"And Detective Connelly found out what you were doin'."
"About two years ago he picked me up off the street and hustled me to the station. He said he could prove I was a thief and a swindler, but I got away. My friends took turns hiding me for a while, and put out a rumor that I'd moved to another part of town. Then he caught me again a couple of months ago, but I managed to escape again. I knew I had to leave. I did one last thing on my way to the stagecoach and it went wrong. The police had me cornered, but I managed to fool them."
"Why did you risk doing something at the last minute?"
"I'd given almost all my money to this woman who's little boy suddenly got awfully sick. I needed something for my travels. Do you hate me now you know what I've done?"
"I could never hate you," he said softly. "I think you're amazin'. I'm not sure what to do about it, or if there's anything that should be done, but if that detective shows up, he's not gonna learn you're in this town from me."
"I feel bad that I'm so happy here, when my friends are still in such an awful way. What will they do without me?"
"You can't save the world," he said gravely. "It's a funny thing, though. I became a sheriff because of what a man did for me, and you became a good samaritan because of what a woman did for you."
"I wouldn't call myself a good samaritan."
"You were to those you helped," he remarked, then placing the tray on the floor next to his chair, he walked across to the door and turned the key.
"Cooper, what are you doing?"
"I need to lay down and hold you," he murmured, returning to the bed and pulling off his boots. "I doubt Mrs. Elwood will be back, but I don't wanna take the chance."
Climbing on the bed, he wrapped her into his arms, and a surge of joy gushed through her heart. As she sighed happily and nestled against his chest, she thought there could be no better feeling in the whole world.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The stagecoach was about three hours outside of Brownsville, and Patrick Doyle was finally at peace. The journey had been boring and uncomfortable, but it had given him time to think. Being a sergeant in the San Francisco Police Department was a fine job, but it was still just a job. Erin and his children were his life. If he had to choose between them and the force there was no contest. He was almost ashamed that he'd not realized it from the start.
He'd been married to the fiery Irish girl for twenty-five years, and he absolutely adored her. He also trusted her. If she said Violet Parker should be given a medal, he wasn't about to haul the young woman back to the city in handcuffs. He knew exactly what he had to do. Absolutely nothing. He'd enjoy a couple of days relaxing, then go home and tell Connelly he hadn't found Violet or any information about her. If by chance he saw her, he'd look the other way.
He wasn't worried about being kicked off out of the police department. He had an outstanding reputation, and he'd known the Captain for many years. But regardless, Erin and his family came first.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Perched on a hillside a short distance from Brownsville, a chilly wind whipping around him, Frank Connelly was studying the town. His sturdy steed loved to gallop, and Frank estimated he'd beaten the stagecoach by several hours. Hungry and tired he needed food and rest, but he had to steer clear of the main road through town. There was no telling where Violet would be, and if she spotted him before he spotted her, she'd vanish in the wind.
He'd passed several ranches, and he could see several more scattered below. If he showed his badge he could probably talk his way into one of them, then he could slip into town during the late evening hours and get the lay of the land. He also needed to learn about the sheriff. Some of the smaller towns had lawmen who were eager to cooperate with the big city police, but others were territorial.
The skies were darkening. There was a storm developing. He had to find accommodation, and quick. Scanning the farmhouses below, he decided the modest homes would probably need the money, but the larger ranch houses would have more space.
"I don't want to be in a cramped hovel with half-a-dozen brats underfoot," he muttered, "and you, Brutus, you need some decent hay. Let's try that fancy place. Looks like it'll have plenty of room for us."
As he made his way down the hill he felt the first drops of rain, and as he approached the impressive rambling home it started to sprinkle. Before he'd even slipped from the saddle the front door opened, and a well-dressed, solidly built man stepped out on the wide verandah.
"Mornin'. You need somethin'? You lost?"
"Good morning. My apologies for interrupting your day," Frank said politely. "I'm Detective Frank Connelly. I'm here from San Francisco on official business."
"Is that so? Zeke's my name. Zeke Johnson. You'd better put your horse away and come inside. It's about to bucket down."
"I'm obliged."
"The barn's over there. You'll find hay and a space for him. He's a fine lookin' animal."
"Thanks."
"Just come on in when you get back. I'll have some coffee ready. Looks like you could use some, then you can tell me what this is all about."
CHAPTER NINE
Cooper hadn't meant for it to happen. Violet had been resting against his chest and she'd raised her head and kissed him. That's how it had started. A warm, simple, glorious kiss. A moment later she was no longer under the blankets, but next to him with her robe off and his hands inside her chemise kneading her luscious breasts. She'd pulled the thin garment over her head, and there she was, her beautiful mounds completely naked with their cherry tips waiting to be devoured. As he lowered his head and began drawing them into his mouth, she lifted her chest, moaning softly and mumbling his name. Pulling off his shirt and scrambling out of his trousers, he'd groaned as he felt his skin against hers, and only when she started to remove her drawers did he hesitate.
"What is it?" she whispered, staring at him with confusion in her eyes. "Don't you want me?"
