Nicole stood in the middle of Brenda's room at the boarding house, slowly running her gaze over everything her cousin had once touched. Brenda's room held a bed, a dresser, a wooden chair, and small table, and a loveseat. On the dresser were a washbasin and pitcher. Against the middle wall was the wood-burning stove that would keep the room warm. That was all. There was no place to cook food, and Nicole wondered if there was a diner downstairs that would serve her meals. She should ask someone downstairs, but for now, the only energy she had was to stand and look.

A porter had carried her one trunk from her hotel room to Brenda's room, but Nicole wasn't ready to unpack. Not yet. Her life had been disrupted before she'd decided to come to Stumptown and be with her cousin, but now...

Taking a shaky breath, she walked to the bed and sat on the edge. What was she going to do with her life now? As much as she hated to admit it, she would have to rely on Caleb and the other saloon girls. Nicole would have to build her life right here. However, she still had reservations about her career choice. When she'd agreed to come to be with Brenda, she didn't care what her job would be, just as long as she and Brenda could work together. Now, Nicole thought that she should find something more fitting to a minister's daughter.

She'd wait until after her grieving period... or at least until after her cousin was buried.

Tears swam in her eyes again. How was she going to make all the arrangements by herself? Hopefully, Brenda's friends at the saloon would help her. And Caleb, of course.

A knock came upon the door, and she glanced in that direction. Although she didn't want to leave the bed, she stood and walked to the door, opening it. Caleb and the sheriff stood in the hallway, both wearing solemn expressions.

Caleb's gaze moved over her. The rhythm of her heart sped up. She was wearing one of her dresses – a pale green dress with half sleeves trimmed in white lace, and a beige waist-jacket that matched the flowers in the pattern of her dress.

"Nicole," Caleb said in a soft voice. "The sheriff would like to ask you a few questions if that's all right."

"Only if you feel up to it," Sheriff Reed added.

"Um, sure." She did another quick glance in the room. "But there isn't much space in here."

"We can go downstairs." Sheriff Reed nodded. "It won't take long, I assure you."

"I'll help any way I can."

As she stepped out of the room, Caleb touched her arm. "You'll want to lock your door. We've had some... eh, break-ins lately."

Confusion filled her. Who would want to break into a single woman's room? She shrugged and grabbed her key, closing the door and locking it. As she followed the men down the stairs, she tried not to compare the two men who appeared to be close to the same age. They were both tall and had wide shoulders. They were also both very good-looking. Yet, there was something in Caleb's eyes that made her breathless, and there was certainly something about his touch that caused tingles to run through her body.

She found it strange that Caleb had affected her so quickly and thoroughly. And to think that they had already shared a kiss. Unbelievable!

The sheriff led them into a small dining area. Four round tables with chairs circling filled the room. Nicole was relieved to know that she could come here for her meals from now on. All the tables were empty, so the sheriff moved to the one by the window. As she reached the table, Caleb pulled out a chair for her.

Her heart flipped crazily. Indeed, he was raised a gentleman. She liked knowing that, especially since he worked at a place of ill-repute. She smiled at him and sat. The men quickly joined her.

"Miss Blake," the sheriff began, "I want to give my deepest apologies for your loss."

"Thank you," she whispered brokenly.

"Mr. West tells me that you had been corresponding with your cousin before coming to Stumptown."

Nicole nodded. "Brenda told me I could stay with her. She arranged for my job at the saloon. She was going to meet me when the stagecoach dropped me off, but she wasn't there. I had thought that she had fallen asleep waiting for me, considering the stagecoach was late arriving in town."

"But you didn't see her at all after you arrived?" the sheriff asked.

"Not at all. I checked myself in at the hotel because I didn't know where Brenda lived."

"Then what happened?"

She shrugged. "I took a small nap myself because the journey was very long. When I awoke, I freshened up before making my way to the saloon. I still hadn't seen her."

Sheriff Reed stared at her as he tapped a finger on the table. "Mr. West let me know that Brenda left the saloon around two o'clock that morning to head home. She was still wearing her saloon dress when she was found, which tells me that she hadn't returned home."

"Sheriff." Nicole touched his hand. "How did she die?" Both men exchanged worried glances. Nicole's stomach twisted. She was tired of people keeping this from her, and she wanted to scream with frustration. "Please, tell me. I think I have a right to know."

"Nicole," Caleb said in a gentle voice. "It's not that we don't think you have that right, but the reason we are hesitant to say anything is because of the way she was killed. It has baffled us all, even the doctor."

"Tell me, Caleb." She moved her hand to her boss, resting it on his arm. "Even if you don't believe I can handle it."

"The truth is," Caleb continued, "is that we still don't really know for certain. Both Doctor Stiles and I speculate that she was poisoned. However, what baffles us is that most of her blood was drained out of her body and... taken away."

Confusion filled her head. "What do you mean it was taken away?"

"There was no blood around her body. So, whoever killed her might have drained her somewhere else and taken her body to the woods where she was found."

Shock washed over her, and a breath caught in her throat. "Why would anyone want to take her blood?"

The sheriff shrugged. "That is what I am going to find out, Miss Blake."

As she pondered the very idea in her mind, she realized why Caleb and the sheriff were reluctant to tell her. She would have nightmares now, she was sure of it.

