“It’s Uncle Joe’s cabin, but it’s sort of the whole family’s to use now that he’s married and traveling the country in a big RV with his bride.”
“Uncle?” She turned her gaze in his direction. “You’re related?”
“My sister married his nephew. So, guess that does make me a relation at that. But family are the only ones allowed up here. And we won’t be bothered.” He opened the door and stood waiting for her to join him.
She moved to do just that. But she didn’t get very far inside until she came to a stop again, taking in the room she stood in. Rance came in and moved to set her bag on the long counter that separated the great room from the kitchen and dining areas. He strode to the refrigerator and opened the door.
“Okay, we’re set up here,” he called over his shoulder. “Are you thirsty? We have quite a selection in here…water, soft drinks, tea. Name your poison.”
“Water would be good.”
“Water it is.” He took two bottles out and then moved to hand her one. She took it.
“Thanks.” She took a long sip. “This room is quite something.”
“In other words, not the fishing camp, mismatched, bachelor pad, tacky junk you were expecting?” Rance took a couple long gulps of his cold water but watched her reaction to her surroundings with interest.
“You make me sound like a pretentious snob. Hate to disappoint but this is all quite comfy and inviting country chic to me. My best friend is an interior decorator and loves country décor. She would envy this.”
“Well, most of Uncle Joe’s stuff was relegated to his den downstairs and the upstairs here was redone by his wife. We use it for other things besides fishing. The family has barbecues and long weekends up here when we can. So, it had to suit not just the fishermen in the family but also their wives and children, too.”
“I see. And so where…”
“The ladies’ room is the first door on the right down that hall off the dining area. And you can make yourself comfortable in the bedroom that is the second door on the right. I’ll step outside and secure the jeep in the shed. Then we’ll figure out what dinner will be.”
She moved and picked up her tote bag and followed his directions.
*
“Good heavens!” The exclamation came out the moment she saw her reflection in the mirror over the sink. She dug into the bottom of the bag and found the small hairbrush. There was more than one or two winces as she tried to pull the brush through the thick, tangled mess of hair that was a mixture of knots, bits of leaves, and dirt thanks to the so-called road that the marshal had probably chosen on purpose for their arrival. It was clear from the moment they met what he thought of her…his assignment.
And the fact that she had no say in any of it was more than just a minor sticking point. It was the entire point. She had fought hard to get to a position where no one had any say over her or her life nor her decisions. And a man like this marshal was cut from the cloth of an I-told-you-so, my-way-or-highway badge-wearing male. Well, she would bide her time. And then there would be a moment of reckoning and he would find out who was in charge. Until then, she would let him think he had it all figured out.
Reaching back inside her bag, she found the small makeup case and after running cool water over her face and patting it dry, she applied fresh eye makeup and a pale coral lip gloss. She really wished for a set of clean clothes, but she would wait and see what her jailer had thought of on that score. Probably zero.
Gathering her items and her bag, she went in search of the room next door down that was to be her designated cell… She grimaced as she opened the door and shut it behind her. Cell wasn’t the word for it. There was a very inviting-looking queen-sized bed with a spread featuring an intricately embroidered display of colorful native Texas wildflowers. Pillow shams matched and solid deep blue drapes at the window matched the blue of the background of the bed cover. There were two throw rugs of deep pile each on either side of the bed. The polished wood of the heavy dresser, matching bedside tables, and chest of drawers in the corner shone in the overhead lighting. A rocking chair with bright hues of blues and yellows on its plump padding of seat and back looked an inviting spot for someone to sit, perhaps with a good book.
Okay, not a cell. It was obvious that Uncle Joe’s bride had good taste in décor, which was apparent throughout the misnamed fishing cabin.
There was a tap at the door.
“Come in,” she responded, trying to hide the amused upturn of her mouth at the incongruity of it all. What jailer ever knocked first?
The door opened and he stepped inside. He had evidently cleaned up a bit with a fresh T-shirt replacing the dress shirt and tie of earlier…his ‘marshal’ uniform…and jeans that fit well on his long legs. And she kicked herself mentally for taking note of that fact to begin with. And she couldn’t help but note the broad chest and muscled upper arms beneath the T-shirt’s material. She supposed this lawman was catnip to a few women with his tall body and bedroom eyes and deep cheek grooves when he was amused. But that had nothing to do with her…nothing at all.
“I figured you would like to change into something less dusty. I found some items left up here by family in the other bedroom and took the liberty of placing some in the bathroom if you want to check them out. We’ll work on getting you some other things you need. But for now, you might want to wear them.”
“Thank you, Marshal Parker. You didn’t happen to find any shoes, did you?”
He had the decency to look a bit sorry about the shoe predicament he had forced her to endure since the courthouse. He shook his head. “Well, there’s a pair of mud boots by the back door. They might be a bit big, but they might do for now.”
Erin caught the fact that the sincerity in the voice did not match the amused gleam in those jade eyes. And he didn’t seem a bit apologetic.
“I think I’ll make do until better arrangements can be made. With any luck, this forced incarceration will be over in the next few hours. That’s the hope.”
He nodded. “There’s always hope. Just like playing the lottery every week…one of these days I gotta win, right?” And he added a saucy wink at her along with a full-blown grin. Then he left her alone.
Chapter Four
