"You and Elizabeth? Really?" Bran stared at Colby in disbelief. "Why would you ask her to do that?"

"I didn't. She asked me. She doesn't want a serious relationship. She just wants the big D," Colby said crudely, shrugging his broad shoulders and slamming his locker shut. He didn't like the way it was happening either, but Elizabeth Newcomer had made it very clear she wanted nothing more than his body. For now, he had nothing more to give, so it was the ideal solution.

"She deserves better than that. Surely you aren't going to just use her and-"

"Stop, Bran. We're friends, but I'm not asking for your permission or your blessing. Beth and I are both adults. I've been trying to get her attention for months, and now that I have it, I'm going to enjoy it. Even if we only spend time together in bed." Colby finished buttoning his uniform shirt and pushed his hat on top of his head. "Don't you have a woman of your own to get home to? Why are you so worried about what I do with my time?"

"I just don't want to see either of you get hurt," Bran said, crossing his arms. "She was the first one from our graduating class to get married. Don't tell me that girl doesn't do serious."

"First to get married and first to get divorced. I don't know details, but I get the feeling her ex did a number on her. She doesn't want serious. Period. And honestly, right now, I don't have time for serious. Mama is getting worse, and it's getting harder to leave her alone for any amount of time. Neither Abby nor I make enough to put her in a home like she needs, so we just do our best. Think of it this way; I need a stress reliever, and Beth has volunteered for the position. I'm not stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth." Colby pushed by his boss and best friend and headed out of the locker room to collect his duty chart for the day.

For a few moments all was quiet, so he thought Bran had stayed in the locker room. It wasn't until he turned around to go out to his truck, that he saw the other man leaning against the doorjamb, watching him closely.

"What the hell? Are you jealous? You hoping to get a piece of her ass before anyone else laid claim?" Colby covered his feelings with jokes. The disappointment in Bran's eyes his choice only reflected in his own self-disgust. Beth deserved so much more than he could give her.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," Bran said softly. "She might say she's ready, but I think her heart is still fragile."

Colby swallowed hard. Bran wasn't saying anything he hadn't told himself, but it didn't make it any easier to hear. Before he could continue the conversation, the radio in the office crackled, and Maci called out, "Sheriff? Bran? You still here?"

"Yeah, Maci, I'm still here." Bran turned and headed down the short hallway of the Sheriff's department to the front office.

"That was Daniel Kroft, foreman over at Crawley Creek Ranch. Seems someone just shot one of the dogs out there," Maci explained.

Colby looked to Bran for more information. He hadn't realized there were any dogs at Crawley Creek, but with the ongoing search for Bucky Simons in full force, anyone shooting at the ranch was bad.

"A dog was shot?" Bran questioned.

Maci glanced at the pen marks on her hand. "Yep, a dog owned by a resident. That's all he said. They're taking the dog over to Dr. Gillian's for treatment, but Daniel said someone will be at the ranch to give the report."

Bran sighed. "Colby, you head to Luke's office and get as much info as you can. I'll find out what I can at the ranch."

Colby nodded and watched as the sheriff headed for home. From a quiet small town to a chaotic epicenter of crime, Montford had certainly changed in the last year or so. What could possibly happen next?

Elizabeth was at the grocery store loading bags into her car, when a pickup truck squealed around the corner and slammed into a parking stall across the street. Standing on the sidewalk open-mouthed, she watched as Roman Freemont leaped from the driver's seat and followed a woman into the veterinarian's clinic. She couldn't see what she was carrying, but the answer wouldn't have helped her understand what was going on, so she waved it off. What she did know was the woman wasn't his girlfriend, Franki.

A year ago, Elizabeth had been pining for Roman. She'd envisioned being the woman to set him on the straight and narrow, share a lifelong love, but when he met Franki, she'd lost her chance. She liked Franki, but that didn't stop her from feeling the burn of jealousy in her gut whenever she spotted the happy couple around town. She wanted that sort of happiness; she just didn't want the obligation that went with it.

Returning the cart to the store, she was about to climb into her car when the sheriff's SUV pulled alongside Roman's truck. Surprising her further, Colby climbed out and hurried into the building without so much as a look around him.

Unable to resist her own curiosity, she made a beeline for the office door. Something serious must have happened to one of the animals at Crawley Creek. Last she knew all the cattle and horses were treated on site, though. Pushing the door open, she came face-to-face with Roman and Colby. They topped her small stature by a long shot, and their massive size made the waiting room tight.

"Bethie?" Colby frowned in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I uh..." she paused and cleared her throat. "I saw Roman from across the street, and I wanted to check and make sure everything was okay."

Colby's eyes flashed with something akin to anger when Roman indulgently smiled and reached out to hug her. "Thanks, sugar, but I'm only the taxi driver this time. Payton's dog got shot, and we had to get him here fast."

