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Authors: Connie Mason
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work.
Unfortunately he no longer had the money to return and he had promised McAllister that he’dfind his grandson. Professional honor demanded that he either convince Belle to give her son up without a fuss, or tell McAllister where to find the boy. With the law on his side, McAllister could easily claim Tommy once he knew where Belle had taken him.
Casey recalled how close he’d come to making love to Belle that day he’d sent Dinks packing for the second time. He’d wanted to, oh yes, he still wanted to. She had a rare kind of beauty that no defect could diminish. Not just beauty of face and form but beauty of spirit. Her life hadn’t been easy but she had persevered and overcome obstacles lesser women would have found daunting.
Time was running out; Casey knew he couldn’t remain in Placerville forever. McAllister would be chomping at the bit, waiting for some word from him. Casey began to curse the physical attraction he felt for Belle. Despite the attachments he’d formed in this case, Casey realized sentiments had no place in the life of a detective, and that he had to resolve things soon. To that end, he paid a visit to Belle after the dinner hour late one evening. He found her in the kitchen, just finishing up the dishes.
“Belle, can I talk to you?”
Since Dolores was with her, Belle felt safe. She couldn’t afford to succumb to Casey’s charm again, or let herself drift aimlessly into the dark, mesmerizing depths of his eyes. She must never forget that Tommy came first in her life.
“Certainly. You can talk while I work. Tommy is waiting for me.”
“Tommy is already sleeping. I just checked on him.” He glanced at Dolores, who was eyeing him with distrust. “Alone, if you don’t mind.”
“You can speak in front of Dolores. She knows all my secrets.”
“I’d prefer not to.”
“Very well.” To the Mexican woman, she said, “Go on home, Dolores. Sanchez should be through stacking wood now and you are both tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Are you sure, senora? I don’t mind staying.”
“I’m sure. Mr. Walker is in my employ, I trust him.”
Casey winced when Belle voiced her trust in him. He certainly didn’t deserve it.
“Si, senora,” Dolores said, clearly not convinced she should leave.
“Sit down, Belle,” Casey said after Dolores had hung up her apron and left through the front door.
“Is something the matter, Mr.—Casey? Has someone aroused your suspicion?”
“There is something wrong, but it’s not what you think.” He paced restlessly. “I’ve given your situation a lot of thought and can see only one solution.”
Belle stared up at him through outrageously long lashes. “I might as well tell you I’m not inclined to follow advice from someone I hardly know.”
“Nevertheless, I feel obligated to offer my opinion. Ever since you told me about your situation, I’ve been racking my brain for a solution that will please both you and your father-in-law. Just try to remember that what I’m going to suggest is best for everyone.”
Belle started to rise. “I don’t want to hear it. I’m terminating your job, Mr. Walker.”
“Sit down, Belle.” His voice was harsh, commanding. “You can’t go on like this. You hired me to protect your son, but surely you must know I won’tbe around forever. What if the next man you hire is unscrupulous? What if he tries to take advantage of you?”
Head held high in subconscious defiance, she glared at him. “I took a chance on you, didn’t I? Do you consider yourself unscrupulous? I know nothing about you except that you have a brother in Arizona. In a moment of weakness I told you my story, I didn’t ask for your advice nor do I want it now. I can handle it alone. What makes you think you’re qualified to offer advice?”
Casey shrugged off Belle’s questions. The less she knew about him the better. He abruptly stopped his pacing and paused in front of her, scowling furiously. “Forget
Unfortunately he no longer had the money to return and he had promised McAllister that he’dfind his grandson. Professional honor demanded that he either convince Belle to give her son up without a fuss, or tell McAllister where to find the boy. With the law on his side, McAllister could easily claim Tommy once he knew where Belle had taken him.
Casey recalled how close he’d come to making love to Belle that day he’d sent Dinks packing for the second time. He’d wanted to, oh yes, he still wanted to. She had a rare kind of beauty that no defect could diminish. Not just beauty of face and form but beauty of spirit. Her life hadn’t been easy but she had persevered and overcome obstacles lesser women would have found daunting.
Time was running out; Casey knew he couldn’t remain in Placerville forever. McAllister would be chomping at the bit, waiting for some word from him. Casey began to curse the physical attraction he felt for Belle. Despite the attachments he’d formed in this case, Casey realized sentiments had no place in the life of a detective, and that he had to resolve things soon. To that end, he paid a visit to Belle after the dinner hour late one evening. He found her in the kitchen, just finishing up the dishes.
“Belle, can I talk to you?”
Since Dolores was with her, Belle felt safe. She couldn’t afford to succumb to Casey’s charm again, or let herself drift aimlessly into the dark, mesmerizing depths of his eyes. She must never forget that Tommy came first in her life.
“Certainly. You can talk while I work. Tommy is waiting for me.”
“Tommy is already sleeping. I just checked on him.” He glanced at Dolores, who was eyeing him with distrust. “Alone, if you don’t mind.”
“You can speak in front of Dolores. She knows all my secrets.”
“I’d prefer not to.”
“Very well.” To the Mexican woman, she said, “Go on home, Dolores. Sanchez should be through stacking wood now and you are both tired. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Are you sure, senora? I don’t mind staying.”
“I’m sure. Mr. Walker is in my employ, I trust him.”
Casey winced when Belle voiced her trust in him. He certainly didn’t deserve it.
“Si, senora,” Dolores said, clearly not convinced she should leave.
“Sit down, Belle,” Casey said after Dolores had hung up her apron and left through the front door.
“Is something the matter, Mr.—Casey? Has someone aroused your suspicion?”
“There is something wrong, but it’s not what you think.” He paced restlessly. “I’ve given your situation a lot of thought and can see only one solution.”
Belle stared up at him through outrageously long lashes. “I might as well tell you I’m not inclined to follow advice from someone I hardly know.”
“Nevertheless, I feel obligated to offer my opinion. Ever since you told me about your situation, I’ve been racking my brain for a solution that will please both you and your father-in-law. Just try to remember that what I’m going to suggest is best for everyone.”
Belle started to rise. “I don’t want to hear it. I’m terminating your job, Mr. Walker.”
“Sit down, Belle.” His voice was harsh, commanding. “You can’t go on like this. You hired me to protect your son, but surely you must know I won’tbe around forever. What if the next man you hire is unscrupulous? What if he tries to take advantage of you?”
Head held high in subconscious defiance, she glared at him. “I took a chance on you, didn’t I? Do you consider yourself unscrupulous? I know nothing about you except that you have a brother in Arizona. In a moment of weakness I told you my story, I didn’t ask for your advice nor do I want it now. I can handle it alone. What makes you think you’re qualified to offer advice?”
Casey shrugged off Belle’s questions. The less she knew about him the better. He abruptly stopped his pacing and paused in front of her, scowling furiously. “Forget
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