Bride Of Dreams

“Caroline came to the wedding with Marge,” he began. Cooper nodded, silently urging his friend to continue. “Sometime during the reception, Dad went inside the house. While there, he noticed Caroline standing by his desk, looking at a family picture.” His glance slid sideways to ensure the object of their conversation wasn’t nearby.

“Since she must have been invited, I can’t arrest her for trespassing.” Cooper said. “Do you have another reason for telling me this? Did you ever stop to think she might have been admiring the Spencer boys? Although with all of you falling into the marriage trap, the odds of her landing a Spencer are now zip.”

Brady shook his head. “Not likely. This one was taken when we were boys.” He paused and looked down at his hands, which were cupped around his coffee mug. “All I’m asking is that you see what you can dig up on this woman. Nothing heavy-duty.” Brady looked up at Cooper. “Dad wouldn’t ask you. You know how he is.”

Cooper certainly knew Elias Spencer. The older man and his three sons were like family.

And more than anyone, Cooper knew the story about Elias’s wife and how she’d left him and their sons. After all, it had been last fall when Brady’s brother Seth had asked Cooper to find information on their mother, Violet. The sad part was her leaving them in order to be with another man. Elias had never spoken her name again, until recently, and the Spencer brothers likewise acted as if they’d never had a mother. They had, however, discovered they had a half sibling out there somewhere. Apparently Violet had died in childbirth.

Still, Cooper balked.

“Why me? Why not ask her yourself?” he asked. “It still could have been something innocent. Lots of people like to look at family photographs.”

Brady shook his head. “Dad said there was a look on her face that had nothing to do with idle curiosity.” He glanced at his watch and quickly finished his coffee. “I’ve got to get to the hospital.” He started to rise, then stopped and looked at his friend. “Will you see if you can find anything out?”

Cooper didn’t tell him he’d had a few suspicions of his own about Tyler’s new resident. “There’s no reason for me to do it through official channels.”

“Hey, she’s single. You’re single.” Brady arched an eyebrow. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to get out a little more.”

“Now you sound like my grandfather,” he muttered into his orange juice. “Go on. I’ll do whatever I can.”

Brady nodded and headed for the front of the diner. He stopped at the register and talked to Marge for a few moments before leaving.

Cooper envied people like Brady, who could talk to anyone about anything. As for him, he was never much for small talk, so the idea of finding out about Caroline Benning wasn’t going to be easy. Too bad she hadn’t stolen something at Elias’s house. Then he’d have a good reason to haul her in for questioning, and he’d have a chance to find out everything he needed to know.

He guessed he’d have to let the good ladies of the town do some of the work for him. He was certain they’d do a hell of a more thorough job of it, too.

He’d wondered about Caroline more than usual. Part of it had to do with the fact that during the short time she’d been in Tyler, she showed more interest in the Spencer men than was normal for a newcomer.

It had Cooper asking why.

His cynical side said it could have something to do with the fact that the Spencer brothers were each successful in their own right. Along with being good-looking.

Cooper had returned to his newspaper when Caroline came by to refill his cup. He shook his head and placed his hand over the top. “No more for me, thanks. In fact, I’ll just take the check.”

“You’re in luck, Deputy Night Hawk,” she told him. “Dr. Spencer paid for your breakfast. He said it’s your retainer.” Mild curiosity darkened her eyes.

He tamped down the curse that threatened to erupt, and swallowed the last of his coffee. “No matter how it looks, we’re not talking bribery here. The good doctor is regretting he can’t eat blueberry pancakes any longer. Delicate digestion,” he confided, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet.

Caroline shook her head. “Dr. Spencer left a tip also.”

Cooper picked up his newspaper and folded it. “Have a good morning, Caroline.”

“You too, Deputy.”

