A Cowboy To Keep: A Contemporary Western Romance Collection

by Hebby Roman

  Lovely Medical Center was on Azalea Drive, three streets over from Main Street at the end of the block. The building was one of the newest in the town. The stucco one-story square building looked like a mini-hospital. The ambulance was parked on the side of the building under a large structure that also provided cover to the entrance of the emergency room.

  He walked to the front of the building. A set of automatic doors soundlessly slid open and he walked into the cool air-conditioned space. It was interesting to him how medical facilities always hovered just above freezing. A nurse at the reception desk elbowed another and both looked up at him with expectant expressions. Aleesia Martin arched a brow at him her pretty face tight. "Well, hello, Deputy Hunter. Haven't seen you in a while."

  It wasn't possible to stop the flinch. He and the woman had a one-night stand and he'd done the quick escape as soon as she fell asleep. For months he'd managed to avoid her, until now. He decided it was best to remain professional. "Hello, ladies. I'm here to see Doctor Wilkes."

  "Catch something?" Aleesia's coworker who was obviously in the know of what happened sneered at him.

  "Err...There he is. Have a good day." He walked on past doing his best to ignore the soft chuckles. Not one of his best moments. Should have called and apologized to her.

  Doctor Wilkes was an attractive man in his fifties who kept in shape. His salt and pepper hair was always styled perfectly and his mustache trimmed. He usually wore tasteful wireframe glasses. Intelligent blue eyes met Mark’s as he rushed from the front desk. "I'm glad you're here. I've been trying to keep Mrs. Mason at bay. She's desperate to get the body released. I guess they have the funeral all planned."

  Mark wasn’t surprised to hear Shelly Mason had already been in contact.

  They made their way into the doctor's office. A mahogany desk filled most of the small space. Behind the desk on shelves was a collection of medical books and a couple of model ships. Mark wondered if the doctor owned a boat of some sort.

  "What did you find?"

  The doctor motioned for Mark to sit and then took out a file and flipped it open. "Not surprisingly, Mr. Mason died of blood loss. His carotid artery was severed as well as all the others along his neckline. He may not have died right away, but he couldn't speak since his vocal cords were severed by the slicing of his throat."

  "Would he have struggled or reacted? He seemed relaxed, his hands at his sides."

  "I imagine at first becoming aware of what happened, he would have reached up and covered the affected area with one or both hands. But you're correct. There was no blood on his palms. So that fact, along with his relaxed expression, made me wonder if he was sedated in some way."

  "He was drugged?"

  "Yes. He had a large amount of diphenhydramine in his system. I assume he must have taken it before driving to town. It would take twenty to thirty minutes to make him drowsy to the point of falling asleep. "

  Why would Eddie Mason take so much medication before going to work? "Is this drug easy to purchase?"

  "Yes, it's Benadryl. He swallowed four or five of those pills. Maybe he didn't know any better. Seems convenient, though, don't you think?"

  Mark took the report the doctor extended to him. "Very convenient. Can I ask you a favor, doc?"

  "Sure." The doctor stood and looked at his watch. "What do you need?"

  "Can you keep Eddie's body for a couple more days?"

  Doctor Wilkes grimaced, clearly not looking forward to having another round with the widow. "I figured you'd ask that. Got it."

  Chapter Six

  "Who would have thought a murder would happen here in little ol' Lovely?" Birdie, the dayshift cook's assistant stood beside her chopping cucumbers for two salads. "I am just beside myself. Can't even go let my dogs out without first looking through all the windows."

  Eliza nodded and agreed. Two days since Eddie was killed and the murder was still the main topic of conversations. Not that she didn't feel bad about it. But it seemed to her the more people spoke of it, the more nervous everyone became. She wondered absently if Mark had made any headway in the investigation.

  It hadn't helped that Shelly Mason had been there the day before. Surrounded by patrons, she'd spend the best part of an hour eating and accepting offers for help and money. It had caught her by surprise to catch Shelly in the bathroom primping in front of the mirror. She'd stood on her tiptoes her mismatched flip-flops kicked aside applying bright lip gloss.

