The Intriguing Billionaire Cowboy [Wives for the Western Billionaires 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (4 page)

“I’ll be there.” Sylvia got out and started walking down the street away from the grocery. She felt Gina’s stare between her shoulder blades. She just wasn’t ready to talk, not even to her. How could she explain how she felt when she didn’t understand her own mixed emotions?

Her body felt heavy, and she had a tightness in her chest. Sylvia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The clean air had a crisp, fresh smell to it. In the distance the mountains reached toward the sky.

She focused her attention on the town. Many of the buildings were made of wood and the walkways were wood planks. They’d retained a lot of the old-West character. As she walked she passed the local drugstore and a clothing store. In the distance she saw the sign for the medical office where Rand Brodie worked. She didn’t want to see him, so she crossed the street and right in front of her was the sheriff’s office. Being curious, she stepped inside.

“Did you come to apply for the job opening?” A tall man with a weathered face stood to greet her.

“What is the opening?”

“I guess you didn’t see the ad in the local paper.” He looked closer. “You’re Gina’s sister.”

“Right. I might be interested in the job if I knew what it was.”

He waved his hand around the room. “I need a secretary who doesn’t mind keeping things straight and sometimes having to deal with some shady characters. The last one quit when old Higgins came into town after being shut up in his cabin for the winter. He looked like an old grizzly and was just about as pleasant. Most of the townspeople aren’t interested in the job.”

“I’ve dealt with more bad people than you’ll ever see here.”

“That’s right, Graham had to go overseas and rescue you.” He looked her up and down. “Are you all recovered?”

“No, I have to go to rehab three times a week for my wrist, but it only takes an hour. And”—she touched the side of her face—“eventually I’ll have this fixed.”

“What you’re saying is you might not be around too long.”

She had to smile. He knew people well. “I probably won’t be, but being idle drives me crazy.”

The sheriff walked around his desk and put out his hand. “Welcome aboard. You can stay as long as you want. The pay’s not much. It’s certainly not what you made before. But I’m pretty flexible about hours, as long as the place is in order where I can find things.”

“I accept the job, Sheriff. Actually, I’d have worked for free.” She liked his hearty laugh.

“Let’s get the paperwork signed and sealed. You can start Monday. I have six deputies. Two of them work with me during the day, and I have two for the evening shift, and two work at night.”

“That’s a large staff for a small town.”

“I know. We could go down to one deputy a shift, but if something happens, which occasionally does, I’d lose a man. The townspeople can afford the extra staff, and they agree with me. When something does happen we need all of them. The town might not be big, but the townspeople’s homes are spread out and cover a large area. We also have a pilot that works with us part-time when we have to go up in our helicopter. He owns the feed store down the block and can get away pretty much at a moment’s notice.”

“I’m impressed.” Sylvia glanced at her watch as she signed the last form. “I’d better hurry. I’m meeting Gina at Millie’s.”

“It’s a good place to eat. I’ll walk out with you. I go home for lunch. My wife says I eat too much junk food when I eat at Millie’s. She’s into watching my cholesterol ever since Dr. Rand told her it was high.” He sighed. “I miss Millie’s. Hopefully my wife will get off of this healthy-eating kick sometime in the next few months.” He locked the door to the office and waved as Sylvia started walking toward the restaurant.

Gina waited out front. “I was beginning to worry about you.”

“I got a job, and I was signing the paperwork to start Monday.”

“What? Where?”

“Let’s get seated and order, then I’ll tell you all about it.”

Once Millie had taken them to a back booth and brought their tea, Gina couldn’t wait any longer. “Tell me.”

“I’m going to work in Sheriff Grady’s office.”

“What gave you that idea? Did you see the ad in the local paper?”

“No, but when I walked in, he thought I had.” Sylvia told her all about their conversation.

Millie returned with their hamburgers, onion rings, and shakes.

“These are so good. I’ve been craving the onion rings.”

“Are you trying to tell me something?”

“We were going to announce our news on Sunday at Mom Jane’s house, but I guess I can tell you. Graham and I are expecting a baby.” Gina beamed. “We’ve kept it our own secret for a while, but loose blouses aren’t going to hide my stomach much longer.”

“That’s great. I’m so happy for you. How did Graham take hearing he was about to become a father?”

“At first, he said he’d never be able to write again with all the noise, but I knew he was teasing. Then he grabbed me up and held me close and told me how much he loved me and the child we were expecting. He paid extra money to speed up the building of our house. I think they finished it in record time, and he’s already painted the room I chose for the baby.”

“That man has really changed since meeting you and falling in love. I’d never have believed it until I saw it with my own eyes.”

“I was going to talk to you about his cabin. He never goes there to write anymore. He writes in his office at home. If you’d like to stay at the cabin, we wouldn’t mind.”

“What a tactful way of saying you almost newlyweds want to be alone. I’d love to stay in the cabin. I need some alone time myself.”

“Great. And there’s a phone if you get scared.”

Her words reminded Sylvia of the phone call she’d received. “Did Graham get a call this morning from our old boss?”

“Not that I know of. Why?”

Sylvia bit the edge of her lip. “I’d rather talk directly to him. Do you mind?”

“No. I’m not interested in his old job. But that boss better not try to pull him into one more assignment.”

“If he does, I think it will be a close one.” Sylvia decided to go ahead and tell her about the call. She’d find out from Graham and it might as well come from her. After explaining to Gina, Gina reached across and took her hand.

“You can’t stay alone at the cabin. I’d worry myself sick. As soon as we finish eating, we’ll go talk to Graham.”

“All right, but I still prefer the cabin. I have a gun, and I know how to use it.”

