Free Promise Her by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page A

your distance from our friend Harold.”
    Lisa fumed as she made her way back to her seat, her thoughts jumping between Harold and Douglas.
    Why didn’t Douglas suggest she ditch George and go with him? Not that she’d do it of course, but she’d be tempted. Either the man was as dense as a block of cheese or she wasn’t Douglas’ type. Fancy city, society, career women were probably more to his liking, not cowgirls who grew up at rodeos and chased financial frauds for a living.
    Her head down, her mind engaged in the futile task of ridding her brain of Douglas Callahan, she almost ran into Mike.
    “Hey, Cowgirl. Slow down.”
    His smile was just as sweet, his concern just as genuine as always. It made her feel better.
    “How ya’ doing?”
    “I’m hanging, Mike. That’s all, just hanging.”
    “Tomorrow’s the big night.”
    She nodded.
    “I’m up in a while, better git.”
    “See you tomorrow. By the way, do you know the blonde Harold is escorting around? I’ve seen her with him a couple of times now.”
    Mike shrugged. “Got me.”
    “Okay. Keep your ears open.”
    He tipped his hat and left.
    Back in her seat, she tried to concentrate on the action in the arena, but couldn’t. Did Harold kill his wife because of the blonde only to brazenly show her off? Lisa shuddered at the realization that the finger of guilt wasn’t swinging his way. It was pointed right at her. She had to find out more. So far, she’d come up with nothing concrete that would make HPD look at Harold. She had to find something. Soon. Her life depended on it.
    For the first time in memory, the rodeo performance didn’t bring its usual thrill. In fact, she couldn’t wait until it was over and she could rid herself of Mr. Nice Guy.
    Finally, the last horse and rider left the arena. She stood, told George goodnight. Guilt over inviting him in the first place made her turn up the charm an extra notch.
    Before he left, he asked for a dinner date. Lisa made the excuse that she was too busy with the rodeo and wouldn’t be free for weeks. When he leaned down for a kiss, she gave him a peck on his cheek before taking two steps back. As he walked away, she sighed. He was the type who would call again. She vowed to be more honest with him the next time. It wasn’t right to do otherwise.
    She scanned the dwindling crowd hoping Douglas was still there. When she didn’t see him, she spent an hour or so with her buds, who were more than concerned over the suspicions swirling around her. Knowing she had people rooting for her didn’t begin to make up for the knowledge that Douglas would never be hers. But it helped. She included the Callahans in that group. They checked on her every day, TJ more often. They would be at the show tomorrow night. For a quick moment she felt better. Now it was time to get home and take a look at those pictures.
    Two hours later, a thirty-minute conversation with Patty behind her, Lisa finally had the chance to look at the photos.
    Not bad considering how far away she’d been when she snapped them.
    She forwarded them to Bernie Peters, asking him to see if he could find out who the woman was, and anything else he could come up with. That accomplished, Lisa used a computer program to enlarge the images. At that size, along with the cowboy hat pulled low on her forehead, the images yielded no more clues.
    Though the woman looked familiar, Lisa couldn’t place her.
    Giving up, she went to bed. Just as she was drifting to sleep her senses came alive with the knowledge she’d see Douglas again tomorrow. The thought both warmed and tormented her. Why did she have to fall for a man who thought of her as his kid sister? She wanted so much more, his arms around her, his lips on hers.
    She turned over, punched the pillow.
    She was desperate to find out if a romance was possible. But if he rejected her, then what would she do? Wasn’t it better not to take the risk? Not to know?
    Just the thought that the two of them