  "All this crying made my makeup run," she'd explained while applying mascara.

  Eliza didn't point out that she'd not been wearing any earlier. The woman was not exactly firing on all pistons.

  Thankfully it was two in the afternoon almost time to go. She placed a special on the counter and rang the bell. Time to leave the diner and all the questions behind.

  * * *

  Once outside the restaurant, she walked down the sidewalk to the small boutique next to the cupcake shop. She'd not made it out of town to shop, so this was her next best option. The shop was tastefully decorated with pastel colored walls in a deep turquoise blue. Deep brown sashes hung from the windows and pooled on the floor. Soft music played in the background, the atmosphere making her feel as if she'd driven to a larger city.

  "Hello, let me know if I can help you." A curvy blonde waved to her. Eliza couldn't remember the woman's name so she smiled in return.

  The first rack that caught her attention held long sundresses. Some were black with colorful flowers and others blue.

  She eyed a mannequin dressed in a two-piece lacy top and A-line skirt.

  "This would look great on you. You have the perfect body for it." The blonde appeared with an apple green dress. It was calf-length with pencil skirt. Geometric shapes drawn with white lines accented the apple green fabric. She immediately loved it. "Do you have a size fourteen?"

  Eliza walked out with two bags. One held her new dress and pretty white dangly earrings, the other a pair of strappy white sandals.

  When a hand took her upper arm, she gasped.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I called your name." Mark Hunter looked into her eyes and immediately her knees turned to jelly.

  "How are you doing?" She noted he had purpling under his eyes and his face seemed gaunt. "You haven't been getting enough rest looks like."

  The corner of his lips lifted and she wished they were comfortable enough with each other so she could offer him to come over to her place to relax. "Not exactly a compliment, Miss Brock."

  "Sorry." She flushed. "How about a cupcake and coffee? My treat."

  "Only if you promise I'll get to see you wearing whatever is in those bags." He eyed the bags. "Lingerie?"

  A chuckle escaped at his flirting. "Nope. A dress."

  He shrugged opening the door to Sweet Indulgence. "I'll take that."

  Eliza hated that she probably smelled of food and grease as she walked past him into the shop.

  Thankfully there were no other customers in the shop, so they picked a table tucked in the corner. Cassie called out a greeting. "Let me wash my hands, I'll be right there."

  They sat and he looked across the shop toward the cupcake display. "Do you have a favorite?" Mark asked.

  "I try different ones. I suppose the Banana-Berry is the one I order most often. You?"

  He watched her for a long moment. His eyes scanning her face. Thankfully the bruising was gone, but she wasn't sure any of her makeup remained after spending hours at a hot grill. "I like caramel."

  How those three words could get her turned on and squirming in her seat was a mystery. She cleared her throat when he smiled as if reading her thoughts. Thankfully Cassie walked over with a cupcake and cup of coffee for Mark. Caramel. She winked at Eliza. "He always gets the same thing unless there's no chocolate."

  "I'll have tea please," Eliza told her. "Earl Grey is fine."

  Mark took a bite of the cupcake and washed it down with coffee. "How have you been?"

  "Good,"
she told him honestly. "I've actually slept soundly last night. I think it helps that I know Deputy Scott is keeping an eye out."

  He nodded and watched as Cassie placed a small teapot and cup in front of her. She added cream to her tea and took a tentative sip.

  "I'm glad to hear it."

  "How's the investigation going?" she asked, hoping police work was the cause of his lack of sleep and not a woman. Just the thought made her stomach clench.

  "Can't stop thinking. Last night I tossed and turned, my mind working non-stop. I feel like I'm missing something obvious. Then again, that's what happens with these things. The clues are right in the open many times."

  She let out a breath of relief. Not a woman. "Shelly Mason was at the restaurant yesterday. That woman is the oddest widow."

  "Everyone grieves differently," he told her studying her face.

