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  “Do you want me to come back with you?” Charlotte asked. She tried not to sound reluctant.

  Darcy sighed. “No, you stay here and have fun. There’s no reason both of us have to live like nuns.”

  “Besides, if I took you away from Ms. Wedeliverontime, she might get her butch friend to shoot me.” It was a feeble joke, but it did the trick. Charlotte laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Thanks, I’ll see you back at the hotel. Hopefully, in the morning,” she added with a wink. Darcy laughed and walked her friend back to the table.

  “I’m going back to the hotel,” she announced to the reassembled group. “It was nice meeting you all,” she lied.

  “Are you leaving, too Charlotte?” Jane asked.

  Charlotte shook her head.

  “I think I’m going to hang around here for a while. Darcy, can you find your way back, or should I see if this town has a cab service?”

  Darcy shook her head. “It’s only a couple of blocks. I think I can manage. But what about you? Should you be walking back by yourself late at night?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll see that she makes it back safe and sound,” Jane promised. She put an arm around Charlotte’s waist and held her a little too proprietarily for Darcy’s taste; after all, they’d only just met. But they’re both adults, and I’m not Charlotte’s mother.

  “Okay, I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t stay out too late,” Darcy warned. It’s a school night, she almost added. She suddenly felt very old and very cranky. When did I get to be the mature one? She turned on her heels and stalked toward the exit, not quite suppressing an envious sigh. As she reached the door, she spotted Elizabeth now standing at the bar watching her departure. She stopped suddenly and Elizabeth tipped her hat with exaggerated courtesy. Darcy stiffened her spine and pushed her way through the exit.

  ***

  Elizabeth watched Darcy leave the bar. She couldn’t quite decipher her final glance as she made her way out the door. Watching Darcy walk away, Elizabeth decided the woman might be an ice queen but the view from behind was worth a little frostbite.

  The house lights flickered, bringing Elizabeth’s attention back to the matters at hand. She scooped up the tray that Sasha had placed in front of her and started back to the table with the fresh supply of drinks. Halfway there, she felt her phone vibrate. Once she delivered the tray to an appreciative crowd, she walked back toward the bathrooms. She knew it would be marginally quieter back there. She dialed the number from memory.

  “Hey, Shelly, what’s up?” She stuck her finger in her ear to block the rising noise from the bar. The costume contest was finally starting. She could hear a trio of Dolly Partons harmonizing on the stage.

  “Sorry, Doc. I got a call from Mrs. Halliwell. She’s having contractions and is heading in.”

  “Is she still out at the ranch?”

  “Yeah, she said she’d be here in about 40 minutes. Might take longer though. It’s raining pretty hard here.”

  “Okay, I’ll head on over to the hospital and meet y’all there. Thanks, Shell.” Elizabeth slid her phone back in her pocket, glad she’d only finished one drink. She headed back to the table to make her excuses. She knew the party would continue for hours. With some luck, and a little cooperation from the new little Halliwell, she might be back before the night was over.

  Chapter Five

  Darcy huddled under the tattered awning of a building that had once housed a hardware store. Two minutes after she left the bar, the sky had suddenly opened up. Within seconds, she was drenched. The perfect end to a perfect day.

  She wiped her face and debated the merits of moving forward through the downpour. She wiped another rivulet of rain from her forehead and steeled herself to the task. She stepped out from under the awning as a bolt of lightening exploded nearby. The crack of thunder made her jump backward as she felt the vibrations from the force. Huddled under her inadequate protection, Darcy glowered at the rain, cursing her luck.

  She stood there a few minutes, shivering and shifting from foot to foot indecisively. She’d decided to try again for the hotel when she saw an old pickup truck drive slowly past. The truck came to a stop a few yards down the street and backed slowly toward her. Darcy held her breath. All the horrible things that could happen to a lone woman in the dark ran through her mind. She wondered how fast she could run in her heels.

  Darcy reached into her pocket automatically. Damn! She’d had to leave her pepper spray at home. No getting through airport security with that. All she had in her purse was her wallet, phone, and her hotel key. At least it was an actual, old-fashioned key and not one of those flimsy plastic cards. She gripped the key tightly and slipped her shoes off with her other hand as the truck came to a stop, directly in front of her.

