Safety in Numbers. Carla Cassidy

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СКАЧАТЬ streets with the bad guys’ behinds.”

      Meredith laughed and smiled at the red-haired woman across from her. How nice it was that her brother Joshua had fallen in love with Savannah, who was Meredith’s best friend.

      The strange sensation that had momentarily gripped Meredith eased somewhat. She picked up a fry and dragged it through a pool of ketchup, then popped it into her mouth and chewed thoughtfully.

      Maybe it was all the craziness in the town that had her feeling so off center. It had only been a couple of weeks since Savannah had almost been killed after discovering that somebody was working with a corporation to buy up as much of Cotter Creek, Oklahoma, land as possible.

      The MoTwin Corporation had conspired to obtain the land to create a community of luxury condominiums and town houses. With the help of Joshua, Savannah had uncovered a plot that involved the murders of half a dozen local ranchers. The investigation was being taken out of the hands of local law enforcement and the FBI was now conducting the case.

      Meredith frowned. “I can’t believe they only sent two agents.”

      Savannah shrugged. “I don’t care how many there are as long as they get the job done.”

      Meredith smiled. “Have you seen them yet? They’re sure not going for subtlety with their suits and ties. They look as much out of place as a palm tree would look growing out of our stables.”

      Savannah leaned back in the booth and eyed Meredith. “I see you’ve been cutting your hair again.”

      Meredith raised a hand to her bangs and touched them self-consciously. “I just did a little trim.”

      Savannah laughed. “What did you use? A buzz saw?”

      “There are times I don’t find you half as amusing as you find yourself.”

      Savannah laughed again, then sobered. “I don’t know why you don’t take time to go to the Curl Palace and get one of the ladies to give you a real haircut and style.”

      Meredith stabbed another fry into her ketchup. “And why would I do that? I’ve got no reason to fancy myself up.”

      “If you’d fancy yourself up just a little you’d have all the single men in Cotter Creek vying for your attention.”

      “Half the men in town grew up thinking of me as a little sister, the other half were scared to death of my brothers. I don’t want their attention. Just because you’re madly in love with Joshua doesn’t mean it’s your job to see that I find a man. All I need right now is work.”

      “Joshua has been complaining about how slow things are at Wild West Protective Services right now,” Savannah said.

      Meredith nodded. “Things have definitely been slow. It’s been over a month since I’ve had an assignment.”

      Wild West Protective Services was the familyowned business that provided bodyguard and protection services around the country. Meredith worked for the business along with her five brothers.

      “I’m not used to so much downtime. It makes me nervous,” she said.

      And maybe that was what was causing her feeling of unease, she thought. Too much downtime. Or perhaps her disquiet was because of the dreams she’d been having lately, dreams of her dead mother.

      She glanced around the café; once again, then focused back on Savannah. “I’m thinking about asking Sheriff Ramsey to reopen the investigation into my mother’s murder,” she said.

      Savannah stared at her in surprise. “Talk about a cold case. It’s been what…twenty years?”

      “Twenty-five. I was three years old when she was murdered.” Meredith shoved her plate aside, her appetite gone. “I’ve been having dreams about her.” She frowned thoughtfully. “It’s like she can’t rest in peace until I find out who killed her.”

      “After all this time I’d think the odds were pretty poor that you’d discover who was responsible.” Savannah eyed her friend worriedly. “You’re right, you have too much time on your hands at the moment.”

      Meredith flashed a quick smile. “Maybe, but I am going to talk about it with Sheriff Ramsey.”

      Savannah’s gaze shot over Meredith’s shoulder. “You won’t believe the hunk that just walked in the front door.”

      “Does Joshua know you talk about other men like that?”

      Savannah raised a copper-colored eyebrow. “Honey, I love your brother, but I know a hunk when I see one.” Her eyes widened. “And this one is coming our way.”

      The words were barely out of her mouth before he appeared at the side of their booth. In her first glance, Meredith registered several things. He was a tall drink of water, topped by sandy-colored hair, with ice-blue eyes that pierced rather than gazed.

      Even though he was blond and blue-eyed there was nothing of a pretty boy about him. His face was lean, all angles that combined to give him a slightly dangerous aura. A faint white scar bisected one of his eyebrows. His presence seemed to fill the room with a pulsating energy.

      “Meredith West?”

      She jumped in surprise at his deep, smooth voice. “Yes? I’m Meredith.”

      “My name is Chase McCall. I’m a friend of your brother Dalton. He sent me over here to find you and ask if you’d be kind enough to take my mother and me to the ranch. This is my mother, Kathy.”

      It was only then that Meredith realized he wasn’t alone. Next to him stood a short, white-haired woman with blue eyes and a sweet smile. “Hello, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said. Despite the snowy hair on her head, there was a youthful sparkle in her eyes.

      Meredith vaguely remembered Dalton mentioning something about friends coming to town, but at the time he’d mentioned it she hadn’t paid much attention.

      “And I’m Savannah Clarion,” Savannah said. “Is it business or pleasure that brings you to Cotter Creek?”

      Meredith wasn’t surprised by Savannah’s question. As Cotter Creek’s star newspaper reporter, she had a healthy curiosity about everyone.

      “Strictly pleasure,” Kathy McCall replied, her eyes twinkling with good humor. “We decided to take a little trip together, you know mother/son bonding time, and Chase had heard so many things from Dalton about the charming Cotter Creek. So, here we are.”

      A flash of impatience shot across Chase’s features. “We’ve had a long bus ride to get here and we’d really like to get settled in.”

      “You came by bus?” Meredith looked at him in surprise. Neither of them had any luggage.

      “Somebody thought it would be a great idea,” he said tersely.

      Kathy’s smile made her look like a good-humored cherub. “It was lovely to see the scenery without worrying about Chase getting a speeding ticket or two.”

      “Where’s your luggage?” Meredith asked. She’d been in the bodyguard business СКАЧАТЬ