by Robin Deeter
“Neither has Daphne. Now, your cousins have a way of getting in trouble. They don’t usually start it, but you gotta admit that they’re good at baiting people, Cy,” Brock said.
Cy smiled a little and nodded.
“I’ve always liked Cotton, though. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like him,” Brock said.
“That’s true,” Cy said. “I don’t think Cotton has an enemy within a hundred-mile radius.”
Brock said, “You and I aren’t ever gonna see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, but where your sister is concerned, we agree. She deserves to be happy and to not be harassed. I’m gonna keep seeing her, so you and I are gonna have to figure out a way to get along. The rest of your family, too.”
Cy let out a sarcastic laugh. “So you’re telling me that you’re suddenly an Indian lover?”
Brock said, “No. I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m starting to see that I’ve been putting the blame for my grandfather’s death on people who don’t deserve it. I’m a deputy and I only arrest the guilty parties. I’ve been putting that logic to use while I’ve been thinking about all of this. You and your family had no involvement in Grandpa’s murder, so I shouldn’t hold you accountable for that just because of your heritage.
“I can’t stand you most of the time, but that doesn’t have anything to do with you being part Comanche anymore. Now I just hate you because you act like your shit doesn’t stink because you used to work for Pinkerton.”
Cy smiled. “I know you hate that Rob hired me. Look, the truth is that I actually respect your work ethic. I always have. You’re as good an investigator as a lot of the detectives I worked with at Pinkerton, and you’re an excellent photographer. But your attitude rubs me the wrong way. You’re cocky, you purposely aggravate me at every turn, and make my job as miserable as possible.
“I know that you’re hoping that I’ll quit, but I won’t. I’d love to so that I don’t have to deal with you, but our family needs the money I’m making to help improve the ranch. If it wasn’t for Leigh, we’d most likely lose the place. So you can keep being a jerk, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Brock said, “Well, you’re no picnic to be around, either. You’re right. I do want you to quit. We’ve been doing just fine without you. It irks the hell out of me that Rob thought we needed someone like you.”
Cy shook his head. “So you’re taking that out on me? I have no idea why Rob kept coming after me so hard. I didn’t ask to be brought in on cases. I left that life behind and I just wanted to be left alone, but you know Rob. Once he gets an idea in his head, he doesn’t quit. Things got even worse for us financially, so when he offered that last time, I took him up on it.”
Brock said, “I didn’t know that things had gotten that bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m only telling you so that you understand that my reasons for accepting the job have nothing to do with you,” Cy said. “I have a family to take care of, and I live up to my responsibilities.”
Brock completely understood that. He narrowed his eyes at Cy. “That may be, but you’re still conceited.”
“Me? I think it’s the other way around.”
“No, it’s not. You try to order me around like you’re my superior, but you’re not. I don’t give a crap if Rob gave you a fancy title, you’re no better than me,” Brock said. “He never told any of us that you were over us, so as far as I’m concerned, we’re equals.”
Looking at things from Brock’s point of view, Cy knew that he’d feel the same way as Brock. During his time with Pinkerton, he’d dealt with contacts and other detectives off and on, but no one steady. He’d gotten so used to working on his own that he’d forgotten what it was like to work as a team.
“All right. You got a point,” Cy conceded. “I’ll try to watch that, but I’m not gonna take your crap.”
“And I’m not gonna take yours.” Brock gave him a half-smile. “It might be easier if we each dished out a little less.”
Cy nodded. “Might be.”
“Ok. I’m going to go take your sister home,” Brock said.
“Fine. See you at work. I’ll let Rob know where you are,” Cy said.
He left as abruptly as he’d come, leaving Brock to shake his head and smile.
*****
Daphne felt at loose ends at Ellie’s because she had nothing to do. She was too used to being up early to make breakfast for her family and then start in on all of her other work. So sitting at Ellie’s table while the deputy made and served breakfast felt completely wrong.
Ellie was a talkative person and she kept up a running conversation as they ate, mostly about work. Daphne paid attention, but she also wondered if Brock would really come to take her home. She worried that he’d changed his mind overnight about continuing to see her.
Maybe he’d decided that he didn’t want to be bothered after all. However, she prided herself on being strong and tried not to jump to conclusions.
She didn’t realize that her feelings were so transparent until Ellie said, “Don’t worry. He’ll be here. Brock always does what he says he will.”
Daphne smiled a little. “I can’t help it. I’d given up hope that he’d ever want to see me, and it was such a surprise when he asked me to dinner. We had a wonderful time last night until that happened.”
Ellie took their plates to the sink. “And now you think that he won’t want anything to do with you.”
“Yes. He said he still wants to see me, but maybe he changed his mind.”
Ellie said, “He still wants to see you. Trust me. You’re all he’s thought about for the last couple of months. There’s no way that he changed his mind.”
Daphne’s eyes lit with happiness. “He’s been thinking about me?”
“That’s right. I’m glad he finally came to his senses. You’re a good woman and any man would be lucky to have you.”
“Thank you, Ellie,” Daphne said.
A knock sounded on the kitchen door and Daphne’s heartbeat broke into a trot when Ellie admitted Brock inside.