Instead of feeling the ripple of pleasure she'd expected from Roman's embrace, she felt a shiver of discomfort. It felt wrong to be in his arms after her special moments in Colby's. She considered reaching for him, but they hadn't discussed making their non-relationship public, so it wouldn't be fair. Stepping away from Roman so she was standing more evenly between the pair, she asked, "Who is Payton? How did her dog get shot?"

"Exactly what I want to know," Colby said, his voice sharp as he withdrew a notepad and pen from his pocket. "Tell me what you know, Romeo."

Elizabeth wondered if Colby had deliberately called Roman by his old nickname as a reminder that he'd been a playboy for years, but she pushed the thought away as highly unlikely. Colby was surely as unaware of her emotional attachment to Roman as Roman was.

"I was in the corral with the new calf and his mama. He'd been limping on his back leg, so we're watching him. Doc hasn't found anything to explain the limp, and we're hoping it's just a strained muscle," Roman explained.

"Is that the one that was just born?" Colby asked. A frown of concern touched his face, and Elizabeth wondered how such a big man could show emotion so easily, but she loved it about him.

Roman nodded and continued to speak, so she focused on their conversation again. "...thought he was going to be a shower, but right now it's looking like he might have to be culled."

"You would put him down because of a limp?" Elizabeth asked, revulsion clear in her shrill voice. "That's inhumane."

"It's a cattle ranch, sugar. Not everything is humane no matter how hard we try. We don't raise animals for pets. We can't afford to."

Blushing with embarrassment at her over-the-top reaction, she nodded, "I know, I'm sorry. I just can't imagine putting a new baby calf down because it might have a limp.

Colby's arm snaked out to wrap around her waist and pull her into his side. So much for keeping their non-relationship on the down low. "The Crawley Creek Ranch is known for the good treatment of their animals. If there's anything that can be done, they'll do it, Bethie." Roman's eyes narrowed at their embrace, but he didn't say anything as Colby turned the conversation back to the shooting. "So you were in the corral. Then what happened?"

"I heard a shot. Came from way behind the house. Behind the cabins, even. Now, you know we've had a lot of bad things happening around the ranch lately," he paused and gave Colby a meaningful look that had a million questions racing in Elizabeth's head. "So I didn't hesitate. I took off at a run. I came around just as Kyler was lifting Chinook off the ground. He doesn't have a car since Drannon took the Tahoe keys because he was drinking in town all the time. Damn kid seems to have replaced drugs with booze and doesn't see how they're the same thing. So much for that stupid rehab program."

"And then?" Colby prodded.

"I grabbed Payton's hands and pulled her to the truck. We passed Drannon on our way. He was sending guys to see where the shot came from. I put Payton in the truck, Kyler put Chinook in her lap, and we came here." Roman's hands lifted in a gesture of helplessness. "I wish I knew more. That's a damn good dog. I can't imagine how anyone shot him accidently, but I don't know why someone would do it intentionally."

"He's a service dog, right?" Colby asked, dashing notes down on the paper. It all looked like chicken scratch to Elizabeth.

"Right, she just got him. From that Dogs in Service outfit. Jeanette suggested it."

A scuffling sound drew their attention. A woman with hair the color of a new penny stumbled into the room.

"Shit, Payton, are you alright? Is he..." Roman hurried to her side and looped his arm around her waist to help her to a chair. The motion exposed the woman's face, and Elizabeth had to bite back a gasp at the scar that covered her left cheek and temple.

"I left my cane at the cabin. I think I was moving on pure adrenaline," Payton's voice was husky, and she didn't even look to see who else was in the room.

"I'll call and see if Vin can bring it so you have it. What did Luke say?" Roman took a seat in the chair next to Payton's, his hand still holding hers. If Elizabeth hadn't seen him and Franki together, she might have assumed there was something between these two, but she couldn't imagine Roman cheating on his girlfriend.

"He's taking Chinook into surgery. The bullet is lodged in one of his ribs, and has to come out," Payton's tone was completely empty. Like she had no emotion in her body, and yet the sorrow was clearly etched into her face. "He's got a fifty-fifty shot."

"Luke Gillian is the best vet there is, Payton. He'll do everything he can to save your dog," Elizabeth offered encouragement even though she didn't know the woman. She couldn't stand how sad Payton looked when she lifted her face and met her gaze.

They shared an intense look before Payton swallowed hard and nodded. "Thanks."

"I'm Elizabeth Newcomer, I work at the diner in town. I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances." Elizabeth reached her hand out politely but dropped it when Payton just stared at it for a long moment. "Is there anything I can get for you? Water? Coffee? Tequila?"

The last word got the reaction she was hoping for, and Payton's mouth curved up on one side. "Make it a double and you've got a deal."

Elizabeth smiled widely and nodded. "You've got it. Give me twenty minutes to drop my stuff off and I'll be back with a bottle and a shot glass."

