Whirlwind Cowboy

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“Evidently I’m not all that memorable,” Bram muttered. Which blistered him up good.

“How does someone lose their memory?”

“I have no notion.”

“Have you talked to Annalise?”

“Not yet.” Bram planned to visit the doctor before he left town. Annalise Fine was a lifelong friend who had recently returned from back East. She and Matt Baldwin had reunited after seven years apart.

Bram bet Annalise would never forget the man she claimed to love.

He turned back to the sheriff, bracing one shoulder against the wall beside the window. “Deborah’s hurt, too. She has a cut on her temple, and her face and back are bruised.”

Davis Lee’s jaw firmed. “Did Cosgrove rough her up?”

“Could be. She was with him.”

“Doesn’t sound like it was willingly.”

Bram wanted to believe it wasn’t. He shrugged. “Who knows?”

The lawman arched a brow. “I’d think you might know, seeing as how close you two are.”

“Were.” He didn’t know anything. “How close we were.“

“I thought the pair of you—”

“No.” Bram cut him off.

His friend studied him for a moment. “Cosgrove could’ve made her write the note to her family to keep anyone from knowing she was with him. And to keep anyone from coming after them.”

Three weeks ago Bram had been so furious upon reading her words that it hadn’t even entered his mind to wonder if things weren’t the way they seemed. Had he missed a clue because he was angry that she’d left? He didn’t think so, but he wanted to see the note again.

He glanced at Davis Lee. “Deborah also could’ve written the note of her own free will, too. For the same reasons.”

“True, but I don’t think she would go anywhere with Cosgrove willingly. Do you? I mean, do you really think so?”

Yes. But Bram didn’t want to get into an argument over this with the sheriff. “I’m keeping my mind open to the possibility until I get some proof one way or another.”

“She’s sweet on you. Why would she run off with that bastard?”

She’d been so sweet on him that she’d refused to marry him.

“She’s not all that sweet on me.” Done with talking about Deborah, he said, “I assume Jericho isn’t back from New York City or Mrs. Blue would’ve told me.”

“That’s right.”

Deborah’s sisters had overwhelmed her enough. Bram had no idea how she would’ve reacted to her older brother. Though quiet, the former Ranger was big and had an intimidating presence until you got to know him.

Davis Lee stroked his chin. “Do you think we should send a wire letting him know what’s happened?”

He thought a moment. “There’s no point in it. Mrs. Blue said she wrote him that Deborah had gone to Abilene to see the board about her teaching position. Jericho never knew his sister might have been in danger. All we could tell him is that she was possibly abducted and now she’s home safe. There’s nothing he can do about it.”

“You’re right. You can just tell him when he returns from New York.”

Bram nodded.

The other man’s gaze went to the saddlebags on the floor. “You planning to turn in this money? Want me to wire the Monaco Bank and let them know it’s been recovered?”

“No.”

Davis Lee studied him. “Cosgrove will come for that money.”

“I’m counting on it.” Bram’s voice hardened.

The lawman stood. “That will put Deborah in danger.”

“That’s why I’m sticking to her like a burr to a saddle blanket.”

“And when Cosgrove shows up, you’ll trap him.”

“Right.” Hate for the man bubbled up inside him.

“I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the man,” Davis Lee said.

“First come, first served.”

“I don’t like the idea of the bank not knowing their cash has been recovered.”

“If I return the money, Cosgrove might not show unless he has another reason to.”

“You mean, if Deborah has or knows something he doesn’t want her to,” the other man finished.

“And until or unless she remembers what happened, we won’t know if that’s the case. The only way to make sure Cosgrove comes back to Whirlwind is to keep the money. Or let him think we have.”