by Carol Finch
Harold sighed audibly. “Fine, but I have a few choice words to spout at the dishonest bastard.”
“You can spout at him all you want once I have him in custody.”
Coop slipped out the door and moved stealthily along the outer wall. With both pistols drawn, he crept toward Thomas, who had his back to him.
“Drop the pouch and your pistol,” Coop ordered sharply.
Thomas half turned to smirk haughtily at the command. “Apparently you weren’t informed of the demands. If I don’t walk out of here with the money then Alexa Quinn won’t survive. Depend on it.”
Coop shrugged carelessly. “That isn’t my problem, Thomas. You’re the one with the serious problem.” He smiled sardonically. “You need to figure out how you’re going to walk out of here alive when you have to deal with me.”
“Who are you?” Thomas asked insolently.
“Wyatt Cooper of Cooper Investigations.”
“Oh hell,” Thomas muttered as he raised his pistol into firing position.
Coop’s first shot sent sparks flying off Thomas’s pistol. It flipped over his wrist and tumbled to the dirt. Howling in pain, Thomas grabbed his bloody hand and tried to take off at a dead run. Coop’s second shot hit him in the back of the knee, causing him to stumble forward. Coop pounced, forcing Thomas facedown in the grass. In a flash, he fastened the cuffs in place.
“Good work, Coop,” Harold panted, out of breath from his mad dash across the lawn to stand over the downed captive. “As for you, Thomas, a mere court-martial for defrauding the army isn’t enough punishment for you and your stepbrother.”
Thomas jerked up his head, his eyes wide in surprise.
Harold nodded and smiled triumphantly. “That’s right. We know who you are. Coop discovered the family connection and also identified you as the messenger who relayed confidential information from here to Questa Springs,” Harold said, taking grand satisfaction in informing him. “Now tell us where Webster is hiding out or you might bleed to death before your court-martial.”
Thomas stuck out his chin and glared belligerently at Harold.
“Harold, take a walk, will you?” Coop requested. “I think Thomas prefers to pass along that information in private.”
“Like hell—ouch!” Thomas yelped when Coop applied persuasive pressure to his injured hand.
Clearly Harold wanted to be present for the interrogation, but he finally turned around and walked off to the spacious mansion on the hill. Hell of a castle, Coop mused as he appraised Alexa’s home again. If the visit to her house to confer with Harold earlier wasn’t enough to convince Coop that he and Alexa lived in different worlds and hailed from vastly different backgrounds nothing would. He wasn’t far off the mark when he teasingly referred to her as princess. She was as close to royalty as Coop would likely ever get.
When Harold was out of earshot, Coop turned his attention to Thomas. He resorted to several tried-and-true tactics that prompted criminals to volunteer crucial information. It wasn’t long before his prisoner broke the silence.
“He’s waiting for me at Rose’s Pleasure Parlor,” Thomas gritted out grudgingly.
“Ah yes, Lily’s infamous sister,” Coop said, making certain Thomas knew that he was aware of the information network that had been set up in the territory. “One last question. Who has been providing the information that you pass along to your stepbrother?”
“Go to hell,” Thomas snarled hatefully.
“Been there a time or two. The devil sends his regards. He’s counting your days until you take up permanent residence with him,” Coop retorted as he applied more pressure.
“Ambrose Shelton,” he squawked in pain then gasped for breath. “The arrogant bastard didn’t even realize Rose pumped him for information when he paid his weekly visits. Then she double-checked what she’d heard with another of her clients, Ben Porter, who had a loose tongue himself. Then Rose, damn her fickle hide, decided to take on another client against my wishes and I—”
When Thomas stopped talking abruptly and clamped his mouth shut, Coop dug his knee a little deeper into Thomas’s spine. “Go on. I’m listening.”
“It has nothing to do with the information network,” he ground out.
“Perhaps not but you’ve piqued my curiosity.” Coop applied another degree of persuasive pressure and said, “You might as well know that I won’t let you up until you spill it.”
