MOST ELIGIBLE SHERIFF

by Cathy McDavid

  “I’m just saying, if Scarlett and Cliff are having troubles, neither of them will appreciate you sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

  Thank you, Iva Lynn.

  Sarge barked again, more urgently this time. Each loud eruption sent a jolt through Ruby.

  “Hush, dog,” Iva Lynn commanded. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “That’s another thing,” Will said. “Why is Scarlett keeping Sarge all of a sudden? She doesn’t like dogs.”

  “That’s between her and Cliff.”

  “But you know why.”

  “I just do as I’m told. Not my place to question Cliff.”

  “Well, I’m questioning him. If he and Scarlett are having trouble, he may need a friend.”

  “Can’t stop you, I guess. But in my opinion, I think you should give them some space for a few days. Better yet, a week.”

  Iva Lynn was a truly loyal employee. Ruby would mention it to Cliff. Also that his pal Will was onto them. Perhaps she and Cliff should do something to throw the trail boss off track. Like her going with Cliff to babysit his nieces and nephew and making sure she let Will know.

  Her shoulders slumped. She wasn’t going to get out of spending the evening with him after all.

  “Speaking of which,” Iva Lynn said, “I’d best get back to the station. She’s due here any minute.”

  Fear propelled Ruby into action. She didn’t dare get caught eavesdropping.

  Whirling, she swiftly fled the station, worried Iva Lynn and Will might hear her. Sarge did. At least his barking covered the echo of her footsteps.

  What now?

  Only one choice. Stealing herself, she executed an about-face and headed back the way she’d come, praying neither Iva Lynn nor Will noticed her agitated state.

  “Hello. Anybody here?” The scared tremor in Ruby’s voice was amplified inside the fire station.

  “We’re here,” Iva Lynn hollered.

  The next instant, Sarge barreled out from behind the fire truck. Cliff was right. Missing a hind leg didn’t hinder him in the slightest. The dog moved at lightning speed. Reaching Ruby, he jumped up and planted his front legs on her chest.

  He couldn’t, however, sustain the position on one hind leg and nearly knocked her over. She pushed him gently down before they both landed on the floor.

  “Whoa there.” She averted her face in a useless attempt to avoid his avid kisses. “I missed you, too.”

  “There you are.” Iva Lynn emerged. She looked exactly as she had that morning—not one close-cropped gray hair out of place, and her khaki uniform free of wrinkles.

  Will came up behind her. “Hey. Looks like you have a new friend.”

  Speaking of looks, his was locked on her and filled with suspicion.

  Oh, shoot! Scarlett quickly disengaged herself from Sarge and said, “Good boy.” Fearing she didn’t sound convincing, she stood straight and added, “You know I hate that.”

  Sarge responded to the reprimand by pressing up against her leg and raising adoring eyes to her. Then, he broke out into a happy pant.

  So much for convincing Will she didn’t like dogs.

  Ruby grasped at straws. “It was Cliff’s idea that Sarge and I spend time together. That way, I could get used to him. Seeing as the dog is a big part of his life, and his cousin’s children love him...” She shut her mouth, aware she was rambling.

  “I’d say you’re making progress.”

  It was difficult bearing up under Will’s close scrutiny. “We, um, both are.”

  Sarge nudged her hand. Ruby ignored him. He did it again, whining when she didn’t respond.

  “Well, now that you’re here,” Iva Lynn announced, “I can hit the road. Hugh hates it when I’m late for dinner.”

  “See you in the morning.” Ruby gave Will a wave.

  She exited the station as fast as she could without appearing guilty. Sarge and Iva Lynn kept pace. The older woman could move fast, too.

  “Thank you for your help,” Ruby said when they were a safe distance away from Will.

  “Cliff is right. You are the spitting image of your sister.” At the door to the sheriff station, Iva Lynn stopped and crossed her arms over her generous middle. “And you can obviously think on your feet. But you’re going to have to do a lot better job impersonating Scarlett if you expect to fool the likes of Will and anyone else who knows her.”