  The driver rolled down the window a bit, and Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. It was the cowboy from the bar.

  Elizabeth stuck her head out. “Can I give you a lift?”

  Darcy went almost limp with relief. “Yeah, that would be great. If it’s no trouble,” she added.

  Elizabeth looked out at the pouring rain. “It’s no trouble,” she assured her. “Hop in.” She reached over and opened the passenger door.

  Darcy rushed around the truck. She jumped in quickly, trying futilely not to drip on the seats. Elizabeth clicked on the overhead light. She rummaged in the glove compartment and then pulled out a hand towel. She handed it to Darcy

  “Thanks,” Darcy said, taking the towel gratefully. She shivered as she wiped her face. “Were you a Girl Scout?”

  Elizabeth laughed while she fiddled with some controls on the dashboard. A few seconds later, warm air blasted from the air vents “No, but I dated a troop leader for two weeks,” she said with a wink.

  Darcy offered her the first genuine smile of the evening. It did wonders for her appearance.

  “So, where to?” Elizabeth asked.

  “What?” Darcy’s voice was muffled as she tried to dry her hair.

  “Which hotel are you staying at? There are only two in town, not counting the motel out by the highway that is frequented by truckers and folks renting by the hour.”

  “Oh.” Darcy’s head popped up from underneath the towel. “I’m staying at the Stagebrush Hotel.”

  “Of course,” Elizabeth said, not surprised. “It’s the fanciest place in town. It’s a relic of Longborn’s early oil boom days.”

  “It does seem a bit fancy for a town this small. And just a little bit sad,” Darcy commented.

  “It doesn’t see much business anymore, but Clara and Zeke, the current owners, are too stubborn to retire. Even though they both must be in their eighties by now,” Elizabeth said.

  “Lucky for me,” Darcy said.

  “Buckle up, darlin’,” Elizabeth drawled. She waited patiently while Darcy snapped her seat belt closed.

  Feeling trapped in the small cab, Darcy decided to give small talk a try. She knew she wasn’t good at it, but she didn’t want to seem impolite. She would still be stuck in the rain if Elizabeth hadn’t taken pity on her.

  “Why are you leaving the party so soon?” Darcy asked. “It looked like things were just getting started.”

  “I got called in to work. Besides, the only available woman there refused to dance with me and then left early.” Elizabeth winked at Darcy before turning her attention to the road.

  Darcy decided that flirting was second nature to Elizabeth. She didn’t mean anything by it. “I’ve been traveling all day, and I’m beat,” Darcy said. She was a little defensive about her bedraggled condition, and it bled over into her tone.

  Elizabeth didn’t respond. She nodded politely and stepped on the gas.

  Darcy huddled in the seat, shivering. She wondered if the day could possibly get any worse. This morning, she was having coffee at her favorite bakery in Jackson Square. It had been the rare, perfect San Francisco day. She had to leave that perfection and fly to Texas. Texas of all places! Now she was cold, she was we
t, and she was trapped in a small space with Calamity Jane. Hell, the hat takes up most of the space in the cab. At least it’s not far to the hotel.

  Darcy knew it wasn’t fair to take out her bad mood on someone who was actually doing her a favor, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She leaned back in the seat, sullen and dripping. She closed her eyes and willed the truck to go faster. The drive to the hotel seemed interminable.

  Suddenly, the theme song to The X-Files broke the heavy silence in the cab. Elizabeth ignored it, keeping her eyes on the road.

  After the third ring, Darcy opened her eyes and said, “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

  “Not while I’m driving,” Elizabeth replied. “Do you know how many accidents are caused by drivers talking on their cell phones?”

  The phone kept ringing. It was driving Darcy crazy. “Would you like for me to answer it for you?” she asked.

  “No. I know who it is. She knows I’m on my way and that I’ll call her back in a minute,” Elizabeth said sharply.

