Bride Of Dreams

He leaned over and pushed open the passenger door. “Get in. I’ve got a tow hook in the back, so I can tow your car to the garage if it’s something that isn’t a quick fix, like a loose wire or you ran out of gas.”

“Unfortunately, I know from personal experience what happens when you run out of gas, and that wasn’t it. I have no idea about a dead battery.”

She climbed up into the cab and dropped onto the seat. She noticed the earthy aromas of horse and man mingling companionably in the small interior. Instead of his black deputy’s uniform, Cooper wore a denim shirt with the cuffs rolled back to reveal dark forearms, and jeans that had seen better days. His boots were scuffed and dusty. His aviator-style sunglasses hid the eyes she sensed never displayed any emotion. An equally battered hat perched low on his forehead.

He looked as imposing as he did in uniform. Now she understood about a man with presence. Cooper Night Hawk had it in spades.

“I was beginning to think I wouldn’t run into anyone,” she admitted. “I heard that country roads are quiet. They’re more than quiet. They’re downright empty. I guess I should feel lucky my car didn’t break down after dark. Who knows what I might have run into?”

“The only critters you’d find around here after dark are horny teenagers,” Cooper said. He glanced at her lap. “Put your seat belt on.”

She secured the harness and sat back against the door so she could face him. She slipped her sandals off and rubbed her feet. “What were you doing out here? Planning to pick off the teenagers when they show up?”

“We only come out here every so often,” he replied. “That way they don’t know when to expect us. We look around, see which car has the most steamed-up windows and tap on them. The area usually clears out within five minutes.”

“What a spoilsport you are, Deputy.” She grinned.

“That’s my job.”

“Right now you look more like a cowboy who’s been out on the range.”

He shook his head. “More like helping my grandfather with his garden. Which means he stands there and directs while I do the heavy work. He claims he’s the one doing the work through my hands. Yet I always seem to be the one with the blisters and muscle aches.”

“It sounds as if your grandfather knows how to delegate,” Caroline pointed out. “It’s considered a highly prized skill in the corporate world.”

“I don’t know if the corporate world could handle Grandfather and his insistence of consulting his spirit guides before making important decisions.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know very much about Native American culture,” she confessed. “But I have heard of spirit guides. Are your spirit guides your ancestors or just someone who appears in your life?”

He drove with lazy confidence, one hand on the steering wheel, the other arm braced on the open window. A glance in her direction showed him she was genuinely interested. “Everyone has different guides. Your guides can be an ancestor or someone from your tribe. Animals are also spirit guides.”

She studied him closely. “But you don’t believe in them.”

Cooper took his time answering. For a while she wasn’t sure he was going to say anything. “My grandfather clings to the old ways. He uses herbs for healing, asks for guidance before planting, goes off to commune with his guides before making any important decisions. I believe in antibiotics, I check the almanac, and usually just flip a coin before making important decisions.”

“I have a friend who visits her psychic once a month,” Caroline said. “The woman isn’t always right, but Sheila never minded. She said she only sees Rena for a second opinion. Perhaps that’s what your grandfather is doing. Looking for a second opinion.”

Cooper quickly glanced her way. “Sounds as if you saw that psychic once in a while for those second opinions.”

“I went to Rena once. She told me my life would take some surprising turns and I should just go along with the ride.” Caroline thought of the turns her life had taken in the past months. “ I guess she was right,” she murmured.

“So that’s how you ended up in Tyler? This psychic sent you here?” he asked.

She lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “She didn’t exactly give me a map.”

“Funny, I would have thought someone would have directed you to come this way,” Cooper said casually. “It’s not as if we’re on all the major maps. Tyler isn’t a typical destination for just anyone.”

“I guess the reason I ended up here was because I decided to go off the highway and do some exploring. I drove into town and liked what I saw,” she replied.

“It’s not always a good idea to go off the main road. It’s been known to be hazardous to a single young woman’s health. More than one woman has disappeared because she wanted to see more of the countryside,” he said. “Not all small communities are friendly.”

“Now you sound like one of those true crime programs. I try not to watch them. They give me nightmares.” She leaned her head back, resting it against the partially open window. She twitched her nose in a way that reminded Cooper of a puppy sniffing the wind.

He doubted she’d appreciate being compared to a puppy. Even a cute one. He mentally kicked himself and returned to his lecture.

“They’re meant to scare you,” Cooper said flatly. “All it takes—”

“I’m careful, Deputy,” she interrupted. “But I refuse to live my life under a cloud of fear.”

He nodded. “Admittedly, our crime rate in Tyler is low, but you still have to be careful. People lock their doors now, when ten, fifteen years ago, they didn’t. Still, Tyler is a small community where people look out for each other. Maybe everyone knows your business, but when the chips are down, it’s nice to know there’s people around who will care.”

“That’s quite a switch—from a warning to an advertisement on reasons to move to Tyler,” she told him.

“I don’t know. It seems they both cover you.” He favored her with a sideways glance. “Any other surprises in store for us where you’re concerned?”

She turned her head to look out the window, as if she was afraid he’d read something in her expression. “I’m not really the surprise type. I’m known as a very up-front person.”

Now why did he have the feeling she was lying? She had the face of a Madonna. He didn’t want to think she might have the soul of a devil. But he also felt she wasn’t telling the complete truth.

“It seems a lot of the families in Tyler have lived here for many years,” Caroline said.

“Some go back to the founding of the town. Others arrived later. It’s been said you’re not considered a true local resident unless you can count back at least five generations,” he explained. “My family can count back even further.”

“So your family still lives around here?”

He shook his head. “Most live out of the area. My grandfather has a small cabin on my land. He claims it’s so he can keep an eye on me.”

“You’re close to him, aren’t you?” she guessed.

“Yeah, I am. He’s an old coot but I guess I have to say he’s my old coot.” His voice was warm with affection. “What about you?”

“No one,” she murmured. She wasn’t aware of the wistful longing in her voice, nor did she see the quick look he flashed her.

Cooper steered the truck off to the side of the road and stopped behind Caroline’s car. He silently held out his hand. “Keys?” he prompted when she looked at him blankly.

“Oh!” She dug into her bag and pulled out the key ring. She grasped the correct key and held it out to him. “I locked it up before I left.”

He opened the door and climbed out. “I had an idea you would. Stay here. No need for you to get out.”

Cooper unlocked the little sports car and lifted the hood to check the engine. After making sure the radiator was filled and she had oil, he returned to the driver’s seat and tried the ignition. Just as Caroline had said, the engine refused to turn over.

He walked back to his truck and leaned on the open window.

“You’ve got a dead battery,” he told her. “I can jump-start the engine, which should get you back to town okay. I’ll follow you to make sure it doesn’t die on you before you get to Carl’s Garage. You’ll need a new battery right away.”

“This is when I hate cars,” she confessed.

“That’s a sweet little car you have. You need to take good care of her if you don’t want to end up stranded again,” he told her.