  “Yeah,” Ruby murmured. Hadn’t she just come to the very same conclusion? “You have a good evening, Iva Lynn.”

  She was on the phone with Cliff the moment she climbed in the truck, a full fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.

  “You’re early,” he said. “Something wrong?”

  “A change of plans. I’m taking your advice.” She swallowed. “What time would you like me at your cousin’s house?”

  * * *

  RUBY WAS ATTACKED the instant she stepped across the threshold into Cliff’s cousin’s house. Three missiles, two fast-moving and one toddling, exploded upon impact, bursting into grins and giggles as they grabbed her hands and dragged her into the living room.

  The girls spoke so fast and so loud, Ruby had trouble understanding them. Something about watching a DVD. One that was evidently a favorite. The boy was the complete opposite. He spoke hardly at all, and what he did say was mostly gibberish. It seemed to Ruby that he expected her to understand him. His siblings evidently did.

  “Pick him up, pick him up,” the older girl singsonged.

  The younger girl dropped onto the floor and hugged Sarge as if he were a long-lost friend. The dog endured the zealous attention with dignity.

  “Should I?” Ruby glanced around for Cliff. Where was he? He must have heard the ringing doorbell.

  “Go on,” the older girl commanded, “before he starts crying. He wouldn’t stop after Mommy left. Uncle Cliff had to give him a cookie, and we’re not supposed to have cookies before dinner.”

  Ruby gnawed her lower lip. The kid would probably cry anyway. The last child she’d tried to hold had shrieked loud enough to rupture her eardrums.

  “Go ahead, pick him up.”

  She turned at the sound of Cliff’s voice. He stood in the entryway, an easy, sexy grin on his face that did funny things to her insides.

  “You sure?” she asked.

  “He won’t break.”

  “Famous last words.”

  Ruby hooked her hands under the boy’s armpits and lifted him into the air. Criminy, the kid weighed a ton. She balanced him on her hip, which seemed the best place. The kid immediately shoved ten sticky fingers into her hair. Why had she taken down her ponytail?

  “Watch it.” She tried to angle her head out of his reach. As luck would have it, the kid possessed the arms of a gorilla.

  “Kiss, kiss,” he cooed and smacked his equally sticky lips.

  Was he kidding? A glance at Cliff confirmed he was not.

  “Evan has recently discovered he likes kissing girls.” Cliff’s grin widened.

  “Yuck!” the younger niece complained and swiped a fist across her cheek. Funny, she didn’t mind dog kisses, which Sarge generously lavished on her.

  “Kiss, kiss.” Evan’s demands intensified.

  Ruby presented the side of her face and prepared herself for the sticky onslaught. The kid went straight for her mouth and planted one on her. It was...all right, not as bad as she’d expected. In fact, it was kind of sweet in a weird way.

  “Um, thank you.”

  He giggled. When Ruby tried to put him down, he clung to her with his gorilla arms. “Noo.”

  “You have a friend,” Cliff observed.

  “And all it took was one kiss.”

  “We men are like that.”

  A shimmer of heat flashed in
his eyes. Ruby felt it clear to her toes.

  Oh, my! Thank goodness she had Evan in her arms. She used him as a shield between her and Cliff’s potent appeal.

  “Did you bring the paints?”

  Ruby glanced down at the younger girl. Ellie, right? Cliff had told her the children’s names when he’d given her directions to the house. Erin, Ellie and Evan, in that order.

  “Paints?”

  “You promised.” Ellie pouted.

  “I’m sorry.” Ruby silently sought Cliff’s help.

  He merely shrugged.

  Swell. What kind of paints had Scarlett promised? Finger? Watercolor? “Next time,” Ruby said.

  “But we were gonna paint tonight,” Erin complained.

  “We can do something else instead.”

  “What?”

  Ruby tried to recall what pastimes had entertained her and Scarlett as children. “Do you have any board games?”

  “Candy Land,” Ellie shouted with glee.

  Erin groaned. “That game is for babies.”

  “Is not.”

  “Is, too.”

