Ryan’s shoulders bunched, not just at the fact his aunt obsessed over what everyone thought of her, but her question put him on edge too. He’d have to break the news to them eventually, so he said, “Job interview.”
Under the glow of the lampposts, he saw his aunt’s confused look. “But there aren’t any current openings at the church.”
“No,” Ryan said. “But there is an opening with the sheriff’s office.”
Lydia’s jaw dropped. Jonathan took a step back and regarded him quizzically. He said, “I don’t understand. Why would you apply for a deputy position?”
Ryan told them, “I completed the police academy in Phoenix and then went on ride-alongs and took EMT classes while working for the court. Law enforcement is where my interest lies.”
“But your religious studies,” Lydia mumbled, obviously still taken aback. “What about your degree and your desire to become a minister?”
“It morphed into something else,” was the
best Ryan could say. Not that he discounted his initial inclination by any means, but he’d begun to realize church work wasn’t his calling after his first year in college. That was when he’d shifted a portion of his focus.
“Well, this doesn’t make any sense at all,” his aunt murmured with a disapproving frown.
His uncle, however, said, “Now, Lydia, it’s the boy’s choice to make. Not ours.” To Ryan, he added, “If this is what you want, then of course we support it and wish you luck with the interview.”
“Thank you. I could learn a lot from Sheriff Johnson and his two deputies, before Miller Parks retires, that is.”
“We’re happy to have you back home,” his uncle assured him. “Let’s get together and catch up soon. How’s Sunday evening at our house?”
“Sorry,” he said, feeling a tad guilty he didn’t have time for them on his immediate calendar. “I’ve already made plans with Ginger Monroe.”
“Ginger!” Lydia’s voice spiked an octave or two. “Ryan Bain,” she said in her authoritative and chastising tone, as though he were seventeen years old again and had left his underwear in the bathroom. “That woman sells the most deplorable clothing and she is completely inappropriate. I absolutely cannot abide—”
“Now, Lydia,” Jonathan interjected once again as he took her by the arm, as though prepared to drag her off before she continued her rant. “Ryan is an adult and Ginger is a very lovely woman. It’s not our place to say who he can or cannot spend his time with.” In a level, reasonable tone, he suggested, “Let’s try Monday.”
“Monday would be fine,” Ryan agreed, somewhat amused by the exchange, but also partially disturbed by it. Ginger had been right about how his aunt treated her and it made him damn glad he hadn’t divulged her identity as tonight’s victim to the sheriff. The poor girl didn’t deserve another hassle this evening.
“We’ll see you at six,” his uncle said. “Come along, Lydia.”
They continued on their way as Ryan watched them go. The tension in Wilder hadn’t eased since he’d left. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse. He’d have to probe Ginger and find out what the hell was going on in this town.
* * * * *
Ryan spent most of Saturday and the better part of Sunday with the sheriff and, oftentimes, his deputies. He passed all his written and physical assessment tests with flying colors and managed to impress the other men at the shooting range. When they dove into identifying the criminals who’d robbed Ginger, Sheriff Johnson was so taken with his dedication and enthusiasm, he offered Ryan the job. By the time they’d knocked off for the day, they had a few leads and Ryan was due at the uniform shop in Austin the next morning.
Psyched over his new career, he was feeling damn good as he strode into Jess Mills’ flower shop and selected a delicate pink rose for Ginger.
“You must be Ryan Bain,” the attractive, chestnut-haired woman behind the counter said.
“I am.” It wasn’t Jess who’d greeted him, but he wasn’t surprised this stranger knew who he was. Word always spread akin to wildfire in this town, as the sheriff had mentioned.
“I’m Liza Brooks.” They shook hands as she happily added, “About to become Mrs. Jack Wade, actually.”
“Congratulations. Jack is a great guy.” He was a year older than Ryan’s aunt, who was thirty-one, and she’d been friends with him growing up. Ryan remembered Jack as being a bit on the wild side in his younger years, but Miller Parks had told him just today Jack was now on the City Council and owned Wade’s Saloon. Ryan could only imagine how that sat with his Aunt Lydia.
“I’m ridiculously giddy over the whole thing,” Liza told him with a self-deprecating laugh. “Obviously, since I tell complete strangers I’m engaged.”
“I’d say Jack’s a lucky man.” He smiled at her as he handed over cash for the rose. Then he glanced around the shop and added, “There was a robbery on this street Friday night. You might want to be on the lookout for a tall man with dark-brown hair and a short, stockier redhead.”
Liza’s eyes widened. “Who was robbed?”
“I can’t say just yet. But the sheriff’s office is going to get word out tomorrow and post some signs around town. I thought you should know, since you’re in here all by yourself.”
“Yeah, thanks for the warning. That’s alarming news.”