by Jodi Thomas
Dan picked up a clue in his mind. “And LeRoy disappeared.”
Lucas’s words came low, almost a thought. “And Coffer would have been the one to notice extra traffic. When I used to work the ranch in my teens I learned that Coffer Coldman counted everything. He might not talk much, but if you asked him how many chickens were in the coop, he could tell you without even looking that direction.”
Lucas’s low voice seemed to continue speaking his thoughts. “With my dad and every cowhand busy packing, Coffer might have been the last man to leave the headquarters. He’d want it all put up right, even if he’d been fired.”
Charley grinned. “I could draw the map from memory and we could go looking. It’s a long shot, but somehow the box canyon might be linked to the hurry to sell. Or maybe with a crime happening under Reid’s nose.” He frowned. “Only problem is, we don’t know where to start. The first mark on the map is what looks like a conquistador’s helmet. I swear I’ve covered every part of the ranch and I’ve never seen a helmet.”
Lucas shook his head. “We got a few more problems than that, Charley. Neither of us is welcome out there.”
“Lauren is,” the sheriff added. “She told me Reid invited her. Maybe one of you could go in with her?”
“Not much help, Sheriff. Your daughter isn’t speaking to me.”
Dan frowned. “I knew it. Neither of you acted like the other was in the room this morning. What’s the argument about?”
“I’m not telling. But believe me it has nothing to do with you, Sheriff, so stay out of it.”
The sheriff stood. “If you tried...”
Charley slammed his cup on the table so hard coffee volcanoed out. “Look, Sheriff, you can threaten Lucas later. Right now we’ve got to solve this before my little brother gets killed. If Lucas got out of line with your daughter, I’ll help you string him up later.”
No fear showed in Lucas when he said, “She’s twenty-seven, Sheriff. You should think about giving up on walking her across the street. She can take care of herself.”
Dan backed down an inch. He knew Lucas. Whatever he did or said to Lauren hadn’t been a crime. Brigman gave Lucas a murder-you-later look and turned back to Charley. The rancher might not care about his father’s land, but he cared about his little brother. He’d help.
Charley nodded once and continued, “First we find out what’s going on at the Bar W. The box canyon may have nothing to do with the trouble there but if it is smuggling, it makes sense they’re using the canyon as a hideout.”
Dan straightened. “But we do it legally. I’ll get a search warrant.”
Lucas added, “I’m not sure we have that much time. Even if we slipped in at night, the only ranch close to the Bar W near Ransom Canyon where a box canyon might be is Hamilton Acres.”
Dan smiled. “That gives me an idea where you can hide out, Lucas, just in case those bullets fired last night were for you.”
“In Indigo Lake?”
“No, in the house near it. No one has lived there for years and we both know the current owner.” Dan now had a plan. “The ghosts around that place will keep you safe, Lucas. I’ll just have to go over and tell the old woman who lives across the water not to shoot you. She’s called me at least once a week for a month to tell me a shadow walks that land.”
Jubilee, Charley’s wife, waddled into the kitchen, ending their discussion. It took all three men two loads apiece to bring everything in from her car. She had to show them everything she bought, and they had to act interested.
Finally, when Charley walked them to the sheriff’s car, Dan didn’t miss that he mumbled something to Lucas. The two men were tighter than they’d let on.
Lucas nodded.
Dan frowned. “I want to make one thing clear. If we search for this canyon, we do this legally. We do it my way.”
Neither man met his gaze.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
DAKOTA DIDN’T LIKE the idea, but Blade climbed into her old pickup with her when she left for work. She’d planned to leave him with Maria and Grandmother for at least two more days. The man had been shot twice—surely he should stay in bed.
“We are not arguing about this, Dakota,” he said, without looking at her. “I’m needed. Besides, when I want you to take over my life, I’ll let you know.”
She turned onto the county road. “I don’t want to be in charge of your life. I’m barely holding on to mine. But...”
But what, she thought. She didn’t know him well enough. He was right. His life was not her problem. If he fell over dead, he’d figure out he should have listened to her.
Only she did know him. She knew his touch and the taste of his kiss. She knew the rhythm of his breathing in the dark of night and the gentle way he held her hand, even in his sleep.
They were both silent for a while, and then he said, “Can we change the subject?” As if they’d been arguing.
“Please,” she answered.
He finally turned and grinned at her. “Thanks for sleeping next to me. You know that’s the third night we’ve slept together. Wouldn’t mind making it a habit.”
“Don’t bet on it. And don’t get too close to Maria and Grandmother. I don’t want them missing you when you’re gone.”
“What about you? Will you miss me?”
“I’ll miss you. But I’ll get over it.” He was the closest she’d been to a man near her age in months. He made her think of something else besides work and the farm and the bills.
“Not me. I’ll never get over you.” He studied her profile. “I’ll never forget that chocolate ice cream kiss.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you’ve had hundreds.”
He didn’t answer and they went back to silence. When she let him out at the sheriff’s office, she saw how hard he tried to act like he wasn’t in pain as he climbed out. “I can drive my rented truck back. If the offer is still open, I’d like to spend one more night at your place.”
