Buch lesen: «A Baby For The Deputy»

Chapter One

Sensing danger, Melody Hartman quickly straightened and scrambled out of the way. A split second later, the horse’s rear hoof sliced the air in the exact spot where Mel’s head had just been.

She pretended to wipe sweat from her brow. “Whew. That was close.”

“Sorry.” The horse’s owner, a tall, trim woman in her fifties, tugged on the bay’s halter. “This fellow has a temper. I should have warned you.”

“It’s okay.” Mel relaxed her grip on the surgical scissors she held and let out a sigh, grateful her instincts had once again paid off. “Not my first near miss.”

The truth was, Mel encountered far closer calls on a regular basis. As recently as this morning, she’d been knocked to the ground by a potbellied pig, narrowly missing the steely prongs of a pitchfork. Last week, she’d been stomped on by an eighteen-hundred-pound bull, miraculously escaping with only minor cuts and contusions. An infected cat scratch recently sent her to the emergency medical clinic.

Such was the daily life of Mustang Valley’s sole resident veterinarian. Dangers and difficulties aside, she wouldn’t trade her job for the world. Mel was living her dream. Quite literally. She’d wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she could remember, and buying Doc Palmer’s practice when he retired a few months ago had turned that dream into reality.

“Think you should give him more tranquilizers?” the woman asked, shielding her eyes from the glaring Arizona sun.

They were at Powell Ranch, the largest and oldest horse operation in the area. The woman was one of many people who boarded their horses there and made use of the riding facilities.

Mel shook her head. “I don’t want him so sleepy he lays down on us. The wound’s right between his gaskin and stifle. He could pull on the flesh and inflict more damage.”

The bay was tied to a post at the far end of the outdoor stalls. He’d gotten into a scuffle with his neighbor, a shaggy and even more temperamental pony, who’d retaliated by biting the bay and leaving two gaping holes on his left rear leg. Unfortunately, the injury went unnoticed for a couple of days—the horse’s owner had been out of town. By the time she discovered the wound, it was inflamed, infected and just plain nasty.

Seeing the bay’s eyes drift close, Mel decided to make another attempt at removing the necrotic tissue. The procedure didn’t hurt the horse. He’d kicked at Mel more out of anger than pain. Also, just like some people, he wasn’t a good patient.

“Hold him steady,” Mel told the woman as she quickly snipped away with the scissors. Finishing that task, she cleansed the wound again and applied a liberal glob of medicated ointment.

“Are you going to stitch him up?” the woman asked, peering around the bay’s head.

Mel continued to assess the wound. “I don’t think so. The edges are too ragged for sutures to hold. Better we stick to a strict antibiotic regiment. You know how to give injections?”

“Me? I’m an old pro.”

Many livestock owners, especially those in rural areas, were capable of doctoring their animals to some degree. Vets were consulted for only the more serious cases.

“Good. I’ll leave you enough penicillin and syringes for two weeks. He’s going to need twice daily injections.” Mel ran her hand gingerly down the bay’s leg. “No sense bandaging the wound, either. It won’t hold.”

“He’d just chew it off,” the woman said with a resigned sigh.

Mel started to pack her case. Before closing it, she handed the woman her jar of salve. “Cleanse the wound at the same time you give him the injections and apply this. Call me if he’s not showing any improvement or the wound becomes reinfected.”

“Thanks for coming out on such short notice.”

“No problem.”

Mel carried her case to her truck while the woman returned the sleepy horse to his stall. Setting the case on the ground, she leaned against the hood and stifled a yawn. The bay wasn’t the only one who was tired. Mel had been up and hard at it since five this morning, nearly nine hours ago, with no break.

As she opened the storage compartment on her truck, she was struck with a sudden wave of nausea and light-headedness. Hugging her middle, she waited for the sensation to pass, hoping she hadn’t caught that flu bug going around.

Tomorrow was a big day. She, her two sisters and her new stepmom were throwing a huge sixtieth birthday party for her dad at the Cowboy Up Café where her older sister worked. They still had a lot to do, and the last thing Mel needed was to be under the weather.

Fortunately, the nausea passed, and the next instant, Mel felt perfectly fine. That was...strange.

She might have thought more about it if not for a black SUV turning the corner of the horse barn, distracting her. The writing and logo emblazoned on each side identified the vehicle as belonging to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department. Three deputies were assigned to Mustang Valley and its nearest neighbor, Rio Verde. They were often spotted patrolling the streets, parked in front of people’s homes or, like today, at one of the ranches.

