Maybe she was being a fool, she thought as she finished dressing. She probably was, because if Jon Harper wasn’t Danny, then she was in love with a complete stranger. And she could not explain that even to herself. It just was. And it scared her and exhilarated her and made her happier than she’d been in a very long time as she headed for his workshop.
* * *
BESSIE CAME OUT of the café’s kitchen with two orders that hadn’t been picked up to find everyone again pressed up against the front window, trying to see across the street.
“What in heaven’s name is going on now?” she demanded. When a bunch of locals had come in, she’d thought it was because today was Fried Pies Day.
Now she realized why business had been so good lately. The café had the best view down the street of Jon’s workshop. She put down the two plates of food and looked at her waitress.
Lindsey was in tears again but quickly wiped them away as she left the crowd at the window and hurried back to the kitchen where Rene had placed another order on the pass-through.
“She’s over there again,” Vi Mullen said as she moved away from the window, smoothing her blouse and taking her seat again. Clarice Barber kept peering out for a moment, before reluctantly joining Vi in her booth.
Bessie didn’t need to ask who they were talking about.
“She isn’t going to leave town,” Mabel Aldrich crowed as she slid in beside Vi. “Best get your purse ready, Vi. You’re going to lose this bet. Kate and Jon. It’s love. She’s found her true love. I’m so happy for him.”
Bessie groaned. “I’m afraid you’re all going to lose on this one. Clarice, I hope you’re not involved in this.”
“She’s the one who started it,” Tyrell Durham said with a laugh.
“I’ve got my money on her dumping the fiancé.” Fred, dressed like his son in overalls from the garage, laughed as the two of them took their seats again in a booth and Lindsey brought out their orders. “I just wish she’d make up her mind.”
“You’re worse than a bunch of old women,” Bessie joked.
“We are old women,” Mabel said. “Except for Fred. He’s just old.” They all laughed, his son the loudest. “Kate is making the right choice. Jon’s a good man. That other one... My mother taught me not to say anything if I couldn’t say something nice, so I’m not going to tell you what I think of him.”
“She’s right,” Fred said. “Kate is better off with Jon.”
Bessie shook her head. “I hate to disappoint you all, but this might not be the love story of all times. I have a bad feeling about how it will end. Not only are most of you going to lose your money, but someone’s going to get hurt.”
“She could be right,” Vi cut in and lowered her voice. “The other day Collin Matthews came in and wanted to overnight a package to Houston.” She nodded, seeing that she had everyone’s attention. “It was a cup wrapped badly in a page torn from a newspaper. Still smelled of the coffee that had been in it. I knew I’d seen that cup before, so I asked Clarice about it.”
Clarice nodded enthusiastically. “It was the same coffee mug that I gave Jon in our Christmas gift exchange.”
Vi pursed her lips. “Now, what would Collin Matthews be doing with Jon’s cup, let alone sending it to Texas?”
Bessie felt a tiny electrical shock move through her. Her gaze went to Earl Ray who’d been sitting quietly at the counter taking all of this in. His eyes met hers, and she saw the same worry there.
The door opened on a gust. Collin Matthews didn’t seem to notice the awkward silence that fell over the place as he came in from the cold. Everyone had quickly gone back to their coffee or meals. Collin was busy looking at his phone as he slipped into a booth. He only glanced up when Bessie put a menu and a glass of water in front of him.
“Coffee?” she asked, thinking that she wasn’t getting involved in this love triangle. Yet as she waited for him to stop texting to answer her, she felt Kate could do a hell of a lot better.
* * *
COLLIN STARTED TO place his order when his phone rang. He glanced up, surprised how many people were having breakfast this morning at the café. He saw who was calling and said, “I need to take this,” and, having no choice unless he wanted the whole town to hear, got up and went outside. He hadn’t been expecting a call from his friend Nels until later in the day. Thinking he had hours to kill in Buckhorn, he’d decided to get a late breakfast after the beers he’d had at the bar. Wouldn’t be that long before he’d be driving. He didn’t know where Kate was, but he could pretty well guess.
“Are you sitting down?” Nels asked.
It was freezing cold outside, and he was in no mood for games. “Just tell me you have something good.”
“You now owe me, buddy,” Nels said. “I ran the fingerprints the minute I got the mug. I hadn’t expected anything. Most people don’t have their fingerprints on file. You can’t believe what came up. You were right. His name isn’t Jon Harper.”
Collin swore, his breath coming out in a white puff of air. “Please don’t tell me that it’s Daniel Jackson.”
“Nope, it’s Justin Brown.”
“Who the hell is that?” he demanded, stomping his feet to stay warm. When he glanced toward the window into the café, he noticed that everyone in there was watching him. He turned his back on all of them. Damn voyeurs. As if he didn’t know they were following his life and Kate’s. What else did they have to do in this godforsaken town?
“Justin Brown is just a cop who busted some mob-like crime syndicate in Oklahoma, of all places. Most of them went to prison, but they still had contacts outside. They hired some thugs to kill him. Blew up his car. They’re still looking for him.”
He couldn’t believe this. “You’re sure?”
“That’s the name that matches the fingerprints on the mug. Justin Brown. One of the most wanted lawmen in the country. There’s a bounty out on him. Not even dead or alive. Just plain dead.”
“How much?” Collin asked.
“Not enough to get yourself involved in this mess, I can tell you that. This could get real ugly, fast. I wouldn’t want to be around when these guys catch up to him.”
Collin didn’t know what to think. Hadn’t he known Jon Harper was hiding something? But, while he’d thought the man was on the run and hiding out here in Buckhorn, Collin had never expected this.
“Do me a favor. Find out everything you can about Justin Brown, especially what he did before he became a cop, and let me know. Thanks. You’re right, I owe you, and I’ll make good on that when I get back to Texas.” He disconnected and considered what to do with this information. All he knew for certain was that he no longer wanted a late breakfast. He needed a good stiff drink because all it would take was one phone call, and Jon Harper would no longer be a problem. As it was, Nels could be making that call right now.