The Cop

Kelly went looking, but all she found were the furry moccasins. She came back holding one in each hand. “These?”

“Yep.”

Restraining herself from rolling her eyes, she said, “Let me make a quick call.”

She phoned Olsen’s, the only men’s store in town that sold something other than Western wear and work clothes. They didn’t have any dress shoes in Cole’s size; they’d sold the last pair to Stanley Bickham last Thursday. They had one pair of brown sandals left over from summer. She even called the store that carried cowboy boots, hoping to find something nice in his size. The only things they had to fit were two pair of rubber boots and some tan steel-toed loggers.

Knowing that there wasn’t time to drive to Travis Lake and back, Kelly grabbed the fur-lined moccasins. “At least these will keep your toes warm,” she said as she slipped them on his feet. “Stand up and let’s put on the coat.”

The fit wasn’t too bad. “You look very handsome,” she told him.

“For a sausage?”

“Maybe the coat’s a little tight across the shoulders, but if you don’t button it, it’s fine. Let me get your wheelchair.”

“I’ll use the walker.”

“We’ll use the chair. Listen to the doctor.”

“Darlin’, you’re not my doctor.”

They finally compromised and took both.

While Cole buckled his seat belt, Kelly anxiously checked her watch and prayed that her timing would be right.

She drove to a convenience store, hurried in to make her purchase and came out with two small foam cups. She handed one to Cole.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Coffee. I told you we were going out for coffee.”

He took a sip and frowned. “It tastes like engine sludge.”

She tried it. The stuff was ghastly. She dumped both cups in the trash and drove to the church. He didn’t even comment as she parked in the side lot.

“I thought that since we were dressed up and out anyway, we might go to the wedding,” she said.

That amused expression of his was back again. “You did, huh?”

“You’ll go?”

“Red, for most of my adult life I’ve been around the worst kind of scum who can lie easier than they can tell the truth. Not much gets by me, and you didn’t even come close.”

“If you knew my intentions, why did you go along so easily?”

“I’m a pushover for redheads.” He winked.

“You really wanted to come, didn’t you?”

He shrugged and glanced away. It was that pride again, Kelly thought. He could have never gotten dressed by himself, and he didn’t want to ask for help or be a burden to any of his family. Lord, the male ego was unbelievable.

Once he got into his wheelchair, she pushed him into the church and to the side door of the sanctuary. J.J. stood there with the minister and his brothers Frank and Sam.

J.J. broke into a big grin and slapped Cole on the back. “’Bout damn time you got here. We’re fixin’ to start.”

“Let’s take our places, gentlemen,” the minister said, opening the door.

He went in and J.J. and Frank followed. Sam, the youngest brother and a Texas Ranger, grabbed the handles of the chair and started wheeling Cole in behind the others.

“Hold it, Sam!” Cole whispered. “I’m not going with y’all. Hell, I’ve got on Daddy’s house shoes.”

“Shut up, Cole,” Sam said. “And smile.”

Chapter Four

“You may kiss your bride,” the minister said, and J.J. planted a good one on her.

When the new couple was introduced to the congregation, the entire assembly rose and burst into thunderous applause. There was a packed house. Since this was Mary Beth’s second marriage, she and J.J. had originally planned an intimate wedding with only family and a few friends, but because most of the town felt a party to their courtship, they didn’t want to leave out anyone and risk hurt feelings. They had solved the problem by posting a notice in the newspaper.

Kelly had slipped into a vacant seat at the end of the front pew, planning to wheel Cole out the side door when the ceremony was over. She grinned when her plans went awry. Dixie, one of the bridesmaids, grabbed Cole’s chair and pushed him down the aisle behind the bride and groom and the other two pairs of attendants.

While the guests left for the reception at the VFW hall—the only place in town big enough to handle the crowd—the wedding party assembled back in the church for picture taking. Cole wanted no part of it, but his family insisted that he stay. He endured about fifteen minutes of posing, then signaled for Kelly.

“Tired?” she asked as she wheeled him outside.

“Not particularly. I’m just not much on saying cheese for a camera.”

“Your being there meant a lot to your family.”

He nodded.

As soon as they were in her car, she pulled out of the parking lot and turned left. After a block or two, Cole said, “Isn’t the motel in the other direction?”

She nodded.

“Where are you headed?”

“To the reception. I’m hungry. I want one of Buck’s shrimp puffs and a piece of wedding cake.”

“Who is Buck?” Cole asked.

“You haven’t met him yet? He’s Mary Beth’s assistant at the tearoom. He and her staff are in charge of catering.”

“Why don’t you drop me off at the inn, and then you can go on and enjoy yourself.”

“Mmm,” Kelly said as if she were actually considering it. “No, I don’t think so. I’d rather have a date.”

“A date? This is more like a kidnapping than a date. And I imagine that you could do better than me.”