"Like I've never wanted anythin' in my life," he said huskily, "but we've just met, we're in a boardin' house, there are so many reasons not to do this."
"I don't care about any of them, and neither does he," she murmured, wrapping her fingers around his rampant member
That was all it took. The train had left the station and it could not be stopped. Moving his hand to rest on her soft pussy fur, he slipped his fingers into her velvet folds.
"You're so wet. Damn…you're so wet."
"Take me, please, Cooper, take me."
Rolling on top of her, he gently pushed his manhood into her sweet sex. Her mewled utterances of pleasure flamed his need, and he began to thrust with slow, hard strokes. The bed made no sound, and as his cock consumed her pussy, he pressed his lips against hers to muffle her cries of joy. He wanted to carry his kiss across her naked body, he wanted to taste her womanhood, he wanted to flip her over and spank her beautiful backside, but such delights would have to wait for another time. They had to end their coupling quickly. They may have lost themselves in their fervent passion, but they were in Mrs. Elwood's respectable boarding house.
Violet had never been so swept away. Though she had never sold her body, she had flirted with men to achieve a goal, but there was nothing she wanted from Cooper except his affection, his engulfing arms and his lips on hers. Lying under his powerfully muscled body was sheer bliss, and though she never wanted it to end, a sizzling spasm suddenly shuddered through her body. It was followed by another, then another. She could hear his soft groans, and as her sparkling convulsions finally waned, he abruptly pulled out and spewed his cream across her belly. Moments later he collapsed and drew her into his arms. Everything fell quiet, their heavy breathing the only sound in the room, until a thunderous roar rolled over their heads and broke the spell.
"I wish we could stay here like this all day," she sighed, then added. "Maybe you could pretend to leave then sneak back in."
"I wish I could," he said softly, "and you, Violet Parker, have a very devious mind."
>
"It kept me alive."
"Yeah, I reckon it did."
The rain started splattering against the window, and reluctantly slipping from the bed, Cooper dressed quickly, then fetched a kerchief from his jacket pocket and gently wiped her stomach.
"You'd best put your, uh, underthings back on. I need to unlock that door."
"Don't you like my naked body?"
"Nope, I love your naked body, and I should arrest you for layin' there temptin' me again."
"Or you could surrender to that temptation."
"I already did, and I don't wanna be scramblin' if Mrs. Elwood decides to pop in, do you?"
"Heavens, no. It will only take me a minute to put my clothes back on."
He walked across to the door, and waiting until she was ready and propped up against the pillows, he turned the key, then ambled back to the chair and sat down.
"You look very serious," she remarked. "Is something wrong?"
"I hope you don't think I was takin' advantage just now."
"I started it," she said softly, "and I hope you don't think I'm a loose woman. It's just that my life taught me to grab happiness without thinking. I'm not sorry. Are you?"
"Sorry? The only thing I'm sorry about is that we didn't have more time and we weren't at my house."
"That would be wonderful. Do you live far?"
"Just across Main Street and around a corner. I need to live nearby in case of trouble."
"It's comforting to know you're so close. I missed you yesterday."
"I missed you too."
"Did you find any rustlers?"
"Nope, and I'm sure not goin' out to look again in this weather."
A gentle knock on the door made them share a guilty glance, and a moment later Ruby entered carrying a coffee pot.
"I thought you might need a top up," she said sweetly. "How was your porridge, Sheriff?"
"Delicious. Thank you."
"Can I get you some more?"
"I'll be needin' to get back to my office. It's days like these I get paperwork done."
"And I'd best get back to my chores. You look the picture of health, Rose, but you must get more weight on your bones, and you probably need a bit more rest."
"I'm not allowed out of this bed until tomorrow, so I don't think getting more rest will be a problem."
"Mrs. Elwood, I can bring that," Cooper remarked as she picked up his tray.
"It's fine. I'm going down, might as well take it."
"I wish you didn't have to go," Violet said softly as Ruby left the room. "Will you come back later?"
"You bet I will," he replied, then drinking down his fresh coffee, he stood up and kissed her on the cheek. "You take it easy."
"You too, and thank you for my beautiful scarf."
"It suits you just like I knew it would."
"Cooper, listen to that rain. You'll get drenched."
He hesitated, then moving across to the window he stared out at the torrential downpour. It was holding hands with a fierce wind.
"You know what, you're right. I reckon I'll stay until it lightens up a bit. We can chat some more."
"I'd like to talk about you," she said earnestly. "About your family, and how you ended up in Brownsville?"
Sitting back down in his chair, he leaned forward and reached for her hand.
"I'm happy to tell you all that, but some other time. Let's talk about the future instead of the past?"
"The future?"
"If you could wave a magic wand and make your dreams come true, what would happen?"
"That's easy. I want to be settled. I want to go to sleep without worry, and not wake up scared about what the day might bring. I want to have my own children so I can give them a full happy life. The kind of life every child deserves."
He could hear the emotion in her voice, and it broke his heart to think about what she might have suffered through.