Thomas groaned in pain, cursed Coop foully then said, “Rose betrayed me with another man.”
Coop frowned and wondered how a prostitute could be loyal, given her chosen profession.
“She started playing favorites with him and I went after him with a shotgun one afternoon. She swore I was the one she really cared about. But she was looking for better connections that I could provide.”
Coop thought Thomas should have selected a higher class of woman, but considering that he was a liar, swindler and a thief, he supposed Thomas had gotten exactly what he deserved.
Satisfied with the information that would lead to several convictions, Coop came to his feet to haul Thomas up beside him. The future-former quartermaster of the territorial commissary was on his way to jail.
Coop gave a shout to summon the two police officers who were waiting at the house. After they marched Thomas away, Coop strode back to the stables to fetch Bandit.
Harold was waiting for him. After Coop gave the boiled down version of his conversation with Thomas, Harold shook his head in dismay. “And to think I was there—” He shut his mouth, muttered under his breath then added, “The flower sisters need to be shut down immediately.”
“On my way through Albuquerque I informed the marshal about the information network at Daisy’s Pleasure Haven. He’s shutting it down today,” Coop reported. “I’ll have the police arrest Rose after I locate Webster and Lily.” Coop’s gaze narrowed sternly. “I refuse to let Webster sneak off again. He caused Kate and Alexa too much pain and anguish. I want to make damn certain he’s behind bars.”
“So do I.” Smiling gratefully, Harold extended his hand to Coop. “I am indebted to you and so is Alexa.”
Coop lifted his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “As I explained to you earlier, Alexa was directly responsible for uncovering crucial information and tying it together to give us the leads we needed to solve the case.”
“Don’t remind me,” Harold said, grimacing. “She took a more active role in the investigation than I wanted. I’ll never be able to restrain that headstrong daughter of mine now that she’s had a taste of adventure and excitement.”
“No, probably not, so I suggest you don’t try. She’s meant for greater challenges,” Coop said before he strode off to grab Bandit’s reins. “After I tie up the loose ends at Rose’s Pleasure Parlor, I’ll circle back here before I head south to my headquarters.”
“My thanks, Coop,” Harold called after him.
“You should be more grateful than you even realize,” Coop said under his breath.
Harold was unaware of how much effort it required for Coop to walk away from the only woman who truly mattered to him. Which was exactly why Coop had made a solemn pact with himself to have no future contact with Alexa—for her sake as well as his own. She needed and deserved a man who traveled in the same social circle. Someone dignified and respectable, who carried Harold’s stamp of approval. Not a rough-edged gunfighter whose secretive past had to remain dead and buried because it would reflect badly on Alexa and Harold.
Two more arrests and you can ride away for good, Coop told himself as he trotted into town to enter Rose’s Pleasure Parlor.
A quarter of an hour later Coop greeted the unsuspecting Elliot Webster with two loaded pistols and the terse command to raise his hands above his head—and keep them there.
“What are you doing here?” Webster asked in stunned surprise. “And what happened to your limp?”
“The limp was Alexa’s idea to throw you off track,” Coop informed him. “She’s the one who
figured out how you were passing privileged information and selling military supplies.”
“Alexa?” Webster hooted, his hands still over his head, as Coop demanded.
“Yes, my partner in investigation. We worked this case together. You should know that she never had the slightest intention of marrying you,” Coop took great pleasure in telling him.
Webster sniffed disrespectfully. “For damn sure she won’t want a commoner like you so don’t think you’ll have more luck getting hold of her family’s money than I did.”
“I wasn’t planning to ask her to marry me,” Coop replied as he grabbed one of Webster’s wrists, and secured him to the carved bedposts.
Hell, he’d been the first to realize that he was the last man Alexa needed.
“By the way, Gil Henson sent a telegram stating that Alexa sent him out to retrieve the incriminating ledger as evidence of your shady business dealings.”
Webster scowled at the news.
