Lawman by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

grandmother moved jerkily, as if she heard, but her eyes didn’t open. After a minute, she was still again, and the raspy breathing worsened.
    Coltrain, who knew what it meant all too well, drew Grace out of the cubicle and back into the waiting room.
    She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œThere’s no need to be. Damn, Grace, you shouldn’t be here alone!”
    Just as he said it, the door opened automatically and Garon Grier, in a three-piece gray suit, walked into the waiting room.
    Coltrain stared at him blankly. Grier was the last person in the world he’d expected to see, especially after the man had been so cool with Grace when her grandmother was brought in.
    Garon joined them, his dark eyes on Grace’s ravaged face. “Miss Turner said you’d probably be here,” he said curtly. “I went by to thank you for the apple cake, and your car was gone.”
    â€œYou baked him an apple cake?” Coltrain asked, surprised.
    Grace moved restlessly. “I was rude to him and I felt guilty,” she explained. “He had one of his men fix my car.”
    â€œWhich she accused me of stealing,” Garon added. One dark eyebrow lifted. “But the cake did make up for the insult. It’s a damned good cake.”
    She smiled through her tears. “I’m glad you liked it.”
    He glanced at Coltrain. “I thought I’d follow you home,” he told her. “Clay said the car may still leak oil. You live on a lonely stretch of road.”
    Coltrain liked the man’s concern, but he wasn’t showing it. “Let him follow you home, and stay there,” he told her. “You can’t do any good here, Grace.”
    She drew in a long breath. “I guess not.” She turned to Garon. “I have to stop by the lady’s room for a minute, then I’ll be ready to leave.”
    â€œI’ll wait,” he assured her.
    She walked down the hall. When she was out of earshot, Coltrain turned his attention to Garon.
    â€œMrs. Collier won’t last more than a few hours,” he said bluntly. “I think Grace knows, but she’s going to take it hard.”
    Garon nodded. “I’ll make sure she’s not alone over there. When her grandmother is gone, she can stay at the ranch with us for a week or two, until she gets her bearings. Miss Turner will treat her like a long lost daughter.”
    â€œIsn’t that something of a turnabout for you?” Coltrain asked warily. “Just recently, you didn’t even want to be bothered with Grace’s transportation.”
    Garon avoided his eyes. “She’s got a good heart.”
    Coltrain hesitated. “She’s a good person,” he amended. He frowned. “Aren’t you working late?”
    He nodded. “We have a murdered child north of here,” he replied. “Homicide is my specialty, so I was assigned to the case.” His expression tautened. “I’ve been in law enforcement most of my life. Usually, not much shocks me. This case…” He shook his head. “The perp took the child right out her bedroom window. We found evidence of a violent encounter in the room.” His eyes flashed angrily. “This man is an animal. He has to be caught.”
    â€œHave you found any clues?”
    He shook his head. “Not yet. But I’m like a snapping turtle. I won’t stop until I’ve found him.”
    Coltrain smiled. “You’re like your brother in that I gather.”
    â€œBack when he was a Texas Ranger,” he confided, “Cash chased a robbery suspect all the way to Alabama.”
    Coltrain chuckled. “That, I’d believe.”
    He shook his head. “If anyone had told me that he’d settle down in a small town and have kids, I’d have laughed my head off. Since his daughter was born, earlier this month, he’s become a