  If Erin and Ellie were anything like Ruby and her sister had been, their bickering could last for hours.

  “Girls,” Cliff said sternly. “No fighting in front of company.”

  They stopped instantly.

  Ruby was impressed.

  “You hungry?” he asked as if nothing had happened.

  “Yes!” first Ellie, then Erin, squealed.

  “I was talking to Scarlett.”

  “We’re having spaghetti,” Erin said. “That’s all Uncle Cliff knows how to cook. And cookies for dessert. Usually he gets stuff at the café.”

  Ruby was immediately reminded of the dinner she and Cliff had shared the previous night. He seemed to remember it, too, for the shimmer of heat reappeared in his eyes.

  She swallowed nervously. “Spaghetti’s good.”

  “Well let’s eat, then.” He led the way to the kitchen.

  Ruby tried to act as if she’d been here before and not gawk at the many family portraits hanging on the walls. There was one particularly charming photo of all three kids, Cliff and a woman who had to be his cousin. It was a candid shot of them frolicking in the snow. Ruby would have hung it on the wall, too.

  “Can I help with anything?” she asked, walking into the kitchen. Evan still balanced on her hip, and she was beginning to think she’d need a crowbar to pry him loose.

  “The girls will set the table. That’s their job.”

  Ruby noticed a loaf of French bread on the counter. “I could slice the bread.”

  “Good luck. I don’t think Evan will let you.”

  Cliff had a point. The toddler had taken a keen interest in her earrings and was fingering her left one.

  “I could try,” she said.

  Evan suddenly lost interest in the earring and started to fuss. When Ruby tried putting him down again. He began to cry in earnest. Swell. Her reputation for being lousy with kids was intact.

  “What’s wrong?” She didn’t pose the question to anyone in particular.

  Erin answered. “He’s hungry.”

  Ruby had no idea why, but she started bouncing Evan. It appeared to have a soothing effect, so she bounced him harder. He stopped crying and started laughing. Really? That was amazing. What a neat trick.

  It lasted an entire minute before Evan started to whimper.

  “Why don’t you give him a cookie?” Cliff said as he poured the spaghetti into a colander. “It worked the last time.”

  Her gaze traveled to the counter and the pink pastry box, courtesy of the café. She went over and contemplated the selection. Chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin.

  She grabbed her favorite and handed it to Evan. His cherubic face lit up as he took the cookie and aimed it for his mouth.

  Disaster avoided. Ruby sighed with satisfaction.

  “What are you doing?” Erin demanded, her tone aghast.

  Ruby stared at the girl. “Me?”

  She charged over and snatched the cookie from Evan’s hand. He began to wail.

  “Erin!” Cliff dropped the spaghetti filled colander into the sink. It made a terrible racket. “That’s enough.”

  “Uncle Cliff! She gave Evan a chocolate chip cookie.” The girl held up the offending object as evidence.

  Ellie gasped.

  “Oh.” Cliff immediately backed down.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Ruby was torn between confusion and defending herself. Hadn’t Cliff as much as told her to give the boy a cookie?

  Erin scowled at her. “You know Evan’s allergic to chocolate. The oatmeal cookies are for him.”

  “I, uh...” God, what had she done? “I wasn’t thinking. Is he all right?” She turned Evan’s face toward hers. He seemed fine, other than angry about having his treat taken away. But, then, she was no judge.

  “Let me see.” Cliff took the squalling boy from her. “How much did he have?”

  Erin examined the cookie. “One bite. A little bite,” she admitted.

  “He couldn’t have ingested much chocolate. I think he’ll be okay. We’ll watch him closely for any reaction.”

  “I feel awful.” Ruby clamped a hand to her forehead.

  “It was an honest mistake.”

  For Ruby. Not Scarlett.

  The girls huddled together, gawking at her as if she were a stranger. Which she was. “Maybe I should go home.”

  “Absolutely not.” Cliff placed Evan in the highchair. Once the tray was secured, he fixed a bowl of spaghetti and sauce and gave it to Evan. He instantly quieted. Using his hands as utensils, he dug into his meal. “Come on, girls,” Cliff said. “Let’s sit down. You, too.”

