MOST ELIGIBLE SHERIFF

by Cathy McDavid

“You fell in love with her.” There was no judgment in Ruby’s voice.

  “I developed feelings for her. I don’t know if it was love or not. I couldn’t imagine how such a sweet, sensitive woman got involved with Niro Unkovsky. She fed us information about Vladimir Krupin, the kind we were hoping for, and we were able to build our case. Everything was going great. We were hours away from the bust of the decade.”

  Cliff paused. A sick feeling formed in the pit of his stomach as he relived the emotions he’d felt when Talia’s deception became apparent. Shock and disbelief, then rage and finally, shame.

  “What happened?” Ruby asked gently.

  “When the SWAT team arrived at Krupin’s headquarters, the place had been cleaned out. Every trace of evidence gone. They were onto us. And I was the leak.”

  “Talia?”

  Cliff sipped his ale. Sixteen months later, and he was still paying the price for his acute lapse in judgment.

  “She’d been using me the whole time. Turned out, she wasn’t just a lackey in Unkovsky’s office.”

  “His mistress?”

  “Believe it or not, her mother was. Thirty years ago. She married someone else after the affair ended, which is why we didn’t make the connection. When Talia’s mother became ill a few years ago, Unkovsky helped pay for her cancer treatment. Then, he gave Talia a job. She was fiercely loyal to him.”

  “The case falling apart wasn’t your fault,” Ruby said.

  Cliff barked a laugh. “It was all my fault.”

  “She used you.”

  “She couldn’t have used me if I hadn’t let her.” The disgust he felt at himself still revolted him.

  “Is that why you quit the force?” Ruby asked.

  “Not entirely.” Cliff polished off his beer just as their food arrived, glad for the break. He waited until after the waitress left to continue his story, his emotions again in check. “My dad retired. I was under a lot of pressure to take over for him.”

  “Do you want to be sheriff of Sweetheart?”

  Cliff frequently pondered that same question. “Maybe not at first. But now, I’m glad. The job suits me.”

  “I think it does, too.”

  Cliff had thought unburdening his heart to Ruby would diminish his appetite. Instead, he was ravenous and attacked his dinner like a starving man.

  Unlike him, Ruby took normal-size bites of her food. “You and I, it’s not the same thing as you and Talia.”

  “Close enough. Neither of us can afford to have my judgment impaired. Your well-being could depend on it.”

  “You’re right.” Her expression became melancholy. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  “I definitely don’t like it.”

  “Thank you for telling me about Talia. I’m sure it was hard for you.”

  An understatement if ever he’d heard one.

  “I want you safe, Ruby. Nothing is more important to me.”

  “Because you’re the sheriff, and it’s your duty.”

  “And because I care about you.”

  She set her fork down. “If that were so, then why—”

  “I can’t make the same mistake twice.”

  A moment passed before she nodded. “I understand.”

  He hoped she did. Her lackluster response made him wonder.

  The remainder of their meal was spent on small talk. Ruby was planning the pony relay races and goat-dressing contest for the gymkhana on Saturday. She was also supposed to start practicing driving the buggy. Cliff offered to come by tomorrow afternoon.

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “Given what we just decided?”

  “As long as Crowley’s out there and you’re pretending to be Scarlett, we need to maintain appearances. I’ll bring the kids and Sarge. We can work on the relay races after your driving lesson.”

  “Yippee,” she drawled sarcastically.

  With the bill settled, they left the Paydirt. During their meal, the sun had set, and they walked outside into a blue-gray twilight. Before long, night would be upon them. They strolled side by side to Cliff’s SUV. No hand-holding.

  “Thanks for din—” Ruby was cut off by the ringing of her cell phone from inside her purse.

  They both stopped, their gazes locking. Memories of Crowley’s last call flashed in Cliff’s mind.

  “Want me to answer it?” he asked.

  She checked the display on the simple flip phone, relief relaxing her features. “It’s Scarlett.” She pressed the phone to her ear. “Hey, sis.”