  Her? For a moment, Darcy was inexplicably curious about the woman on the phone. What had she done to warrant such disregard? Was she a girlfriend? Current or ex? She squelched that line of thought ruthlessly. She wasn’t the least bit interested in the lives of the locals, she reminded herself. Luckily, the truck pulled to a stop in front of the hotel before her curiosity got the better of her judgment.

  Elizabeth cut the engine. The doorman, who was also the desk clerk and the bellboy, was nowhere in sight. Before Darcy could even unbuckle, Elizabeth hopped out, ran around the truck, and opened the passenger door. She reached behind the truck seat and pulled out an umbrella. She flicked it open and held it over the door.

  Darcy didn’t think she could get any wetter, but she appreciated the thought. She climbed out of the truck and under the shelter of the umbrella.

  Elizabeth walked her to the entrance of the hotel. They stood there while the Texan shook the water off the now deflated umbrella. Then Elizabeth took off her cowboy hat and shook the water off it, too.

  Darcy was startled when long, blonde hair spilled out from under the hat. She was even more startled by the stunning blue eyes that were now clearly visible in the bright light.

  “Listen,” Darcy started, when Elizabeth opened the hotel door. “I really do appreciate the ride tonight. Thank you.” She expected a “Shucks, Ma’am. Twern’t nothing” but all she got was a simple “You’re welcome.”

  “Besides, it’s not every day I get to rescue a beautiful woman from the rain,” Elizabeth added. She smiled playfully, tucked the umbrella under her arm, and ran back to her truck.

  Speechless, Darcy stood in the doorway and watched her drive away.

  Chapter Six

  Darcy bolted upright in bed, confused and disoriented. Earthquake! She waited for the aftershock, her heart racing. She glanced at the clock. It was 3:06. A second thump shook the adjoining wall. She heard a giggle followed by a loud shushing sound. Then a low moan made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Fuck!

  Darcy sank back down in bed, torn between covering her ears and putting a glass up next to the wall so she could hear everything. She tried to remember the last time she’d had sex. She narrowed it down to six months ago and suddenly felt doubly resentful. When she heard the first “Yes, Yes!” her decision was made. She pulled a pillow over her head and the blankets up over that. She didn’t need to listen to Charlotte getting laid. There were limits to friendship, after all. Luckily, the pillow muffled most of the sound, and Darcy settled back down to sleep. She was determined to finish their business as soon as possible. The sooner I finish up here, the sooner I can return to civilization.

  Several hours later, Darcy slipped an arm out from underneath the coverlet and viciously slapped the alarm clock to silence. She rolled over and groaned. God, I feel like crap. I must be getting old. She flipped the covers away from her eyes and tried not to tear up in the sudden sunlight. She threw the blankets off in one smooth move. She had an appointment at the county courthouse in an hour. She didn’t have time to dawdle.

  After a quick shower, she slipped into a pair of jeans. She rummaged in her suitcase for her sneakers. She would be walking a lot today, and she wanted to be prepared. Ten minutes later, she was banging on Charlotte’s door.

  She heard a muffled thump, followed by a “God damn it,” and then the door flew open. Charlotte gazed out at her. Eyes bleary and red, hair a rat’s nest, she still had the self-satisfied glow of a woman recently well fucked. It did not endear her to Darcy in the least. Neither did the bare backside of the woman Darcy could see still lying in bed, half tangled in the sheets.

  “Jesus, Darce. What time is it? What do you want?” Charlotte croaked. She noticed where Darcy’s eyes were focused, and she pulled the door half closed, blocking her friend’s view of the shapely scenery.

  “We have an appointment in,” Darcy glanced at her watch and continued, “20 minutes. Are you coming?”

  Charlotte grinned at the unintentional double entendre.

  “What? Are you 12 now?” Darcy asked, her voice rising in irritation.

  Charlotte brought her exuberance under control and tried to act contrite. “I’m sorry,” she lied. “I think you should go ahead without me. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Darcy could not believe that Charlotte was ditching work for a roll in the hay. Granted, looking through land deeds wasn’t earth-shatteringly exciting, but it was what they were here to do, damn it.