Gina shivered. “Thinking about your old job scares me. Please consider staying here in Frontier City.”

“Can you really picture me happy in this little town?”

“Yes, I can. Sam is attracted to you. Everyone has noticed, and I think you’re interested in him. Just now you took a job in town. Why? Unless you want time to see how the relationship goes.”

“You know me too well, little sister. But I have to return to Washington to get my face fixed. Once I’m back in the city, I doubt I’ll want to return.”

“I’ll bet you do.”

“What do I get if you’re wrong?”

“Possibly a broken heart.”

* * * *

Sylvia watched Graham pace around his office. He raked his hand through his hair and softly cussed.

“Damn, I thought this was all over. It has to be. I’m going to be a father, and I don’t want these people coming after you or me and my family. We have to find out who it can be and get rid of them for good.” He threw himself in his chair and frowned at Sylvia. “You’re a pest.” But he grinned when he said the words. “Don’t worry, we’ll find him or her. You think it’s a female?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll call our old boss and see what he knows. He’s probably been trying to find out more information before calling me.” Graham dialed the number and looked up at Sylvia. “I still have the number memorized. I’ll put the speakerphone on, so we can all talk and listen.”

“Graham, I was getting ready to call you,” their former boss said when he answered the phone.

“Sylvia’s here with me. I’ve put us on speakerphone.”

“Good. I’ve been checking with my contacts. We have all the main players and most of the smaller ones. As far as we can find out, the only one missing is the woman who stayed in Frontier City, in disguise. She called herself Mrs. Trevor.”

“I never did trust that woman. I should’ve known and taken care of her then.” Graham started pacing again.

“Her real name is Giselle Brinley. She’s worked for several different groups and has never been a main player. I can’t figure out why she’d risk exposing herself by calling Sylvia.”

“I came across her once before,” Sylvia said. “We didn’t like each other. She was hung up on some guy named Les, and she thought I was trying to take him away from her. I guess I did. I had to kill him in the end.”

“I remember that undercover job.” Her old boss spoke up. “You said she might be a problem, but didn’t mention her name.”

“When we busted the group, she got away. Les shot at me when he realized how I’d fooled him. I had to take him out. I never thought about her again and never ran across her.”

“Gina did. We both thought there was something suspicious about her, but we had no evidence,” Graham commented.

“I’ll get a couple of my men on the job looking for her. Sylvia, call me if you receive more phone calls from her. Graham, can you keep an eye on Sylvia until the man I’m sending gets there?”

“Sure, she’ll be staying with me until then. Talk to you later.” He put the phone down.

“I’m not staying with you and putting Gina in danger. I can stay at the cabin and no one but myself will be at risk.”

“You can move as soon as your protection arrives. Until then, make yourself comfortable.” Graham strode out of his office. She heard his footsteps on the stairs.

At least starting on Monday she’d be at the sheriff’s office. No one with any sense would come barging in there to shoot her. Her bodyguard could relax.

Gina came rushing into the room. “Graham told me you are in danger from Mrs. Trevor. I knew that woman wasn’t a nice person. I felt it in my gut.” She hugged Sylvia. “I’m so happy you’ll be with us. Graham will keep you safe.”

“Just remember when my guard gets here we’re going to the cabin.” She touched Gina’s tummy. “We can’t take any risks with the baby.”

“There won’t be any with Graham around. We’ll argue about the cabin later. Let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you to your room.”

“I love your house.” Sylvia stared at Gina. “You really are happy.”

“Happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

Sylvia put her suitcase down and went to the window. “It’s a pretty part of the country. I like seeing the mountains in the distance.”

“If you gave yourself half a chance, you’d like living here.”

“Here? Do you think Graham would go along with that suggestion?” Sylvia grinned.

“You know what I mean and with a little encouragement Sam would be an excellent candidate for a husband.”

“Slow down. First I have to like this place.”

“Do you miss the excitement of your job?”

“Not yet, but I’ve been recovering. When I’m fully well, who knows how I’ll feel.”

“Give yourself time. I’d love for my baby to know his or her aunt and see her on a regular basis.”

Sylvia sat on the side of the bed. “We were happy when Dad was alive.” She took a deep breath. “Sam reminds me of him.”

“Really?” Gina sat by Sylvia’s side and put her arm around her waist. “I’ve thought the same thing at times. In personality, he’s a lot like Dad. Nothing seems to rile him. The other brothers can get annoyed with each other, and he stands back and smiles.”

Sylvia’s heart beat faster just thinking about Sam. He might remind her of her stepdad in personality, but that was where the resemblance ended. Sam was his own person. She liked his golden-brown eyes and his tall, muscular body, too.

How would he react when he found out she’d actually moved out of his mother’s house? Maybe he’d decide it was for the best and leave her alone.
Which do I want, his attention or for him to stay away? Maybe I’ll know the answer after I’ve been living here longer. If I could settle down and know I wouldn’t get itchy feet to roam, I’d let myself love him.

She jumped up at that thought. Never had she let herself care that much for anyone.

“Are you all right?” Gina asked.

“I’m fine, but I need to do something.”

“I’ll leave you to unpack. When you’re finished, join me in the kitchen. I’m going to start dinner.”

She watched Gina walk out of the room. Her little sister was made for marriage. She loved to cook and decorate her house, and she was capable of loving her man.

I’m not the best cook. I hate decorating, and I don’t know if I’m capable of loving a man forever. I look like my mom and am like her in many ways.
She hadn’t been very successful in any of her relationships.
Enough soul searching. I’ll unpack as Gina suggested and keep my mind off of Sam.