  Cliff listened as she talked.

  “That’s great...No, I’m glad.” Ruby paused between responses. “Things are going well.” She shot Cliff a glance. “He’s fine. Helping me a lot with the gymkhana...Yeah, you did forget to mention that.”

  He would have liked to send her a wink or casual grin. The kind of exchange between two people on good terms with each other.

  He didn’t. Their kiss had confused matters enough.

  “The ranch is hosting a cowboy wedding. I—you—will drive the bride and her maids to the alter in a buggy.” Ruby stopped suddenly. “What are you saying?”

  What was Scarlett saying?

  “You can’t.” Ruby looked at Cliff, her mouth drawn tight. “I know, but—” She groaned.

  He touched her arm in an offer of support.

  “We’ll talk later,” Ruby said firmly. “I need to go...I don’t care.” Every response was clipped. “Then I’ll call when you get home...Fine. Bye.”

  She snapped the phone shut. He swore he heard her teeth grinding.

  “Problem?”

  “My sister only thinks of herself.” Ruby tromped the remaining distance to the SUV.

  Once they were seated inside, Cliff started the engine. “I take it she’s not coming back.”

  “She wants more time. She’s afraid if she leaves Demitri now, all the progress they’ve made will be for nothing.”

  “If he really loves her, it won’t.”

  “Exactly!” Ruby crossed her arms in front of her and blew out a breath. “If anything, she should come back to Sweetheart, give Sam a reasonable two-week’s notice, then return to San Diego.”

  “Does she expect you to finish out her two weeks?”

  Ruby’s angry silence gave him his answer.

  “Is that such a bad thing? You said yourself, you weren’t sure what you were going to do after the arraignment.”

  She shot him an astonished look.

  “Don’t let me be the reason you’re rushing to leave,” he said.

  “It has nothing to do with you.”

  Did she have to emphasize nothing?

  “I’m going to the arraignment,” she abruptly announced.

  “Cowley could have you followed from the courthouse.”

  “He won’t. If anything were to happen to me, he’d be the first person the police questioned.”

  “That’s the thing about stalkers. They aren’t rational. Their need to dominate overrules their reason. You’d be taking a big chance.”

  She stared out the windshield. “I’m tired of him ruining my life.”

  Cliff couldn’t argue with her. In a way, that man was ruining Cliff’s life, too.

  * * *

  RUBY HAD LEARNED SOMETHING during the past half hour. Six children, two Nubian goats, three horses and a herding dog equaled total and complete chaos.

  The animals and youngsters both were running amok in the rodeo arena. Well, Evan wasn’t, though he desperately wanted to be with the others. Unfortunately for him, he was trapped in his mother’s arms, a state he protested loudly.

  “Sorry, baby,” Maeve said. She and Evan stood at the arena fence, watching the mayhem. “You’re too small, you’ll get trampled.
”

  She didn’t appear the least bit concerned that her other two offspring were playing perilously close to horses’ flying hooves.

  Ruby, however, was frantic. The chances these little maniacs were taking, pushing, shoving and grabbing, one of them was bound to wind up in a cast. Just her luck, she’d be the one held responsible.

  Cliff was entirely useless. If anything, he encouraged the mayhem, telling the kids to “go on, get in there” and “don’t be a chicken.” Ruby wanted to scream at him.

  The next instant, she did. “Cliff, keep them away! What if that horse kicks?”

  “They’re fine.”

  Fine? Had he lost his mind? Where were the helmets and the protective vest? Behind the chutes, that was where.

  Ruby started in that direction, only to be cut off by Erin.

  “Oops!” She drew up short, barely avoiding a collision with the seven-year-old.

  “Sorry,” Erin muttered before jetting off.

  She was obviously still suspicious of Ruby. What would the girl think when the truth came out? And it would eventually. She’d probably hate Ruby for lying to them all.