  “Please,” Charlotte begged. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear. I’ll meet you at noon for lunch in the restaurant downstairs.”

  Charlotte looked over her shoulder. “I’ll buy,” she added. There was just enough desperation in Charlotte’s tone to make Darcy give in, but not gracefully.

  “Fine,” Darcy muttered. “Don’t think this isn’t going to show up on your next performance evaluation.” She could tell by Charlotte’s expression that she didn’t care.

  “Great. Noon. See ya there,” Charlotte said in a rush. She slammed the door in Darcy’s face.

  Darcy sputtered for few seconds, trying to work up some outrage. She wasn’t very successful. If she couldn’t get laid, she should be glad Charlotte could. With a world-weary sigh, she headed downstairs. If she hurried, she could grab a much-needed cup of coffee.

  Chapter Seven

  Elizabeth took a careful sip of her coffee as she walked back into the ER at 9 a.m. No longer in cowboy drag, she was dressed like the doctor she was. Janine, the admitting nurse, stared at her in confusion. “I thought you weren’t on until noon?”

  “I’ve been here since last night. Connie Halliwell finally had her baby around three. A little girl – 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Unfortunately, she has her father’s ears.” She and Janine had both gone to school with Frank Halliwell, and his ears were legendary.

  “Then there was a car accident and a couple of sick trick-or-treaters, so I hung around to help out.” Elizabeth said this without a trace of resentment. It’s not like there was anyone waiting at home for her anyway. That’s the beauty of the single life. No one to answer to. She ignored the little voice that said and no one to care.

  “Not much point in going home now,” she added as she surveyed the number of patients in the waiting area. “Anything critical?” She looked through the charts of the patients still waiting to be seen.

  “Not this early,” Janine said. “And Dr. Peterson is on until 12 if you want to catch a nap.”

  “I’m okay. I caught a nap earlier between the ‘it hurts right here’ and the ‘I’m not drunk, officer.’ But I think I will grab a shower before it heats up.” Elizabeth started down the hall toward the doctor’s lounge. “Call me if you need me,” she yelled over her shoulder unnecessarily. As head of the ER, Elizabeth was always on call.

  Chapter Eight

  Darcy glanced at her watch for the third time. It was a quarter past noon, and she was still sitting alone in the restaurant. She was going to
kill Charlotte. She hated being stood up. Twice in one day was inexcusable. As if summoned by Darcy’s ire, Charlotte sauntered into view.

  Spotting Darcy, Charlotte waved the hostess away. She started apologizing before she even sat down, but her grin belied her remorse.

  Darcy ignored Charlotte’s half-assed apologies and got right to the point. “Is she gone?” Darcy asked.

  Charlotte sat down and tried not to gloat. “Yep. I’m yours for the whole afternoon.”

  “Great,” Darcy said, then stopped suddenly. “Wait, what do you mean for the afternoon?”

  “Jane and I are having dinner together tonight,” Charlotte said. She couldn’t contain her enthusiasm any longer. “Oh, Darce, she is so great. It’s unbelievable.” She launched into a litany of Jane’s charms that started with “her amazing flexibility” and ended with “I think I might be in love.”

  Darcy held up her hands. “You may be in lust, but you are not in love,” Darcy said emphatically. “You haven’t known her long enough to be in love with her, and you swore you weren’t going to do this again. Remember Marsha?”

  “Marsha!” Charlotte looked crushed. “This is totally different,” she protested.

  “Really? Let’s review, shall we?” Darcy’s tone was acid enough to melt metal. “You went home with Marsha on the first date. She moved in with you on the second date. You caught her cheating on you two weeks later. Does any of this ring a bell? And let’s not forget Sharon.”

  Darcy was frustrated, and it showed. Charlotte’s trusting nature made her an easy target for unscrupulous people. In the 10 years they’d been friends, Charlotte had suffered a broken heart at least a dozen times. She fell fast and hard. And usually for losers.

  “Marsha was an unemployed, unfeeling bitch. Jane is not anything like that. At all.” Charlotte flushed with anger. “And I am perfectly capable of forming my own opinions, thank you,” she said with a snarl.