  "That's just it. She doesn't seem to be sad or anywhere close to upset. I suppose it's not right to judge her. We don't know what happens when she's home alone."

  "True," Mark replied between bites. "She’s not helping me take her off the suspect list. Can't figure out anyone besides her who had anything to gain from Eddie’s death."

  It was extraordinary to sit and have a conversation with a man who for months she dared to admire only from a distance. He seemed so out of her league. Yet at the same time, made her feel desirable and comfortable. "Oddly I just don't see Shelly as a killer. She's crazy and a bit eccentric, but seems to be nice enough."

  "You never know." Mark looked toward the counter where Cassie was helping another customer.

  "I'll get you another cupcake. What flavor?"

  He have her a wide grin. "I'll try the Banana-Berry."

  * * *

  It was almost six when her doorbell rang, Eliza didn't think twice before opening the door. She hoped it was Mark, who decided to stop by.

  Jay seemed surprised when she opened the door, his eyes wide. But he recovered fast enough to place his foot in the way to keep the door from closing. "Are you dating Deputy Hunter?"

  She gave up trying to close the door, opened it wider and stepped out into the landing. "What do you want, Jay? Please go away. I don't want to fight with you anymore."

  He looked past her to the interior. "I heard you two were cozy in the cupcake shop."

  "What I do and who I see is none of your damn business. Leave me alone." Eliza began to tremble with anger. "I'm tired of it. Go!" She pointed toward the stairs.

  As usual, Jay ignored her and scratched his head looking to the interior of her apartment. "I saw the lights on, wondered what you were doing."

  "We're not that kind of friends. You've ruined any chances of us having a friendship." Eliza glared at the annoying man.

  "I'm just being nice, here. No need to get mad." Jay held his hands palms up and assumed an innocent expression. "'Sides I came to apologize for what happened the other night. I've never forced myself on a woman before and I'm not going to blame it on being drunk, 'cause I wasn't really that drunk. I have no excuse."

  "I accept your apology. But this doesn't mean we're friends. I won't put up with you continuing this. Please, go home."

  They both heard the sound of footsteps and Jay turned just as a hand grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. Mark held the smaller man with one hand on the scruff of his shirt and the other flat on his shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

  Jay was smart enough not to struggle or hit Mark, he settled for glaring. "I came to apologize." He looked to Eliza. "Tell him that's what I just did."

  "He did." Eliza said narrowing her eyes. "And I asked him to leave. Which he ignored."

  Mark held back. The muscles on his back visibly shook. "Then I strongly suggest you do just that," he gritted out, releasing Jay.

  Jay waited until he was down the stairs to talk. "Just cause you're a deputy doesn't give you the right to interfere in people's business. This was a private conversation."

  "I've seen how your ‘private’ conversations with Eliza go," Mark replied, his face like stone.

  Eliza wasn't sure what to do once Jay left. Admittedly, she was shaken, hated to realize she feared Jay would never stop in his quest to bug the daylights out of her.

  It felt perfect when Mark neared and pulled her against his hard chest. She relaxed into him and let out a breath. "I wish he'd stop."

  "Don't worry about it. Let me handle it." He talked in a soothing voice. "How about we watch TV?" He lifted her face. "Sharknado is on."

  Feeling awkward, she pushed away from him. "I refuse to watch that movie." Eliza walked to the apartment and he followed.

  It turned out to be a relaxing evening. They sat on the couch with their feet up on the ottoman and microwave popcorn between them. Mark brought a two-liter bottle of Dr. Pepper, which they drank out of plastic tumblers. It was hard not to imagine how nice it would be if this turned into a relationship.

  When the stupid movie ended, they stayed sitting on the couch.

  "That was fun." Eliza admitted. Their eyes met and she lowered her gaze to his mouth. He read her signals clearly because his mouth covered hers. He tasted of popcorn and promise and she savored every bit of it. The man was a great kisser, his lips suckling hers and moving from one end of her lips to the other. He turned his head to get a better angle and she grabbed his shirt to try to keep from sliding off the couch into a puddle of goo.

