“Don’t say that. Without you and your sister, we wouldn’t have caught Crowley. And his next victim might have been less lucky.”
“Yeah,” Ruby reluctantly agreed.
The detective hitched his chin at the car with Crowley in it. “I’d better get going. Make sure this guy gets booked correctly and with no mistakes. We aren’t going through this a third time.”
She couldn’t wish for anything more.
“Take care, Detective.”
Once he was on his way, she pushed open the door to the community center.
“Ruby!” Scarlett rushed to meet her halfway. The two held each other tight enough to crush ribs.
“You’re okay.” Tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision.
“I was so scared.”
“I know, sweetie.” She squeezed her sister even tighter. “If I could have changed places with you, I would have.”
“How did you fight him off? I swear, I couldn’t even move.”
“He didn’t have a gun that time.”
When they finally pulled apart, it was to discover a roomful of eyes on them. Ruby realized this was the first time anyone other than Cliff had seen her and her sister together. Probably took some getting used to.
Several tables and folding chairs had been set up to accommodate all the people. Ruby recognized the mayor, Cliff’s uncle and Will. Khaki and dark blue uniforms identified the Washoe deputies and the Carson City police officers. The others were strangers.
Cliff stood by one of the tables, his hip propped against it. She wanted to go to him—and would have if not for all “the eyes.” Something told her a show of affection would generate the wrong kind of attention.
“Thank you for saving Scarlett.” She smiled at him. Surely there was no harm in a simple smile. “Iva Lynn told me what you and Sarge did.”
He nodded coolly. Obviously, he didn’t want any attention, either.
Sarge had been lying on the floor next to Cliff and got up when Ruby entered the room. A sharp command from Cliff had kept him in place.
She didn’t think a show of affection for Sarge would be taken wrong. Clapping her hands, she called, “Here, boy.”
Sarge looked up at Cliff, who released him with a, “Geh voraus.”
Sarge instantly bounded over. Ruby dropped to her knees and embraced him. “You’re a good dog. I love you.”
He made a wuffling sound she interpreted as, “I love you, too.”
“Guess I’m going to have to learn to like dogs now. At least this one.”
Ruby grinned up at her sister. “You do owe him a bone, I’d say.”
Scarlett reached a tentative hand out and patted Sarge’s head. “More like a dozen.”
The dog licked her fingers.
Ruby snuck a peek at Cliff. His expression remained inscrutable, like the one he’d worn when she first knew him. Before he trusted her enough to lower his guard.
She stood. Not knowing what to do next, she stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets and waited. Sarge trotted back to Cliff and sat.
The door to the community center swung open, and a large man walked inside. Ruby had seen him among the law enforcement officials escorting Crowley to the car. From the way everyone instantly straightened, she assumed he was important.
“Who’s that?” she whispered to Scarlett.
“I’m not sure. He was at the mine.”
No wonder Cliff acted distantly. This was an intimidating audience.
“Can we leave now?” Scarlett asked no one in particular.
The large man in the khaki uniform answered. “We have a few more questions for your sister, miss.” He came over and introduced himself to Ruby. “I’m Sheriff Eberhardt. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. McPhee.”
He was courteous and pleasant. Ruby wasn’t fooled for a second. This man meant business.
This interrogation would be like the one in Vegas after Crowley attacked her. She’d be treated like a criminal instead of a witness.
“What kind of questions, Sheriff?”
“I promise not to keep you long.” The man gestured toward the metal chair where Scarlett had been sitting. “If you don’t mind.”
Ruby did mind. She glanced at Cliff, and he gave her a brief nod.
“Fine,” she quipped, thinking that, until Crowley was behind bars, she would be answering a lot of questions. From the authorities. Reporters. Her boss. Coworkers. Family and friends. Might as well get used to it.
Another chair was brought over for Scarlett. Fortunately, the questioning didn’t last long. Ruby had little to contribute to today’s events, other than going over how she, Cliff and Scarlett agreed that Scarlett would watch the children.
At the mention of her and Cliff visiting the Gold Nugget to speak to Sam, “the eyes” darted furiously between the two of them. Ruby could practically hear the sound of wheels turning as everyone present put two and two together.
The temperature in the room jumped twenty degrees, and Ruby began to perspire. Cliff remained unaffected. How did he do it? Looking at him, no one would believe they were romantically involved.
Of course! That was the reason for his unusual behavior. He was protecting her reputation.
Her feelings for him grew even more.
Finally, Sheriff Eberhardt said, “You’re free to go.”
Holding hands, Ruby and Scarlett headed for the door. One of the officers hurried to open it for them.
Ruby paused, reluctant to leave without speaking to Cliff. But he hadn’t spared her even a passing glance when she rose from her chair.
Iva Lynn followed behind them. “I’ll drive you to the trailer.”
A ride, Ruby hadn’t thought of that. Scarlett’s Jeep and the old pickup truck were both at the trailer and her car was still parked in the barn at the Gold Nugget.
“Okay, I guess.”
