “Now I’m appropriately dressed as Cooper Investigations’s top-notch detective.”
Coop ground his teeth. “You hired me, remember? Let me do my job.”
She halted beside Bandit and stared up at him. “I also fired you, remember?”
He leaned out to grab her arm and hoist her up behind him. Then he twisted sideways to kiss her. He’d wanted to do that since he’d watched Elliot kiss her earlier and jealousy had taken a vicious bite out of him.
“What was that for?” she asked after he faced forward once again. “You have the darnedest way of ending an argument. And thank you. Short of eating dirt, I didn’t know how to rid myself of Elliot’s repulsive taste and scent.”
Coop smiled as he trotted Ban
dit through Webster’s pasture. It didn’t dawn on him until a few minutes later that, instead of sending her packing, she had him doing her bidding. “You’re too smart for your own good, woman,” he muttered.
“Which should prove that I am good detective material.” She slid her arms around his waist and trailed her hand provocatively over his belt. “You’re lucky to have me.”
Desire coursed through Coop and he made a mental note to pick up a white flag while he was in town. It looked as if he’d need one. Hell, he couldn’t seem to say no to this adorable, but maddening, female—and make it stick.
“While I’m checking Elliot’s financial ledgers you could follow him and see where he goes,” Alexa suggested as she opened the garden gate then made a beeline toward the office window.
“I’m not leaving you here alone,” Coop insisted sternly.
Alexa smiled to herself. She let him win this argument because she liked working with him. Besides, he was the expert in such matters and she wanted to learn what she could from him.
She gestured toward the elevated window that had given her fits during her previous surveillance. “Any suggestions?”
“Give me your foot and I’ll boost you up.”
She placed her foot in his cupped hands. He lifted her up so she could peek inside. “The coast is clear.”
Coop heaved her up higher and she stood upside down on her hands momentarily before tucking and rolling across the carpet. When she opened the window wider, Coop’s head and shoulders appeared. Then he thrust a leg over the sill and came agilely to his feet.
“I’ll stand watch while you search the desk.” Coop tiptoed back and forth between the window and door while she checked each drawer.
“Find anything interesting?” he asked a few minutes later.
“Two love notes from Lily,” she reported. “Wait! Here’s something curious…Norville Thomas…” She frowned pensively, trying to recall if she remembered the name from previous guest lists at dinner parties or from somewhere else. “The name sounds vaguely familiar but I can’t put a face with it.”