"I reckon you've got a good chance of havin' that dream come true."
"Please may I have a hug?"
"Try and stop me."
He leaned across the bed and took her in his arms, and as if by magic the heavy rain began to abate.
"Seems like now is the time for me to go," he said as he gave her an extra squeeze, "but I'll be back, you can count on it."
"Cooper?"
"Yeah, Violet?"
"Is this really happening, this uh, this thing between us? It's so, uh, unexpected."
"I'm as surprised as you are," he replied, "but it sure is, at least as far as I'm concerned."
"Me too," she said softly, a soft smile curling the edge of her lips.
"I'll be seein' you soon."
"Okay. Bye, Cooper."
"Bye, darlin'."
Pulling on his jacket, he picked up the mug and headed out, trotting down the stairs feeling both euphoric and confounded. Violet had swept into town and utterly stolen his heart. He'd never experienced anything like it, and still feeling slightly overwhelmed, he ambled through to the kitchen to return his mug.
"Much obliged for the porridge and coffee, Mrs. Elwood."
"I do wish you'd call me Ruby, Sheriff. It is my name."
"It feels disrespectful."
"It's not. I insist. Heavens, we've known each other long enough."
"I guess so. Here's your mug."
"Thank you, just put it on that counter. You know, Sheriff," she began hesitantly, "when I first met my dear departed husband, I knew the minute I laid eyes on him that he was the man I was gonna marry."
"Is that right?"
"He felt it too, and it was only a month later we were wed. We stayed happy together for almost twenty-six years. Why the Good Lord chose to take him so young I'll never know, and I miss him every day."
"Why are you tellin' me this?"
"You know why, Sheriff," she replied, looking at him with a twinkle in her eye. "The question is, are you as brave as the folks around here think you are?"
"Say, what?"
"Chew on it for a while. Will I be seeing you later?"
"Sure will."
"Doctor Blake will be here around two o'clock to check our patient."
"Thanks, I'll bear that in mind. Bye for now."
"Bye, Sheriff."
Shaking his head, Cooper walked down the hall and out the front door. It was still raining, but it was light, and as he strode down the block Josie's words flashed through his head.
I think maybe you're scared, but that's okay, most men are, but you'll brave up one day.
Cooper grinned. He didn't feel scared, and the daunting doubts he'd always felt were giving way to joy. He'd never dreamed he'd be so drawn to a woman, certainly not in the space of such a short time, but he remembered the unfamiliar sensation he'd had when he'd first met the beautiful copper-haired young woman.
"Don't you worry, Ruby," he mumbled as he marched towards his office, "bravery has nothin' to do with this. Bein' with Violet is about the easiest thing I've ever done."
But there was one lurking question. Violet was obviously experienced between the sheets. She'd had no hesitation about wrapping her hand around his manhood, she'd kissed him without reservation, and there had been no resistance when he'd thrust inside her. Had she been with many men, or had there been someone special in her past? He'd thought about asking her, but their moment had been too special to spoil with such questions. He was curious more than concerned, and he hoped she knew he wouldn't sit in judgement if she chose to tell him.
Deliriously happy and sitting in her bed, Violet was moving her fingers across the soft, silky scarf. She'd thought it would take a while to meet a nice man who would be interested in her, but not only had she found him, he was a whole lot more than a nice man.
He was handsome and rugged, warm and kind, and he'd made love to her with gusto, but he'd also been tender and sensitive. He was a dream come true, she cared for him deeply, and she felt as if she'd known him for a very long time. It was obvious he was a man of the world, and she w
as sure he'd understand when she told him the other details of her past. But it was nerve-racking to think about that particular conversation.
"I must tell him the first chance I get," she murmured. "I've had secrets my whole life, but now I don't want them anymore, not a single one!"
CHAPTER TEN
Zeke Johnson was a smart man. His ranch wasn't just the biggest in Brownsville, it was the largest ranch in the county. Whenever he was asked what had made him so successful he always gave the same answer.
Numbers.
Numbers liked him. Numbers made sense to him, and his ability to calculate numbers with the speed other men found astonishing, had seen him amass land and wealth.
But God had seen fit to gift him with another talent.
His ability to listen carefully and give people what they wanted.
Some people didn't even realize what it was until Zeke gave it to them, then they'd feel deeply indebted. But Zeke usually knew the favor he was then owed, would be of greater value than the gift he'd given.
He had been blessed with four sons, and to a degree each had inherited their father's cleverness, but his youngest, Charlie, was the smartest. He was also the most difficult. When Charlie took a liking to something he approached it with no-holds-barred enthusiasm, but when asked to do something he found boring, he'd either flatly refuse or grumble through every moment. Much to Zeke's disappointment that was how Charlie felt about ranching, and if Charlie wasn't going to be a rancher, what would he do?
But his son had once again validated Zeke's belief that he would one day rise to great heights. After being locked up overnight for fighting, he'd come home and made a proclamation.
SHERIFF: His Town. His Laws. His Justice. Page 8