The driver’s door opened, and a pair of familiar leather cowboy boots hit the ground, followed by long legs clad in dark brown slacks and a khaki uniform shirt. Mel’s heart gave a flutter as it always did upon seeing this particular deputy, and she promptly forgot all about stowing her case.

As she watched, he walked slowly, yet deliberately, toward her. She imagined a twinkle in the vivid blue eyes he hid behind aviator sunglasses. Recalled how the bristles of his five-o’clock shadow tickled her palm when she cradled his cheek.

“Dr. Hartman.” He nodded in greeting.

Pushing aside her long braid, a silly, nervous habit she wished she could break, she smiled with more reservation than if they were alone. “Afternoon, Deputy Travers.”

“Is Ethan nearby? I was told I might find him with you.”

“Actually, he’s over there.” She indicated the row of outdoor stalls. “At least, he was earlier.”

“Thanks.” He tugged on the brim of his felt cowboy hat, hesitated briefly and then continued on.

A stranger might not realize they were well acquainted, and, to be honest, they preferred it that way. For the last year and a half, Aaron Travers and his family had lived in Mustang Valley, moving here when he transferred from the Phoenix Police Department. He and Mel occasionally ran into each other, as everyone ran into one another sooner or later in a small town.

There were also those encounters that weren’t accidental. But she and Aaron didn’t talk about them. Not with anyone else.

Once he’d passed and her heart rate slowed, she returned to stowing her supplies. The sensation of awareness he’d left in his wake wound through her, interfering with her ability to concentrate.

Bam! Another wave of nausea hit Mel, and she swallowed, willing her queasy stomach to settle. By some miracle, it did. A moment later she was fine, as if she hadn’t been nauseous at all.

She’d just finished preparing her invoice for the horse owner when Ethan Powell and Aaron—make that Deputy Travers—approached.

“Mel,” Ethan said, “do you have a minute? Aaron has some questions for you.”

“Sure.” She set down her invoice pad. “How can I help, Deputy?”

“Last night, three horses went missing from the Sanford place.”

Mel drew back in alarm. “You’re kidding!”

“It’s the third incident this month,” Aaron said. “I’m pretty sure we’re dealing with rustlers.”

“I can’t believe it.”

The first missing horses had been considered a fluke. A few even claimed they’d escaped their pasture and joined a wild herd often spotted near the Salt River. Then, after a second group of horses disappeared, people took notice. But horse rustling? That seemed like something out of the Old West. Not modern day.

“Why?” she asked, still grappling with the news. “None of the horses were particularly valuable. Mostly ranch stock.”

“Slaughter?”

Mel’s off-and-on sensitive stomach gave a lurch. She regularly dealt with the death of animals, many of the circumstances heartbreaking. As a result, she’d learned to cope. Still, the idea of horses being stolen for the purpose of profiting from their slaughter sickened her.

“Aaron’s visiting all the area ranch owners,” Ethan said. “Seeing if they’ve noticed anything suspicious in recent months and asking them to check with their employees.”

“What can I do?” Mel asked Aaron.

“You travel the valley on a regular basis,” he said. “Just keep your eyes and ears open. Contact the station if you spot anything out of the ordinary. Unfamiliar vehicles parked where they don’t belong. Strangers lingering or asking unusual questions. Don’t worry that you’re being overly paranoid.”

“Of course,” Mel said. “Absolutely.”

“I appreciate it.”

After another nod, he and Ethan wandered a short distance away, continuing their conversation. Mel studied them before returning to her invoice. She’d give it to the horse owner on her way out. After checking her schedule, she phoned her next customer and gave him a heads-up on her impending arrival.

She was about to climb into the truck when Aaron unexpectedly appeared in her peripheral vision. She turned, her hand resting on the door. “Hi.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why?” She automatically glanced about to see if they were being observed. Another nervous habit.

“You look pale.”

“Do I?” Mel touched her face, only to let her hand drop. “I got up early. And,” she added, suddenly recalling, “I missed lunch.”

“You work too hard.”

It was true. She did. But she had no choice. Not if she expected to make her monthly payments to Doc Palmer.

“Speaking of which, I’d better go. I have another appointment.” She smiled, wished for just a moment they were alone and started to slide in behind the steering wheel. She didn’t suggest calling him later. Chitchatting on the phone wasn’t something they did.

Aaron’s next words stopped her. “See you tomorrow. At the party.”

“You’re going?” That was a surprise. Mel had reviewed the guest list last night and knew his name wasn’t on it.

“Dolores invited us. She and Nancy are in the same Bunko group.”

“Right. I forgot.”

“You don’t mind?”

Mel dismissed his concerns with a nonchalant wave. “Dad’ll be glad to have you there. All of you.”