His departure was slow but steady as he left the diner. People stopped him, some voicing mild complaints. It was nothing new to him, and he listened to the usual tales of dogs barking late into the night, kids riding their skateboards over lawns and little Rocky Edwards teasing Miss Smythe’s nasty-tempered cat, Orlando. Cooper assured Miss Smythe he’d have a talk with Rocky.

With a full stomach and a feeling of contentment, Cooper walked past the town square as he headed for the police substation, located just beyond.

“Mrs. Forrester called,” Hedda told him the minute he entered the building. She waved a pink message slip decorated with a vivid purple ink. Hedda believed the more colorful the note the easier it was to remember.

Cooper closed his eyes. “She’s missing more underwear?”

“She wants to file a complaint against Mrs. Gray,” Hedda explained, slipping her reading glasses on. The brightly colored frames highlighted her face, which was expertly made up.

Cooper couldn’t remember ever seeing Hedda without makeup on. Her graying brown hair was pulled up and back in a bouncy ponytail tied with a colorful turquoise-and-pink scarf. She said if she had to wear a black uniform, then by God, she’d wear color anywhere else she could. No one dared ask her where else that color might be. A good idea, since they all knew if they asked she’d be only too happy to tell them.

Cooper always felt he needed sunglasses when facing her.

“Do I want to know why?”

Hedda smiled. “It seems Mrs. Gray told her she was tying up the local law office with nonsense when they could be doing something better suited to their talents. Mrs. Forrester insists there was a threat in there somewhere. I have no idea where that threat is, but I’m sure you’ll find it.” She beamed as she handed over the slip.

“I guess I should be grateful she’s not insisting aliens are behind the so-called thefts,” he muttered.

“Be careful, that just might be next.”

Cooper headed for the rear of the station.

After the way his day had begun, the rest of it should turn out to be a piece of cake.

Chapter Two

Caroline liked the idea that she could walk anywhere she wanted to. Since she’d arrived in Tyler, she’d only taken her car when she wanted to explore outside of town.

She ignored her tired feet as she left the diner when her shift was over. She was grateful the Kelsey Boarding House was only two blocks away. The late afternoon sun was still warm on her face as she walked down the sidewalk.

This was what she liked best—the chance to watch the townspeople interact. She’d never thought of herself as a people watcher until she came here.

“Good afternoon, Caroline.” Ed Martin greeted her with a grimace that she knew was his way of smiling. Rumor had it the video store owner had a fear that too much smiling would cause his dentures to slip out of his mouth. He stood in the doorway to his store as if he planned on dragging in customers off the sidewalk.

“Mr. Martin.” She smiled back and stopped. “We didn’t see you today for lunch.”

“Had to unpack and set out the new releases. They arrived late today. But you’ll see me tomorrow,” he promised. “Can’t go too many days without having Marge’s meat loaf.”

“You’re not the only one.” She walked on.

When Caroline reached the walkway leading to the boardinghouse, she noticed one of the sheriff’s department vehicles cruise by. As it slowed down, she realized Cooper Night Hawk was in the driver’s seat. He nodded a silent greeting toward her before driving on. She managed a jerky nod as she turned to walk up to the house.

“It’s about time he noticed you as more than the one taking his breakfast order,” Anna Kelsey said from the porch, where she sat in a rocking chair with a bowl of snap beans in her lap. A fat ginger-colored cat lay nearby.

Caroline felt her cheeks heat. “I thought you said you didn’t believe in matchmaking.” She glanced down at the cat. “Hey, Sam. Are my feet safe today?” She kept a wary eye on the cat as she dropped into the rocking chair next to Anna. She released a sigh as she kicked off her denim flats and stretched her legs out in front of her. She still kept a close eye on the cat, which was known to attack feet when the owner least expected it. “It’s so nice to sit down for more than five seconds.”

“Busy day?” Anna asked.

“Uh-huh. I think the entire population of Tyler, with the exception of you, came in to the diner today.”

“Even Cooper Night Hawk?” she inquired in a mild voice, continuing to snap beans. Caroline studied her feet.