  In the end, it mattered little. Ruby was leaving soon. But the idea that Erin would harbor ill feelings toward her saddened Ruby. She liked Cliff’s family.

  Erin caught up with the other youngsters. Besides her sister, Ellie, there was Sam and Annie’s two daughters and a boy named Gus. Ruby had been told he belonged to the housekeeper. He was also indisputably the ringleader.

  “Something bothering you?” Cliff asked.

  She’d been preoccupied and hadn’t heard him come up behind her. “Besides the complete lack of adult supervision?” She threw up her hands. “Cliff, we’re supposed to be the responsible ones.”

  “They’re just having some fun.”

  “You’re as bad as them,” she snapped, then bit her lip. “Sorry.”

  “Is it the arraignment?”

  The fight went out of her. “I take it you heard.”

  “Detective James called me earlier. Said it was postponed.”

  “Thanks to Crowley’s attorneys.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  Cliff was asking if she was staying in Sweetheart or going home.

  “I haven’t decided.”

  Ellie came bounding over. “Uncle Cliff! Can we start dressing the goats now?”

  “Let me handle this.” Ruby said, grateful for the interruption.

  Outfitting two Nubians in old denim shorts, button-down shirts, bandannas, and cowboy boots on all four hooves was no easy feat. The object of the game was to see which team could dress their goat first.

  The Nubians refused to cooperate. Were they not tethered to a stake in the ground, they would have run off. The hardest part of the game was keeping the boots on.

  By some miracle, no children or animals were harmed during the practice runs. In the end, the goats and horses received treats and everyone had a good laugh. Especially the grown-ups. Evan squealed and squealed. Finally, his mother let him pet one of the goats. When it nibbled his hair, he started to cry.

  “There is no pleasing this young man,” she complained good-naturedly.

  A juice box distracted him and dried his tears. Maeve distributed more juice boxes to all the kids and, for the next few minutes, peace was restored.

  Ruby busied herself with undressing the goats and bagging the clothes. Gus helped her return the goats to their pen and the horses to the corral and then walked with her back to the arena. Ringleader or not, he was a good kid.

  “Thanks, pal.” She rubbed her hand along his buzz-cut hair, surprising herself at how natural the gesture felt.

  “No problem.” He disappeared to find his friends.

  Catching Cliff watching her, she smiled before turning away—and came face-to-face with Maeve. The other woman was alone, having handed off Evan to his sisters.

  “You’re good for him.”

  “Gus?” Ruby asked in surprise.

  “Good heavens, no.” Maeve laughed brightly. “Cliff.”

  “I’m not sure about that.”

  “I am. None of us knows exactly what happened with that woman in Reno. He doesn’t talk about it. We do know he hasn’t developed a serious interest in anyone since then. Except you.”

  “We’re just dating.”

  Maeve went on as if she hadn’t heard Ruby. “I had my doubts at first. Not that you aren’t nice. And the kids adore you. But there was just something.” Her voice trailed off. “Lately, however, you’re different. I can see the two of you together.” Her eyes twinkled. “For a long, long time.”

  Oh, boy. Now Maeve, as well as Erin, was going to hate her when the truth came out.

  “I don’t want to rush things with Cliff.”

  “I wouldn’t, either, in your shoes. You’ve both been hurt. Him by that woman and you by your old boyfriend.”

  Scarlett had discussed Demitri with Maeve? Funny, she was usually so private. Perhaps Cliff was the one to talk. He and his cousin were close.

  “Maeve, I...”

  “I’ve put you on the spot. Don’t feel like you have to say anything.”

  “All right.” What a relief.

  “Maybe you and Cliff can come over for dinner one night this week.”

  “Okay.” If she hadn’t left by then.

  Cliff believed Crowley was still a threat. Ruby was less convinced but unwilling to take unnecessary risks.

  Part of her wanted to stay in Sweetheart. Spend more time with Cliff and explore their feelings. Get to know his nice cousin who was going out of her way to make Ruby feel accepted. But she also wanted to return to Vegas. She missed her job at the casino and her friends. Her condo, too, though she wondered if she’d ever feel safe there again.

