The Intriguing Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (12 page)

But Sylvia listened to his even breathing as he slept. She didn’t close her eyes until early morning. Sam woke her much too soon.

“It can’t be time to get up yet.”

“I let you sleep as long as I could. It’s seven. You have to be at work by eight. I have breakfast ready.” He sauntered into the bedroom from the doorway and leaned down to give her a kiss. “If you’re not out of bed in two minutes, I’ll join you.”

“What a threat. I’d love to take you up on the offer, but I do like my job.”

He picked her up and set her on her feet. “I’ve done my part. Get dressed.” He winked at her and left the room.

Sylvia rinsed her face in cold water and dressed. When she joined Sam, he was putting her plate on the table.

“You cooked eggs, bacon, and biscuits. I thought you’d serve me cereal. I’ll doze off at my desk with all that food in me.”

“I made the biscuits especially for you. Eat.”

“You are so bossy.”

“I suspect a bossy man is what you’ve needed.”

She grinned and started to eat. Sam joined her with his plate full of food.

“No wonder you and your brothers grew so big. Your mother probably fed you like this every morning.”

“She did.”

“But Grace is smaller than any of you. Did she skip out on those big meals?”

“Grace takes after our grandmother on my dad’s side. She ate, but much less than us. My brothers and I all favor Dad. Mom said she felt left out. Mom loved to tease us and say we didn’t get any of her genes.”

They joked back and forth while they ate. A warmth and feelings of happiness settled inside her. She liked Sam besides beginning to love him.

What was she going to do?
I’ll enjoy the present. I may never meet anyone like him again.

Sam rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, while Sylvia went to check her appearance before they left. Then he drove her into town.

Sheriff Grady greeted them in the office. “Hmmm, one minute late. I may have to dock you a nickel.” Then he grinned and shook Sam’s hand. “Nice to see you around the town.” He glanced at Sylvia. “Before you came, this young man was a recluse on his ranch.”

Sam blushed. “Sheriff, I was just doing my work, and I’ve got to get back to it. See you later,” he said to Sylvia.

“He’s a fine man.” Sheriff Grady glanced at Sylvia. “You’re the only woman he’s noticed since Camille left town. You’re good for him.”

“You are the only one who thinks so. I’d better get to work.” She went to her desk and sat. She wondered who Camille was and what had happened between her and Sam. When the phone rang, she grabbed it.

The voice at the other end whispered, “There’s a big truck up here in the north corner of the county. I think we have rustlers.” The man hung up.

“What is it?” Sheriff Grady asked.

“An anonymous male caller said you have rustlers in the north corner of the county.”

“Several ranches around there have reported missing cattle. Let’s go.” He started out the door and looked back. “Don’t you want to come along?”

“Yes, sir.” Sylvia jumped out of her chair and hurried after him, locking the door behind her.

Sheriff Grady was on his phone when she got in the car. “Yes, you head that way and we’ll meet you. Don’t take them on alone.”

The sheriff hit the pedal hard and turned on the siren as they raced out of town. “Once we get closer I’ll shut off the siren. No need to warn them we’re around. You stay in the car this time.”

Sylvia didn’t mention the ankle gun she always wore to work. If it was needed, she’d use it.

“Do you think they’ll still be there when we arrive?”

Sheriff Grady glanced her way. “I hope so. They’re pretty brazen to do this in broad daylight. It’s an isolated area, so they probably think no one will be around to see them. I’m curious as to why the call was anonymous.” He shrugged. “I guess he was afraid to get involved.”

“The caller kept his voice real low.”

“If this is an ambush, I gather you know how to use that gun you carry.”

“Yes, I’m a good shot.”

“I figured in the job you had before this you had to be.”

Sylvia kept her eye out for the deputy’s car. When the sheriff shut down his siren, she knew they were getting closer, and then she saw the deputy waving from the side of the road.

They pulled over beside him.

“Follow me.” Sheriff Grady waited until the deputy was in his car and positioned behind him. Then he drove down the winding road. A bullet shot through the front window, barely missing the sheriff. The deputy shot back toward the hill where the shooter hid. The sheriff drove erratically to throw off any more shots. Over the hill, they saw the huge van and men corralling cattle into it.

When they saw the sheriff’s car, the men grabbed guns and started shooting. Sylvia had her gun in her hand. She got down on the floorboard and rose up just enough to shoot when the next man had risen up to aim at them. Her shot got him in the shoulder, and he fell back.

“Damn, you are a good shot.” Sheriff Grady parked his vehicle on the side of the road, and they barricaded themselves behind it. The three of them returned fire each time one of the rustlers raised his body into view.

“They’re going to try to get in the truck and take off. We can’t see the cab from here. As soon as they come out from behind that hill, I’ll aim at the driver. You two shoot out the tires,” Sheriff Grady instructed.

Sure enough, the engine started, and the truck began to move. The driver tried to gun the motor, but the tires spun on the soft ground.

“If crooks weren’t so dumb, we’d never catch them,” the deputy mumbled.

“Cover us,” the sheriff said to Sylvia. He and the deputy bent low and headed toward the hill.

In the corner of her eye, Sylvia saw movement. The first guy who had shot at them was returning to join the fight. She aimed her gun in his direction. When he moved from behind a large rock and aimed at the sheriff and deputy, she shot him.

Sheriff Grady whirled around. Once he saw the guy down, he nodded to Sylvia. The driver gunned the motor hard, and the truck moved slowly onto the pavement.

Sylvia shot twice, once at the driver and the second at the wheels. A large red spot appeared on the driver’s arm. He glared across at her. By this time the sheriff and deputy had him in their sights.

“Halt and get out of the truck. It’s all over,” Sheriff Grady hollered.

