exceptionally pleased with his timing. From the looks of the intimate dinner, Webster planned to ask for Alexaâs hand. Coop couldnât think of one reason why he should feel jealous and possessive, but he was, damn it. He didnât want that intriguing woman to marry this scoundrel.
Furthermore, where was Miguel Santos, the bodyguard? Had Alexa poisoned him a second night in a row so she could come alone to Websterâs ranch?
âWhat do you want?â Elliot demanded irritably. âAs you can plainly see, Iâm entertaining an important guest this evening.â
Coop stuck out his hand, palm up. âAdvance pay is my policy,â he announced. âOne weekâs advance to be specific.â
Elliot grumbled under his breath but he reached into the pocket of his trousers to retrieve several large bank notes. âNext time Iâll meet you at the line shack on the south edge of my property. At midnight. I donât want you coming and going from my house. It looks suspicious.â
Coop shook his head. No way in hell was he going to arrive at the line shack and find himself bushwhacked by Elliotâs henchman or the unidentified colleague. âWeâll meet here or your store or not at all. If youâre going to be contrary Iâll notify the marshal that youâre paying me to find fault with your neighborsâ ranching practices.â
Elliot puffed up like an offended toad. âI will deny it!â
Coop shrugged lackadaisically then stretched the truth. âDoesnât make a damn to me because some of your neighbors want to hire me to check on your ranching practices. Iâm a gun for hire and a jobâs a job, Webster. I go to the highest bidder.â
Elliot snapped to attention and his gaze narrowed sharply. â Who wants to hire you away from me? Hampton? Barrett?â
âClient confidentiality,â said Coop, his hand still outstretched. âSo which is it? You or them?â
Muttering, Elliot slapped the money into Coopâs waiting hand. âYou work for me. Now get out of here and do what Iâm paying you to do. Find out if my neighbors are guilty of rustling my cattle.â
In other words, unjustly accuse them of wrongdoing, Coop translated. âSure, youâre the boss.â
âYouâre damn right I am,â Elliot contended aloofly. âAnd donât you forget it.â
Coop watched Elliot stride quickly across the room to rejoin Alexa. Heâd give anything to have the chance to tell her about Websterâs intimate connection to Lily Brantley. Alexa needed to take that into consideration before she accepted or rejected the forthcoming marriage proposal. Although Coop knew he wasnât the right man for Alexa Quinn, he knew for damn certain that Webster wasnât, either.
When Coop hobbled outside, leaning heavily on his cane, Oscar Denton was there to confront him with a sneer and a loaded Colt .45. Coop twirled his cane, knocking the pistol from Dentonâs hand. It clattered down the steps and Denton cursed foully.
âWatch where you point that thing,â Coop ordered. âYou might shoot someone accidentally.â
âWhen it comes to you, there wonât be anything accidental about it,â Denton sneered as he doubled over to scoop up his weapon. âNext time you go barging in on the boss Iâll drag your dead carcass out by your boot heelsââ
Dentonâs voice dried up when he realized Coop had drawn a six-shooter and had buried it in his soft underbelly. Coop had used the art of intimidation against outlaws dozens of times. He didnât like the looks of this whisker-faced, tobacco-chewing hooligan whose sketch could likely be found on a Wanted poster.
âOne quick shot and Iâll have your job,â Coop threatened. âDoesnât make a damn bit of difference to me, as long as I get paid.â
Coop retrieved both of Dentonâs pistols and