A single tear splashed onto the page. She’d been gone before I even knew she was sick. Buried before I even knew she was gone. My family hadn’t wanted me there. Not my brother—who I was sure still blamed me for everything—my uncle, or any other vast network of relatives still rooted in the area.
To them, I was the enemy, the outsider. And now, I’d returned. The only one who might be happy to see me was my cousin, Addie, but I wasn’t even sure about that. We hadn’t spoken since I’d left. All of my letters came back, marked as Return to Sender in her father’s handwriting.
My mother thought I was a warrior, and I hoped she was right. I would need all my armor if I was going to face them again. Because no one would be happy that I was here. And they’d be downright livid when they learned I was staying.
2
Hayes
“I’m taking lunch,” I called to one of our newer deputies.
Young nodded, her ink-black hair not moving from its tight bun with the motion. “Calls forwarded to your cell or no?”
&n
bsp; “Only if it’s truly urgent.” I paused when I reached the door. “That does not include one of Ms. Pat’s cats going missing.”
Young’s cheeks pinked beneath her tanned skin. “Sorry about that. She was really insistent that you would want to know.”
“She always is. Don’t worry about it. You’ll learn the frequent flyers from the true emergencies with time.”
Her shoulders eased a fraction. “I hope so. I just don’t want to make a mistake.”
I turned to face Young fully. “You’re going to make one, so just let that go right now. It’s how you recover from it that counts. The best officers are the ones who own their mistakes and learn from them.”
“Thanks, Sheriff. I’ll try to remember that.”
“And if you have questions, you only need to ask.”
She nodded, and I headed out the door. I could’ve gone for my SUV, but I needed the walk. I always got itchy this time of year, my skin a little too tight, and muscles aching for a long run. That was on the agenda for tonight, just Koda, me, and the trails for at least ten miles.
I pulled out my phone and typed a text.
Me: Lunch at the bar and grill? If you can steal away from your precious pole for an hour.
A second later, my phone dinged.
Calder: It’s amazing you cops can even walk down the street with your heads as big as they are. See you in ten, just finishing up some paperwork.
Me: It’s Sheriff. There’s a difference.
I chuckled and slid my cell back into my pocket. Making my way down the street, I could just make out the lake through the trees. The view never got old, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else. I’d done the college thing a few hours away but couldn’t wait to get back home.
Not everyone felt that way. My older brother certainly hadn’t. He’d run out of this town like his feet were on fire. Trading ranch life for every adrenaline-fueled adventure he could find. But I’d been more than happy here.
“Hayes,” a voice called from the florist and gift shop up the street.
“Afternoon, Ms. Honeyman. How are you?”
“I’ve told you time and again, call me Charlene. You’re grown now.”
I gave her a grin. “It’s hard to break old habits.”
“That’s because your mama raised you right.”
“She did her best, anyway. What can I do for you?”
She looked back at her shop and then out towards the streets dotted with tourists and residents alike. “I’m wondering if you have any plans for all of the shoplifters. They’re bad this summer. It’s the tourists, no doubt.”