Cooper’s Redemption (Crimson Romance) Read Free

frightened eyes. In the beam of the flashlight she appeared ghostly pale. She bit her bottom lip until it looked like she’d pierce it.
    Before he could form a question, words began spilling out of her.
    “Oh my God. Who are you? What are you doing in this barn? What did you do to this poor man?” The beam of light made crazy circles around his head as she waved the flashlight.
    Cooper stared at her, not sure he’d heard right. “What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t touch him except to feel for a pulse. I have … had … no quarrel with Lyle.”
    She backed up a step, her demeanor suggesting she’d run like a doe at hunting season if he as much as breathed wrong. “Lyle? That man came to my door earlier and asked if I needed any help. I told him to go away. He seemed weird, just showing up out of the blue like that.”
    Cooper sighed. That sounded like Lyle. He’d often hit people up for a little work when he needed money for a room or a drink. Cooper had even hired the old guy once or twice, even though he hadn’t had any money to spare. Lyle hadn’t judged him. If he hadn’t killed the old guy, and this woman hadn’t, who had?
    Before he could make further comment, the woman whipped a cell phone out of her pocket and dialed. “There’s a body on my property. Yes, I said a body. I don’t know what happened, or when, but his head’s split open. No, I didn’t discover it. No, I’m not alone. I don’t know his name. Hurry. My name is Elizabeth Adams.”
    Cooper’s ears rang and his jaw went slack. He fought for control. Elizabeth Adams. The only niece of Henry Harper. When she found out who he was he might as well pack. He’d be headed behind the walls of Canon City prison before he could say, “I didn’t do it.”

Chapter 2
    Deputy Tom Harper responded to Elizabeth Adam’s 911 call, and upon his arrival, read Cooper his rights and handcuffed him to a ladder-back chair in the kitchen. He repeatedly asked the same questions. He made Elizabeth wait in the living room, out of earshot, until a car pulled up a few minutes ago and she’d gone outside to meet the new arrival.
    “I want my lawyer.” Cooper braced himself. Years of learning patience had given him the strength to withstand anything — even the deputy’s relentless grilling.
    “This ain’t Law and Order. You’ll get a lawyer when I say you get one.” Harper hammered at him with rapid-fire intensity, refusing to give him a chance to respond. “I want a straight answer,” he demanded again.
    “When I have an attorney.” Cooper swayed in his chair. With an effort, he righted himself. His shoulders ached. He’d been up riding since dawn. There wasn’t an explanation Harper wanted to hear. The deputy thought he’d found a way to even the score.
    “What were you doing? Hunting cows, you said? Isn’t the truth you were coming back to the scene of the original crime? To see where you did in Uncle Henry? Did you get a taste of blood, like a renegade coyote, and want some more? Was my brother as easy to kill as my Uncle Henry? Easy pickings?” Harper grabbed the front of Cooper’s shirt and twisted until the top three buttons popped off.
    “I came to see if any of my cattle were here. Like I already told you.” Cooper stared at his ruined shirt. The old, worn-out chambray was one of his favorites.
    “I can’t say it any other way.”
    Harper glared at him. Cooper made an effort to concentrate on something besides his aching shoulders. He had been bound to the chair for almost an hour. His back felt like it was about to split open like a ripe cantaloupe, but he wouldn’t allow the deputy to see his misery. He bit the inside of his cheek, a trick he’d learned as a child.
    A gleaming white coffee pot seemed out of place in the old kitchen, but the recently-brewed coffee sure smelled good. He desperately wished for a cup. He tore his gaze away and stared at the God-awful Formica counter tops. The room looked much the same