“Of course. Be home by dark. Maria will be planning on you for supper.”
He walked slowly up the stairs without turning around to wave, but Dakota couldn’t bring herself to drive away until he finally disappeared inside. He’d be all right, she told herself. The sheriff would watch out for him.
Blade seemed the type to always be alone, even when he was in a crowd. He’d managed his way through life without her. He didn’t need her now.
When she made it to her office, she had to fight a dozen FedEx boxes to reach her door. All Blade’s orders had finally arrived.
She thought of loading them up and taking them home. He could survive another day without them. He’d refused to wear the shirt and jeans she’d bought him at the Western store, saying he was saving them for a date.
She’d finally promised, if he was still around and healed enough to dance, that she’d go boot-scooting with him one night. Even though they wouldn’t fit together. He was too tall, but the idea of being close, really close to him, did appeal to her.
There was a hardness in those gray eyes, but there was also a gentleness in his touch. He’d been right about them being attracted to one another. It seemed something so basic, almost primal. Even alone in her tiny office, she could almost feel him near.
Dakota checked her email. Nothing. Just a note from the couple who’d kept her out until after dark looking at houses. They didn’t even thank her. They just said they wanted to look elsewhere. Hale Center sounded good, they said.
Dakota clicked Delete, wishing she could show them the beautiful little community she’d planned for someday. Houses that blended with the landscape. Canyon walls framing the community. Sunsets that stretched out for miles.
But those were only in her mind. No more than pencil sketches on a barn wall.
After pacing her office for an hour,
she decided to drive over and give Blade his clothes. At least it was something to do.
A few minutes later she walked into the sheriff’s office with her arms loaded down with boxes. “Where’s Hamilton?” she asked the receptionist.
“You mean the walking target? Sheriff wasn’t happy to see him so early. That guy isn’t a man who takes orders easily.”
“You’re telling me,” Dakota answered as she fought to keep from dropping the boxes. “Which direction?”
“Oh, sorry.” Pearly pointed. “Sheriff told him to go lie down on the cot in the back office before he fell down.” Pearly finally looked between the boxes at Dakota. “Why didn’t you keep him at home? Any fool can see the man’s not solid enough to fight off marshmallows.”
“Me? I’m not his mother. Blade Hamilton is stubborn, bullheaded, irrational...”
Pearly waved her toward the sheriff’s open office door. “I already get that picture, Dakota Davis. You don’t have to tell me. Sheriff said not to wake the human target until he gets back, but you can check on him. If he’s dead, don’t call 9-1-1. I’m right here, just yell.”
Dakota set the boxes on the first desk she passed and went back for another two loads. She took them to the back of an L-shaped sheriff’s office, tripped on one of Blade’s borrowed cowboy boots, and scattered the boxes all over the floor.
In the far corner, Blade was stretched out on a cot sound asleep. It was raining packages and he didn’t even bother to wake up enough to yell at her.
She pulled up a chair, took out her cell phone, and waited for him to finish his nap.
Finally, an hour later, he moved his bandaged arm in his sleep and came awake all at once. For a second he looked at her as if he didn’t know where he was. Maybe he was in pain. Maybe still a little foggy from the drugs they’d given him in the hospital.
“Morning, again.” She smiled. “Have a nice rest while you’re on the clock?”
He sat up very carefully. “Yeah, I did. But I’ve figured out that around here I’m always on the clock. By the way, I dreamed you were beside me and you kept patting on me like I was your pet.”
Dakota was not about to analyze that dream or admit that she had patted on him a few times, just to see if he was still alive. “I brought you some new clothes. Looks like it’s just in time. Your side appears to be leaking blood.”
“Great.” He looked at the red spot on his shirt. “You won’t want to change my bandages and help me put another shirt on, would you? I’m not sure I can lift my arm enough to do it myself.” He pointed over to a first aid kit as big as a briefcase.
“Sure. It’s either me or Pearly.”
“I’ll take you,” he said and pulled the shirt open with one jerk on the snaps.
She moved in closer and helped him get the shirt off his shoulder and over his bandaged arm. Then she pulled off the lopsided dressing along his side. The blood was spotty, but not still coming out of him, thank goodness. “Who put this on?”
He shrugged. “Maria couldn’t see it. Grandmother didn’t want to look at it. And Dice said he was no good at bandages or diapers, so I did the best I could while you were showering. I wanted to be ready by the time you left. The sheriff may have other investigations going on, but my priority this morning is finding who shot at me.”
Dakota used water from a bottle to clean off the dried blood and then covered the raw skin with antiseptic like she’d seen the nurse do in the hospital. Next, she made sure the bandage was big enough and thick enough to both protect him and catch any blood.
“You’re good at this,” he whispered as her fingers moved over his skin, making sure the tape held.
“Maria had some bad cuts from the accident that killed our mom. I learned.”
“It must have been a hard time for you. Maria said you were only a sophomore in college. She said you didn’t leave her side for weeks.” He brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear as she worked. “Did you ever go back to school?”
