Austin: Second Chance Cowboy

“You’ve got an eye, and that’s a fact. Just got that one in.”

“Who from?”

He looked evasive. “A woman out near Miles City.”

Tenderly, she ran her finger along the initials etched in the leather. “Any special reason why she sold it?”

“Nah. Her family fell on hard times. Had to sell the horse…” He shrugged. “The saddle came next.”

She bit her lip. Bringing back memories of barrel racing, feeling the wind against her hair. Feeling sweat running down her back as she tried to beat the clock.

And how she’d given up riding but hadn’t ever asked her family to sell that saddle.

That shamed her. Who knows? The money might have come in real handy lately. Her brother Ace could’ve probably used the money to pay for some of Midnight’s feed. Or the ranch’s electric bill. But she’d been too intent on keeping her saddle to think about that. No, she’d been selfishly holding on to it, as if she couldn’t bear to completely forget all of her past.

“Want to go riding one day, Dinah?”

“No.”

“Sure? We could go to my dad’s.” His voice was bright now. Less suggestive, almost friendly. Almost cheerful. “I haven’t been out to see him lately, but I do know Dad’s still keeping a couple of horses. Some of ’em are top-notch. Riding for a few hours, forgetting our troubles? It would be fun.”

Mention of his dad made her think of the other little reason she’d come visiting.

“So, I heard you created quite a mess at the Open Range.”

His voice turned flat. “Bad news travels fast.”

“Always.”

He tilted his head to one side. “Is puking my brains out against the law these days?”

“No. But driving under the influence is,” she said quickly. Thinking of a reason for bringing it up.

“Your mole should’ve told you that I didn’t drive.”

Oops. She hadn’t even asked. “Who did?”

He shook a finger at her as though she was a naughty child. “Uh-uh, Dinah. No way am I going to tell you all my secrets. That ain’t no business of yours.”

“Look, Ted doesn’t care to be cleaning up those messes of yours.”

“I realize that.” His blue eyes narrowed. “And I hope when you spoke to old Ted that he also told you that I stopped by this morning and offered to pay for the cleaning.”

“He didn’t tell me that.” Irritation surged through her. If Ted had taken the time to whine to her, why the heck hadn’t he felt like telling her the whole story? “But you were drinking shots of tequila, weren’t you?”

“I do believe I was. Sheriff.”

Now she felt worse than a prude. Her job was to uphold the law, not become the moral majority. “I just wanted to make sure, you know, that you weren’t going to make overdoing it…a habit.”

“No, ma’am.”

A lot of men called women “ma’am,” but rarely in that tone of voice.

She backed up a step. His eyes were cool and hard now. Reminding her that she’d just crossed the line and hadn’t really played fair, either. Using friendship to get information wasn’t anything she was proud of.

Just as she was turning around, she glanced at the saddles again.

And happened to see a lightly tanned one, with roses hand tooled along the skirt.

She knew that saddle. And last time she heard, the owner had reported it missing.

She headed to the door before he noticed her staring at it. She needed to get more information before she asked him about its origins. One of the first things she’d learned at the police academy was to try not to ask questions you didn’t already know the answers to. “Look, thanks for the information about the Silver Royals. I’ll be seeing you, Austin,” she called out over her shoulder.

“Feel free to stop by anytime and give me grief.”

His words hit a nerve. She hoped he didn’t notice her stumble. Pushing open the glass door, she strode out and into her cruiser.

And as she drove down the main street through town, she grimaced with sad satisfaction. Suddenly, everything was starting to make sense. Austin Wright was a small-business owner and no doubt was struggling to keep a solid inventory. He was probably having money trouble—most everyone in the county was. Then, of course, there was the Wright name. It had practically become synonymous with sketchy practices. Why, everyone knew his daddy had spent time in jail.

Had Austin decided to start making money the easy way? If he had, and if he was now bound and determined to start following in his father’s footsteps…well, there was probably little he wouldn’t do.

She hated to think that way about him. But they weren’t really friends anymore. And she was far different from the girl she used to be when they were.

She needed to remember that.

Chapter Three

“I’m so glad you had time to meet with me, Flynn,” Dinah said as they took a seat in one of the booths at the Number 1 Diner. Though it hadn’t been in Roundup for all that long, every time Dinah entered the place she felt a burst of nostalgia. It probably had something to do with the old photos of miners decorating the walls.

Or maybe it was the bright cherry-red Formica tabletops. Or maybe seeing waitresses dressed in jeans and boots and those red-and-black aprons just made her smile. “I had a real need for girl time.”

“I’m always up for a cheeseburger, you know that. Carbs and saturated fat can do a world of good for a woman in the throes of pregnancy.”

Looking at her friend and sister-in-law with a real fondness, Dinah laughed. “One thing never changes, Flynn. Come hell or high water, you’re never afraid to tell it like it is. Even if it involves too much information.”

“It’s only TMI if people don’t care,” she said, rubbing her growing belly. “And I’m sure you do care.”

“I’m taking the Fifth on that one.” Grinning, she opened the plastic menu and skimmed over the choices, lingering on the idea of a burger and fries…then resolutely focusing on the salads and grilled chicken. She’d worked too hard at the police academy to ignore the physical regime and exams. No way was she going to slide down into a slippery slope of unhealthy choices.

By the time Karla stopped at their table, chomping her ever-present gum, Dinah had made her decision. “I’ll have the Cobb salad, dressing on the side, Karla.”

“Drink?”

“Diet.”

Flynn made gagging noises. “That’s what I love about you, Dinah. You’re nothing if not predictable. Karla, I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake.”

Karla winked. “Gotcha. Sure you don’t want to change your mind and get something with a couple of more calories, Dinah?”