The others shared similar accounts.
The lawman doing all the talking turned to Shelly. “Did you get a good look at him?”
“No. The second I saw the gun, I ducked out of the way.” Which meant there were no eyewitnesses, just as the brazen shooter had no doubt intended.
“Could be some kind of gang-related initiation,” one of the young cowboys who’d been sitting with Matt in the café said. “Same thing happened in New Orleans when I was there a few months back helping rebuild a church lost to Katrina.”
“Well, hells bells, Charlie. This ain’t New Orleans.”
The ambulance arrived, and two paramedics jumped out and ran toward her. One started tending the wound that was now only oozing blood. The other commenced with a series of routine questions about the injury and about any allergies she had.
“Let’s just hold on here a minute,” the lawman-in-charge interrupted. “I need the victim to answer a couple of questions before you go rushing her to the hospital, seeing as how she’s not in dire need of emergency medical care.”
He introduced himself as Sheriff Ed Guerra, and she told him her name.
“So, Miss Lane, do you know why anyone would be taking pot shots at you?”
“Absolutely not. I don’t know anyone in Colts Run Cross except the people I’ve met over the last four days. They were all very friendly.”
“So you just moved here?”
“I’ve been staying at the motel on the highway, but I came here to work for the Collingsworths. I’m a physical therapist.”
The sheriff and Matt exchanged glances.
“She’s supposed to work with Jeremiah,” Matt said.
The sheriff nodded and nudged his cowboy hat back a bit farther. “Where are you from?”
“Atlanta.”
“That’s a long commute.”
“I needed a change of scenery and I’ve always wanted to visit Texas.”
“How did you hear about a job at Jack’s Bluff Ranch?”
“I found the Houston Chronicle classifieds online and saw the Collingsworths’ ad.”
He nodded and scratched his clean-shaven chin. “Guess that makes sense. The rest of my questions can wait until you get that arm cleaned and stitched.” He nodded to the medics. “She’s all yours.”
She let them load her into the ambulance. Her arm still hurt, but her biggest problem right now was finding out who had shot at her and why—before her supervisor determined she wasn’t the person for this assignment.
If he found out that she’d let Matt Collingsworth get to her for even a second, he’d pull her anyway. But he needn’t worry. She was focused now and would make sure that Matt’s masculine sexuality and piercing eyes did not affect her again.
Her mission was to infiltrate the family and ferret out the full truth, an accomplishment that would likely destroy the Collingsworth empire and send at least some of the family members to prison for the rest of their lives.
She’d do the legwork. A judge and jury would decide the rest.
“THE PATIENT’S AWAKE NOW, Lenora. You can go in, but don’t expect her to be too talkative. That pain medication is making her drowsy.”
“I just want to say hello and make sure she doesn’t need anything.” Lenora knocked and then entered the hospital room where her would-be new employee lay beneath a pale blue blanket with an IV attached to her right arm. Her eyes were watchful as Lenora stepped to the side of the bed.
“I’m Lenora Collingsworth.”
Shelly smiled and tried to push up on her elbows, giving up on the idea quickly and dropping back to the pillow. “It’s nice to finally meet you, though this isn’t exactly how I’d pictured the moment.”
She had a nice smile and a sense of humor. She was attractive, too, with short brown hair specked with gold, and half bangs that set off her beautiful gold-green eyes.
Lenora placed her hand on the bed rail. “I can’t believe this happened after I assured you that you were coming to a safe area. But in all honesty, I don’t remember a single case of a random, drive-by shooting in Colts Run Cross. In parts of Houston, yes. But never in our community.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Shelly said. “In hindsight, I should have come straight to the ranch, but it’s my first visit to Texas and I wanted to do a bit of sightseeing before I began work.”
“Well, at least you got to do that. I don’t want to tire you, but I wanted to let you know how sorry I am and to make certain you have everything you need.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t plan to be in this bed long. The doctor stitched me back together and is giving me antibiotics and some pain medication. He says I’ll be good as new soon. I’ll likely leave the hospital tomorrow.”
“Where will you go?”
“Back to the motel, I guess. I can’t expect you to provide room and board until this arm heals and I can start work.”
“Nonsense,” Lenora said, relieved that Shelly wasn’t planning to renege on their agreement. “You can have all the time you need to heal at the ranch. It will give you a chance to get to know Jeremiah before you start treating him. As I told you on the phone, he’s a bit cantankerous since the stroke. Well, more than a bit at times, but he can be loveable when he wants to be.”
“That would be great—if you’re sure I won’t be imposing.”
“Not at all. I’ll check with the hospital in the morning,” Lenora said. “If the doctor releases you, I’ll either pick you up myself or have someone else in the family do it, depending on their schedules. Whoever drives you to the ranch can stop off at the motel for your luggage. In the meantime, I’ll have the housekeeper get your room ready.”
“I have my own car, still parked on the street in front of the café.”
“Matt had it towed to Hank Tanner’s body shop once the sheriff and his men had finished examining it. Hank will keep it there until you have a chance to look at it and decide what you want done. No strings attached.”
“So the vehicle was examined?”
“Yes, of course, dear. Ed Guerra and his department are very efficient. And don’t worry about the cost of the bodywork on your vehicle. I’ll cover whatever your insurance doesn’t. It’s the least I can do.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I insist.”
“Thanks. That’s a very generous offer, but I’m sure the insurance will handle it. I guess all I have to do now is give my arm a little time to heal. I can’t wait
