Cooper's Woman by Carol Finch

Author:Carol Finch [Finch, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-11-28T23:00:00+00:00

“I am paying you good money to set up situations like the one I had to arrange,” Webster growled at Cooper, who had been summoned to the back office of the mercantile store during his lunch break. “Where the hell were you last night?”

“Doing what you asked,” Coop replied calmly. “I was riding the fences between your place and Andrew Barrett’s.”

Webster waved him off while he paced back and forth across his office. “It’s the Hamptons that I’ve decided to focus on exclusively. Even though they’re both being considered—” He stopped short. “What I mean is that I want my future fiancée to realize that she should align herself with me, not the Hamptons.”

Coop knew that both of Webster’s neighbors were being considered for the government contract but he kept his expression carefully blank. “Is Miss Quinn easily managed? Will she do as you request?” As if he didn’t know.

“No, damn it,” Webster muttered. “She’s a bit too independent minded to make a subservient wife but time and relentlessness will tame her down.”

Coop seriously doubted it. Her irrepressible spirit refused to be stifled. If Webster dared to lay a hand on Alexa to force her into submission Coop would give him a taste of his own medicine.

“I want Alexa away from Percy’s influence.” Webster wheeled around to pace in the opposite direction. “That nuisance of a man needs to have a conveniently timed accident that incapacitates him…at the very least.”

“I don’t arrange accidents,” Coop let him know immediately. “Besides, it’s too soon after your confrontation.”

Webster huffed out his breath then raked his fingers through his tawny hair. “Forget I said that.”

Coop shrugged nonchalantly. “Okay. Anything else?”

“Yes.” His brows furrowed pensively. “The owners of the mercantile shop in the town square should at least run into a little bad luck. Hampton, Barrett and Figgins need to suffer the setback of a fire because they’re stealing my customers by undercutting my prices.”

Coop silently cursed. He suspected that his grass fire inspired the idea of burning out Webster’s competitors. Damn it, Webster would become suspicious if someone overtook his henchman before he could torch the store. “I wouldn’t advise that right now, either,” Coop replied. “Considering your unfounded accusations of rustling last night, you will be the prime suspect for arson, too. Then your reputation will be in tatters and you might find yourself under arrest.”

Webster mumbled and grumbled as he went back to his pacing. “Curse it, you’re right. I’d need a time delay for that. I think Hampton was a mental step ahead of me last night. He must have been waiting for me to show up so he could make me look like a fool. He, or one of his men, must have spotted the rebranded cattle and removed them from the pen.”

“Did you locate the missing livestock?” Coop asked, although he knew the answer already. After all, he and Miguel had tucked away the cattle for safekeeping.

“No, and Hampton better not be holding them for evidence.” He checked his timepiece then shooed Coop toward the back door.

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