The man hit the gas again and the truck moved onto the road. All three, the sheriff, the deputy, and Sylvia, shot at the tires, and then the back window. The side door opened and the man got out holding his arm on the side of his wounded shoulder.

Finally, the driver opened his door and climbed down.

“Well, I’ll be damned. No wonder our caller was anonymous. You’ve got most of the townspeople afraid of you.” Sheriff Grady shook his head in astonishment. “Sylvia, this is old man Higgins. I guess your mean, crazy act was a disguise to throw us off. You’ve been rustling a few cattle here and there for years, haven’t you?”

Higgins glared at the sheriff. “I fooled you, old man. You think you’re so smart.” He grinned, showing two missing teeth in front, and the rest looked grimy.

“This time you decided to go big-time, and whoever saw you called the office.” The sheriff glanced at the other man. “I see you involved your son, and I expect the dead man back there is your brother.” He shook his head. “Stupid.”

Higgins started to step forward. “Don’t move, or you’ll be dead, too.” The coldness in Sylvia’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Who the hell is she?” Higgins asked.

“She’s my assistant and my new part-time deputy. Billy, put handcuffs on them, and put them in the back of my car. I’ll call the coroner. You can wait for him.

“We have one doctor who fills that position for the whole county,” Sheriff Grady explained to Sylvia. “You can keep your gun on these two while I drive.”

The drive back seemed to go faster than their trip out. When the sheriff parked in front of his office, another one of his deputies waited at the office door.

“I’ve called the doctors. One of them will be right over to check the prisoners,” the deputy said. “I’ll lock these guys inside the jail cells in the back.”

Several people headed toward the office. “The grapevine is busy this morning.” Sheriff Grady shook his head. “I expect word has already gotten around town. You go on inside. I’ll take care of the busybodies.” He grinned and started to walk toward the men headed in his direction.

Sylvia sat at her desk and put her gun back in its holster.

She began a report of the incident. She’d seen other reports when she did the filing, so she followed those guidelines.

The deputy came out from the jail section of the office. “They’re all secure. I’m going to head back to my area. I’m Lou, by the way.” He put out his hand.

He was a heavyset, partially bald man with a nice smile. Sylvia stood and shook his hand. “I’m Sylvia, the new assistant.” She didn’t mention part-time deputy. She had to be sure the sheriff had been serious about promoting her.

“I’m pleased to meet you. I better get back on patrol. See you.” Lou waved and left.

She’d like to be a deputy. This morning had fired her blood. She hadn’t been scared. She’d known what to do. There was nothing wrong with her skills. Until now she hadn’t realized they were still there. Unconsciously she thought she’d lost them along with her job.

Sheriff Grady came in alone. “I think I’ve satisfied some of their curiosity for now. The talk will be all about who the rustlers were. Everyone will be shocked to know Higgins was the ringleader and they’ll love gossiping about it.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.

“You love this town.”

“I do. I was born and raised here. I joined the service and was gone for four years. I met my wife during that time. We came back here after my discharge and have been living here since.”

“Did your wife like the small town as well?”

He sat on the side of his desk. “Not at first, but gradually it grew on her. She went home to visit her family more in the first few years, but after we had children she got more involved in the community and settled right in.”

“What do you think kept her from going home and staying?”

“Our love for each other. Her visits home got shorter and shorter. We hated to be apart. Our love saw us through many difficulties and continued to grow.” He studied her and then added, “You’re afraid you’ll miss the big city if you marry Sam.”

“He hasn’t formally asked me.”

“He will. Those Brodie boys know when they’ve found the right one. Think hard about your answer. If you let him go, you’ll be losing a man who’ll always be there for you.”

“You like Sam a lot.”

“I like them all, but Sam is special. He reminds me the most of his father. His father and I were good friends. We were hunting buddies, and we’d known each other our whole life. He died much too soon. Now about that part-time deputy job, will you accept the position?”

“Yes, I was hoping you were serious. How would it work?”

“You’d still do the work in the office, but that isn’t going to keep you busy enough. So sometimes you’ll ride with me or you may fill in if one of the other deputies is sick. How does that sound?”

“Good, great.”

“Then it’s settled. I’d better call my wife to let her know I’m fine. She’ll worry until I do.” He picked up the phone, and Sylvia went back to completing the report.

The door flew open, and Sam strode in. He picked Sylvia up in his arms. “You’re all right?” He looked down at her body.

“I’m fine. Put me down.”

“I had to see for myself. They say you saved the sheriff and deputy from being shot.”

“I did. Where did you hear all this?”

“Mom heard it from her friends. She called me.”

“You must have flown here.”

He glanced at the sheriff talking on the phone but staring at him. “I probably did break a few speed limits.”

She pushed him toward the door. “Go home. Work. I’m doing my job. You need to do yours and trust me in mine.”

Sam cupped her face and slowly kissed her thoroughly. Sylvia blushed when he stepped back.

“Until tonight.” Sam swung around and strolled out the door.

Sheriff Grady put down his phone. “Yes sir, we’re going to have another Brodie wedding one of these days.” He got up and went in the back to check on his prisoners. Rand came in the door and followed the sheriff to the back, to check on the prisoner’s wounds. He waved at her as he passed.

Sylvia fingers touched her lips, and she stared into space. She both wanted to stay and wanted to run. Her mind raced, trying to find the right answer. Her stomach fluttered from the reaction to his kiss.

Damn it, ring, phone. I need something to take my thoughts off of Sam Brodie.

* * * *

“I’m glad we’re meeting for lunch today. You have to tell us all about the excitement yesterday,” Chelsea said. “The grapevine has been thrilled to have new gossip to pass along. All the phones in town and out have been ringing off their hooks.” Chelsea leaned forward and smiled across the table at Sylvia.