Read Online Wild Rodeo Nights by Sandy Sullivan - Free Book Online Page B

embrace as they reassured each other that they were all right. “Come on. I’m taking you two home,” he said while he shuffled them toward his truck. He opened the door, and they slid inside, but before he could shut the door, Carrie stopped him.
    “What about the store?”
    “I’ll talk to the police. They’ll have to investigate, anyway. I’m sure they’ll lock up when they are done. I’ll be right back.”
    Finding the Captain, Cole stopped next to him and waited.
    “Something I can do for you?” The officer looked suspiciously at him. A thank you would be nice. He didn’t need to make any enemies in this town.
    “I just wanted to let you know I’m taking Carrie and Jessica home.”
    “I’ll need their statements before they leave.”
    “I’m sure you do. Can't it wait until later?"
    "No, mister, it can't. I also need to talk to you and find out what your involvement is in this."
    Cole stuck out his hand and said, "Cole Wilder. I'm a friend of Carrie's."
    The sheriff took his hand and shook it firmly. "Sherriff Williams. I appreciate you wanting to help Carrie, but what you did was stupid, careless, and could have gotten her or one of my officers killed."
    "Sorry, Sheriff. I'm kind of impatient that way."
    Sheriff Williams' eyes narrowed, and he fixed Cole with a penetrating stare. "You plan on staying in my town, son?"
    Cole's shoulder lifted in a shrug. "I'm only here for the rodeo."
    "I'd appreciate it if you'd move on soon afterwards. I don't need your kind of trouble in my town."
    Well, so much for not making enemies.
    "One of the officers will be over there to get their statement in a minute and yours, too. Then, and only then, will you be free to leave."
    "Yes, sir," Cole said through clenched teeth before returned to his truck.
    "What did they say?"
    "They need a statement from all of us before you can leave."
    She laid her hand on his arm. "It's okay. We'll be fine."
    He ran his fingers through his hair. "I only wanted to get you away from this."
    "I know, Cole." Her lips pressed against his cheek for a second before she leaned back and gave him a small smile. "Let's get this over with."
    Adam and one other officer approached his truck, separated him from Carrie and Jessica, and took their statements.
    "What you did was pretty stupid, Cole," Adam said while he wrote out Cole's statement on his notepad.
    "I'm aware of the feelings of the Sheriff, Adam. He's already told me to leave town when the rodeo is over."
    "Sorry, son, but we don't need heroics. I know you were worried about Carrie and all."
    Carrie and Jessica approached from behind Cole and Carrie said, "Hey, Adam. I didn't realize you were out here, too." She reached up and kissed Adam on the cheek.
    "Hey, baby girl. Hey, Jess. You two all right?" Adam wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, you know me. I'm always in the thick of things."
    A warm chuckle left her lips, and she moved to Cole's side and slipped her arm around his waist. "Yeah, just shook up. Cole is going to take me and Jess home. Can you make sure everything is locked up when the investigation is over?"
    "Sure, honey." The officer frowned. "Any idea who this guy was?"
    "No. I've never seen him before. My guess is he's not from around here. You know this town, everyone knows everyone."
    "Probably not from here then." Adam looked back toward the front of the store. "You go on home. I'll lock up."
    "Thanks, Adam."
    "No problem. I'll check on you two tomorrow."
    Carrie and Jessica waved before Cole ushered them into the cab of his truck and started it.
      The trip back to their house was a quiet one. The terror he felt when he heard about the robbery over the radio bothered him. He didn’t think twice about skipping his turn to find out what was going on at Carrie’s store.
    I’m getting in way over my head. Caring about her is getting me nowhere and nowhere fast.
    The headlights of his truck spread out into the darkness as they pulled into the yard in front of the