Turning toward the door, Colby was on her heels as she left the small clinic. He didn't speak until they were standing next to her car and she stopped to look at him.

"You're really going to bring her tequila?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips as he brushed a lock of hair from her cheek.

"Damn straight. That woman needs a drink right now. It looks like her only friend in the world is lying on that operating table."

Colby nodded. "I think you're right. You're a good woman, Elizabeth."

She winked up at him. "In more ways than one, I hope?"

He groaned and rested his forehead on hers. "Woman, you can't tease a man like that."

Batting her eyelashes innocently, she shrugged. "I'm not teasing. Just letting you know my door," she paused taking a deep breath, "and bed are still open to you."

His eyes darkened, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her there in broad daylight. "Do you work tomorrow?"

She shook her head slowly, and his nostrils flared.

"I get off at seven. I'll be at your place by eight-thirty. I just need to check on Mama before I come over," he promised, rubbing his thumb across her lips rather than his mouth.

"I'll leave a light on and make sure the bed is warm." She slid into her waiting car and left him standing on the sidewalk, watching her drive off. It was going to be tough keeping this thing between them clear of entanglements, but she was definitely enjoying herself.

To Colby's surprise, Elizabeth wasn't alone when he knocked on her door at eight-thirty the next morning. Her father stood behind her smiling as she let Colby into the house.

"Deputy Bricker, you remember Reverend Grimes, right?" Elizabeth asked, with a nervous smile.

"Of course, Reverend. It's nice to see you again." Colby responded politely, holding his hand out in greeting. James Grimes took it and gave it a firm shake.

"Call me James, son. It's good to see you too. I'd love to see more of you, say on Sunday mornings in a church pew?"

Colby flushed, and shrugged, "Sorry, but you'll have to discuss that with my boss. Bran seems to think keeping the town safe is more important than saving souls."

The two men laughed, and Colby felt Elizabeth's tension ease. He was curious why she was on edge, until her father spoke.

"Well, I figured it was time for me to introduce myself to my daughter's young man since she didn't seem willing to do it. Rachael and I would like to have you over to the house for dinner when you two have time." James wasn't subtle, and Colby immediately shot a look to Elizabeth. He could make a serious misstep if he wasn't careful.

She looked slightly green in the gills, but she gave him a shaky smile. It was probably better to keep his response vague. "Of course, sir. That would be great. I'll talk with Bethie and see what we can work out."

"Wonderful. I'll leave you two alone now. I have a sermon to write." James kissed his daughter's cheek and shook Colby's hand again before leaving.

When Elizabeth shut the door behind him, she looked visibly shaken. "Sorry about that. I didn't know he was coming, and there wasn't a nice way to make him leave."

Colby took her by the shoulders and drew her in for a hug. "Hey, no worries, baby. It's all good. I liked your mom and dad when I was a kid; I'm sure they haven't changed all that much."

"Did Chinook make it through the night?" she asked nervously, lifting her head up from his chest. He couldn't resist her sweet pout, so he kissed her before answering.

"I'm not sure. He was still stable last I heard, but that was around four or so. Luke was going to update Bran this morning. I thought you were going to keep the bed warm?"

She reached for his belt buckle. "I couldn't sleep, so I got up and baked bread and cleaned house. It will warm up fast with two of us in it."

They left a clothing trail as they went, and Colby let all thoughts of Elizabeth's family vanish from his mind. His one and only concern was keeping Elizabeth satisfied so she never wanted to leave his arms.

6.

A few days later, Elizabeth was still avoiding discussing her father's invitation to dinner, but she had a feeling Colby wouldn't wait much longer. When he finally came through the diner doors at nearly nine am, Elizabeth hurried to finish clearing the table so she could go to him. She'd never seen him look so tired.

"Hey deputy, you're getting off late today," she said as she slid a glass of water in front of him. There was no need for a menu. After all this time, he knew it backward and forward.

"Morning, Bethie. Can I just get an egg sandwich? Something quick. You get off at nine, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, is everything okay?" Her fingers itched to reach out and brush the frown line on his forehead. She'd much rather see his sexy dimple.

Colby shook his head. "Just been a rough night. I was hoping I could follow you home and spend some time with you today."

She nodded. "I'd like that. I'll get your sandwich and see about finishing up."

Leaving him, she hurried to do as promised, all the while wondering what could have stolen his smile. As a law enforcement officer, he walked into danger every day in some way. She knew there was a lot more to his job than she knew, but she'd never seen him so despondent before. Maybe it had nothing to do with his job? Maybe it was about his mom?

Her heart clenched in her chest and the moment Necee put Colby's plate in the window, she was there to grab it. Hurrying back to him she slid into the booth opposite him. "Is your mom okay?"

Colby's eyes widened. "As far as I know, why? What did you hear?"