Colton Cowboy Hideout

“Five brothers and a sister, but my mother died when I was three and we had an absent father, so we were all separated and grew up in different foster-care homes.”

“Foster care can be tough. It must have been especially difficult being separated from your brothers and sister.”

She stared down at the tabletop and traced an imaginary pattern on the wood with her fingertip. “It was, but you know what they say—when you’re handed lemons make lemonade.”

She dropped her hand into her lap and looked up at him again. “By the time I was six there were five other foster kids living in the same house as me. I made them my brothers and sisters and tried to take good care of them. What about you? Do you have other family?”

“It’s just me and my daughters,” he replied.

Eldridge was missing under mysterious circumstances. Josie Colton stirred something inside Tanner that hadn’t been stirred in a long time. Then there was the worry that he probably needed to hire a new nanny...again.

He was almost relieved when Sheriff Troy Watkins appeared in the doorway. “Tanner, I need to ask you both some questions.” The tall, dark-haired lawman pulled a notepad and pen out of his shirt pocket and then looked at Josie, his gray eyes flat and emotionless.

“Josie Colton, I understand you arrived at the ranch just before Eldr—Mr. Colton was found missing. Where were you last night?”

“I was at my apartment in Granite Gulch. I got up early this morning to drive in,” Josie replied. “If they have security cameras around the area, then I’m sure they’ll show you precisely when I arrived here.”

“And you’re one of Mr. Colton’s cousins?” Troy asked.

“We’re third cousins. I’ve never even met him. I just spoke to him on the phone last night. He agreed to let me come here and search for an old watch that belongs to my father.”

Troy turned to look at Tanner. “And what about you, Tanner? Where were you in the hours before Eldridge was found missing?”

“I spent the night in the barn. We had a horse that foaled and I didn’t leave the barn until this morning when I came into the house to speak with Whitney. She introduced me to Josie and here we are. Several of the ranch hands were in and out of the barn all night,” Tanner explained. “They can tell you I was in the barn until this morning.”

“I only planned on being here today,” Josie said.

“Your plans have now changed,” Troy replied flatly. “I don’t want you leaving here until we’ve conducted a more thorough investigation.”

He turned back to look at Tanner. “Whitney told me to tell you to find accommodations for Ms. Colton in the staff wing and to see that she has whatever she needs.”

Tanner stifled a sigh. As if he didn’t already have enough chaos in his brain, he’d now been given a babysitting duty for a very hot young woman whose lower lip trembled slightly. Her eyes had darkened with what suspiciously looked like secrets.

Chapter 2 (#ulink_e762813c-1bbb-5ec4-8337-e1f82d3091bd)

It was like watching a mystery movie where Josie didn’t know the actors and definitely couldn’t get a grasp on the plot. Eldridge was missing, Whitney thought she was the devil incarnate and the only oddly comforting element in the craziness was the tall, rather stoic man beside her whom she’d met only an hour or so ago.

Evil. You came from evil and that blood runs through your veins. She mentally shook her head to dispel the inner voice that haunted her more often than she wanted to admit.

She’d been grateful that the sheriff hadn’t asked any questions about her father. Her first impulse now was to jump in her car and get out of here as fast as possible, but with the sheriff’s admonition not to leave the property ringing in her ears, that wasn’t an option.

Even though she’d never met Eldridge she was concerned for his safety, but she couldn’t believe she was now under some sort of house arrest until further notice.

“Come on. I’ll show you to the staff quarters,” Tanner said. “Besides, I’m eager to check in on my daughters.”

She followed him out of the dining room and into a labyrinth of hallways that led farther away from the family’s living space.

“The left wing is where Fowler and Alanna live,” he explained as they walked. “In the main house Eldridge and Whitney have the first-floor suite and everyone else has suites on the second floor. This right wing is for some of the staff.”

“None of the children are married?” she asked.

“As far as I know, none of them are even close except maybe Fowler. He’s had a girlfriend forever, but so far they aren’t even engaged yet.”

“Fowler’s the oldest, right?”

Tanner nodded. “He’s the president of Colton Incorporated and a genius at business wheeling and dealing.”

Josie frowned. From what small interaction she’d seen between all of them, Fowler had appeared to be a bit of a pompous jerk.

“Feel free to check on your daughters before you show me to a room,” Josie said as they turned down another long hallway.

He flashed her a grateful smile over his muscled shoulder. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

No, thank you. Oh, she could definitely get used to his beautiful smiles. But, of course, she hoped she wouldn’t be here long enough to get used to anything. Hopefully she’d find the watch and then the sheriff would allow her to go home before the end of the day.

They continued down several more hallways before he stopped in front of a door. “This is my suite,” he said and then opened the door to allow her into a small but inviting living room with a kitchenette area.

The room was decorated in warm earth tones and the brown sofa held not only a couple of yellow throw pillows, but also a plastic baby doll and a little bedraggled stuffed dog. Two high chairs sat side by side on the small square of tiled area just in front of a window next to the refrigerator.

The sound of crying babies drifted out from another room. Josie followed him through the living room, past what was obviously the master bedroom, and another closed door and then into a smaller room where Brianna stood with one twin in her arms and the other one clinging to her legs. The young nanny looked frantic.

Despite their tears, the twins were beautiful, each with blond curls and big blue eyes. One was clad in pink shorts and a pink-flowered top and the other was dressed all in purple.

The room was obviously not only a place for the twins to sleep, but also where they played. A large wooden box rested between the two cribs and was filled with toys, and a miniature table and chairs in bright primary colors was set against one wall.

“What’s going on?” Tanner asked. The little girl in Brianna’s arms reached out to him and he took her from the nanny.

Josie didn’t hesitate. She leaned down and plucked the other twin from Brianna’s legs. “Hi, baby,” she said with a big smile. “Are you Lily or Leigh?”

The beautiful blond-haired girl stopped crying and eyed Josie soberly, and then her rosebud lips curled up into a responding smile.

“You have Lily,” Tanner said. “Lily wears purple and Leigh wears pink to make it easy for people to tell them apart.” He patted Leigh’s back as she sniffled a final little hiccuping sob. “How long have they been crying?” He looked at Brianna.

“Just for a couple of minutes,” she replied and her pointed chin thrust upward defensively. “It’s time for them to go down for their morning nap and they always get a bit crabby around now.”

As if to support Brianna’s claim, Lily yawned and snuggled closer against Josie’s chest. Josie’s heart squeezed with a sharp surge of unexpected emotion.

There had never been much softness in Josie’s life, but her head was now filled with the scent of sweet baby and Lily’s little body warmed not just the front of her blouse, but radiated through the cotton material to heat her heart in a way she’d never felt before.

Tanner gazed at Lily and Josie for a long moment. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just get them settled down in their cribs before we take off.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Josie replied. “Take all the time you need.”

Brianna sat on a tiny chair at a miniature table as Tanner carried Leigh to one of the cribs.

Josie followed his lead and took Lily to the other crib and placed her on the mattress on her tummy. She rubbed Lily’s back and Lily scrubbed at her eyes with a balled fist.

Within minutes both girls were sound asleep and Tanner gestured for Brianna and Josie to follow him out of the nursery and back into the living room.