“You’re living next door, aren’t you?” Finn asked. “In the Whittaker house?”
“Yep. I don’t see much of Liz—Elizabeth. Not that I need to,” Dallas added.
Finn’s gaze sharpened. He’d obviously noticed the near slip of her nickname, as if she and Dallas were more than neighbors.
The sheriff studied him. “Elizabeth could use some kindness. There are people in this town who’ve been showing their dark sides. Calling her names like Ms. Perfect, hoping she’ll give them something more to talk about when she hasn’t done anything. She doesn’t deserve to take any blame for what Harry did.”
Dallas couldn’t agree more. “She seems like a fine person.” Not that she needed his endorsement.
He was still thinking about that when he reached the Sutherland ranch, his next stop. He didn’t know Cooper Ransom, who’d been Finn’s partner in the Chicago PD before they both ended up in Barren, and he’d never met his wife, though he knew her reputation. But Nell, the granddaughter of the NLS’s owner, didn’t seem like the tough cowgirl he’d expected. When Dallas pulled up in his truck, he found her draped around Cooper by the outdoor arena, arms looped around his neck, sharing a kiss that Dallas probably wasn’t supposed to see, and which made him squirm.
Cooper broke the kiss, then stared at him as if Dallas wasn’t quite of this world. After a long moment, his gray eyes cleared. “We’re still on our honeymoon,” he said. “And you are...?”
Dallas introduced himself. “Hadley gave me some local ranchers’ names. Thought I’d see if you have interest in a rodeo I’m planning.” He briefly explained, then added, “I thought getting a permit to use the old fairgrounds would be a hurdle, but turns out I need to look for another venue instead. Once I find that...”
“I did some rodeo as a kid—” Cooper hadn’t finished the sentence before Nell piped up.
“You are not going to ride some wild bronc or bull.” She was tall, though inches shorter than her husband. She glared up at him. “Haven’t you had enough danger in your life?”
Dallas knew from Hadley that in Chicago Cooper had been ambushed by a vicious gang.
“You almost died!” Nell said. “No more hot-dogging. Your rodeo days are over too, Ransom.”
Cooper only smiled and ran a hand through his sunny hair.
Nell kept sputtering. “I mean it. Buck me on this, and I’ll...get your mother after you.”
Cooper grinned. “Who wouldn’t love this woman?”
“I’m not touching that,” Dallas said, but she sure held her own.
Nell tucked a strand of light brown hair behind her ear. “If I can run this ranch—which I can—I can handle one ex-cop who still, need I remind you, Cooper, wakes up feeling stiff in the morning.”
His grin widened. He turned to face Dallas as if to hide the expression. “About your rodeo...there might be some open land available in the area. Talk to the realty people at the office on Cottonwood Street. Maybe whoever owns acreage might like to rent it, see it used for a good cause.”
Which for Dallas would also mean putting up fencing, building bleachers...
“I’ll look into it.” He avoided Nell’s green eyes and tried to deflect her disapproval. “When I come up with something, would any of your hands care to compete?”
“Clete might, but especially Dex. He’s younger—” Cooper began.
“I was practically born on a horse,” Nell cut in. “Put me down for—”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Cooper’s mouth tightened, and Dallas realized he’d somehow stumbled into an argument. “You know why.”
Her cheeks turned rosy. “That’s not an issue. I ride every day—just ask Bear.”
“I can’t. He’s a horse—”
“And I grew up knowing how to rope. So, what’s your problem?” she asked Cooper.
“You are, Nell.”
Dallas had an urge to turn around and hop in his truck before he got any deeper into their domestic quarrel, but before he could move, Cooper gently turned Nell toward the nearby barn. “We’ll talk about this. Later.”
She dug in her boot heels. “We’ll talk now, and don’t you dare treat me like some helpless female. If you even think of telling me I can’t compete against a bunch of cowboys—”
Cooper told her mildly, “I have other means of persuasion that will be far better for your health.” He slung an arm around her shoulders. “For now, would you mind feeding that orphaned calf for me? Please? Then we need to get into town.” He raised an eyebrow. “One o’clock appointment, remember.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “I forgot about that.”
“Well, Sawyer won’t. He’ll be waiting.”
Which caused Nell to head toward the barn, a smile on her lips.
Cooper watched her go. “Wouldn’t trade her for the world. She is my world,” he said, staring after her with a goofy look on his face that reminded Dallas of Hadley with Jenna. “Nell’s not going to be part of your rodeo, no matter what she said, but I’ll compete. No matter what she said. Add me to the roster.”
“Thanks.” Dallas didn’t envy those two the fight that was sure to continue later, but he did envy the obvious love they shared. Not that he was ready to find his own.
His gray gaze serious, Cooper turned back to Dallas. “About the fairgrounds not working out... I’d offer the arena here at the NLS, but we already use it on weekends for local kids who think they’re going to be the next superstar on the circuit—like you—when they grow up. We have age-appropriate events, a bit of calf roping for the older kids, a few lassos get thrown...usually missing their mark. They’re cute to watch, but that’s enough disruption for the ranch. Your neighbor’s boy Jordan would try his hand, but his mom won’t allow that.”
I’d never let my kids try that, Lizzie had said.
Dallas didn’t want to talk about her. “I’ll see what the Realtor can tell me. Ask your cowhands if they want to enter. I’ll let you know when I’ve got a venue and a firm date. Should be soon.” It had to be, or he’d run out of summer.
