Angel Smits - A Cowboy At Heart

“Your guess is as good as mine.” If Trey could answer that, maybe he wouldn’t be here now. Hap reminded him too much of people and places he wanted to forget. He silently prayed, as his fingers flew over the keys.

Don’t ever let me be like that.

CHAPTER THREE

THE SOUND OF TIRES on the street outside had Lisa staring anxiously out the screen door. She’d stayed in Grandpa’s kitchen, waiting, listening, prepared to run like hell if anyone else came out of the shadows or any of the rooms.

The dispatcher had recognized her grandfather’s address and put her straight through to the sheriff himself, Sam Coleman.

Sam and her grandfather had been best friends for years. He’d offered to stay on the line with her until he got there, which thankfully only took five minutes. He’d tried to calm her by discussing the weather and odd bits of gossip.

When Sam’s tall, burly figure rose from the squad car, strong and reassuring, she let out the breath she’d been holding and hung up.

“Whatcha doing in here?” he growled when he saw her sitting at the kitchen table like it was dinnertime.

“Waiting for you.”

“You don’t think someone else is here?”

“Nope. They’d have come out by now,” she rationalized, ignoring the glare he sent her.

“Well, stay put.” He pointed at the chair, then reconsidered. “Better yet, go sit in my squad car.” He re-aimed his index finger at the door. “Lock the car until I come back out.”

“I’m fine right here.” The person who’d run had been in Grandpa’s house for a reason, and she wanted to know who they were and what they’d been after.

Sam just turned on his booted heel and started looking through the house. She could keep track of him by the sound of his footsteps and the echo of doors and cupboards opening and closing. He was very methodical in his search.

“You’re right. I don’t see anyone,” he finally said as he returned to the kitchen. “But the bedroom window upstairs is open. You open it?”

She shook her head. “Which room?”

“The master. That one’s pert near the full two stories up.” He frowned. “Still one treacherous jump.” He stared at the stairs as if trying to figure something out. “I closed it, but I’d like one of the guys to come out and dust for fingerprints.”

That explained why it had been so cold in the room. “They didn’t go out that window.”

He stared at her then, his thick brows gathered in a frown.

“The living room window. I heard glass break and when I looked out, I saw someone in the yard.” How had he missed the broken window?

Glowering, Sam turned on his heel again and spent several minutes in the living room.

He walked slowly back into the kitchen, his gaze trained on the floor. Finally, he stopped and looked up. “Did they run back in here?”

“I—” Why did he think that? Then she followed his gaze.

She gasped. “Is that—?” There was a faint trail of something dark across the tile that she hadn’t noticed. “Oh, God. Sam—” Her voice broke, and her mind filled with every horrible possibility. “Is that blood?”

“I ain’t sure.” He shook his head. “I’ll have a deputy come check it out.” He walked over and grasped her elbow. “Let’s head outside.”

Gently, Lisa pulled away, trying to stand her ground, even though she was trembling hard. “Don’t lie to me, Sam. Please.” She tried to tamp down the worry that threatened to choke her. “If that’s Grandpa’s blood, do—” She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.

“Now, don’t go jumping to conclusions.” His words didn’t match the worry in his eyes. He cleared his throat and tried again, still unsuccessfully, to guide her to the door.

“Do you notice anything missing?” he asked, clearly trying to distract her.

And, even though she knew what he was doing, it worked. Maybe there was a clue in the house. Lisa looked around but had no idea what to even search for. “I—I don’t think so.” She shrugged. Suddenly, the weight of the last few hours settled hard on her shoulders.

The morning had started out so bright. Marco’s pronouncement about the business closing seemed ages ago. Lunch with Trudy... The drive up here... Now this. It was almost too much.

Should she have called Sam earlier, when Grandpa hadn’t answered her mother’s calls? Should she have come to visit sooner? More often?

She’d been so busy the past few months with the job, she hadn’t been up here much, nor had she spoken to her grandfather in a while.

Guilt raced through her. Would it have made a difference if she had?

Would he still be here? Would something have happened to her, too? Her stomach churned.

“Sam, when did you see him last?”

“See who? Win? Oh, now, don’t go fretting, Lisa. He had drinks with Hap and me yesterday over at The Thirsty Eagle.” Their favorite bar.

Lisa shot to her feet and paced. “But Sam, look at this place.” She waved her arms around. “He seems to have been gone longer than one day.” She ran her finger over the counter where a layer of dust dulled the dark tone of the marble.

“Lisa.” The older man stepped closer. “Your grandma’s been gone almost two years,” he unnecessarily reminded her. “Your grandpa would never be accused of being a housekeeper.”

“But—” She looked around, more closely this time. She stalked over to the refrigerator and yanked it open. The light came on, washing over the room, reassuringly normal. A gallon of milk, a carton of orange juice and several other normal items sat inside.

She didn’t want to, but she opened the milk and sniffed. Not spoiled. Thank goodness.

Maybe he hadn’t been gone long. Maybe she was jumping to conclusions. Still... “Then where is he? It’s getting late.” Another glance at the clock told her it wasn’t that late by her city standards. But here? For her grandfather? It was very late.

“Don’t go borrowin’ trouble.” Sam put his big, rough hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure there’s a simple explanation. We’ll find him,” he reassured her, and she wasn’t sure if he believed what he was saying or not.

Sam pulled out his phone and was soon talking to someone about securing the house. “Bring a sheet of plywood.” He paused and listened. “There’s a couple of sheets out in the shed. Got a broken window here, and Win ain’t around to fix it. Yeah.”

Once he’d hung up, he turned back to her again. “Okay, let’s get you settled at the hotel.”

“What?”

“It’s too late for you to drive to Denver tonight. And you’re not staying here by yourself.”

“Sam, I’m a grown adult. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I know that.” He put his hands on his hips. “Someone broke in here for a reason. If they didn’t get what they want, they could come back. Nope, you’re not staying here.” He shook his head, and she saw his familiar stubbornness flash in his eyes.

Sam wasn’t going to let her stay in the house. Despite the fact that she didn’t want to stay here by herself, she wasn’t admitting that to him. She let her stubborn glare speak for her.

“No.” The big man strode toward the screen door and held it open for her. “Not only no, but hell, no.” He shook his head.

“I can’t go to a hotel.” She hadn’t had time to tell him she couldn’t afford it. She had lost her job today. She glanced at her watch. Yeah, still today. She followed him outside and watched as he closed and locked the door.

“Win would kill me if anything happened to you.” He finally stopped next to her car and crossed his arms over his chest. Stubborn never looked so human. Or immovable. “Evelyn down at The Guest House always has a room for dignitaries. We’ll set you up there.”