“No, but I’m taking one class a semester online. I should have my degree in another six years.” She stepped back, hating to see the bandages on his perfect body. “Finished. Hope I didn’t hurt you too much.”
“No pain,” he said, but his eyes gave away his lie. “Thanks.”
They opened a few of the boxes. She’d already guessed his selections wouldn’t be Western, or biker. The shirts were dress casual, but not sporty. The trousers were tailored. The moment she helped him put them on she thought he moved differently. Comfortable. Relaxed.
“Thanks,” he said simply as he slid his Glock pistol into the folds of the sling that held his arm in place.
“Do you really need that?” she asked.
“I’d rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. The sheriff wouldn’t have cleaned it up and had it waiting for me today if he didn’t want me to carry.”
“I understand,” she lied. She didn’t even think he should be on the job—much less armed—today.
Only, like the clothes, the weapon seemed a part of this man. His look, his actions, had shifted and settled into a man now comfortable in his clothes. She had a feeling he was the kind of person who could fit in anywhere, but this was the real Blade. She, on the other hand, only belonged one place and had never found a style that fit her.
“You look good in those clothes,” she admitted. “I think that’s the first time I’ve been so close to you that you didn’t try to kiss me or touch me.”
“I’m afraid I’m a little handicapped in that department, with only one working arm. I doubt even you would have much trouble knocking me down today. But if you’re missing the attention...”
“A man who doesn’t have the energy to kiss a woman. Interesting.”
He took her words as a challenge. “Come over here and let me give it a try, just for a test.”
She took one step closer. He raised his hand and held it palm up. She laid her fingers on his warm skin. When he took one small step closer, she did the same.
It didn’t work. He couldn’t bend down without crinkling the bandage at his side.
With a smile, he moved sideways and lifted her hand as she stepped onto one of the boxes they hadn’t opened.
They were suddenly nose to nose.
“Perfect,” he whispered as he pulled her hand behind her back and pressed it against her spine. “If I can only use one arm, so can you.”
She sighed and rested her free hand against his heart. “Let’s do this nice and easy. I’m not sure you can take any stress. I fear I may be far more woman than you can handle, Hamilton.”
He brushed her mouth with his lips and she leaned a bit closer, loving the gentle kiss.
He couldn’t pull her close. She couldn’t press against him for fear of hurting him. The kiss should have been innocent, chaste.
But it wasn’t. It was the best kiss she’d ever had. A caring touch between two people getting to know one another. She slowly pressed against him, loving that she could feel him breathing against her.
“I could do this all night,” he whispered against her lips. “You given any thought to our wild affair? We can make the next few weeks magic. I can tell. There is something about you that feels so right when you’re close to me.”
She didn’t pull away this time. It felt too good. “I thought about it when you were in the hospital. How I’d said no and how there might not be another chance.” She kissed him slowly, melting even closer. “But it’s not who I am. If I took the few weeks of heaven you’re offering, I’d also have the hell of missing you when you’re gone. Something tells me you wouldn’t be an easy man to get over.”
“We could still see...”
They heard voices in the foyer and pulled away as Lauren and Tim rushed into the sheriff’s office.
They both stormed to
ward Blade, asking questions. How was he feeling? What did he see two nights ago? Did he know anything new in the investigations? Did anyone know where the sheriff took Lucas?
No one seemed to notice that Dakota was standing on a box.
Lauren set up her computer on the back desk and Tim took over the sheriff’s office chair. He answered a call and started taking notes while Lauren dived into a search site.
Blade motioned for Dakota to follow him and they moved out of the office.
“It looks like you may have more help than you need,” Dakota whispered.
“Right.” He walked her to the front steps. It wasn’t private, but at least they could talk. “I wish we could continue what we started in there. I feel so good when you’re that close.”
“Me too.” She was surprised how truly she meant it. “It was nice.”
The sheriff pulled up in front of them. He was alone in his car. “Deputy, you feel like a cup of coffee? We need to talk.”
“I’ll be right out. Let me grab my coat and camera,” Blade said but when he glanced back at Dakota, she saw the truth in his eyes. He didn’t want to leave her.
She followed him inside, where he’d hung the leather coat he’d borrowed from Lucas.
“You’ll be home before dark?” she whispered, fully aware that Pearly could probably hear them.
“I promise.” He pulled her close and whispered, “And tonight when you’re lying beside me I plan to talk to you about a problem I’m having.”
“Talk to me? I thought all you wanted to do was have a wild time and move on. What are we going to talk about, Hamilton?”
“Never mind. On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t talk. Trying to be friends with you is like cuddling up to a firecracker.” He looked like he was gulping down words he didn’t need to let out. “You know, Elf, if you liked me less, you’d get over me faster if we had that two-week affair.”
“You make about as much sense as Grandmother on one of her bad days. Don’t talk to me, because I’m not listening. But be careful today.” She helped him with putting his coat over the sling for his arm and then followed him back to the porch “Don’t try to do too much. Take another nap if you need to. And, Hamilton, don’t get shot again.”