“In addition, the hired guns you sent to start the fire at your competition’s store have agreed to testify against you.” Coop grinned wickedly. “Good luck with your upcoming court case and your stepbrother’s court-martial. I’m sure justice will prevail.”
Webster muttered and swore profusely.
Coop summoned several law officers to transport Webster to jail, along with Lily and Rose Brantley. All three of them glared mutinously at Coop, but he didn’t pay the slightest attention. He simply mounted Bandit and rode away.
A rueful smile pursed his lips as his thoughts drifted back to the bittersweet memories that were never far from mind. Damn, he was going to miss Alexa like crazy. Her touch, her indomitable spirit, her quick wit. The feel of her luscious body moving intimately against his in the heat of passion…
Coop squelched the erotic thought. For one reckless, whimsical moment, he glanced in the direction of Questa Springs, the town that was nestled in a plush green valley between the hazy mountains to the southeast. Then he convinced himself that he could never go back because he wasn’t strong enough to leave her twice.
Alexa would make a full recovery. Caring, reliable friends surrounded her. She didn’t need him anymore and he needed to accept another assignment that would occupy his time and his mind.
On that sensible thought, Coop trotted off to deliver his final report to Harold before riding back to his headquarters.
Alexa felt considerably better by the time the city-wide celebration began. The two local bands were stationed at opposite corners of the town square, playing lively tunes. There was enough food placed on the makeshift tables to feed an army. Countless citizens stopped by to thank her for her contribution of exposing Elliot Webster for the conniving shyster he was.
“Can’t thank you enough,” Percy Hampton said as he halted in front of her. “Now that my partners and I have moved into the vacant mercantile store, business is booming again.”
“You should hire Miguel to run the shop,” Alexa suggested. “My father and I can offer sterling recommendations. He is honest, trustworthy and responsible.”
“Do you think he might be interested?” Percy asked before he sipped his wine. “After I received the telegram from your father, notifying Barrett and me that we both will be providing beef and trained saddle horses for the forts and reservations, I realized we won’t have much time left to run the store.”
That’s the way Alexa had it figured, too. “Indeed. And why allow Kate’s fine education to go to waste?” Alexa purposely massaged her mending arm, silently reminding Percy that she had taken Kate’s place as hostage and that his daughter might have died if Webster hadn’t decided to put excessive pressure on her father to extort money and favors.
“Together with Kate’s head for numbers and Miguel’s organizational skills they will make a grand team.” Alexa planted the seed and smiled enthusiastically. “Besides, they get along splendidly and they have known each other forever. In addition, they have great respect and affection for one another.”
“Grand idea, Alexa. Kate has become increasingly restless of late.” He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I don’t think my daughter is going to be satisfied with allowing me to arrange her marriage and see her settled into the position of running a household quite yet. After nearly losing Kate during that fiasco with Webster, I must admit that I’ve become a bit more lenient and open-minded toward my daughter.”
Open-minded enough to allow Kate to marry a man you probably consider beneath her so-called social class? Alexa wondered.
Well, she wasn’t going to bring up that touchy issue tonight. She had paved the way by encouraging Percy to make Miguel and Kate business associates. They would have to take the next step, if that’s what they really wanted. Time would tell if they were willing to stand up to Percy in order to be together.
When Percy wandered off, several citizens dropped by to praise her on organizing the fine party. Alexa sipped her wine—and nearly choked on it when she saw her father step down from a carriage full of unexpected arrivals.
“Dear God!” she squealed as she took off in an unladylike dash across the town square. “Bethany? Is it really you?”
To her amazement and delight, Alexa watched her younger sister alight from the carriage, looking positively enchanting in her gold satin gown. “How…when…why…?”
Bethany chortled as she hugged Alexa close, ever mindful of her mending shoulder. “You sound exactly like Papa when I showed up unexpectedly at his office door. The only difference is that he blacked out when he saw me and we had to use smelling salts to revive him.”
