Cowboy Love (24 page)

"What did Chris say?"

"She doesn't know much, either. The buzz around the hospital is about her being found dead this mornin', but nothin' more." Tanner walked over and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a warm hug. "Everythin' will be okay. I'm sure the police will have questions, especially when they find out we may have been the last two to see her alive."

Within the hour, the police sent a detective to speak to her and they indeed had questions, several questions. Not supplying her much information, the only thing they did say was they were investigating her death as a homicide since she had ligature marks on her neck and defensive wounds on her hands. The reporters hovered outside in the parking lot of her apartment complex and as soon as the detective left, they swarmed around him. "Vultures, that's what they are. They just wait, wanting to feed off the flesh of the victims or perpetrators alike. They don't care if someone is innocent or guilty. I feel so sorry for her family. I wonder who could have done this to her?"

"I have no idea."

"I already have enough problems with Jack and his threats.

"I meant to ask you about that." Tanner shifted so he could look into her eyes.

She felt the blood drain from her face when she realized she'd slipped. She wasn't going to tell him about Jack's accusations, since she wanted to try and deal with everything herself, but now an explanation would be in order.

"What did he mean when he said you wouldn't be able to work in Dallas anymore?"

She dropped her gaze so she wouldn't have to look at him, but he put his finger under her chin, forcing her to raise her head.

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to try to deal with him myself."

"How can we be in a relationship if you don't tell me about your troubles? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Tanner. I love you, and I wasn't trying to keep his threats from you unnecessarily. I didn't want you to worry."

With a questioning raise of his eyebrow, he waited. His look told her, he wasn't going to take no for an answer. She had to tell him. She had no choice now.

She sighed heavily. "He confronted me at work the other day, the same afternoon you called." He nodded in understanding. "He threatened me. He didn't like when I told him I loved you. Right after I talked to you, I saw him coming out of my boss' office with a smug smile. The next day she called me in her office to tell me he had given her information. For several days in the last month or so, narcotics have been missing from work. He told her because we had been seeing each other he knew for a fact I had been taking drugs."

"Can't you get into major trouble for that? I mean, get fired or lose your license?"

"Yes. My boss understood they were probably false allegations, but she had to report the accusations and an investigation will be conducted."

"So that's what he meant by you not bein' able to work in Dallas anymore."

"He wanted to ruin me."

"He obviously was workin' hard at it, yes. Did she say they had proof you took the medication?"

"No but things are suspicious. The drugs are missing on days I worked, but everyone who knows me should understand. I rarely take anything stronger than Tylenol or Ibuprofen."

"There shouldn't be a problem then. Can't they do a drug screen or somethin'?"

"Yes, but some drugs don't stay in your system long enough to be picked up unless it is done within a short time after taking them."

"We'll handle this together. I know you don't take drugs. I've been around you enough to know."

"I hope everything turns out to be so easy. If my license gets suspended or revoked, I don't know what I would do." Realizing she may never be able to work in nursing again shook her to the core. He gathered her to his chest, and she laid her head against his shoulder.

"You have to be stronger than you've ever been for a while. The accusations will be difficult. We'll deal with everythin' when the time comes. For now, just relax. There's nothin' we can do right now, anyway. I'll be here for you no matter what."

"You have no idea how much I love you."

"I love you, too." He pulled her to his chest again and bent his head to take her lips in a soft kiss that felt like butterfly wings against her mouth. Amy lost herself in the feelings of his lips, and she opened her mouth to receive his tongue. He deepened the kiss, pulling her even tighter against him, his hand finding her breast under her shirt.

"Come on." He took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom. She stood at the end of the bed while he pulled the covers back. She moved toward him while he slipped out of his jeans and then brought her down with him onto the soft mattress. He wrapped her in his arms and they lay in the silence until she finally drifted off to sleep.

Later in the afternoon, they sat on the balcony of her apartment. He had made a late lunch and brought the sandwich out to her while she sat staring out at the Dallas skyline.

