Free Iron Cowboy by Diana Palmer

came to tell me about my house.”
    He frowned. “What about your house?”
    â€œHe said one of the Parks cowboys saw lights on inside and knew I wasn’t there, so he called the sheriff,” she began. “But when the deputy got there, all the lights were out and nobody was anywhere around.”
    He managed to look innocent. “How odd.”
    He looked too innocent. She frowned. “I didn’t give Mr. Danzetta a key to my house, so how did he get in to feed Morris?”
    He sat down in the chair beside the bed, looking thoughtful for a minute. “Tony has some, shall we say, unexpected skills.”
    â€œLike breaking and entering?” she probed with a grin.
    â€œThis is a conversation we shouldn’t have right now,” he replied with a quiet smile.
    Her eyebrows lifted. “Is he wanted by the law?” she asked, keeping her voice low so that Tony wouldn’t overhear her.
    â€œOnly in two countries,” he said absently. “Or was it three?”
    She looked shocked.
    He scowled at her. “I’m kidding!”
    She relaxed. “Okay,” she said. “That’s a relief.”
    Outside the door, a tall, dark-eyed man was chuckling silently.
    â€œI talked to Dr. Coltrain,” Jared said. “He told me if you’re still improving like this, you can be released Monday.”
    She grimaced. “I’ll miss work.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, gosh. Dee! I didn’t even phone her…!”
    â€œI did,” Jared said lazily. “She’s coming to see you tonight.”
    â€œThanks,” she told him.
    â€œShe already knew, of course,” he added ruefully. “It’s amazing how gossip gets around here.”
    â€œWe’re a very small town,” she reminded him.
    â€œYou’re a very large family,” he contradicted. “I’ve never lived in a place where people knew so much about each other.”
    She smiled. “I know. I love it here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
    â€œWell, you’ll be living with me for a few days,” he replied, crossing his long legs. “My attorney’s coming down Monday, so we’ll be chaperoned. Less gossip.”
    â€œDoes your attorney come to stay?”
    â€œOnly when I have legal matters to discuss,” he said easily. “I’ve had the same attorney for two years.”
    She was picturing a tall lawyer like Blake Kemp. Jared must be very well-to-do if he could get a live-in attorney, she was thinking.
    â€œDon’t mention anything about Tony feeding your cat, okay?” he asked abruptly. “I don’t want the police asking any embarrassing questions. I need Tony.”
    â€œOf course I won’t,” she agreed, but she couldn’t help wondering what all the secrecy was about.
    â€œI can’t stay long tonight,” he said apologetically. “I’m trying to do business by phone, fax and modem, and it’s damned hard.”
    Her eyes were curious. “Where do you live when you’re not here?”
    He smiled. “That’s need-to-know. You don’t.”
    â€œWell!” she exclaimed. “What a lot of cloak-and-dagger stuff!”
    â€œYou have no idea,” he replied absently.
    The door opened. Tony came in, flipping his phone shut. “Max needs to talk to you again. It’s going to take a while.”
    â€œWe’ll go home.” He got up, pausing to smile down at Sara. “Get better. I’ll be back in the morning.”
    â€œThanks,” she said.
    He shrugged. “We’re family.”
    He went out with Tony and closed the door behind him.

    Max was not happy to learn that Jared was keeping company with some sick girl in the little hick town.
    â€œYou need your head read,” she muttered on the phone. “You’ve got enough problems without adding a penniless, clinging cowgirl to them.”
    â€œShe’s not