Confessing to the Cowboy - By Carla Cassidy Page 0,75

that held so many good, caring people.

At least if Jason killed her here there would be people who would mourn for her, she thought and then cursed herself for such morbid thinking.

The work going on in the back rooms came with plenty of chatter and laughter among everyone. Brandon jokingly appointed himself the low man while Junior was his partner, cleaning the areas Brandon couldn’t reach from his wheelchair.

Jeff and John Taylor began to sing “Taking Care of Business” and it wasn’t long before everyone who knew the lyrics to the old song had joined in.

Mary’s heart was so full at the moment there was no place for fear. She’d always seen herself as a local business owner, the woman who provided good food and good service, but it was obvious these people thought of her as much more than a waitress or just a woman who owned a place to eat.

They considered her a vital member of their community, of their lives. They thought of her as a friend. It both humbled her and awed her.

She’d never really taken the time to realize that Grady Gulch was the hometown she’d always wanted, a place of warmth and community pride and love.

She was afraid for each and every one of these people, but no matter where she went, no matter who she met, she’d be afraid. Cameron was right. It was time to take a stand against Jason here and now.

By noon Rusty was back on the grill with Junior at his side and the café was officially open for business. The smell of fresh paint drifted from the back rooms as several of the people remained back there to continue their work.

Mary manned the counter and realized toward the end of the rush hour that at some point during the afternoon the fear that had been a constant companion inside her for so long had finally vanished. Whatever happened would happen. Her dwelling on the fear didn’t help and wouldn’t stop it.

She poured herself a cup of hot cocoa and sat on the stool behind the counter. Her thoughts went to Cameron and the night before. He loved her. As he’d said the words she’d felt the emotion radiating from his body and shining from his eyes. She’d heard it in his voice, the softness, the want...the love.

Deep in her heart she’d always known that he loved her. For eight long years he’d sat across from her at the counter and they’d talked about life and dreams. She’d felt his love for her.

But how could she believe in that love? They hadn’t dated. They’d spent precious little time alone together other than those late-night talks. All they’d really done was tumble into bed and make passionate love one time.

And she’d love to do it again...and again, but shouldn’t love be about more than that? She shook her head, as if to dispel the thought. She couldn’t think about Cameron right now. Hopefully Cameron had been busy all morning finding the whereabouts of Jason or at least whoever was doing his dirty work.

She was sticking here until the bitter end. She just hoped when the end came she and Matt were together and both of them were still standing.

* * *

Thomas Manning eased down into the chair across from Cameron in the interview room. He’d finally shown up at his house at noon and Ben Temple had brought him in.

“I’ve been wondering how long it would take before I’d finally be sitting here,” he said as he shrugged off his gray tweed coat and hung it on the back of his chair.

Thomas was a thin, tall man with ordinary features and a facade of peaceful self-acceptance. He folded his hands in his lap and looked at Cameron with pale gray eyes.

“I’m assuming you want to know all about my marriage and divorce and if I’m hiding some kind of a killing rage that has made me take out that rage on the waitresses that work at the Cowboy Café,” he said.

“Something like that,” Cameron replied, trying to get a read on the man who appeared, on the surface, completely passive.

“My marriage was ill-fated from the beginning,” Thomas said. “Before I got married, I ate most of my meals at a truck stop near my home. That’s where I met Nancy who would become my wife. To be honest, I’d never much considered marriage. I was satisfied with my solitude. I liked fine wine, good books and educational television. Nancy was