"Here, baby. You need to eat," he said, placing the plate near her.

"I don't think I can. Thank you for making it, though."

"You are gonna eat somethin' if I have to feed you," he answered firmly. "Now, here, eat."

Amy dutifully picked up the sandwich and took a bite, chewing until the food tasted like mush in her mouth then swallowed heavily. She took a large drink of the milk he had set near her plate to wash the whole thing down, giving him a small smile.

"Not good enough. Come on."

Amy knew he wasn't going to let up until she ate everything, so she continued to take bites of the meal until everything disappeared.

* * * *

The sadness in her eyes tore at him, as he watched the tears gather again on her lashes. He scooted his chair so he could pull her into his arms while the drops fell on her cheeks.

"Don't cry. I hate when you cry."

"I'm sorry. What am I going to do if they take my license? I can't bear the thought of not being a nurse, Tanner."

"We'll manage. Together we can face any obstacle, even this one."

"How am I going to face the people at work tomorrow? I'm sure by now everyone knows I'm being investigated. They'll think I'm some kind of drug addict."

"You're a strong woman. You'll do just fine," he encouraged, pushing her hair back behind her ear.

She shuddered as she sighed heavily, laying her head on his chest.

"Do you have to go home?" She stroked the fine hair near her cheek.

"I wish I could stay, but I can't."

She turned her head so her lips met his chest where his shirt lay open, kissing the skin beneath, and running her tongue along the ridges as he groaned deep in his throat.

"Amy," he moaned as a shiver ran down his arms, raising goose bumps along his skin.

"I need you, Tanner. Make love to me, please," she whispered against the firm surface under her mouth.

He stood, pulling her up with him. Swinging her up in his arms, he carried her back through the apartment and into the bedroom. Kicking the door closed behind them, effectively shutting out the crazy world that was about to come crashing down around them.

* * * *

Late that evening, after they had spent the afternoon making love, Tanner stood at the door as he kissed her goodbye.

"I wish you didn't have to go." She held tight as they stood near the door.

"I have to and you have to work tomorrow."

"Be careful going home, okay? Make sure you call me when you get to Brenham." He pulled away and grabbed his bag.

"I will, but it'll be late. It's already eight now."

"I don't care. I want to know you got home."

He grinned at her protective tone. "All right. I'll call you on your cell."

"I'll put it on your pillow."

"My pillow? I like the sound of that," he replied with a sexy smile.

"It will be yours as long as you want."

"How does forever sound?"

"Sounds good to me," she responded, right before she pulled his head down for another heart-stopping kiss.

"Mmm…" he moaned into her mouth before he finally broke the kiss. "I need to go."

Amy stepped back allowing him to pull the door open.

"I love you," he said, stepping into the hall.

"I love you, too. Be careful."

She closed the door, putting her back against the wood with a heavy sigh. Morning would come early and things would probably be hell at work, but she knew she had to be prepared for the worst.

After her shower, she crawled into the bed, pulled his pillow to her face so she could inhale his musky scent, holding her cell phone close, waiting for his call.

When he called, she answered with a groggy hello.

"Hey, darlin'. I'm home."

"Good. I'm glad you're safe."

"I'll let you go back to sleep. I love you."

"I love you too, Tanner. I'll call you tomorrow after work."

"Okay. Sweet dreams," echoed in her ear, before she clicked the phone shut and drifted back off to sleep.

The next morning she was up and dressed early. George stood at her door, guarding it himself, and when he saw her, he told her he would show her a different way down so she could avoid the reporters out front.

"Thanks, George. You are such a sweetheart."

"I have to take care of my favorite resident, don't I?"

"I guess so since I'm not doing such a great job these days."

"Well, that nice guy you've got now will keep you out of trouble, I'm sure." His smile and approval made her day.

"I'm glad you like him, George. I do, too," she said as he escorted her to her car, and she slid onto the seat. "I'll see you tonight."

