Read Cowboy Famous: Book 4 (Cowboy Justice Association) for Free Online Page B

for it and her hand visibly shook until she wrapped her fingers around the cool plastic.
    “Thank you.” The words came out scratchy and tinged with guilt but he simply sat down in the other folding chair and opened a bottle for himself.
    “Looks like you’re still shaken up from the course. You should drink some water and rest a little before trying it again.”
    Again? They had to do it again? Holy fuck.
    “I’m okay. I just need something to drink.” She held up the bottle and took a big swig from it, the frosty liquid sliding down her parched throat. It did nothing to calm the trip of her heart as the sheriff regarded her closely. She swallowed hard and fidgeted in her chair under his intense gaze. She bet criminals didn’t last long in his interrogations. She was ready to spill her guts and he hadn’t even asked her a question.
    “So why did you steal my phone?” he asked, his tone soft. He didn’t sound accusatory, mostly just curious, as if he was asking directions.
    Her chest tightened and her stomach flipped. Wiping her palms on her shorts, she licked her lips nervously. She was an actress and it was time to pull out some skills.
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    The sheriff chuckled and lifted the water bottle to his full lips, swallowing down half the contents. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Tony laid down the rules this morning and already you’re breaking them. I’m just wondering what’s so important you’d risk getting kicked out the first day.”
    Jazz rubbed the back of her neck, wet with sweat. She didn’t enjoy lying. She especially didn’t like lying to this man who already may not have the best impression of her so far.
    “I need to call my agent,” she admitted with a sigh of resignation. “I had several auditions before I left Los Angeles and I was hoping to have work when I get back. It’s how I pay the bills. I’m an actress. When Tony said we’d be cut off, I guess I didn’t really process what that meant.”
    The sheriff pursed his lips in thought and then nodded before standing up. “An actress, huh? I’ll leave you to it then. Just leave the phone on the table when you’re done. I’ll keep people out for ten minutes, but after that you’re on your own.”
    Shock rippled through her and her hand went reflexively to where the phone was nestled. “Really? You’re not going to tell on me?”
    This time he smiled and she finally got to see what he looked like when he wasn’t stone-faced. Holy smokes he was gorgeous. He probably had women lining up just for a date. Or more.
    “I won’t rat you out. I have other ways of making my point.” Now he was grinning and she was beginning to worry. “Looks like your first patrol will be with me. Tonight. Be ready and in uniform at four o’clock at the station. I’ll let Tony and Dare know.”
    “With you?” she echoed. “Tonight?”
    “Yep. We’re short of deputies but it’s really bad now that Dare and I have to spend so much time with the show. I have to take a shift tonight since my usual guy worked during the day. Four to midnight. Don’t be late.”
    “But we have class at eight in the morning,” she gasped finally realizing he’d cornered her nicely. She couldn’t protest without revealing what she’d been doing in the tent.
    “We’re going to miss some sleep.” The sheriff nodded as if this was an everyday occurrence. “Welcome to the wonderful world of small town law enforcement. I’d get used to it if I was you. Ten minutes, Jazz.”
    He ducked out of the tent before she could argue. Not that she had the time. She’d need every second of the few moments he’d allocated to her. She pulled the phone from under her shirt and typed out her agent’s number. Crossing her fingers, she prayed for good news.
    She hung up just as her time elapsed, depressed and deflated. Nothing. Nada. Zip. At this rate, her best chance of getting a job was winning this show and working as a