He immediately looked at Daphne, giving her a smile. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
She rose from her chair. “Like a baby. The Tiny Room is so cozy.”
“Yeah. I’ve spent a few nights in there after I got too drunk to drive home. Don’t pass that around. People would be scandalized.” Brock’s smile said that he didn’t really care if they would or not.
Ellie said, “It’s none of their business, but keeping it under our hats is a good idea anyway.”
Daphne said, “My lips are sealed.”
She thanked Ellie as Brock helped her with her wrap and then they got in Brock’s buggy.
“See ya at work, Jabs,” Brock said to Ellie as they pulled away from her house.
Ellie raised a hand to him and closed the kitchen door again.
As they rode through town, Brock asked, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Much better than last night. I’m sor—”
Brock put a hand over hers. “Don’t do that, Daphne. There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. The fault was all theirs. And I owe you a big apology, too.”
Her forehead puckered. “What for? You saved me.”
“Not about last night.” He fidgeted with the reins a little. “I’m sorry for being so hard on your family. You were right about the things you said to me that day in the sheriff’s office. I’ve been taking out my anger and grief on people who don’t deserve it, you included. I let it blind me to the facts, which are that not all Indians are bad, just like not all white people are bad.
“I think part of it is that there are times when I see the braves who killed him in my mind when I look at Indians now. That’s not rational and I’m usually rational about anything else. You opened my eyes, Daphne, because I was attracted to you despite you being part Comanche. I began to see that I really didn’t think about that fact. You were just a very beautiful woman who I wanted to get to know better.”
Daphne couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Brock’s tense posture conveyed his discomfort with the subject, but he was bravely forging ahead to explain his feelings.
“What made you decide to ask me to dinner after all this time?”
Brock gave her a sheepish smile. “Ellie. She told me that I needed to get off my rear and do something about the situation. She was right. So here I am. Doing something about it. Cy and I sort of reached an agreement about things this morning when he came looking for you.”
Daphne groaned and put a hand to her forehead. “I knew he’d search for me. Sorry about that.”
“It’s ok. I’m glad he’s a good brother,” Brock said. “Look, I don’t know what the future is gonna hold for us, Daphne, but when I decide to do something, I do it, if at all possible. So, since I want to get to know you better, that means I have to get to know your family, too.”
Daphne cringed. “Oh, Brock. They hate you.”
Brock laughed. “I know and I’m not fond of them, either, but maybe I can come to an agreement with them, too. Besides, I already like Cotton. Maybe I’ll get to like them, too.”
He and Daphne exchanged doubtful looks and burst into laughter.
“Ok, maybe not like. Tolerate. I’m willing to try, anyhow,” Brock said.
Daphne met his gaze. “This is a big step for you. Are you sure you’re ready?”
Brock said, “I’ve wasted enough time, Daphne. It’s time to sink or swim and I’m gonna try like hell to swim.”
“All right. I’ll try to help keep you afloat,” Daphne said.
He briefly took her hand and smiled before turning back to the road.
*****
When Brock drove up to the Decker’s house, Johnny and Leigh came out of the house right away. Johnny angrily marched toward the buggy.
“Are you all right, Daphne?” he asked, glaring at Brock.
“I’m fine, Johnny,” Daphne said.
“Shame on you, Brock,” Johnny said. “I thought you were a good man.”
Daphne said, “Johnny, Brock didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll explain everything, but Brock has to get to work.”
Johnny looked back and forth between her and Brock. “So you didn’t … I mean … everything is okay?”
He colored as he helped Daphne down from the buggy and Brock had to clench his jaw to keep from smiling.
“Everything is fine, Johnny,” Daphne assured him.
“All right.”
Brock said, “I promise that I treated Daphne right, Johnny.”
After regarding him for a moment, Johnny nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Brock nodded at Leigh. “I’ll bet Cy took off out of here this morning like a bat out of Hell.”
Leigh smiled. “He sure did. He slammed the kitchen door shut so hard I thought it was gonna come off the hinges.”
Brock chuckled. “He came in my front door the same way.”
“Sorry about that,” Leigh said. “But we were all real worried.”
Brock looped the reins over the buggy brake and hopped out. “Well, let’s go in the house and we’ll tell you what happened.”
When they’d finished telling their tale, Johnny hugged Daphne. “I’m so glad you’re all right. You sure were brave.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Leigh echoed his sentiments.
Brock said, “I have to get to work.”
Daphne said, “I’ll walk you out.”
Brock said goodbye to Leigh and Johnny and Daphne followed him out to the buggy.
“Thank you for everything,” Daphne said.
“Don’t mention it. How about we give this another try tomorrow night?” he asked.
Her smile made his heartbeat jump a little. “I’d really like that.”
“Me, too. Same time?”
“Yes.”
Brock gave her a brief kiss, not caring if anyone saw. “See you tomorrow night.”
Daphne nodded. “Have a good day. Stay safe.”
Brock got in his buggy, touched the brim of his hat, and drove away. Daphne watched until he was gone and then went to change and freshen up so she could start her day.
Chapter Eight
When Brock arrived at the sheriff’s office, Rob called him into his office.
