The Cowboy Lawman (2 page)

“They aren’t going to drop this. They won’t let you guys down that way.”

She leaned against the counter, nearly as tall as he was. She held her right arm and turned to stare out the window for a long minute. Finally, she looked at him.

“What about Butch’s wife? Does she know?”

“They’re going to tell her.” He considered letting it go, but he couldn’t. “Mia, it would be best if you went and stayed with your folks for a while. At least until they find a way to bring this guy down.”

“That could take a year. It could take two years. I’m not going to live in fear of him, Slade. I’m staying right here in my house. I’m not going to let him win.”

She turned and poured coffee into a thermal mug. She handed it to him.

“Thanks.” Coffee. It made it seem as if nothing had happened, they weren’t talking life and death. They were friends catching up on the news.

“You’re welcome.”

“And you know I’m going to be out here on patrol. Wherever that money is that went missing, someone is going to be looking for it.”

“You’re going to be watching my house? Please don’t. I’ll feel compelled to feed you and you know I can only cook enchiladas and boxed hamburger meals.” She looked down at her arm. “And I can’t even cook those right now.”

“Maybe I can cook for you.” The words slipped out and hung between them.

“Slade...”

He raised a hand to stop her objections. “Friends, Mia, that’s what we’ve always been.”

She gave him a curt nod. “Be safe out there, Slade.”

“I’m always safe.”

She walked with him to the front door. “Yes, I know you are. But I thought we were safe, too. I thought Butch and I would have each other’s backs. I thought we’d always be able to save each other.”

“You couldn’t have known that you’d been made.”

“I know.” She stood in the front door as he got ready to leave. “Slade, what if I should have known? I keep going over it again and again in my mind, wondering if I saw something that should have given it away.”

“Don’t. I know that it’s easy to second-guess, but it won’t change anything.”

Slade had done it, too. He’d thought about it over and over, if he should have known what would happen that night to Vicki. He couldn’t have known. He’d never seen it coming. But for a couple of years he’d beaten himself up, thinking he should have told her not to drive that night. He should have known there were storms coming.

He should have done something.

For a long minute he stood on Mia’s front porch, thinking back. Yes, he knew how Mia felt. He knew the questions she’d been asking herself since the shooting. It took him by surprise when Mia leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“It was an accident.”

He touched her arm and smiled down at her. “I know. And I’m asking you to be careful.”

“I will.”

“Will you be in church Sunday?”

She sighed and shook her head. “So I can yell at God in public? No, I think yelling at Him on the side of the road is enough for one week.”

He nodded, because he got it. “If you need anything, call me.”

“I’m sure you won’t be far away.”

“No, I won’t.”

He walked down the sidewalk to his car, pulling the keys out of his pocket as he went. He glanced back one last time before getting behind the wheel. Mia still stood in the doorway. She wouldn’t cry again. He knew Mia. She would walk it off. Or jog it off. And unless people who cared pushed, she wouldn’t talk about how much it hurt.

Her family would do that for her. They would push her to talk. And he’d patrol and make sure she stayed safe.

Chapter Two

B
y Saturday Mia was going stir-crazy. She needed to get out of the house. She needed information and no one had it. And she had definitely tried to get it. She’d called the DEA field office in Tulsa asking questions. Her supervisor had eventually called her back and told her to put her energy into getting better—he’d be the one finding out how Nolan Jacobs had gotten away with murdering one of their agents. Maybe Jacobs hadn’t pulled the trigger, but he’d been there. The order to kill had come from him.

She sat at the kitchen table, her laptop in front of her, her cell phone on vibrate. Who had sold them out? She started with a list of people who had been in on their assignment, one that had kept her on the outskirts of Oklahoma City for months when she would have preferred to be anywhere else.

They had lived in a roach-infested apartment, she and Butch. One bedroom, but he’d slept on the couch while they pretended to be husband and wife, small-time dealers wanting in on the big-time. When she left that apartment she’d left behind the clothes, the shoes, the makeup that Maria Vargas, her other identity, had worn.