By all of you, Mel meant Aaron’s almost three-year-old daughter and his mother-in-law, Nancy, who’d lived with him and his daughter since the death of Aaron’s wife.

Granted, their arrangement might seem a bit unconventional to some, but apparently it worked. Nancy’s late daughter had been her only child. Watching her granddaughter during the day, sharing Aaron’s home, allowed her to stay connected while also providing him with a trustworthy and devoted caregiver. At least, that was how he’d explained it to Mel.

All at once, Ethan returned from wherever it was he’d gone and hailed Aaron.

“Go on,” Mel told him, and hopped in her truck. “I’m running late as it is.”

“Do me a favor. Eat and get some rest.” Before she could start the ignition, he placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

She wanted to be mad. He was breaking their strictest rule. Except it was hard to be mad when her shoulder tingled deliciously at his touch and continued to even after he’d moved off.

Mel shut the truck door and drove away, almost forgetting to drop off her invoice with the horse owner on her way out.

Reaching the end of the long drive leading down the mountain from the ranch, she stopped and let the truck idle. Since she and Aaron had begun seeing each other, they’d both worried how people, like Nancy for instance, might be hurt. It was yet another reason for the two of them to keep their relationship casual and private.

Lately, however, Mel worried about her vulnerable heart. She hadn’t counted on her feelings for Aaron growing and did her best to hide it from him.

She let out a long sigh. What had seemed so simple at first was slowly becoming complicated. Aaron and his family attending her father’s party, and his mother-in-law developing a friendship with Mel’s stepmom certainly wasn’t helping matters. Neither was her upset stomach, which gave another lurch.

Nerves. And stress. Those had to be the reasons. Mel refused to consider anything else.

* * *

AARON WAS MAKING his third trip of the day to the Sanford place. The first time he’d arrived at 6:20 a.m. in response to the 9-1-1 call. He’d returned at 9:50 a.m. when Ken Sanford, Sr. called to say he’d discovered fresh tire tracks behind their far pasture—no one had driven the dirt road since before the last rains.

Now, Aaron was heading to the ranch for another look around, planning to focus on the cut fence where the thieves had entered the property. When his cop’s gut told him to persist, he usually did. There was always the chance he’d missed something during his previous inspections.

Horse rustling. Who’d have guessed he’d be investigating a crime of that nature in this day and age? A search of records at the station revealed the last such incident committed in Mustang Valley had been in the 1930s. Wow.

Aaron observed every detail as he drove, despite frequently traveling this road. He couldn’t help himself—too many years on the force. That didn’t stop the other half of his brain from wandering. Specifically to Mel. Not that he didn’t always think of her when they weren’t together.

She’d looked unwell earlier, and that bothered him. He understood the lines of fatigue on her pretty oval face. With her demanding schedule, that wasn’t uncommon. Rather, it was the lack of color in her cheeks and slowness of her steps concerning him.

She was almost always happy and vivacious—a ball of energy contained inside a petite package. Those qualities more than her sparkling brown eyes and curvy figure were what caused him to notice her two winters ago at the community’s Holly Daze Festival.

After that, it was hard not to keep noticing her and, eventually, talk to her. Just being in her proximity breathed new life into parts of Aaron’s heart and soul he’d thought forever darkened.

Dangerous feelings and ones he shouldn’t have. Not if he wanted the life he’d scraped together for him and his daughter, Kaylee, to remain calm, quiet and stable. Emphasis on the last word. That was why he’d quit the Phoenix Police Department and taken the less demanding job of deputy sheriff.

His phone abruptly rang. The personal one he kept in his vehicle, strictly for family and close friends. Snatching it from the cubby, he glimpsed his sister’s name and photo on the display. The picture of her and Kaylee was one of his favorites, taken during his sister’s last visit.

“Hey, Pickle.”

She groaned expansively. No secret, she hated the childhood nickname. Which was why Aaron insisted on using it.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Bad time to call?”

Hearing Joanna’s voice immediately thrust him back in time to their family’s rural home in Queen Creek and their life together growing up. She’d moved to Seattle a year ago, and he missed her terribly. She’d been his rock, his staunchest supporter and his sounding board during the many difficult months Aaron’s wife was ill and every day since she’d died.

“I’m on the road,” he said. “Have about ten minutes.”

“Don’t tell me.” Joanna laughed, the sound rich and vibrant. “A rancher let his hound dog run loose, and it got in with the lady down the street’s King Charles spaniel.”

He pretended to be affronted. “Believe it or not, there’s real crime in Mustang Valley.”

“Riiiiiight.” She drew the single word out over three syllables.

