Read Online Iron Cowboy by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page B

looked familiar.
    The door opened, and Harley Fowler walked in, carrying a foam cup of coffee. “You’re awake,” he exclaimed, smiling.
    â€œHi, Harley,” she replied, returning the smile. “Nice of you to come check up on me.”
    â€œI had tonight free.”
    â€œNo date?” she asked with mock surprise as he moved his hat and sat down.
    He chuckled. “Not tonight.”
    â€œNo exciting missions, either?” she teased, recalling that he’d helped some of the local mercs shut down a drug dealer two years before.
    â€œInteresting that you should mention that,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “We’ve had word that the drug cartel has reorganized again and been taken over by a new group. We don’t know who they are. But there’s some buzz that we may have trouble here before long.”
    â€œThat’s not encouraging,” she said.
    â€œI know.” He sipped coffee. He looked somber. “Two DEA agents bought it on the border this week. Execution-style. Cobb’s fuming. My boss is calling in contacts for a confab.” His boss was Cy Parks, one of the small town’s retired professional soldiers.
    Cobb was Alexander Cobb, a senior Houston DEA agent who lived in Jacobsville with his wife and sister.
    â€œDoes anybody know who the new people are?”
    He shook his head. “We can’t find out anything. We think somebody’s gone undercover in the organization, but we can’t verify it. It’s unsettling to have drug dealers who’ll pop a cap on cops. They killed a reporter, too, and a member of the Border Patrol.”
    She whistled softly. “They’re arrogant.”
    He nodded. “Dangerous,” he said. “There’s something worse. They’re kidnapping rich Americans for ransom, to increase their cash flow reserves. They got an heiress last week. Her people are scrambling to meet the deadline, without knowing for sure if they’ll return her even so.”
    She moved restlessly on the pillow. She was sore, but the pain was better. “Aren’t most kidnap victims killed in the first twenty-four hours?”
    â€œI don’t know, honestly,” he said. “Cash Grier is working with the FBI, trying to get informants who might know something about the heiress.”
    â€œOur police chief?” she asked
    He grinned. “Like a lot of our local citizens, he’s not quite what he seems.”
    â€œOh.”
    He stretched. “Mr. Parks had me working on our tractor all day. I’m stiff. I guess I’m getting old.”
    She laughed. “No, you aren’t, Harley.”
    He leaned forward with the cup in both hands. “I heard you had a close call,” he said.
    â€œI didn’t know I had an appendix until yesterday,” she said wistfully. “They brought me in by ambulance.”
    â€œWhat about Morris?”
    â€œMr. Danzetta fed him for me,” she said complacently.
    â€œCameron’s bodyguard?” He looked strange.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked curiously.
    â€œOne of our cowboys was driving past your house last night and saw lights on inside. He knew you were here, so he called the sheriff’s department.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œWhen they got there, the lights were off, the doors were all locked and there was nobody around.”
    She pursed her lips, wondering.
    â€œDid you give the bodyguard a key?” he persisted.
    She hesitated. “Well…”
    Before she could speak, the door opened and Jared walked in. He stopped when he saw Harley and his eyes began to glitter.
    Harley had great reflexes. He exercised them by getting out of the chair, wishing Sara well, promising to check on her later. He walked out with a nod to Cameron. He passed by Tony, who didn’t say a word.
    â€œYou had company,” Jared said quietly.
    She wondered what he was thinking. His face gave little away. “Harley