“I was also reeling from the shock of discovering that Kate Hampton, and then Alexa, had been abducted and held for ransom,” Harold defended himself before he dropped a kiss on Alexa’s cheek. He stared disconcertedly at her. “We will discuss, at great length, your firsthand involvement in that investigation later, young lady.”
“It was quite exciting,” she said, undaunted, and then gave her father a one-armed hug. “I must confess that I loved every moment it of it. Except for the hostage ordeal, of course.”
“I was afraid that would be the case,” he mumbled.
Alexa turned to face her sister directly. Bethany had become the striking image of their mother. Statuesque and aristocratic. Curly chestnut-brown hair surrounded her bewitching face. Exotic brown eyes that tilted at the corners mesmerized and beguiled. Her full, cupid’s bow lips and her dazzling smile were destined to break men’s hearts—if they hadn’t already. Alexa noted that several men in attendance had stopped to stare at her. Indeed, Bethany reminded her of a fairy goddess in the form-fitting gown that glistened in the lantern light.
“I’m surprised Mother permitted your visit to a place she always referred to as the uncivilized outpost of society,” Alexa said as she clutched her sister’s hand and held on tightly. “How did you talk her into letting you visit?”
“Permit?” Bethany sniffed. “She practically ousted me from Grandmama’s home because she said that no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t groom the Quinn out of me. She claims I turned out more like you and Papa than she thought possible.” She smiled dryly. “Besides, she didn’t want me underfoot any longer. She flitted off to Europe with her latest admirer, who is as much of a lush as she is.”
Bethany surveyed the town square that glowed with makeshift lanterns then she studied the partygoers milling on the lawn. “This is a quaint town. I like it. I believe I’m going to enjoy making my home in this rugged territory,” she said then added, “I’ll enjoy it even more because you and Papa are here and I won’t be dragged to all those snobbish soirees in Boston that Mama constantly forced me to attend.”
“I hate to burst your bubble, little sister, but Papa’s political functions can be stuffy,” Alexa warned her.
“I’ll manage,” Bethany replied, with all the naive confidence of an eighteen-year-old who was destined to be wooed and courted because of the potential benefits of her father’s social and political status.
Alexa had learned her lesson five years earlier when she became infatuated with a smooth-talking adventurer who plied her with flattery and seemingly devoted attention—then spent his evenings tumbling around in another woman’s arms, just as Elliot had done. Alexa had been humiliated and hurt deeply back then. However, her deep abiding feelings for Coop taught her that she hadn’t been in love with the suave adventurer. She’d simply been swept off her feet by her idealistic and romantic expectations.
“Alexa, I am so terribly sorry about your ordeal.”
She pivoted to see Ambrose Shelton staring miserably at her as he stepped down from the carriage. The persnickety gentleman she remembered had become humble and apologetic.
“I’m recovering nicely, Ambrose,” she assured him. “No need to fret on my account.”
“I have been fretting nonetheless.” He gestured to Ben Porter, who moved up beside him and looked every bit as contrite and remorseful. “We had no idea that Rose Brantley was discreetly pumping us for information about Webster’s government contract renewal. Not to mention other matters of state that she passed along for a price. We were both fools to think that she was merely an interested citizen who liked to keep updated on politics and territorial improvement projects.”
“I feel awful about this!” Ben burst out as he clutched her hand and pressed a kiss to her wrist. “Can you ever forgive us?”
“Please forgive them and be quick about it,” Harold inserted as he shot both men a withering glance. “They have apologized to me so many times this week that we barely have had time to tend to important business.”
Harold’s countenance changed as he drew Alexa aside. “As for you, young lady, Mr. Cooper explained your extensive and active participation in the investigation. Although he praised your effective techniques and tireless effort—”
“He did?” she cut in.
“Yes, he did. He is very thorough and no-nonsense. I like him.” He paused a moment then wagged his finger in her face. “You took your involvement much further than you initially indicated. You made a nervous wreck of me, Lexi.”