Snowbound Suspicion. Cindi Myers

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СКАЧАТЬ care if you smoke—just don’t set the barns on fire.”

      “Don’t tell my mother,” Doug said, then took another long drag. In his late twenties or early thirties, he had close-cropped brown hair and freckles. Cody had never seen him smile, and probably hadn’t exchanged a dozen words with him in the week since he had arrived at the ranch.

      Neither man said anything as Doug finished the cigarette. He threw down the butt and ground it into the snow with the heel of his boot. “Who’s that girl?” he asked. “The one who showed up today.”

      “You mean Bette?” Was Doug asking because he was interested in the pretty newcomer? Cody couldn’t blame the guy, though he didn’t think the sullen cook was the type to catch the eye of someone like Bette. “She’s catering the wedding.”

      “Yeah, but who is she? Where’s she from and who decided she should come here?”

      “She’s from Denver and she’s a friend of Lacy’s.”

      “Did you know her in Denver?”

      “No. Why did you think that?”

      “The two of you seemed friendly, that’s all.”

      Cody laughed. He wouldn’t have called his interaction with Bette exactly friendly. “Are you worried she might take your mother’s job?” he asked. “I don’t think that’s her intention at all.”

      Doug rolled his shoulders. “Just wondering. How long is she going to be here?”

      “The wedding is in two and a half weeks, so I imagine she’ll be here at least until then.”

      “Just wondering,” he said again, then stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I gotta go.”

      He shuffled off through the snow, away from the house. He was an odd duck, Cody thought, but then, it took all kinds. He headed back to the house and found Lacy and Bette seated before the fire. “Cody!” Lacy greeted him with her usual enthusiasm. “We wondered where you had gone off to.”

      “I thought I’d give you two a little time alone to catch up,” he said. He took a seat at the end of the sofa on one side of the woodstove, opposite Bette.

      “So considerate,” Lacy said. “Have you been bored out of your mind up here by yourself? I hope not.”

      “I’m okay,” he said. “How’s Travis? Any word on how the case is going?”

      Lacy shook her head. “I saw him for a few minutes this afternoon, but you know him—he doesn’t like to talk about cases. He did say he’d try to make it home for dinner.”

      “Being a cop’s wife isn’t for the faint of heart,” Cody said.

      “Oh, I know that.” Lacy waved off his concern. “But I love Travis as much for what he does as for who he is. I like that he’s so committed to doing what’s right. If he wasn’t, I’d still be sitting in prison.”

      Cody still marveled that Travis had ended up marrying a woman he had arrested for murder. Three years after her conviction, the sheriff had discovered new evidence that proved Lacy was innocent, and he had thrown himself into seeing that her conviction was vacated. After she was freed, he had enlisted her help to find the real murderer. Talk about an unlikely love story.

      “I can’t believe there’s a serial killer in Eagle Mountain,” Bette said. “Lacy, why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I didn’t want to scare you off,” Lacy said. “Call me selfish, but it’s true.” She leaned toward her friend. “You’re not scared, are you? You don’t need to be. I can’t think of anything safer than being here at the ranch, with two lawmen in residence, now that Cody is staying here. And Gage is up here all the time, too.”

      “I’m not afraid,” Bette said. “Though Cody said one of the women was killed here on the ranch.”

      Lacy frowned. “Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean it was someone from here. We were having a scavenger hunt. People were spread out all over the place, so the killer could have sneaked onto the property at any time. But if you make it a point not to go anywhere by yourself, you should be fine.”

      “I’m happy to accompany you if you need an escort,” Cody said, but the offer only earned him a sour look from Bette.

      The door from the kitchen opened and Rainey emerged, bearing a large silver tray. Cody rose to help her, but she shrugged him away. “I can get it,” she said, as she set the tray on the low table in front of the sofa. “I thought you might like something to snack on before supper.”

      “Oh, it looks delicious,” Lacy said, scooting forward and helping herself to a cheese puff.

      Rainey remained tight-lipped. “Have you seen Doug?” she asked. “He’s disappeared and it’s time for him to help me with supper.”

      “I saw him a few minutes ago, out by the stables,” Cody said.

      “Probably smoking a cigarette,” Rainey said. “He does that when he’s upset.”

      Cody stuffed a sausage roll into his mouth, using it as an excuse not to comment.

      “I can help you if you like,” Bette said. She started to stand. “Just tell me what you want me to do.”

      “I can manage fine on my own,” Rainey said. “I’ve been doing it for years. I’m sure you’re the reason Doug is staying away. You’ve upset him.”

      “What have I done to upset him?” Bette asked, but Rainey was already walking away, back to the kitchen.

      “I’m sorry she’s being so rude to you,” Lacy said. “I can talk to Mr. and Mrs. Walker if you like. I’m sure they would speak to her.”

      “No, don’t say anything. I don’t want to cause trouble.” She stood. “I think what I’d like to do is freshen up before dinner. And I want to check out that cute cabin where you’ve put me. I didn’t see much when we dropped off my luggage.”

      Cody stood. “Let me walk you out. My cabin isn’t far and I should probably clean up before dinner, too.”

      “I don’t think that’s really necessary,” she said.

      “Humor me,” he said, lifting her coat off the pegs by the door.

      “Let him go with you,” Lacy said. “I mean, you’re probably perfectly fine, but until Travis catches this killer, it probably doesn’t hurt to be overly cautious.”

      If looks could kill, Cody thought Lacy might have been at least injured by the glare Bette sent her, but she allowed Cody to help her into her coat, and she stalked out the door in front of him.

      Cody followed, not trying to catch up with her, more amused than insulted. He half suspected Lacy of doing a little matchmaking, trying to throw the two of them together, but it probably didn’t hurt for the women to be a little more careful until the murderer was caught.

      Bette had been assigned the first in a row of four log guest cabins arranged alongside the creek, past the horse СКАЧАТЬ