Page 20 of Cowboy Heat

Then I let it go.

CHAPTERNINE

Beau

No one knowswhat Alice Dean was doing at the animal shelter, and no one knows who shot her. The sheriff, at least, doesn’t think it’s me anymore.

He’s done with his questioning and has slid into a more congenial chat.

“You know, Mr. King, the owner of Blue before you, was a quiet one,” he says, perched on the edge of the empty desk we found our way to just off the hospital lobby. “Never heard more than a few words from him myself. He never really came to town unless it was to get food or the like. I think I saw him once at the town Remembrance Ceremony, but that’s about it for social situations.”

He’s already asked my relation to Ryan, and I only said he was a family friend. Telling Kissy the truth felt right; giving away personal details to Sheriff Roland rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s because of how Kissy’s body language changed when the sheriff first came up to me to ask to talk. Maybe it’s the fact that he keeps flicking at his badge like it’s a show dog and the gold ribbon is on the line.

Either way, he knows the bare minimum and doesn’t seem to care past that.

“Ryan was a really introspective guy,” I say lightly. “He was a homebody, just who he was.”

The sheriff nods, then his eyes shift to the lobby behind us. “You don’t seem to share that trait with him.” He straightens, then he’s back to looking me in the eye. He seems smaller for the move somehow. But maybe I’m projecting.

Questioning people for the law used to be my thing. Not the other way around.

“You’ve already met a few key players in town,” he continues. “The doc, and Kissy of course. Everett Guidry too. That’s pretty social for only being in town two days.”

Guidry.

He’s put pressure on the name.

I’ve already told him that Everett was at the ranch this morning. Why is he focusing again on that name?

I decide to poke, only a bit though. “I’m not sure if it counts as social if they come to me. I didn’t seek Everett out. He drove up to meet me.”

I land heavy on that last part, and it obviously lands heavy on his side too.

He looks me over quick and then nods deep.

He stands tall again and touches his badge one last time. If he had any more questions, they don’t seem to matter now. “Well, Mr. Montgomery, I think I have all I need. I hate that you’re getting an introduction into Robin’s Tree like this, but I know you’ve seen worse.”

He doesn’t hide his glance at the scarring on my face.

I don’t smile at his words, but I do want to be helpful. Alice’s attacker needs to be caught. “Let me know if you need anything else to help with the investigation. If you need to go back over Blue Lolita again, I’d like to be there to lend a hand, too, if possible.”

He considers me, considers the offer.

The sheriff nods. “Will do.”

He’s off back through the lobby. I follow, only to walk into Kissy.

She darts her eyes toward the sheriff’s retreating back. She makes a face.

My hunch that she doesn’t like the man is confirmed. Though, she doesn’t outright say it.

Instead, her concern comes back to me with widened brown eyes. “How did it go?”

“I gave him a rundown of our day and what happened. He seemed to take it fine.”

Kissy’s shoulders relax a fraction.

She was worried for me.