More than ready, she thought. The sooner the mystery of Heather’s murder was solved, the sooner she could go back to Denver, get away from the temptation Kade Logan posed.

“I’ll just grab my stuff.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Kade pulled his dual-wheeled Ford into the parking lot in front of Rocky Mountain Supply, a big metal structure with a row of gas pumps out front. The only other businesses in town were the Coffee Springs Café, the Elkhorn Bar and Grill, Murray’s Grocery, the Coffee Springs Bed and Breakfast, and Fred’s Gun Shop and Dentistry.

A post office the size of a bedroom sat at the end of two-block-long Main Street, next to an old white, wood-frame house.

“I’ll be back in time to buy your lunch at the café,” Kade said as Ellie climbed down from the passenger seat.

“Okay, I’ll see you there.”

Kade touched the brim of the dark brown Stetson he wore for dress and drove off toward Eagle, thirty miles away. He wanted to talk to Sheriff Carver, he’d said. Ellie figured the trip there and back, plus time to take care of his business, gave her a couple of hours to order supplies and wander the tiny town to see if she could come up with any useful information.

Groceries were her first priority. She walked into Murray’s Grocery, which reminded her of the store in the small town of Grassy Meadows near their ranch in Wyoming, narrow and old-fashioned, the shelves crowded, but neat and very clean. She headed toward the man behind the front counter, who looked up as she approached. She noticed he had beautiful blue eyes and a handsome face.

“May I help you?” he asked.

“I’m Ellie Bowman. I’m new to the area. I just started working at the Diamond Bar Ranch.”

He smiled. “Welcome to Coffee Springs, Ms. Bowman. I’m Jonas Murray. I own the store.”

“Nice to meet you, Jonas. I’m taking over the kitchen while the regular cook’s on vacation. I came in to pick up supplies.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” His gaze went to her ringless left hand, then back to her face. He was in his forties, about six feet tall, a snug-fitting navy blue Henley hinting at an athletic body. “Coffee Springs is always happy to have new people. Where are you from, Miss Bowman?”

“It’s just Ellie, and I’m from Denver.” She glanced around the store. “Kade said the Diamond Bar had an account here. He said just to put whatever I needed on the bill.”

“No problem. Did you bring a list?”

“Sure did.” She dug the list out of the leather purse slung over her shoulder and handed it across the counter.

“All right, I’ll have my son, Sean, put the order together for you. He’s on his way in right now.”