Maria would have made Mia’s mom, Angie Cooper, blush. Maria had made Mia blush a few times. She shook her head, remembering the role she’d played. While in character, she’d looked for family who had lived in Oklahoma City. She’d searched bars and parties for a man who might have been her father. A man with no name but perhaps a tattoo with her mother’s name, or even hers.

She’d looked for Breezy and hoped, of all the people she searched for, she wouldn’t see her little sister in the crowd, thin from using, near death. She’d never spotted her sibling.

Without really thinking, she went online and put in the last known name of her little sister. Breezy Hernandez. They’d all had different fathers; Mia Jimenez, Juan Lopez and Breezy Hernandez. Juan was in jail for armed robbery and distribution of a controlled substance.

Breezy was the mystery. They’d given her to her paternal grandmother. Angie had learned that much all those years ago. But where they’d gone to—that was the big question. Breezy had disappeared.

The clock in the living room chimed the noon hour. Mia looked at the web page she’d brought up. More dead ends. She closed down her computer and walked to the fridge, to stare again at contents that did nothing for her. She hadn’t been hungry in forever.

Because of the burning question: Who had ratted them out? Who had given away information on other law enforcement officers? Who had taken the money and how had they framed Butch?

She closed the fridge and walked through the house. At the front door, she slipped her feet into flip-flops and shoved money into her pocket. If she didn’t have anything good for lunch, Vera at the Mad Cow Café would.

A patrol car eased past her house as she walked out the door. They had all the tact and finesse of boys cruising around on Friday night. Everyone knew what they were up to. And anyone watching Mia would know that the deputies cruised past her house every hour or so. But they cared. They were trying to protect her. In Tulsa they were doing the same for Butch’s wife, Tina.

If Nolan came after her, though, he’d know their routine. He’d know their cars. He’d catch her when everyone least expected it.

September air, cool and filled with the scent of drying grass and flowers, greeted her as she walked down the steps of her front porch. The fresh air pulled her back to the present and out of the dark thoughts that had plagued her all morning.

She waved at Mrs. Lucas across the street, one of the few neighbors on this end of Dawson Avenue.
Avenue
was a little overstated. The road led from the feed store to nowhere. There were a total of five houses, most with land. Mr. Gordon raised a few calves. Taylor Green raised sheep. Mrs. Lucas seemed to raise cats, and lots of them.

The cats could usually be found sunning themselves on her porch, and sometimes they moved across the street to Mia’s. Mia had never been fond of cats. But she did like Mrs. Lucas, so she didn’t complain. As long as the cats didn’t bother the birds Mia fed.

It was a short, five-minute walk to the Mad Cow. Mia took it easy, having learned her lesson from her jogging adventure a few days ago. Her arm had ached all night after that little escapade. She’d called her doctor and he’d lectured her about the damage she could have done. Lesson learned.

The parking lot of the Mad Cow was packed with farm trucks, cars and even a couple of tractors.

Mia walked up the sidewalk of the black-and-white-spotted building and someone opened the front door. She smiled at one of the local farmers and he pushed the door wide for her to enter.

“Mia Cooper, been a long time since you was in town. How’s that arm doing?” The farmer, Ben, toothpick in the corner of his mouth, smiled and let the door close with both of them inside.

“I’m good.” Mia glanced around the crowded diner. She regretted the impulsive decision to come here at noon. People were looking her way. A few whispered.

“Guess you’ll be around, getting better after that fall?”

She smiled and didn’t correct him on the assumption that she’d fallen. For years people thought she worked at an office in Tulsa and sometimes traveled.

“I’ll be around for a while.”

Ben pulled the toothpick from his mouth. “You ever think about doing a barrel-racing clinic? I’ve got a girl who would love to ride. Jackson even has a horse she’s interested in. Trouble is, I ain’t never been much of a hand with horses.”