  Her temples throbbed. It was all so confusing.

  Once the equipment was returned to the tack shed and the trash collected, the children were allowed to resume playing—on the lawn in front of the house, not in the arena. They pulled Cliff’s hands, enticing him to enter the fray. He refused and, instead, ambled over to where Ruby waited.

  “You ready to call it a day?” he asked.

  “Right after I finish feeding.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  She thought of telling him he didn’t have to escort her home, then discarded the notion. It would be a waste of breath.

  “Come on, Sarge.” She called to the dog without thinking, only to hesitate. He didn’t belong to her. “Sorry,” she told Cliff. “I’ve gotten used to him.”

  “He’s more than welcome to go with you.”

  “I won’t be borrowing him much longer.”

  Did that mean she had made a decision? Was she going home?

  Cliff must have thought so, for disappointment flashed in his eyes.

  Sarge trotted alongside Ruby to the barn. A half hour later, she was just finishing her chores when her phone rang. It was Scarlett.

  “You need to call your boss,” she said when Ruby answered. “He’s been trying your old phone and is mad that the number’s disconnected. He called me looking for you.”

  That made sense. Ruby had listed Scarlett as her emergency contact. “Did Ernesto say what’s wrong?”

  She mimicked Ernesto’s thick accent. “Only that he must talk to you. Immediately.”

  Ruby disconnected from her sister and debated whether or not to locate Cliff. He’d been adamant that only he, Scarlett and Detective James have the number for this new phone. But surely calling work wasn’t a problem. Ernesto did know her whereabouts, after all.

  “Hey, Ernesto. It’s me.”

  “Chica, where have you been?”

  It was so good to hear his voice. “I’m still in Sweethear
t.”

  “You must come home. Now!”

  “I’m not sure I can.” Ruby leaned against the stall door. Sugar Pie nuzzled her elbow. “The arraignment’s been postponed till next Wednesday. Detective James thinks I should stay here until then.”

  “Not soon enough.” Ernesto sighed expansively. “But it will have to do, I suppose. I will see you next Thursday then. Eleven a.m. sharp.”

  Ruby laughed. “What’s going on?”

  “Mr. Xavier and Ms. Lilly are engaged.”

  “Really! That’s great.”

  The casino owner and the sitcom star had been dating for almost a year. There had been speculation for weeks that he would pop the question.

  Everyone at Century Casino liked the star and supported the match. She had a positive effect on their boss and treated all the employees with kindness and courtesy.

  “Mr. Xavier’s hosting a party a week from Saturday to celebrate,” Ernesto said. “The entire VIP lounge has been reserved for the guests. You will simply die, chica, when you see the list.” He went on to name several TV and movie celebrities. “Mr. Xavier insists you be there.”

  “Ernesto...”

  “You absolutely must come. This is a very important event, and there is so much to do to prepare.”

  Ruby could commiserate. Events of this size normally required weeks, if not months, of preparation.

  “You owe me, chica.”

  She did owe Ernesto. He’d gone to bat for her, helping her land the job as his assistant when there were other more experienced candidates for the job.

  “I’ll call you in the morning,” she said, wanting to give herself a little time to think about it.

  “With good news.” Ernesto’s tone contained the merest hint of a warning.

  “Talk to you then. Goodbye.” She flipped the phone shut and shoved it in her pocket.

  Here was the chance she’d been waiting for. An excuse to return to Vegas. She hadn’t just given Cliff lip service when she claimed her job was in jeopardy.

  Securing the stall doors, Ruby left the barn. Cliff was in the driveway, bidding goodbye to his cousin and her children. Their gazes connected. And stayed connected. Her heart fluttered.

  By the time she reached Cliff, she was less sure about returning to Vegas than she’d been a minute ago and fairly certain she’d have disappointing news for Ernesto when she called him in the morning.