“We’ve had a recent rash of horse thefts.”

“No fooling? That actually sounds serious.”

“I’m on my way now to talk to the third victim.”

“Do you have any leads?”

“Not yet. I’ve been interviewing the locals.” Most people didn’t realize that 90 percent of good detective work was questioning potential witnesses.

“Locals like Mel?”

Aaron paused, not wanting to give his sister any ideas. “She’s a regular at most of the ranches in the valley and might run across something.”

“How you two doing?”

“We’re not dating.”

“Hey, hey,” Joanna protested. “Don’t get mad. I think what you and Mel have is great. More couples should be as open-minded as you two.”

“Yeah.” Except, what Aaron and Mel had didn’t feel open-minded to him.

“Something wrong?” Joanna asked.

“I don’t know.” He blew out a long breath. “Lately, I’ve been thinking she deserves more than casual hookups.”

“Did she say so?”

“No.”

“Are you tired of the arrangement?”

“Yes, but not in the way you think.”

Joanna gave a delighted gasp. “You love her.”

He gave a start and steadied his free hand on the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t say that.” Not yet, anyway. “I like her. A lot.”

“Well, you should like the person you’re sleeping with.”

“Am I being a jerk? Taking her for granted?” It was the opinion he’d recently formed of himself.

“Come on. You and Mel have an arrangement. A good, sensible arrangement that works. Neither of you are ready or in a position for all the demands of a committed relationship. Yet, you’re human, and human beings require intimacy. You and she have come up with a creative solution. You get together a couple times a month for a few discreet hours of adult pleasure. No strings attached. It’s perfect.”

“Spoken like a psychology major.”

“Spoken like a feminist,” she said, correcting him. “I wish I could find someone with your progressive attitude. Beats being single.”

His sister was the only person Aaron had told about his and Mel’s secret arrangement, and there were days he wished he hadn’t.

Cripes, what was wrong with him? There was nothing sordid or dirty or wrong about what he and Mel did. She was completely on board. In fact, she’d been the one to originally suggest it. Yes, in a roundabout way, but not so subtle that Aaron hadn’t understood and, after a long, emotional tug-of-war with himself, agreed.

She was beautiful and smart and as sexy as hell. When they were alone, she displayed the kind of passion he’d always hoped to find in a woman. Which only increased the guilt eating away at him. He could and did tell himself he wasn’t being disloyal to Robin. She’d been gone nearly three years.

His heart argued differently, insisting he was dishonoring his late wife’s memory. Aaron’s mother-in-law would agree.

“Mel should be with a guy who can offer her more,” he said to Joanna. “A guy who’s emotionally free.”

“If that was what she wanted, she’d give you the boot.”

“Sometimes, I wish she would.” Then he could stop wanting what he couldn’t have and beating himself up over it.

“You’re worried about Nancy,” Joanna said, “and you shouldn’t be.”

“If she ever found out—”

“What? She’d leave? Go home to Ohio?”

“I don’t want that. She loves Kaylee, and Kaylee loves her.”

“If Nancy left, that would be her choice and her mistake to make.”

Aaron rubbed his suddenly throbbing forehead. His arrangement with Mel was supposed to be without strings and without angst, yet it wasn’t. In hindsight, they’d been silly and stupid.

He had, anyway. Truthfully, Aaron wasn’t entirely sure how Mel felt about him. She didn’t talk about it. Ever. And she didn’t encourage him to, either.

“You’re single,” Joanna continued. “It’s not fair that Nancy expects you to remain that way for the rest of your life.”

“Isn’t it?”

“You aren’t betraying Robin.”

“I made a promise to her,” he bit out.

“To never fall in love again?”

“To devote myself to Kaylee. I owe Robin that much. She gave up her life for our daughter.”

Joanna’s voice softened. “You couldn’t save her, Aaron. No one could. At best, she might have lived a few more months. And you probably wouldn’t have had Kaylee. A lot of people, me included, think she made the right decision.”

That didn’t lessen his loss, relieve his guilt or diminish his hurt.

A few weeks after learning she was pregnant, Robin began having severe headaches that over-the-counter pain relievers wouldn’t touch. Two weeks later, she was seeing a specialist and undergoing all manner of tests. Aaron would never forget sitting in the doctor’s office and hearing the diagnosis: inoperable brain tumor. And then hearing the prognosis: terminal.

Robin refused any treatment that might have extended her life because it would harm the baby. At thirty-four weeks pregnant, she’d delivered a small but healthy baby girl. Unfortunately, it was too late for her. The treatments she’d previously refused had no effect on her rapidly growing tumor, and she lost the battle when Kaylee was just a few weeks old.

