Not a snappy comeback, but the best she could do under the circumstances.
Worse? Fords gaze latched onto hers, an intense, uncomfortable probing that only made his dimples deepen. You think because Im from the city I cant measure up?
No, I was talking solely about your appearance.
Good to know. Judging by the twinkle in the sheriffs knowing eyes, he wasnt offended.
Did the tape help? Or is your side mirror still dangling in the wind?
It is fixed for now. He released his hold on the roll and stepped back, giving her the once-over. Hed thought her magnificent on her horse with the sun at her back, framed by a perfect blue sky. But without her Stetson, her strawberry-blond hair tumbled around her face and shoulders in a soft cascade. Her features were scrubbed clean, her complexion perfect. She was girl-next-door wholesome in an ivory sweater and jeans. He liked this side of her, too. You clean up nice, Miss Granger. Very nice. I almost didnt recognize you without your .45.
I only wear it when Im working. Usually theres no need to scare off varmints in the diner.
I hope youre not hinting that Im a varmint.
Who, me?
He liked her sense of humor, too. Out of the corner of his vision, he spied the waitress setting his burger and fries on the corner table in the back. Im keeping my eye on you, Miss Granger. Something tells me you are trouble waiting to happen.
Me, trouble?
The young women at the table began to laugh. Its true, the black-haired woman said. Disaster finds you, Autumn.
Trouble has always been her middle name, the brown-haired one agreed merrily.
Im not that bad. Autumn had a cute gleam in her eye.
He lifted his hand in farewell, reluctant to turn around and walk away, but he didnt want to keep blocking the aisle. He couldnt explain the spark of interest in her or the weighing disappointment as he turned on his heel and left her behind.
Hes not ugly, Merritt whispered over ice cream sundaes. Ive thought about it all through the meal, and I cant see it. You dont think hes gorgeous?
This was not what she wanted to discuss, thanks. Autumn took a big bite of syrup-covered ice cream, knowing full well the sting of brain pain was coming. But did she care?
No. Bring on the agony. It was better than having to admit the truth to her friends.
Hes a hunk. Caroline licked the syrup off her spoon.
A hunky hunk.
Fine. So hes gorgeous. She rubbed her foreheadowand kept her voice low. No way was she going to take the risk that their conversation might carry across the noisy Friday night crowd to Ford Shermans no doubt supersensitive ears. Everything about him looked superior, why not his hearing?
Then hes all yours. Caroline plunged her spoon into her butterscotch sundae. I think he likes you.
Why do you say that? He couldnt like her. He didnt know her.
Because he keeps stealing glances this way, and hes not looking at me. Caroline stirred her sundae around. Thats it, Im stuffed.
Me, too. Merritt gave up on her dessert with a sigh.
Autumn scraped the bottom of the glass bowl with her spoon and licked the last drop of fudge. After divvying up the check, leaving a pile of bills and change on the table, they filed out of the booth and down the aisle. It took all her willpower not to glance over her shoulder. She didnt have to look to know Ford was watching her. The force of his gaze settled on her back like a dead weight. Best to ignore it.
The crisp evening air greeted her as she ambled along the sidewalk. A motorcycle rumbled down the road, the only traffic on the street. A dog barked somewhere on the residential blocks behind the diner. The nape of her neck tingled. Was the sheriff tracking her as she passed in front of the window?
Somethings wrong with your truck. Caroline noticed it as she set her purse on the hood of her car. Your tire is flat.
All of them are. Merritt squinted at the damage.
What? Shed been so busy wondering about Ford that she hadnt noticed her truck. Deflated rounds of rubber sagged tiredly against the pavement, all the air gone. Shed never seen such flat tires. Had she run over something in the road? She knelt to get a good look, and her heart slammed to a stop. A neat cut sliced the upper curve of the front tire.
A slice, not a nail or a screw or anything like that. Someone had done this on purpose. Judging by the size of the gash, whoever had done this must have used a bowie knife.
Its the same back here. Merritt had spotted the slit in the back tire. Who would do something like this? We were close by the whole time.
I should have seen it from my seat. Should have, yes. Why hadnt she? Because she spent the whole meal fixated on the new sheriff and trying not to be, there had been little attention left over to notice anything other than her friends. What had happened to her decision not to think about him?
