Read Online Secluded With the Cowboy by Cassie Miles - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cassie Miles
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his level of frustration was nearing the boiling point. With Nate Miller at large, he and his family were in danger. Every time they left the house, they were targets. He didn’t like being trapped. “What steps are you taking?”
The sheriff licked his lips, probably yearning for another smoke. “Waiting for leads.”
Determined to control his temper, Dylan rose slowly to his feet. “Let me get this straight, Sheriff. Your basic plan is to do nothing.”
“I’ll tell you one thing I’ve been doing ever since this mess got started. I’ve been holding off the media. Itwasn’t hard to sidestep our local people, but the Denver news stations have been snooping around.”
He knew that Carolyn’s publicity and promotion department in Denver had been working to keep things quiet. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of reporters shining a spotlight on Nicole’s kidnapping—that was sure to lead to a focus on their marital problems, including their visits to the fertility clinic. And wouldn’t that be a special piece of hell? “Please tell me you haven’t spoken to anyone.”
“Not yet. But they want me to hold a press conference and go on TV. One of those national tabloids called.”
Dylan planted his palms on the desktop and leaned across to confront the sheriff directly. “All of a sudden, doing nothing sounds like a mighty fine idea.”
“I’ve got some advice for you. Those reporters are persistent. Sooner or later, they’ll snag an interview with somebody. If you and Nicole want to avoid that spotlight, you should leave town.”
And let Nate Miller chase him off his own property? This was his home. He’d do whatever necessary to defend it.
The door to his office swung open, and Nicole stepped inside. She looked pretty this morning, dressed in jeans and a blue turtleneck under a matching button-up shirt. Her blond hair was neatly brushed and tucked behind her ears. Her eyes were bright.
She went directly to the sheriff and shook his hand. “I want to thank you for all your help.”
“Just doing my job. You’re looking well.”
“That I am.” Her determined smile almost covered up the underlying fear Dylan had seen last night as she continued, “I’d like to know when you can release Lucas Mann’s body for burial.”
“Within the next few days.” The sheriff stood and hitched up his belt, getting ready to leave. “I was contacted by the attorney who filed Lucas’s will.”
“Steve Stanley in Delta,” Dylan said.
“That’s the guy,” the sheriff said.
“His firm handles the basic paperwork for all our employees.” Full-timers at the ranch were required to fill out a will to go along with their health-and life-insurance policies. “I got the paperwork from Steve informing us that there wasn’t any next of kin. Lucas’s beneficiary was the homeless shelter in Delta.”
Nicole glanced at him. “The same place where you donate a side of beef every quarter?”
He nodded. He should have remembered that shelter last night when she was accusing him of being insensitive. He’d made a lot of charitable contributions. Being in the beef business, he hated to see anyone go hungry.
“In Lucas’s will,” the sheriff said, “he specifically asked to be cremated. He didn’t specify what should happen to the ashes.”
“If there’s no legal problem,” Nicole said, “I’d like to have his remains.”
The sheriff patted her shoulder. In seconds, his demeanor had switched from cold and hostile to genuine warmth. “You’re a good woman, Nicole. I’m sure that Lucas—wherever he is—would be glad that you were taking care of him.”
“He was family,” she said. “We loved him.”
“I know you did.”
If this conversation got much sweeter, Dylan thought he might go into insulin shock. He circled his desk and held open the office door. “Okay, Sheriff. Thanks for stopping by.”
“No need to rush,” Nicole said. “Would you like coffee? Polly made some of her
The sheriff licked his lips, probably yearning for another smoke. “Waiting for leads.”
Determined to control his temper, Dylan rose slowly to his feet. “Let me get this straight, Sheriff. Your basic plan is to do nothing.”
“I’ll tell you one thing I’ve been doing ever since this mess got started. I’ve been holding off the media. Itwasn’t hard to sidestep our local people, but the Denver news stations have been snooping around.”
He knew that Carolyn’s publicity and promotion department in Denver had been working to keep things quiet. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of reporters shining a spotlight on Nicole’s kidnapping—that was sure to lead to a focus on their marital problems, including their visits to the fertility clinic. And wouldn’t that be a special piece of hell? “Please tell me you haven’t spoken to anyone.”
“Not yet. But they want me to hold a press conference and go on TV. One of those national tabloids called.”
Dylan planted his palms on the desktop and leaned across to confront the sheriff directly. “All of a sudden, doing nothing sounds like a mighty fine idea.”
“I’ve got some advice for you. Those reporters are persistent. Sooner or later, they’ll snag an interview with somebody. If you and Nicole want to avoid that spotlight, you should leave town.”
And let Nate Miller chase him off his own property? This was his home. He’d do whatever necessary to defend it.
The door to his office swung open, and Nicole stepped inside. She looked pretty this morning, dressed in jeans and a blue turtleneck under a matching button-up shirt. Her blond hair was neatly brushed and tucked behind her ears. Her eyes were bright.
She went directly to the sheriff and shook his hand. “I want to thank you for all your help.”
“Just doing my job. You’re looking well.”
“That I am.” Her determined smile almost covered up the underlying fear Dylan had seen last night as she continued, “I’d like to know when you can release Lucas Mann’s body for burial.”
“Within the next few days.” The sheriff stood and hitched up his belt, getting ready to leave. “I was contacted by the attorney who filed Lucas’s will.”
“Steve Stanley in Delta,” Dylan said.
“That’s the guy,” the sheriff said.
“His firm handles the basic paperwork for all our employees.” Full-timers at the ranch were required to fill out a will to go along with their health-and life-insurance policies. “I got the paperwork from Steve informing us that there wasn’t any next of kin. Lucas’s beneficiary was the homeless shelter in Delta.”
Nicole glanced at him. “The same place where you donate a side of beef every quarter?”
He nodded. He should have remembered that shelter last night when she was accusing him of being insensitive. He’d made a lot of charitable contributions. Being in the beef business, he hated to see anyone go hungry.
“In Lucas’s will,” the sheriff said, “he specifically asked to be cremated. He didn’t specify what should happen to the ashes.”
“If there’s no legal problem,” Nicole said, “I’d like to have his remains.”
The sheriff patted her shoulder. In seconds, his demeanor had switched from cold and hostile to genuine warmth. “You’re a good woman, Nicole. I’m sure that Lucas—wherever he is—would be glad that you were taking care of him.”
“He was family,” she said. “We loved him.”
“I know you did.”
If this conversation got much sweeter, Dylan thought he might go into insulin shock. He circled his desk and held open the office door. “Okay, Sheriff. Thanks for stopping by.”
“No need to rush,” Nicole said. “Would you like coffee? Polly made some of her
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