“I’ll bring your car by the trailer,” Cliff said. “When we’re done here.”
Her heart would have leaped with joy if not for his flat delivery. She tried not to blow it out of proportion. This was just Cliff in sheriff mode.
“See you then.” At Sarge’s bark, she added, “He can come with me. I don’t mind.”
Cliff told Sarge to, “Bleib.”
Stay? Why?
“His work guarding you is done.”
The words stung worse than a slap to her face. Ruby’s reply died as Scarlett dragged her outside.
She’d see Cliff later, and they’d talk. Ruby held on to that thought.
With Crowley apprehended, everything would return to normal. Maybe the mayor wouldn’t hire her but surely Sam’s offer of a job still held. One way or another, she and Cliff would move forward with their plans.
* * *
“COME IN, COME IN.” Annie Wyler stood on the porch of the Gold Nugget ranch house, motioning them inside.
Scarlett went first, followed quickly by Ruby. Iva Lynn didn’t hang around. She’d taken off the moment Annie appeared.
“Thank goodness that’s over,” Scarlett exclaimed.
Ruby’s sentiments exactly. With Crowley gone, the reporters had turned again to Ruby and Scarlett for a story. Iva Lynn had lead them on a wild-goose chase through town. When they finally arrived at the trailer, it was to find several wily reporters lurking outside.
Iva Lynn changed tactics. A half hour later, they were at the Gold Nugget. Not home. But, fortunately, no reporters in sight.
Annie had hardly closed the door when Scarlett’s cell phone rang.
“It’s Demetri,” she exclaimed with more delight than Ruby cared for. After a short conversation, she removed the phone from her ear and held it to her chest. “He saw the news. He’s worried about me. Mind if I take this in private?”
&n
bsp; “Use one of the upstairs bedrooms,” Annie suggested.
Scarlett all but soared up the stairs.
“Can I get you something?” Annie asked. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look awful.”
“A glass of water maybe.”
“Have you eaten?”
Ruby accompanied Annie to the kitchen. “I’m not hungry.”
The other woman stopped suddenly and drew Ruby into an affectionate embrace. “I’m glad you and Scarlett are all right and that Crowley’s caught.”
Fighting back the tears was impossible. “It’s been a rough day,” Ruby said shakily.
“Sit. Take it easy.” Annie guided her to the table.
Ruby slid into a seat and looked around. Like every time she returned to this kitchen, she was reminded of that first morning with Cliff.
She’d been terrified when he kissed her. Now, she missed his mouth on hers and longed for it with a desperation that cut deeper than she thought possible.
Rather than water, Annie brought over two steaming mugs of hot tea with lemon. Though Ruby hadn’t thought of it, tea was exactly what she wanted.
“Thank you.” She blew on the hot beverage before taking a sip.
“I’m sure you must hear this a lot, but seeing you and Scarlett together takes a little getting used to.”
“We look a lot alike.”
“Actually,” Annie mused over her tea, “I was noticing how different you are. Not that I know either of you well. I think Cliff notices the differences, too.”
“I hope he’s okay.” Ruby’s glance strayed to the window over the sink, as if she could somehow shrink the miles separating them.
“Was he hurt in the rescue?”
“No. But he’s acting funny.”
Annie’s expression turned pensive. “How so?”
“All business.”
She dismissed Ruby’s concerns with a chuckle. “That’s Cliff for you. With both the CCPD and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department there, he’s probably being his most professional.”
Because of Talia, Ruby thought. Did Annie know Cliff’s history?
“That reputation of his,” Ruby said with a sigh.
“He does come from a long line of sheriffs. Folks here loved his father. And plenty of them remember his grandfather. They were both great men.”
“So is Cliff. Today proved that.”
“He’s a shoo-in to win the election this fall.”
A knock on the front door startled Ruby. After today, she would need a week to relax.
“Must be a guest. Be right back.” Annie rose from the table and headed to the parlor.
Not a guest. Rather, a reporter. Ruby could hear the man’s booming voice as it carried all the way from the front door.
“No, they’re not here,” Annie said sternly. “I’m going to have to insist you leave.”
“Come on, ma’am. Give me a break.”
“If you don’t leave now, I’ll call the sheriff.”
The man required a bit more forceful coaxing from Annie before Ruby heard the door shut. She picked up her mug of tea with shaking fingers.
Scarlett entered the kitchen at the same time as Annie. Her demeanor was nothing short of glowing.
Ruby refrained from asking about the phone call until Annie had fixed Scarlett a cup of tea.
“I take it you’re going back to San Diego?”
“Nope.” Scarlett clasped her hands excitedly. “Demitri’s coming here.”
“Here?” Ruby sat back from the table.
“Not to stay. To help me pack my things,” she added sheepishly.
Ah. Ruby understood. Scarlett and Demitri were back on.
“Please don’t be mad at me.”
She assumed Scarlett was addressing her. Instead, she was talking to Annie.
“I don’t mean to give you and Sam such short notice. You’ve been good to me these past few months.” Scarlett beamed at Ruby. “Now you can stay here and have my job.”
