Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger / Once Upon A Christmas Eve: Tall, Dark, Texas Ranger

“Then ya’ll run along,” she told them.

Coop didn’t need to be asked twice as he followed Lilly. “I take it she’s been your neighbor a long time.”

“Before I was born. She never married and argues with her sister all the time. She’s only a few years older than Mom, but has to rely on her sister to get around.” She gave him a sideways glance. “But she can dial a phone pretty well, and with the information you gave her, you’ll be the talk of the town by tomorrow.”

Going inside Shaffer’s Ice Cream Parlor was like stepping back in time to the 1950s. The Happy Days TV show, Western style.

Robbie and Kasey were already sitting on high stools at the counter, going over the selections on the wall. If ever Coop felt out of his element, this place would do it. His hangout had been a pool hall.

This would be the childhood every kid wanted, and those who were lucky enough to get it didn’t even have a clue how wonderful their lives were.

From a street kid’s perspective, one who had to beg, borrow or steal to survive, he knew he’d have been chased out of a place like this. As a teenager, he’d hung out in a pool hall to hustle players, or just helped clean up the place for money.

Coop sat down beside Kasey. She tensed and glared at him.

He ignored it as the teenage waiter appeared. “Hello, Mrs. Perry.”

“Hello, Tim. Good to see you’re working this summer.”

“Saving for a car.”

“Are you that ancient?”

The boy’s ears reddened. “I was sixteen last month.”

“Now, I’m feeling old.”

He turned his attention to his other customers, namely Kasey. “What are you going to have?”

“Vanilla,” Kasey told him.

Coop frowned. “Vanilla? That seems rather dull from someone so …” He looked at the girl’s scrubbed face, a hint of freckles across her pert nose. Those big blue-green eyes. She was the image of her mother. “So daring. So vibrant.”

Although Kasey tried to hide it, the compliment affected her. “Sometimes I get Peach or Raspberry sherbet.”

He nodded. “I’d go for the Raspberry sherbet.”

“I want Chocolate Chip,” Robbie said to the waiter.

“And I’ll have Mint Chocolate Chip,” Lilly announced.

“What about you, Coop?” Robbie asked.

“Cherry Pecan.”

While they were waiting as the boy scooped up the cones, the bell chimed over the door. Coop glanced toward the entrance to see a dark-haired woman walk in. He immediately recognized Stephanie Perry from the case files.

In her mid-twenties, she had a husky voice and dressed in a pair of jeans about a size too small, emphasizing her wide hips. She might have been attractive, but her heavy layer of makeup made her look hard.

He tensed as the woman made her way to the counter. “Lilly, I need to talk to you.”

Lilly swung around and frowned. “Suddenly you want to talk. No, we have nothing to say, Stephanie.”

“There’s a lot to say. You have some of Mike’s things and I want them back.”

Lilly didn’t want to air any dirty laundry in front of the kids or the rest of the town. She stood and walked across the store and her ex-sister-in-law followed. “I don’t like you attacking me, especially in front of my children.”

Stephanie folded her arms over her breasts. “Then give me Mike’s things.”

“And for the hundredth time, I don’t have anything of his. When he moved out, he took almost everything. When I moved out, I only took my things, Mike came by and took the rest. What exactly are you looking for?”

Mike’s sister glanced away. “Papers from the business. They must have been in his home office.”

“I left Mike’s home office alone. So I don’t know what happened to his papers after that.”

Stephanie glared. “You’re lying. You never liked me so you’re getting back at me because Mike divorced you.”

Lilly was thrown off guard. Not that Stephanie’s words hurt anymore, she’d said worse during the years of her marriage to her brother. “I’m not going to listen to this again. I want you to stay away from me and the kids. Go and run your business.”

Stephanie glared. “You’ll be sorry if you’re keeping anything from me.”

“Is there a problem?”

Lilly felt Coop come up behind her. Even though she could handle her sister-in-law, she liked having him there.

“Not anymore. I think we’ve finally settled it. Haven’t we, Steph?”

Lilly got a little satisfaction at using the nickname that her sister-in-law hated.

Stephanie looked at Coop. “Got a new boyfriend so soon, Lilly? How long before you drive him off?”

Coop did something that surprised her. He slipped an arm around her waist. “Oh, I don’t think this pretty woman could drive me away with a shotgun.” He smiled. “In fact, you’ll be seeing me next week. I’m one of Casali’s carpenters on the housing project. So get used to it, Ms. Perry, I’m going to be around a long time.”

CHAPTER SIX

LATE the next evening, Cooper sat on the sofa in the cottage. He had to figure out a way to stop thinking about Lilly Perry in any way but as a lead for his job.

He knew he had to play the part and get close to the family. It was getting harder all the time, especially when he’d put his hands on her narrow waist, or been close enough to breathe in her soft scent.

He cursed and stood. It was time to get to work.

He waited until dark and dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans and running shoes. He left the cottage, bypassing his truck, and headed out on foot down the alley to avoid being seen by the family. People had to think he’d been home all night, plus he didn’t want his vehicle parked outside where he was doing surveillance.

He took alleyways as much as possible until he got to the edge of town. Perry’s Landscaping and nursery had ten acres that had a tree and plant business, in addition to the professional lawn service. There were several buildings and a half dozen work trucks parked in a line all enclosed by a chain-link fence.

He checked the area for any sign of electronics or otherwise. There wasn’t a security guard or a dog, so he found a weak spot in the fence and climbed through. Staying in the shadows, he made his way past the greenhouse and a row of buildings, including one that was labeled as the office. There was a light on inside.

He made his way around to the back and to an open window. That was where he heard the voices.