Cooper's Woman by Carol Finch

heel of her hand to his rigid shoulder and pushed him down. She smiled reassuringly, but her friend continued to glare stonily at her. “Calm down, Miggy. Your sour expression will sour your stomach all over again.”
    â€œToo late,” he growled.
    â€œI wanted to know where Elliot went after he left the brothel. My persistence paid off. I followed him to a shack that sits on the edge of his property…I think. He met a man but I couldn’t get a clear look at him in the dark.”
    Alexa was annoyed that she had slithered all the way to the window, only to have the men step outside before she could spy on them. She had been in the wrong place to get a description of Elliot’s associate or to identify his voice. At least she knew Elliot was conducting secret meetings. She didn’t know if the encounter provided him with information from the territorial capital or if it involved some of Elliot’s other shady dealings.
    â€œI don’t like any of this,” Miguel complained before he gulped down another dose of the pasty liquid medicine. “I especially don’t like you spiriting off in the night. I wish you could have come up with a safer scheme to gain Harold’s notice and impress him with your skills and intelligence.”
    Alexa withdrew slightly, causing Miguel to snicker.
    â€œDon’t you think I know what motivates you to stick your neck out so far with this case? Not that I mind accompanying you to Questa Springs. I’ve always liked your friend Kate.”
    â€œMore than I suspected…until today,” Alexa remarked.
    It was Miguel’s turn to squirm self-consciously. “Yes, well, I am a realist at least. In her parents’ eyes, I am the hired help. Your chaperone and bodyguard. I’m certainly not considered marriage material for Kate.”
    â€œShe would be lucky to have you,” Alexa insisted loyally. “Plus, she seems genuinely fond of you. Had I realized this earlier I would have arranged to get you two together more often.”
    â€œWhich would have made admiring her from afar all the worse,” said Miguel. He waved his hand dismissively. “That is beside the point. You need your rest and so do I. Please go to your room…and stay there.”
    She offered him a playful salute. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œPromise me, no more midnight rides alone,” he demanded. “If you are compelled to snoop around, at least let me go with you next time.”
    She arched an amused brow as she rose to her feet. “Without complaints or lectures?”
    â€œNo. You’ll have to endure those, but at least you won’t be alone and I can offer protection.”
    â€œI love you, Miggy,” she murmured on her way out the door.
    â€œMe, too…But you drive me crazy.”
    â€œI heard that,” she said from the other side of the door.

Chapter Four
    F rom his posted lookout at his hotel room window the next morning, Coop surveyed the street. A strange sensation filtered through him when he spotted Alexa, who was dressed in a stylish mint-green satin gown. She and her bodyguard were ambling toward Donovan’s Café, which was directly across the street. Coop was tempted to strap on his splint, grab his cane and limp over to eat breakfast, just to get another close look at her.
    â€œYou’re an idiot,” he told himself as he wheeled away from the window—and the tantalizing scenery beyond. He’d had enough trouble falling asleep because erotic visions of Alexa danced in his head all night. No need to torture himself this morning, he decided. He’d grab a bite at one of the other four cafés before going on duty at the saloon.
    With his leg bound up, Coop crammed his hat on his head and hobbled off. For the most part, the patrons in Sawyer’s Café pretended he wasn’t there. The waitress approached tentatively, but she relaxed when he didn’t grab his six-shooter