Protector. Diana Palmer

      “Me, neither,” Hayes agreed. “He’s good.” Hayes sighed. “I wish we had the bullet. It might give us an even better lead. But Coltrain wouldn’t take it out.”

      “I’ve seen lawmen get court orders for bullets to be removed for evidence,” Zack replied.

      “So have I, but I don’t know anybody who’s ever forced Coltrain to do anything he didn’t want to do. Besides that, he said it was a greater risk to take it out than leave it in.” He frowned. “Pity they can’t do an invasive scan on me and check out the bullet.”

      “There’s a thought.”

      Hayes moved and winced, because it hurt. He drew in a long breath. The new antibiotic seemed to be working already. Maybe it was wishful thinking. It still hurt to breathe, but he had to get up and move around, to prevent the development of a bad bronchitis, or even pneumonia.

      “Anyway, we’re working on your case, along with the other thirty that are current,” Zack added drily. “Of course, you’re the only shooting victim so far.”

      “Good enough. If I could get the county commission to listen to me, I’d give you all raises.”

      “We know that, boss. None of us got into law enforcement because of the money.”

      Hayes chuckled. “Thanks, Zack.”

      “I’ll be over with the clothes in about an hour. That okay?”

      “That’s fine.”

      When he hung up, Minette brought him a big mug of freshly brewed coffee. She handed it to him gently.

      “Taste that,” she said with a grin.

      He did. He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Oh, my gosh,” he groaned. “I’ve never tasted anything so sweet!”

      “Told you so.” She checked her watch. “I have to go. Is there anything special you’d like for supper?”

      He hesitated.

      “Come on. We don’t live on a budget here. Not yet, anyway,” she chuckled.

      “Cube steak with onions, mashed potatoes, green beans.”

      She raised her eyebrows.

      “I’m a meat and potatoes man,” he confided. “Any variation is a happy one.”

      “I can handle that. Dessert?”

      He swallowed. “Anything but gelatin.”

      She burst out laughing. “Okay. I’ll get Aunt Sarah to make one of her chocolate pound cakes.”

      “My favorite kind.”

      She smiled. “Mine, too. Well, gotta go.”

      “Minette.”

      She stopped at the door and turned. Hearing her name in Hayes’s deep, smooth voice made her toes tingle and she had to hide it. “Yes?”

      “Thanks.”

      He looked very somber. She just nodded and left as quickly as she could. Maybe, she thought hopefully, maybe she could change Hayes’s mind about her after all. She was going to work on that, hard.

      * * *

      Zack Tallman was lean, tall, olive-skinned and black-eyed. He had Spanish blood, but he never spoke about his ancestry. He was thirty years old, and one of the best deputies Hayes had ever hired.

      He came into the bedroom carrying a huge suitcase. He put it down on a straight chair by Hayes’s bed. “I think that’s everything you asked for.” He opened it.

      With some difficulty, Hayes got out of bed and looked into the suitcase. “Yep,” he said, smiling as he pulled out the videos. “That’s everything.”

      “You and your cartoon movies,” Zack sighed.

      “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with cartoons,” Hayes said defensively. He pulled out pajamas and underwear and a robe and slippers. “I want a shower, but I have trouble standing. You feel like helping me?”

      “No problem, boss,” Zack chuckled. “You’d do the same for me.”

      “In a heartbeat,” he replied. He managed a smile. “Thanks. I feel dingy.”

      “No doubt.”

      * * *

      Zack helped him into the shower and stood outside the cubicle while Hayes managed to bathe himself and even shampoo his hair, one-handed of course. Minette had even thought of toiletries to put in the bathroom, because the brands were masculine. There was a razor on the sink, and when he was dried and dressed, with a little help from Zack, he even managed to shave.

      “I think I’ll live,” he told the other man as he sank onto the bed under the covers. “Thanks a million, Zack.”

      “You’re welcome. Need anything else?”

      “Yes. Get out there with Yancy and find the guy who shot me,” Hayes replied.

      Zack saluted. “On my way.”

      “Keep me posted,” Hayes reminded him.

      “You know I will.”

      “And can you keep feeding Andy and Rex for me?” he asked hesitantly.

      “You bet.”

      “If you run out of fruit and veggies for Andy...”

      “You had more than enough money in the cookie jar to take care of that,” Zack assured him. It was where Hayes kept his spare change, and over months of use, it added up to a tidy little sum.

      Hayes laughed. “And people say spare change is useless.”

      “Useless, my left foot,” Zack replied. “I’m saving up mine for a trip to Tahiti.” He frowned. “I figure by the time I’m seventy-two, I’ll have just enough.”

      “Good grief.”

      Zack grinned. “Just kidding. I don’t even like islands. You get better, boss. I’ll take care of Andy, no worries.”

      “When the cookie jar gets empty...”

      “You’ll be home by then. I guarantee it. Nice of Minette to let you stay here,” he added.

      “Yes. Very nice.”

      “She’s such an odd bird,” Zack mused. “Never dates anybody. Her whole life is those two little kids and her job. I guess they’d make it hard to have a serious relationship,” he said. “Most men don’t want somebody else’s kids.”

      “I guess not.” Hayes had already thought about that.

      “Still, she’s a dish,” Zack added wistfully. “Pretty and smart and brave. Imagine, taking on a drug cartel after those guys killed a whole newspaper staff over the border a year or so ago for writing bad things about them.”

      “She takes chances,” Hayes agreed.

      “Unwise. But brave.”

      “Very.”

      * * *

      Hayes spent the day watching movies. Sarah came in with a light lunch, homemade roast beef sandwiches and hot coffee. Afterward, she brought him a slice of chocolate pound cake.

      “You’ll never get rid of me if you keep feeding me like this,” Hayes said as he bit into the perfect cake. “You’re a wonderful cook.”

      “It’s our pleasure to help out,” Sarah said.

      He finished the cake and coffee and she started to remove the dishes.

      “Why did Minette offer to let me stay here?” he asked suddenly.

      Sarah hesitated.

      “Tell