Barrel-racing clinic?

“Well, I haven’t ever thought about it, Ben.”

“Well, if you do, you let me know. I can’t think of anyone better than a national champion to teach the girls around here.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep you posted.”

The toothpick went back in Ben’s mouth, as the conversation seemed to be over. Mia glanced around the crowded restaurant with the black-and-white-tile floors, old Formica-topped tables and booths with seats covered in black vinyl that always got hot and stuck to the back of a person’s legs. She loved this place. She remembered the first time she came here with the Coopers. It had been on a Sunday after church.

On that Sunday so long ago, for the first time in her life she hadn’t been hungry. That was a memory. She hadn’t been the one in charge of making sure everyone ate. She’d sat at the table between Jackson and Reese. Heather had been across from her, smiling, trying to get her to smile. She’d eaten fried chicken. Vera had given her ice cream.

She remembered being afraid that it would all end, that the state would come looking for her and drag her back to her old house. She remembered worrying that wherever Juan and Breezy were, they might not be getting fed, because she wasn’t there to care for them.

“Sis, over here.” She glanced to the back corner and spotted Jackson and Travis. And Slade McKennon.

Just like old times. But not.

She walked to their booth and Jackson pointed at the seat next to Slade. He scooted and she sat down next to him. His arm brushed hers as he lifted his glass of tea. She reached past him for a menu.

He smelled good. Soap and something like a scent of the Orient tangled up in the mountains of Colorado. She didn’t linger but opened the menu and studied a list she’d seen too many times in her life.

“Ben ask you to teach his girl?” Jackson asked, pushing his glass of tea for the waitress to refill.

Travis moved his glass in the same direction. The waitress, a pretty girl with a big smile and blond hair streaked with pink, smiled at Slade. He didn’t seem to notice.

“Yes. A barrel-racing clinic? I don’t know where he got an idea like that.” Mia happened to look up from her menu and her gaze connected with her brother Travis’s. And he happened to look quickly at Jackson before taking a bite of biscuits and gravy.

Mia shook her head and refocused from the biscuits covered in sausage gravy to Jackson and his obviously guilty look.

“
You
did this?” She put her menu down and glared at Jackson.

He shrugged. “You might as well.”

“Really? Why is it that I
might as well?
I do have a job.”

“You’re not going to be working for a while. There’s a need. You’re just about the best.”

She arched her brows at him and smiled. “Just about?”

“You
are
the best,” he corrected. “Slade, what do you think?”

“I think I don’t have a dog in this fight and it’s a lot safer that way.”

Mia glanced his way, avoiding looking too deep into his gray eyes. She ignored yesterday’s five o’clock shadow on the smooth plane of his cheeks. He looked tired.

“Late night?” She looked back to the menu after asking the question.

“Yeah. And an early morning. My mom hasn’t been feeling too hot and she won’t go to the doctor.”

Mia smiled. “That McKennon family stubbornness.”

“I guess.”

Travis let his fork drop noisily on his plate. “I should get back to the house.”

“How’s Elizabeth.”

“Pregnant?”

“I know that.” Mia smiled up at the waitress. “Pueblo salad with ranch. Water to drink.”

“Okay.” The waitress smiled at Slade again. “You all done with that?”

He passed her his empty plate. Travis held his up and the waitress ignored him and walked off. Mia snorted a laugh and looked at Slade.

“So, is the waitress a friend of yours?” She regretted the question as soon it left her mouth. Talk about testy. She would blame it on lack of sleep.

“No, she isn’t.” Slade shook his head. “Seriously, Mia, she’s barely twenty.”

“Right. It’s none of my business.”

Jackson made a big deal of looking at his watch. “I should go.”

Travis slid out after him. “Me, too. I ordered Elizabeth a salad to go and chocolate pie. She’s been eating chocolate pie like crazy.”

