Page 17 of Cowboy Peril

She nickered as if she understood him and tossed her head.

“Okay, girl. We’ll head out right after supper. I’ll bring you an apple.” Emotions soothed, he returned to work.

The ringing of the supper bell pulled him away from cleaning horse hooves. He washed up in the water trough, then joined the other ranch hands in the kitchen since the construction workers had gone for the day.

“Want me to saddle Crystal for you?” Willy glanced up from his bowl of stew. “Saw you talking to her.”

“I can do it, thanks.” He sat at one end of the table.

“Crystal is a horse?” Parker set a bowl in front of him. “If you’re going riding, can I come? You know I love to ride. Is there a horse I can use whenever I have time?”

“Just ask any of the hands. They’ll fix you up.”

“Okay, but what about tonight?”

“You’ll be helping Mrs. White during the time I’m riding.” He bent over his stew without looking at her, knowing there’d be a pained look on her face. “And no riding alone.” That was asking for danger to come knocking.

“I’m sure any one of these fine men would accompany me, am I right?”

Yeps rang out.

He tamped down the seed of jealousy rising in him. At least she wouldn’t be alone. Any of the ranch hands were capable of keeping her safe. He’d make sure to let them all know not to leave the grounds. She might throw a fit, but he didn’t care. The sheriff had asked him to look after her, and that’s what he intended to do. His hand holding the spoon paused on the way to his mouth. Palming her off on someone else was not doing what the sheriff asked. “Fine. I’ll wait for you.” His shoulders slumped.

The two of them had spent many weekends riding. It had been one of his favorite pastimes with her. The last thing he wanted to do was ride with her again. He finished eating and sought solace in the barn again. Daisy, the horse the boss’s wife had learned to ride on, would be fine for Parker. Yes, she knewhow to ride and rode well, but Daisy wouldn’t be spurred to gallop, thus preventing Parker from pulling too far ahead of Colt.

If he lost sight of her, the killer would have a prime opportunity to make his move.

Chapter Eight

Parker woke witha smile on her face. For the last few nights, Colt had accompanied her on a horseback ride. He always stayed a little behind her, but he still came along, which gave her hope that someday maybe he would forgive her, and they could start over.

A knock on her bedroom door had her catapulting from the bed. She yanked it open with a grin, fully hoping to see Colt standing there.

Instead, Mrs. White thrust a single red rose and a card at her. “Found these on the front porch of the main house with your name. Looks like you have an admirer. Marilyn is back, so no need to rush to the kitchen.”

“Thank you.” Parker turned the card over in her hands. While her heart wanted the rose to be from Colt, instinct told her it wasn’t. She sat on the edge of her bed and opened the card.

Roses are red, Violets are blue, don’t worry, darling, I’m coming for you.

She dropped the card, sending it fluttering to the floor. The rose lay like a blotch on her bed quilt. As if it would burn her fingers, she picked it up by the stem and dropped it into the garbage.

Parker needed to find Colt. He would know what to do. She quickly got dressed, slid the card into the pocket of her jeans, and dashed toward cottage number one. After several seconds of frantic knocking, she realized Colt wasn’t home. She turned and surveyed the surrounding area.

His horse grazed in the paddock. Ranch hands in cowboy hats and boots worked at their morning chores. No sign of Colt. Where was he? She needed him!

Cupping her hands around her eyes, she peered through his front window. If he wasn’t outside working, he had to be home. She rapped on the window.

Oh. Her mouth dropped open as he stepped into the kitchen wrapped in nothing but a large blue and white striped towel. She stepped back and spun around to leave.

“It’s okay.” He opened the door, retreating to his bedroom loft when she entered. “Give me five minutes.” He glanced back over his shoulder, then stopped. “What is it?”

She cleared her throat and shook her head. “It can wait. I’ll…uh…make coffee.” The tiny galley-style kitchen offered little reprieve as her mind whirled with Colt getting dressed over her head. Completely inappropriate thoughts.Lord, help me.

“Tell me.” Colt stepped into view, buttoning a blue and black plaid shirt. “I can tell from your face something is wrong.”

“Mrs. White gave me this. Said it was left on the front porch of the main house. It came with a single red rose.”

His features hardened as he read the message. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “We have to give this to the sheriff. Maybe he can pull some prints that aren’t yours, mine, or Mrs. White’s. Where’s the rose?”

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