Secondhand Cowboy by Lacy Williams

Author:Lacy Williams [Williams, Lacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hometown Romance
Published: 2015-03-23T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

Iris was still fuming as she led the boys the long way around the building—again—back to the parking lot. Keeping them on task and not chasing butterflies and picking up rocks in the parking lot took all her attention.

What was her father's angle? Why would he jeopardize an investigation? It was deeper than recouping the costs for the building, maybe as deep as whatever history was between her father and Callum.

Her mind kept whirling to Jilly's accusations against their dad from years ago, about how he'd paid off her college boyfriend to break up with her. Was Dad doing the same thing now, trying to manipulate this investigation to get Callum out of the picture?

She was so busy corralling the boys and loading them into the minivan that she didn't see the person approaching.

She'd snapped the last seatbelt buckle and was rounding the back of the car toward the driver's side when she noticed a woman passing on the sidewalk. The woman seemed unnaturally focused on Iris, which made the hair at her nape stand on end. Until she noticed the woman's sickly pallor and gasping breaths.

Iris left the minivan with a glance over her shoulder and approached the lady. She was within arms' reach when she recognized Callum's mother-in-law, a woman she'd seen once in the hospital lobby.

This was the woman Callum said had tried to abduct the boys. Iris didn't know details, but her hands began to shake, and she shot another glance back at the minivan. All was still.

Was this a trick? Should she scream? Call into the police department? How quickly could Mike get out here?

Only her paramedic training held her immobile. The other woman's face had gone even whiter, and now she pressed one fist to her chest.

"Do you need assistance?"

The woman shook her head. "I'll...be all right...in a minute."

Iris's training wouldn't let her walk away, but she did look back to the minivan again. It seemed the boys were staying in their car seats, because she didn't see little heads bobbing anywhere.

Iris stepped forward, closing the distance between herself and the woman.

"What's your name?" Iris looked directly into her eyes. They were clear, pupils equal and round.

"Maude," the woman rasped.

Iris reached out and took the woman's wrist, using two fingers to take her pulse. Her skin was cool and dry—too cool for the warm weather outdoors. "Do you have any medical conditions?"

Iris multiplied out the heartbeat and found it just above normal.

"Cardiomyopathy."

"Do you have medicine?"

Maude shook her head. "It's already passing. Not a heart attack. I just saw you with the boys and rushed across the street...Moved too fast and got out of breath."

Maude's breathing had settled some, and color had returned to her face. The danger seemed to have passed, but Iris would feel better if she observed the older woman for a few more moments.

However, her words pinged concern through Iris. She didn't know the details of what had happened between Callum and this woman, but he had mentioned a restraining order, and she didn't want to be a party to breaking that.

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