We are currently sheriff-less, right? Caroline shrugged, glancing down the road to the closed up sheriffs office. The old guy is gone, and the hunky one isnt officially at work yet. So do we bother him? Who do we call?
No idea. I need Loren and his wrecker. Shock pulsed through her in little beats. Lord, I know Youre in charge but who would have done such a thing? And why? She swallowed, pulling her thoughts together. She needed a working truck. Loren had the only tow truck in thirty-five miles. Heres hoping he has the right tires in stock.
I can give you a lift home, Merritt spoke up.
Thanks. She couldnt stop staring at the knife slit. Wild Horse was a small town and a friendly one. There wasnt a whole lot of crime. Few people in these parts would disable a ranch truck. She couldnt think of a single person who would.
Is there a problem, ladies? Ford ambled out of the diner.
A small one. Of course, it would have to be him.
Let me take a look. He eased down next to her, squinting hard at the knife slash. Looks like youve got trouble here. Is there anything you want to tell me about?
Like what?
Crazy ex-boyfriend, a long-standing feud, someone who has a grudge against you?
Not for a long time, no, and not that I know of. She swiped a lock of red-gold hair out of her eyes. This is deliberate. No one elses tires are slashed.
I noticed. Considering every car on the street was clustered around the diner, it was obvious. He knelt down to take a closer look at the angry gash in the rubber. Someone sure didnt like Autumn. Anything unusual happen lately?
Nothing out of the ordinary, except for meeting you.
Was that a hint of a grin on her lips? He wasnt prepared for the sight of Autumn smiling. He was a professional, even if he wasnt on the clock yet. If he wasnt careful, he was going to have unprofessional thoughts about her centering on conversation with candlelight and a nice steak. Shed turned him down once, but she hadnt sounded one hundred percent final. There had been a glimmer in her eyes.
I didnt do this, as you know. I also have an alibi. He slipped the paperback he carried into his rear pocket. I was in the thick of Larry McMurtry. But Ill find out who did.
I didnt do this, as you know. I also have an alibi. He slipped the paperback he carried into his rear pocket. I was in the thick of Larry McMurtry. But Ill find out who did.
If someone saw something, they would have said so. This isnt a big city. People dont look the other way here. Her gaze met his, and the force of it was like the sun and moon colliding. Hard to think straight when such a pretty woman was waiting for an intelligent remark. It was even harder to pretend he was stone-cold granite, professional and unaffected.
Hey, you! Whats going on over there? someone called out. A shadow fell across him. Ford looked up to see an elderly man with his wife at his side hurrying along the sidewalk. Fearless, the gray-haired stranger shook his finger angrily. What are you doing to that truck? Get awayoh, howdy, Autumn. I didnt see you there.
Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Plum. Autumns smile of welcome was one of greeting for old friends. She rose, the tires forgotten. This is our new sheriff. Hes your neighbor, too.
Howdy. Ford climbed to his feet.
Oh. Mighty fine to meet you, sir. The older man had a powerful stance, a direct gaze and a firm handshake. Velma and I thought we saw someone at Millers rental place, but we didnt look too close. It could have been the Realtor.
Marthas been in and out now and again showing the place. Didnt know it was let. Velma Plum patted his hand in a motherly welcome. If Id known, I would have had an apple crisp ready for you. Id best get crackin. Hal, remind me when we get home. You know how I am
Always stopping to chat with everyone. Always talking away and losing track of everything else. Hal winked, as if he didnt mind at all. When he gazed at his wife, it was with great, accepting love. Look, theres Betty. See what I mean?
I see. Ford watched a woman in her fifties greet Velma with a hug. Both of the women fell to talking.
Need a hand there, young fella? Hal asked.
What I need is information. You wouldnt have noticed anyone slinking around this truck, would you?
Besides you? Hal quipped.
Autumns amusement hit him like a wind gust. He could feel her holding back laughter. More folks came out of the diner to congregate on the sidewalk, already discussing the slashed tires.
Looked like she was right. Apparently, little went unnoticed in a small town.
Chapter Three
Autumn!
Somewhere far away in the dark she heard her name, but it wasnt powerful enough to yank her out of her dream. Her bed was warm and her electric blanket cozy, and in her mind she was at the diner running her spoon through the hot fudge and trying not to feel a pull in Fords direction.
Keep your attention on the ice cream, she told herself. Ice cream is better for you, calories and all, than he is. Dudes are nothing but heartache.