“Absolutely,” Annie concurred. “If that’s what you want.”
A few hours ago, Ruby would have pounced on the offer. Now, she wasn’t sure if she should accept or reject it. Annie’s earlier assurances about Cliff hadn’t exactly quelled Ruby’s fears.
“You can have the trailer once I’ve moved out,” Scarlett continued. “Will won’t mind, so long as he has a tenant.”
Will. Another person Ruby and Scarlett had deceived. He hadn’t looked happy with her back at the community center. No one had.
“I should be out of there in a week.”
A week. Where would Ruby stay in the meantime? With Cliff? She’d turned him down only this morning.
Her indecision must have shown for Annie said, “We have a vacancy here at the ranch.”
The offer was kind. Like the woman herself and her entire family.
“Thanks. If you don’t mind, I’d like to think about it.” There was the casino owner’s engagement party and her promise to Ernesto that she’d return to help out. “How soon will Demetri be here?”
“Tomorrow.” Scarlett’s glee had yet to diminish one iota.
“No rush, Ruby,” Annie said. “Take your time.”
“I need to talk to Cliff.” More than talk. She needed to hold him and kiss him and hear him say his feelings for her hadn’t changed.
“Let’s call him.” Annie popped up from the table and reached for her phone.
Had it been long enough?
“He said he’d bring my car by the trailer, and he hasn’t shown up yet to get it. Not that he needs to now.”
Annie wasn’t listening to Ruby’s ramblings. She was already placing the call. “Hmm. He’s not answering.” She dialed another number. “Let me try the mayor’s office.” After a moment, she announced, “It’s going through.”
Ruby waited, an uneasy dread filling her as the seconds ticked by.
“I see,” Annie said. “No message. Thank you.”
“What is it?” Ruby sat straighter.
“Cliff’s in a meeting with his aunt and the entire town council.” Annie’s expression was grim. “They’ve left strict instructions not to be disturbed.”
Chapter Fifteen
Any other day, Cliff would have strode right into the main house at the Gold Nugget. Today, he knocked.
Ruby flung open the door. “You’re here!”
The next instant, she was in his arms. He held her close, not wanting to let her go. Fearing when he did, he would likely never hold her again.
He’d made another costly mistake. Only this time, innocent people had been caught in the crossfire.
She found his mouth. Wrong as it was, Cliff returned the kiss. Later, when she wasn’t so angry at him, she would remember this moment and, hopefully, his feelings for her.
When they broke apart, she smiled shyly and said, “Come inside.”
“I can’t stay.”
“More business?”
“There is a lot of it. But that’s not the reason.” He swallowed. “We need to talk.”
“I suppose we do.” Her initial relief had been replaced with concern.
He didn’t want to have this conversation standing in the doorway. “Let’s take a walk.”
She clasped his hand as they descended the porch steps. Had she done that before? It has always been him who reached for her.
He didn’t dissuade her, though he really should. Intimate contact was only going to make matters worse when he delivered his news. But she clearly needed reassurance.
If only he could give it.
“I didn’t have a chance to really thank you for saving Scarlett,” she said. “It’s all over the news. You’re a hero.”
“Did he come up with the idea of climbing that ledge?”
Cliff smiled despite himself. “I’m just glad Crowley’s apprehended. And this time, the charges will stick.”
“I doubt he’ll get off because of a technicality.”
“Not if Detective James has anything to do with it.”
They reached the barn and went in to escape the warm, midafternoon sun. The ranch was mostly empty of guests. Cliff figured they were either in town, participating in the residual excitement, or hiding out in their cabins, afraid another stalker was in their midst.
According to his aunt, the second scenario was far more likely. To hear her talk, everyone on the planet now considered Sweetheart a hotbed for lowlifes and crime.
Her anger at him was understandable and deserved. She’d worked so hard to raise Sweetheart from the ashes—literally—only to have everything fall apart in a single day.
“Scarlett and Demitri have made up.” Ruby sighed expansively.
“Are you surprised?”
“No. What I am surprised at is he’s coming here.”
“To live?”
“To help her pack and move to San Diego.”
“She’s quitting the ranch?”
“Told Annie an hour ago.”
Without trying to appear obvious, Cliff led Ruby to her car parked next to the tractor. That way, when he broke her heart, she’d have the means for a quick getaway.
“I hope things work out for them,” he said. Mostly because Scarlett’s happiness would please Ruby.
“I give it three months. That’s how long they lasted the last time.”
“You know her better than I do.”
“I was thinking of leaving for Vegas.”
That announcement startled Cliff enough that he let go of her hand. Could it be possible she was going to make this easy for him?
“When?”
“Thursday at the latest. I’ve decided to cut Ernesto some slack.”
Cliff remembered. “The engagement party.”
“Yeah. And to give my official termination notice. Also grab some personal things and close up the condo.” She leaned her back against the hood of the car. “I don’t think I’m going to sell it yet.”
MOST ELIGIBLE SHERIFF Page 18