till.”
Alana had totally forgotten about the jukebox. Although she wouldn’t mind having a look at it, she didn’t like the idea of Sadie being on that bad leg. “What is it you have to do in order to open?”
The older woman stopped at the massive mahogany bar and rested against it. “Wipe off tables that I should’ve taken care of last night, make sure I have enough clean glasses, cut up limes, that sort of thing. Why?”
She shrugged. “I figured I could help.”
Sadie regarded her with an element of shock. “Well, now, that I didn’t expect.”
“Me, neither,” Alana said with a smile. Normally she was allergic to manual labor. That’s why she had a housekeeper come in twice a week. “Noah is working, and frankly, I don’t have anything else to do.” Okay, so she also hoped to find out more about the sheriff. But no one had to know that.
“You’re gonna get your nice clothes dirty,” Sadie said, eyeing the navy blue slacks and high heels.
“No, I won’t.” Alana picked up the bag with her new Levi’s and T-shirts. “You have a place where I can change?”
Sadie stared at her for a long, silent moment, with keen eyes that seemed to see too much. “Head on back past the pool tables. You’ll see the ladies’ room door on the left.”
Without another word, Alana did just that, hoping like hell she wouldn’t regret the gesture. But then, really, what was the worst that could happen?
8
I T WAS EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE Noah returned to his office feeling as if he hadn’t had a chance to breathe since breakfast. Half a dozen calls had him and Roy hopping from one ranch to the next. Roy should’ve had the day off after working last night, especially since he was on for Sunday. But Noah only had two other deputies—Danny, who was sick with the flu, and Gus, who worked part-time and was away for a few days.
Typically, that would’ve been just fine. But with everyone jumpy because of the latest theft, normally rational folks were ready to pull the trigger if they saw a mouse dart across the barn floor. What a mess.
As soon as the office door closed behind him, Noah yanked off his hat, tossed it on his desk and plowed his hands through his hair. After threatening to string up half the population of Salina County for being dimwits, he hoped the rest of the weekend was more peaceful. Of course, he still had Alana to deal with.
He took a look at his watch and cursed. He’d asked Sadie to check up on her, but that had been almost three hours ago. There weren’t enough stores in Blackfoot Falls to keep Alana busy for that long. With all the thinking he’d done about her, the images that had intruded at the most inconvenient times, how had he let so much time go by?
He scooped up his hat, set it back on his head and left the office without checking for messages. Though most everyone knew his cell number and didn’t hesitate to keep him on speed dial, even if it was only to rescue a cat that had climbed too high.
On his way out the door, he tried calling his house, hoping she was there. No answer. He glanced down Main Street, shaking his head at all the tacky Halloween decorations. The Blackfoot Falls Betterment Committee, or so Louise, Mildred, Sylvia and the Lemon sisters called themselves, had gone all-out. They were even urging people from Cutter’s Crossing and Maryville to come to the festivities planned for next Friday night. Just what he needed. More strangers and mischievous kids traipsing around town while he tried to get a handle on the thefts.
He didn’t bother checking Abe’s place. No way would Alana still be there, shooting the breeze with the usual Saturday crowd that drifted to the variety store after eating at the diner. They’d all be busting with curiosity and peppering her with questions. He had a hunch that wouldn’t turn out well…for anybody.
The Watering Hole had already opened for business, and he figured Sadie would be his best bet to locate Alana. He just
Alana had totally forgotten about the jukebox. Although she wouldn’t mind having a look at it, she didn’t like the idea of Sadie being on that bad leg. “What is it you have to do in order to open?”
The older woman stopped at the massive mahogany bar and rested against it. “Wipe off tables that I should’ve taken care of last night, make sure I have enough clean glasses, cut up limes, that sort of thing. Why?”
She shrugged. “I figured I could help.”
Sadie regarded her with an element of shock. “Well, now, that I didn’t expect.”
“Me, neither,” Alana said with a smile. Normally she was allergic to manual labor. That’s why she had a housekeeper come in twice a week. “Noah is working, and frankly, I don’t have anything else to do.” Okay, so she also hoped to find out more about the sheriff. But no one had to know that.
“You’re gonna get your nice clothes dirty,” Sadie said, eyeing the navy blue slacks and high heels.
“No, I won’t.” Alana picked up the bag with her new Levi’s and T-shirts. “You have a place where I can change?”
Sadie stared at her for a long, silent moment, with keen eyes that seemed to see too much. “Head on back past the pool tables. You’ll see the ladies’ room door on the left.”
Without another word, Alana did just that, hoping like hell she wouldn’t regret the gesture. But then, really, what was the worst that could happen?
8
I T WAS EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE Noah returned to his office feeling as if he hadn’t had a chance to breathe since breakfast. Half a dozen calls had him and Roy hopping from one ranch to the next. Roy should’ve had the day off after working last night, especially since he was on for Sunday. But Noah only had two other deputies—Danny, who was sick with the flu, and Gus, who worked part-time and was away for a few days.
Typically, that would’ve been just fine. But with everyone jumpy because of the latest theft, normally rational folks were ready to pull the trigger if they saw a mouse dart across the barn floor. What a mess.
As soon as the office door closed behind him, Noah yanked off his hat, tossed it on his desk and plowed his hands through his hair. After threatening to string up half the population of Salina County for being dimwits, he hoped the rest of the weekend was more peaceful. Of course, he still had Alana to deal with.
He took a look at his watch and cursed. He’d asked Sadie to check up on her, but that had been almost three hours ago. There weren’t enough stores in Blackfoot Falls to keep Alana busy for that long. With all the thinking he’d done about her, the images that had intruded at the most inconvenient times, how had he let so much time go by?
He scooped up his hat, set it back on his head and left the office without checking for messages. Though most everyone knew his cell number and didn’t hesitate to keep him on speed dial, even if it was only to rescue a cat that had climbed too high.
On his way out the door, he tried calling his house, hoping she was there. No answer. He glanced down Main Street, shaking his head at all the tacky Halloween decorations. The Blackfoot Falls Betterment Committee, or so Louise, Mildred, Sylvia and the Lemon sisters called themselves, had gone all-out. They were even urging people from Cutter’s Crossing and Maryville to come to the festivities planned for next Friday night. Just what he needed. More strangers and mischievous kids traipsing around town while he tried to get a handle on the thefts.
He didn’t bother checking Abe’s place. No way would Alana still be there, shooting the breeze with the usual Saturday crowd that drifted to the variety store after eating at the diner. They’d all be busting with curiosity and peppering her with questions. He had a hunch that wouldn’t turn out well…for anybody.
The Watering Hole had already opened for business, and he figured Sadie would be his best bet to locate Alana. He just
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