“Daphne okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. She’s a strong woman,” Brock said. “It’s not every woman who would have done what she did.”
Rob nodded. “I agree. Glad that the both of you are all right.” He fidgeted with his shirtsleeve. “You gonna see her again?”
Brock smiled. “You’re nosy, Rob.”
“Not nosy, just curious.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna see her again.”
“Glad to hear it. Now I don’t have to yell at you for being a moron,” Rob said. “You’d be an idiot not to.”
“You’re right about that. Well, I’d better get to work before my boss fires me,” Brock quipped.
“That’s right. Hop to, boy,” Rob said, standing up. “I have a meeting with the town council.”
“Better you than me,” Brock said.
Rob grunted and left for his meeting while Brock went to his desk. Sitting down, he noticed Ellie staring off into space, a pencil poised over a tablet.
He snapped his fingers. “Ellie. Hey!”
Ellie jerked and looked at him. “What? Did you say something?”
“What the heck were you thinking about?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Walt.”
With everything that had happened the night before, he’d forgotten that Ellie had gone to dinner with the lawyer.
“Really? So how was your evening with Gainsey? Pretty good if you were daydreaming that much.”
Ellie frowned. “It’s not like that. He’s odd.”
“Odd? How?”
“Well, he showed up all spruced up. I didn’t recognize him at first. He wore an expensive suit and he actually combed his hair and shaved. I have to say that he’s a handsome man,” Ellie said.
Brock shrugged. “That doesn’t sound strange. Most men try to look nice when they go out with a lady.”
“True, but he’s sort of secretive and I couldn’t get much personal information out of him at dinner. He was fun and all, but we didn’t talk about anything important,” she said. “There’s just something off about him.”
“Are you going to see him again?” Brock asked.
“Yeah. He invited me to dinner tonight at his house. I confess that I’m really curious to see where he lives,” Ellie said.
Brock crossed his arms over his chest. “Do you think he’s dangerous? Is it a good idea for you to go there alone?”
Ellie said, “We won’t be alone. He said that a married couple he’s friends with will be there.”
The office door opened and the subject of their discussion walked through it.
“Hello,” Walt said, smiling. “There’s the fair Ellie and our Brock.”
Ellie noted that he hadn’t shaved, but at least his clothes weren’t all that rumpled. “Here we are.”
Her cool tone intrigued Brock, but Walt didn’t seem to notice it.
“What can we do for you, Walt?” Brock asked.
Walt adjusted his glasses. “I’ve come to see young Toby.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “You have?”
“I have.”
“How did you know he was here? He was just arrested last night,” Ellie said.
Walt gave her a smile and her pulse jumped a little. “Let’s just say that a little birdie told me.”
Brock scowled at him. “This little birdie wouldn’t happen to be one of the guys that came after me and Daphne last night, would it? Because if you’re aiding and abetting a criminal I’ll have to arrest you. Besides, he’s guilty, Walt. I should know since I was there.”
Walt narrowed his eyes a little. “And just what is he guilty of? Did he fire a weapon? Did he even have a weapon? Bein’ with a bunch of ruffians doesn’t mean he’s gu
ilty of anything.”
Brock was taken aback by Walt’s sudden change in demeanor. He’d gone from the affable lawyer to the shrewd, skilled attorney in a matter of seconds. Walt was right, though. When he’d arrested Toby, the boy hadn’t had a weapon.
Walt pressed his advantage. “Someone has to look out for the boy. The poor lad has no one now since you killed his brother, Brock.”
Brock paled. “That was his brother? He never mentioned that. He wouldn’t tell us anything.”
“Well, who could blame him? Ye’d just killed his brother right in front of him. He’s scared to death about what’s gonna happen to him. Why dontcha release him to me? He’s committed no crime,” Walt said.
“That we know of,” Brock said.
Walt stepped closer, his hazel eyes turning a shade cooler. “Well, now, his past crimes, if there are any, aren’t any concern to ya. Nothin’ can be proved nor disproved, so that has no bearin’ on the current situation.”
Ellie was transfixed by the way Walt adroitly got around Brock’s argument. She said, “That may be, but he probably knows where those other two would hole up. He has information about wanted criminals.”
Walt smiled. “Are ya proposin’ a deal? Hmm? He tells ya what he knows and ya let him go?”
Ellie said, “We don’t have that power. You’ll have to talk to Reese about it, Walt.”
“So he’s aware of the situation then?”
“That’s right,” she said.
Walt said, “I see. Well, how about lettin’ me see the boy?”
Brock said, “Sure. C’mon.”
“Ellie, I’m lookin’ forward to tonight.” Walt gave her a smile and followed Brock, not waiting for her to respond.
Rob had come back while they’d been talking. He waited until the two men were out of earshot to say, “Ellie, I can’t tell you what to do on your free time, but be careful where Walt’s concerned.”
She gave him a startled look. “Why? What’s wrong with him?”
Rob said, “Nothing’s wrong with him, exactly. He can be possessive, so you need to make it clear that you’re not gonna put up with that sort of thing.”
“Of course, I won’t,” Ellie agreed.