  She fell back on the cushions and Mark landed over her. Of its own volition her leg wrapped around his thigh. His hardness flush against her body was like heaven and Eliza didn't want the moment to ever end.

  Mark kissed a trail to her throat and she gasped when his hand cupped her breast.

  "Oh." She pushed at his chest. "Mark."

  "Umm?" He'd made it to the top of her breast his tongue hot on her skin. She had to stop him before she dragged him to bed.

  "Get off me."

  He reacted so fast that he tumbled off the couch and landed on all fours.

  It was hard to hold it back a giggle. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to fall."

  He blinked up at her, his chest heaving. "Yeah--yeah." He sounded out of breath. "It's okay."

  It was comical to watch Mark crawl up and practically fall next to her on the couch. "I didn't mean to overstep. I'm sorry." The apologetic look on his face made her smile and she leaned forward and kissed his jaw.

  "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. That's the problem." Eliza bit her lip. "I want to be with you. I really do. But can we wait a bit?"

  He raked his hand through his hair, his brow creased. "Of course." Then his lips curved. "You want to be with me, huh? Awesome."

  Eliza hit him on the shoulder. "Shush up."

  An hour later, kissing her all the way to the door, he finally left. All the stress from seeing Jay was replaced with giddy excitement and undeniably sexual frustration.

  Hours later, tapping sounded, as if someone hammered on the door. Eliza groaned and sat up in bed. The sun was up, but by the dimness outside the window, it was still very early. Once again the noise followed by a woman's voice. “Eliza? Are you all right?”

  It sounded like the woman was in her house. She grabbed a discarded pair of sweatpants and jerked them on along with a sweater and rushed to the front room. Her door was wide open and her elderly neighbor stood inside, her cane held up with both hands. "Oh, thank goodness it's you. I was ready to knock some intruder to Kingdom Come," Old Mrs. Barker told her, demonstrating by swinging her cane like a sword.

  Eliza looked around the room and didn't notice anything out of place. "Was the door open?"

  Mrs. Barker nodded. "Yes, I was about to leave for my morning walk and thought it was strange that your door was wide open so early and you were nowhere to be seen. Should we call Deputy Hunter?"

  Then she saw the note. A white piece of paper stuck to the cabinet above the sink. She neared it and her eyes widened. "Yes, I think we should call him."

  Chapter Seven
>
  Mark stopped the cruiser in front of Mason's home. He was running out of ideas. Thankfully Scott was with him, to keep her flirting at bay. Just maybe their joint presence would get Shelly to open up without trying the old flirting routine.

  His cell phone vibrated and he saw it was a call from Eliza. He hit the ignore button, now wishing he wasn't in the car with Scott so he could talk freely. He'd thought about her until falling asleep.

  "What are you thinking?" Scott studied the house with a frown, not seeing his grin. "Think she did it?"

  "I don't know," Mark replied honestly. "She could have slipped him the Benadryl, but she wasn't the one to slit his throat. Unless she got a ride there and back, I don't see how that was possible."

  "Maybe she paid someone to do it."

  The radio bleeped and both listened but nothing of interest came through. "It just doesn't seem like she's the kind to plan something like this. I can see someone instructing her to give him the drugs. I don't know. But I say we try to shake her up a bit."

  Shelly took her time opening the door. Through narrowed eyes she regarded them. "What now? Did you come to tell me I can get Eddie?"

  Scott took the lead after noticing Mark took a step back. "No, ma'am, we have a few more questions for you."

  "Come in." Her request took them by surprise, but they walked in at her moving away from the door. Shelly plopped down on a couch that had seen better days. She lit a cigarette and didn't invite them to sit.

  Scott was smart enough to not play her game. He sat on a chair next to the couch looking out of place amongst what looked to be dirty laundry. "Ma'am, can you tell us if Eddie took medication the morning he died?"

  It was brief, but surprise registered on her face. "Not that I know of. I was still in bed when he left."