"Have a good day at work."

"I'll try," she replied, rolling up her window and pulling out of the parking lot.

* * * *

"Tanner?" his mother yelled out the front door.
"Tanner!"

Working in the barn, he heard his mother call his name and the tone of her voice sent shivers down his spine. He raced for the house, terrified something had happened to one of his parents.

"What?" he asked, worry clear in his voice, as he reached the porch.

"You need to see the television," she answered, pushing the screen door open so he could enter.

"Now, coming to you live from Dallas Fort Worth Metropolitan Hospital Caroline Adams. Caroline, can you tell us what is happening there?"

"Hi, Marty. I'm here live at the hospital reporting on some breaking news. We have it on good authority that a large drug ring has been uncovered here at the hospital. Apparently a pharmacist and a registered nurse have been filtering drugs out to dealers on the streets to be sold for a very high profit. We have just learned that the Dallas Fort Worth drug task force has arrested Amy Russell, registered nurse, for filtering narcotics from the hospital with the help of Cory Harold, registered pharmacist. We will bring you more as things develop."

Chapter 18

Tanner watched as Amy, wearing her work uniform, was escorted out of the hospital in handcuffs and pushed into a squad car, before it drove away.

He talked over his shoulder as he walked quickly down the hall to his room to pack a bag. "Mom, I'm driving to Dallas. Call Pete's for me and tell them I can't play for right now. I'll be back as soon as I can, but I need to be there for Amy."

The ride to Dallas dragged by. He tried turning on the radio, writing songs in his head, anything to keep his mind off Amy and what she had to be going through. When he finally reached the outskirts of town, he headed straight for her apartment, only to find taped off with yellow police tape.

Next he called Chris, knowing his voice must sound frantic on the phone he said, "Chris, I need your help."

"Tanner? Did you hear about Amy?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm here. I need a place to bunk. They won't let me in her apartment. They are gatherin' evidence I guess. Can I stay with you for a few days until I help her get this straightened out?"

"Sure, no problem," Chris answered. "You know she didn't do this, right?"

"Chris, there is no way she could be sellin' drugs. She wouldn't have the heart for that type of activity."

"Then why do they think she did?"

"I have no idea." He ran his hands through his hair before he pounded his fist on the steering wheel as he drove toward Chris' apartment. "I'll be at your place in a few minutes."

When he reached Chris' place, they sat down and discussed how the police could possible think Amy might be involved in selling drugs.

"You know Jack told them she had been usin' right?"

"Yeah, she told me, but there is no way, Tanner. Amy would never do anything like what they are suggesting," Chris paced, chewing her fingernail nervously.

"Someone must be settin' her up and I bet its Jack."

"What can we do about it?"

"I don't know, but I'm goin' down to the police department so I can see her." He pulled out the keys to his truck, heading for the door.

"No, you stay here and keep an eye on the television. We'll probably be able to find out more from the nosey reporters than we will anywhere else. I'll make sure she knows we are here for her. I need to find out if she has a lawyer already. If not, we'll get one for her and go from there. Hopefully we can get her out quickly."

"I hope so, too."

"I'll be back as quick as I can."

Chris gave Tanner directions to the police station and once he arrived, he pulled out the card of the homicide detective they talked to at the apartment. Maybe the detective could help him see Amy.

"I need to talk to Detective Gilroy," he told the desk clerk.

"I'm sorry, but Detective Gilroy is unavailable right now. Would you like to wait?"

"Yes. Can you please tell him I need to speak to him as soon as possible?"

"Of course, sir."

Tanner took a seat in the lobby, his eyes looking around at the high ceilings, paneled walls, plastic plants gracing the corners and the bullet proof glass protecting clerk. Big double doors to his left led into the rear of the police station, and on several occasions, he could see people walking past looking at him curiously.
You would think they've never seen cowboy before.
He adjusted in his chair and pulled off his hat, hanging the Stetson on his knee as he waited.