  Ruby reluctantly did as instructed. While the girls filled their glasses with milk, she poured iced tea from a pitcher for her and Cliff. By then, he’d delivered a large platter of spaghetti to the table, along with the bread and a salad.

  Dinner progressed awkwardly for all save Evan, who enjoyed his meal thoroughly. Cliff told them about his day, which included writing old man Seymour a ticket for shooting the crows in his garden with a pellet gun. Something his neighbors didn’t appreciate.

  “Sorry,” Cliff said midway through the meal.

  “For what?” Ruby had only eaten half her food, her appetite having deserted her.

  He smiled at her and then the girls. “Sorry the board game. Let’s play it after dinner.”

  “Yay!” Ellie extended her hands above her head as if reaching for the stars. A blob of sauce clung to her chin.

  “Erin? What do you say?”

  She blew out a long breath. “Okay.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  The tension immediately dissipated, and the meal continued with the girls chatting nonstop.

  “You’re good,” Ruby mouthed to Cliff, then added aloud, “I’ll wash the dishes.”

  “That’s Erin’s and my job. You and Ellie can change Evan and dress him in his pajamas.”

  “Change him?” Ruby’s eyes widened. “As in his diaper?”

  “And wash him up.” Cliff was already on his feet, collecting dishes.

  Changing a diaper? Could this be happening to her?

  “Come on!” Ellie hauled her out of the chair.

  At least Ruby wasn’t left on her own to wander the house in search of Evan’s room. Ellie danced down the hall, stopping and tapping her foot impatiently when Ruby took too long.

  The bedroom belonged to a boy, no doubt about it. Cartoon cowboys and horses decorated the walls, bedding and lampshade. Evan waved an arm, gesturing broadly and babbling. Ruby thought she understood a few words. Pony. Ride. The moon.

  Wait a minu
te. Not the moon. The pony at the Gold Nugget was named Mooney. Evan must have ridden her.

  “Do you like to ride ponies?” she asked, surprised to hear herself speaking an octave higher than normal.

  “Uncle Cliff takes us sometimes.”

  Ellie, thank goodness, went right to the changing table and grabbed a clean diaper from a drawer. Ruby didn’t have to give herself away by asking the location.

  Wipes. Ointment. Powder. She’d watched enough TV, understood the mechanics. Surely she could change a baby. It was infinitely harder than she thought possible. Evan squirmed and wriggled and refused to remain still for longer than a second. Divesting him of his pants took forever.

  “Well, you’re certainly active, little guy,” she told him.

  Ellie stood next to Ruby. Right next to Ruby. And watched her every self-conscious move.

  “Why don’t you sing to him like you always do?”

  Sing to him? Hmm. Sing what?

  “You start,” Ruby suggested.

  Her trick worked. Ellie, it turned out, could carry a decent tune.

  “The wheels on the bus go round and round...”

  By the third, round and round, Ruby joined in. Evan quieted and stared at her with huge eyes as she fumbled with the changing. Finishing, she stood him up. The new diaper hung limply to one side. Well, it would have to do.

  “Where are his pajamas?” she asked without thinking.

  Ellie didn’t appear to notice the slip and fetched a pair of superhero pajamas draped over the side of the crib. Ruby wrestled Evan out of his shirt and washed his face, neck and hands with another wet wipe. He giggled when she cleaned his ears.

  All right, he was kind of adorable. And Ellie was a good assistant. When Ruby complimented her, the girl beamed.

  After fixing Evan’s pajama top, which Ruby had put on backward, they returned to the kitchen. By then Cliff and Erin had finished washing the dishes.

  “We’re ready for bed,” Ruby announced, proud of herself.

  “You’ve worn him out.” Cliff nodded at Evan.

  Only then did Ruby realize the boy clung to her, his small head resting on her shoulder, his thumb in his mouth. “Is he asleep?”

  “Almost. Here.” Cliff handed her a colorful cup with a lid.