"Miss Blake," the sheriff continued. "During your correspondence with Brenda, did she mention anything about anyone threatening her, or if someone was mean to her?"

Nicole focused back on the conversation, trying to forget the image in her head. "No. My cousin gave me the impression she was very well-liked."

"She was," Caleb added quickly. "All of the patrons at the saloon loved her."

The sheriff nodded. "How about in town? Do you know if people in town disliked her?"

Caleb heaved a sigh. "Although we don't have a lot of women in town, there were a few mothers who turned up their noses at Brenda, just like they do with my other girls. But to say they disliked Brenda enough to kill her, I highly doubt that."

Sheriff Reed switched his gaze back to Nicole. "Did Brenda have a beau?"

Nicole opened her mouth to tell him no, but then she recalled one letter that Brenda had written that talked about a man she liked, but she was sure the man would never feel the same way about her. "I think she did."

Caleb's gaze snapped toward her, and his eyes widened. "She did?"

"Two months ago, she had written me to tell me about a man she had feelings for. She never mentioned him by name." She shrugged. "Maybe she said something to the other girls at the saloon."

Nodding, Caleb's smile grew. "It's something we didn't know before. I'm sure one of the other girls will know." He glanced at the sheriff. "I'll ask them."

Sheriff Reed arched an eyebrow. "You don't want me to do my job?"

Caleb chuckled. "You don't understand, Denton. My girls think you are a very handsome man, and I'm afraid they'd hang all over you instead of answer your questions."

The sheriff laughed. "I won't let my wife know. She might have a few words with your girls."

"You tell Courtney that she is welcome at the saloon any time, just as long as she doesn't start a fight."

"Exactly." Sheriff Reed nodded. "That's why she will not go there."

The men laughed, which lightened the mood slightly. Yet, Nicole still felt like an outsider. Hopefully, this town would accept her – even if she did work at the saloon.

The sheriff pushed his chair back and stood. "Miss Blake, if you remember anything else that might help me with your cousin's murder, please don't hesitate to come and talk to me."

"I will."

He tipped his hat to her, gave Caleb a nod, then turned and left.

Caleb took her hand, gently stroking her fingers. "We'll find who did this. I won't let it rest. Brenda was my friend too."

Nicole couldn't stop studying his face. The trimmed mustache and beard looked very becoming on him. He had a crooked grin as he stared back at her. And his eyes... oh, why couldn't she look away from those hypnotic hazel eyes? He was the kind of man any woman would lose her heart over.

Her thoughts came to a sudden stop as a different idea formed. Had Brenda been referring to Caleb when she mentioned a man she was falling for that she was sure would never love her back?

"What are you thinking?" Caleb asked.

"I'm wondering..." Nicole couldn't say it. She'd only embarrass herself if she spoke her thoughts.

"What?" His hold on her hand tightened slightly. "Tell me."

Warmth filled her, just as what happened the last time they were alone together, and he touched her. She couldn't allow this to continue... especially if he was the man her cousin was falling in love with.

"It's nothing, really." She quickly stood, pulling her hand away.

He jumped to his feet as well. "Let me be the judge of that."

The determination in his gaze rattled her, but no, she couldn't say anything. She turned and hurried out of the dining area and darted up the stairs toward her room. She didn't have to look behind her to know that he followed. The pound of his heavy steps gave away how close he was to her.

When she reached her door, she jiggled the doorknob. Locked! Before she could dig into the pocket of her waist-jacket, he grasped her arm and swung her around. She pressed against the door, feeling out of breath. His breaths were also coming out as though he'd been running a race. He was too close to her, and he appeared slightly upset. But the only thing that made her afraid was the way her body heated up.

"Nicole," he said huskily. "Why did you run from me?"

"I... I..." She licked her suddenly dry lips. "Because I don't want to tell you what was on my mind."

Slowly, his crooked smile returned. "There is no way I can get you to talk?"

His gaze lowered to her mouth. Cotton dryness filled her throat. "No."

When he peered back into her eyes, she nearly melted. He seemed to find this situation very humorous. However, she just found it... nerve-wracking and making her weak in the knees.

"Let me try and figure it out." He stepped closer until his chest pressed against hers. "You were studying my face so intently after Denton left the table," he said. "Color touched your cheeks, and your expression turned sultry. So, perhaps you were thinking about our kiss?"

She shook her head, wishing she could swallow the lump of tightness in her throat.

"All right, so if you weren't thinking about that, maybe you were thinking..." He paused, but a few seconds later, his eyes widened. "Were you thinking that I was the man Brenda was in love with?"

She nearly swallowed her tongue. Was she that easy to read? "It was a silly thought, which was why I didn't want to say anything."

Slowly, he pulled away, but his hand stayed on the door as if he used his limb to hold himself up. "I assure you, Nicole, the only relationship I've had with my girls is that of boss and employee, and friends."

"You've never kissed any of them?" Why she asked that question, she didn't know. But now, she wished she could retract it.

"Never."

"But Caleb." She hesitated but realized it needed to be said. "I'm your employee, and you kissed me."

His expression hardened, and he stepped away from her, breaking the closeness. "And it will never happen again."

He spun around and marched back down the hall. As she watched him leave, her chest tightened. This emotion was different than the tightness she felt before. Why did she feel she had suddenly just lost a friend?

She had certainly messed up her life now.