Autumn! A full-fisted pounding rattled her bedroom door. Wake up!
Dad? The dream evaporated and she sat up. Her pillow tumbled to the floor, she kicked off her covers and rubbed her eyes. Cool air enveloped her. The numbers on the clock shone blurrily in the ink-dark room. She squinted, bringing them into focus. Two-forty-three. What was going on?
Then she heard it: a faint, rhythmic, rapid-fire sputtering. A helicopter.
We got trouble, Dad shouted, moving on down the hall to pound on Cheyennes door. Up and at em!
Rustlers. Her feet hit the floor and she grabbed her clothes from last night, pulling them on as she went. By the time she threw open her door, she was only missing shoes. Shed grab her boots on her way through the mudroom.
In the hall up ahead, Dad hammered on the last doorAddisonsbefore racing downstairs. She jammed her bare feet into her riding boots and grabbed her cell from her purse.
Here. Frank handed her a rifle and a box of cartridges. His phone rang and he answered it, grabbing a second rifle. I just put a call in to the sheriff and the county. They said theyd be here in ten to twenty. Theyve got the only chopper aound, and it will take a while to get in the air.
Rifle in hand, she flew out the door and into the night. Surrounded by darkness and shadows, she ignored the nearby cow mooing plaintively, wondering what was going on, and hit the ground running. She ate up distance, whistling for Aggie. The whop-whop grew louder. She could see the faint flash of a helicopters safety lights above the far hillsides crest before the vehicle nosed down to make another pass. No doubt it was rounding up their animals and scaring them into a hard run. She prayed the Lord was watching over the livestock.
Aggie nickered, hooves pounding the dirt as she skidded to a stop. No time to bridle up. Autumn ripped open the gate, caught Aggie by a handful of mane and leaped. She landed on her mares back as the horse broke into a hard gallop. They rode in sync, bulleting up the gravel road that stretched from the house to the long row of barns, stables and outbuildings.
Dad was behind her, calling for Rogue. His cutting horse answered with an anxious whinny. In the shadows, she caught sight of her sisters dashing full speed from the house. She searched the darkness ahead. Where was Justin? Best guess, he was headed for the rustlers.
She wheeled Aggie toward the hillside, leaning low and urging the mare into a hard canter. She heard an engine flare to life, and a headlight pierced the darkness. Justin. Halfway up the hill, her dad on Rogue passed her. No time to say anything, but she knew her fathers plan. She gripped the gun tightly in her right hand and prayed she wouldnt have to use it.
The helicopter wheeled around to make another pass, and gunfire flashed from the loading door. Bullets zinged through the air, biting into rock and earth and kicking up dust all around them. Aggie didnt startle but put her head down with determination, her hooves eating up ground.
Up ahead, both Dad on horseback and Justin on the ATV ground to a halt. Her dad was fast, sighting and firing first. Must have been a hit, because the rustlers semiautomatic fired in a fast burst, bullets licking haphazardly along the hillside away from them before falling silent. The helicopter went nose up and ate distance.
Theyre not done with us yet, Frank shouted. You girls split up. Addison and Cheyenne, go with Justin along the section line.
Im with you, Dad. She signaled Aggie around to the field gate and unlatched it, backing the horse to swing it wide. You didnt take a bullet this time, did you?
No. Dont you worry about me, missy. He flashed a grin as he raced past her. You stay behind me, you hear?
That was her dad, always taking the lead, fearless, although years ago hed taken two bullets to the chest chasing off rustlers. If the countys helicopter hadnt been on site and flown him straight to the hospital at Jackson, they would have lost him.
Please keep protecting him, she prayed, clinging to Aggie as the horse lunged up the dark, treacherous slope. Rocks rolled, earth shifted and Aggie lost her footing. For one terrible second Autumn felt them tumbling backwards. She leaned forward, resisting the instinct to dismount, and stuck with her horse.
Aggie pawed her way back onto the trail and surged forward until they were on solid ground again. Grateful, Autumn wiped grit from her face, ignored the adrenaline spiking through her system and focused on following her dad along the ridge. The helicopter, farther away now, made one low sweep. Another shot rang out in their direction. Before she could hit the safety and lift her rifle, bullets whizzed by and dirt and rock flew. Something hit her in the lega slight sting. A rock sliver. Her dad got off another shot before the helicopter wheeled low and began to smoke.