Robin’s wish to be a mother had been fulfilled and, in the process, she’d given Aaron a last precious gift. He would do nothing to jeopardize Kaylee’s safety and happiness.

“Why don’t you talk to Mel,” Joanna suggested. “If you’re having doubts.”

“Or, I could just end things.”

“You could. Except that isn’t what you want.”

Should he tell his sister what he really wanted was to date Mel and not just sleep with her? No, Joanna would have a field day with that one, and Aaron wasn’t in the mood.

“Pickle, can I call you later? I’m almost at my next stop.” Not entirely a lie; the Sanfords were less than a mile down the road.

“Tomorrow. I’ve got plans later,” she added with a teasing tone.

“Have fun.”

“Oh, I intend to.” She laughed again.

Aaron disconnected, his thoughts a jumble. He really did like Mel and hated the thought of ending things. But he was being grossly unfair to her. She may think she preferred whatever this was they had, but deep down, she was a forever and ever kind of gal. Aaron wasn’t fooled for one minute.

A quarter mile up the road, he spied an older model pickup and rusty horse trailer pulled off to the south side of the road. The truck hood was up, signaling trouble, and someone sat in the driver’s seat.

He slowed, determining the driver to be a young woman. As he passed, she rolled down her window and waved at him. Aaron executed a swift U-turn and parked behind the trailer. A reddish-brown tail hung out over the rear gate and swished aimlessly.

Before getting out, he radioed the station, then proceeded with caution all the while making mental notes. The situation didn’t appear dangerous, but he took nothing for granted.

Nearing the driver’s door, he realized the young woman was on the phone.

“Good afternoon.” He looked her over. “Having some trouble?”

“I broke down. The engine light came on and then smoke started coming out from under the hood.”

“License and registration, please.”

“Have I done something wrong?” Her voice quavered.

“Just routine.”

Producing the required documents, she passed them through the open window, still clutching her phone. Aaron decided she must have maintained an open line as a precaution. Smart move. She wasn’t very old, maybe not even out of high school, and pretty, even with her torn jeans, faded tank top and ratty old ball cap. Add to that her disabled vehicle, and she was a potential sitting duck.

Aaron reviewed the documents, noting the eighteen-year-old’s name and home address of Flagstaff. He compared her face to the tiny picture. Something about her struck a familiar chord, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“Be right back.” In his vehicle, he ran her name and license plate. Nothing significant came back. What had he expected?

Returning to her truck, he handed over the documents. “You’re a long ways from home.”

“I’m staying with my...with friends in Mustang Valley.”

“Are they on their way to help you?”

“Uh...no. I wasn’t able to reach them.”

“I see.” Aaron suspected she was coloring the truth and didn’t know why. “Do you have a roadside assistance service?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What about your parents?”

“My mom can’t help.”

“Because she’s in Flagstaff,” Aaron stated.

“Yeah. And at work. I’m not supposed to call her unless it’s an emergency.”

“This might qualify.”

The girl, Samantha, according to her driver’s license, shook her head. “I’m not calling. She’s busy.”

“And your friends aren’t available?”

In response, her mouth firmed to a thin line.

There was definitely more going on than she was telling him, and he didn’t trust her. Nonetheless, she’d broken no laws and was in distress. Not to mention her truck and trailer were a potential hazard and the horse would need water soon. Aaron had a duty to help her.

“Sit tight,” he said, and walked to the front of the truck where he inspected the engine. Heat wafted off in waves, and it made a soft hissing sound. The smoke she’d claimed to see was probably steam.

A moment later, she disobeyed his order and joined him, anxiously watching as if he might sabotage the engine rather than repair it.

“You have an old rag I can use?”

“In the, uh, trailer.”

“I’ll wait.”

She didn’t take long.

Aaron rolled up his sleeves and, using the rag to remove the radiator cap, inspected the water level. No surprise, the radiator was bone dry.

“You might have a leak,” he told her. “You should get this serviced right away. There’s an auto shop in town. Conroy’s. Ask your friends, they’ll tell you where he is.”

“Okay.”

Would she do it? She wouldn’t get far otherwise.

After filling her radiator with water from the five-gallon jug he carried in the back of his SUV for just this reason, he had her try to start the truck. Luck was on her side, and it turned right over, chugging like an old man having a coughing fit. She definitely needed to see Conroy.

Leaning her head out the window, she removed her ball cap. “Thanks for your help.”

Aaron slammed the hood closed and, wiping his hands on the rag, started for his vehicle. “You be careful, you hear?” He stopped and flashed her a smile.