“Tell her to call if she needs anything.” Mia reached her hand up and her brother enclosed it in his for a moment. “I can’t wait to hold that baby girl.”

“I’ll pass on the message and if you want to come out and visit, I’ll pick you up.”

“Thanks, Trav.” She smiled past him to Jackson. “And you, I will deal with you later.”

Jackson shrugged it off. “You’ll thank me later.”

After they were gone, she moved to the other side of the booth. Sitting next to Slade while her brothers were there was not a conversation starter. If she stayed next to Slade, the whole town would be talking and speculating.

The swinging doors that led to the kitchen opened. Vera walked out, her dark hair pulled back in a tight bun that looked severe but the smile on Vera’s face softened things up.

“Mia Cooper. Honey, I have been praying for you and thinking about you. How’d you like that peanut butter pie I made for you?”

“It was amazing, as always. Mom stayed and had a piece with me.”

Vera sat down next to Slade. “Girl, it is so good to see you back. Did you walk down here?”

“It isn’t far, Vera.”

“Well, no, it isn’t. But when you get ready to leave, you holler and I’ll bet someone will drive you home. Slade can give you a lift if he’s still here.”

“I need the exercise.” Mia avoided looking at Slade. The waitress had reappeared with a salad topped with grilled chicken, peppers, onions and mushrooms. “That looks great.”

“Well, of course it is.” Vera cleared her throat. “Do you need any help?”

Mia looked down at the salad, at the fork, at Vera. “No, I’m good.”

“Well, I’ll let you two catch up and remember to let me know if you need a ride.” Vera scooted out of the booth. “Real good to have you home, honey.”

Mia smiled and Vera left.

“I don’t mind giving you a ride home.” Slade leaned back and watched her. He wore a button-up shirt, short-sleeved and dark red. Obviously he wasn’t on duty. It deepened his tan. It made his gray eyes look silver.

“I know you don’t. I really do enjoy the walk. I think a half a dozen cats followed me to town.”

He smiled, teeth flashing white in his suntanned face. “I heard they discussed the cat issue at a city council meeting.”

“She loves those cats, and if the neighbors aren’t complaining, why should anyone else?”

Slade shrugged. “There are a lot of them.”

“I guess.” She took an awkward bite of salad. “This lefty business isn’t easy.”

No way would she tell him she’d spent the morning loading and unloading her weapon with her left hand. She’d considered taking it out to the ranch for target practice. Just in case.

“Do you need me to cut it up in smaller pieces?”

Her cheeks heated a little and she shook her head. “I’m good.”

* * *

Slade knew when to be quiet. People either needed the silence or they would fill it up because they needed to talk. Mia ate and ignored him. She knew how to use silence, too. As she ate, he glanced at his watch. He had to pick Caleb up at a friend’s house in an hour.

“Go.” Mia put her fork down.

“What?”

“You’ve looked at your watch three times. You’re not my keeper. They told you to drive by my house when you’re on patrol. They didn’t charge you with babysitting.”

“I’m not babysitting.” He leaned forward a little, lowering his voice. “I’m sitting with a friend while she finishes eating.”

“You’re starting rumors by sitting here.” Mia pushed the plate to the side. “Five years, Slade. You haven’t dated in five years. They’re all thinking it’s about time you did.”

“I date. And I don’t care if they talk. It’s Dawson, that’s what we do.”

“Right.” She reached and tugged at the sling that held her right arm, grimacing. “I hate this thing.”

“I know.” He reached for the cowboy hat sitting on the back of the booth. It was time to go. He looked around. The waitress hurried their way, pulling out her order pad.

“You all ready to go?” She smiled at him and Slade ignored the foot that kicked his under the table.

“We’re all ready. And I’m buying Mia’s lunch, too. She’s a great date, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t...”

He stopped Mia’s protest. “It isn’t our first date.”

The waitress turned pink and handed him the two checks. “There you go, Slade. You all need anything else?”