Happy Ever After in Christmas

by Debbie Mason

  After a brief interrogation of the residents, Jill discovered two more victims from the weekend before. “Don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of this. I’m going to talk to Sandy.”

  * * *

  “For the third time, no, I’m not getting you a court order to search Mountainview. Jill, Sandy was practically in tears when she called. She said you terrified the staff.”

  “I did not terrify the staff. All I did was ask a couple questions. But you know what, I don’t care if I did. I care about the residents of Mountainview and their well-being. They’re vulnerable, Gage. Half of them don’t even have family who visit.”

  “Appears my experiment worked. But Jill, we’ve never had a complaint against Mountainview before. Sandy cares about the residents just as much as you.”

  “If she did, she would have let me search the place without a court order. I think she’s hiding something.”

  “Look, Sandy says the residents love you. So my read on the situation is this. They don’t want you to leave and have come up with a reason for you to stay. They know you’re a cop and you’ll do whatever you can to protect them.”

  She thought about what Mr. Applebee said. It kind of supported Gage’s theory. But on the off chance he was wrong, Jill said, “Fine, but I plan on checking in on them every day, and Sandy better not put up a fuss.”

  “It’ll have to be on your own time. I need you here. Paperwork’s piled up while you were off.”

  She stood up. “I wasn’t exactly off, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know. But if you want my job, you better get used to the paperwork.”

  She sat back in the chair across from Gage’s desk. “I didn’t…Who told you?”

  “Suze may have mentioned it,” he said with a grin.

  That was the last time Jill was letting Suze look at her life-goal list. She was just lucky Jill didn’t rat her out to Gage. After all, Suze was the one who’d overheard his conversation and then blabbed the news to Jill. “It was just idle talk, you know. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’d never—”

  He held up a hand. “Don’t worry about it, Jill. Word was bound to get out sooner or later.”

  “So it’s true, you’re not running for another term?”

  “It’s looking that way. My brothers made me an offer that’s tough to refuse.”

  “That’s good, I guess. I mean, you’re happy about it, right?” She rubbed her hand over her face. She was babbling.

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed that you want my job. I’d be more surprised if you didn’t.”

  “Really? So, ah, what do you think my chances are? Of getting elected for sheriff, I mean.”

  He looked at her, seemingly weighing out his words before he said, “There’s no doubt you have strong leadership and investigative skills. You’re honest. Take pride in your job. And no one in four counties can outrun, outdrive, or outshoot you.”

  Wow, if that wasn’t a ringing endorsement, she didn’t know what was. It sounded like she had the job in the bag. She fought back a grin; she didn’t want to seem cocky. “Thank—”

  “But you have to deal with the town council and the mayor, and you—”

  “Your wife’s the mayor, and she likes me. She can always smooth things over with the—”

  “We’re expecting another baby. Madison’s decided she won’t be running for reelection, either.”

  “Oh, that’s great. Congrats. But I’m sure I can get along with whoever is elected.”

  Gage rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s the problem, Jill. I’m not sure that you can. Diplomacy isn’t your strong suit. I had five complaints about you last month alone. Not to mention Sandy’s complaint today.”

  Jill stiffened, heat rising to her cheeks. “I know. I’ve been working on it. And Sandy—”

  “Look, the election isn’t until next spring. You have plenty of time to work on your image.”

  “What’s wrong with my image?”

  He tapped his pen on a stack of files. “Okay, don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re kind of a hardass, edgy. You need to…I don’t know, get a life maybe. All you do is work.”

  “You’re lucky I do. Who else would you get to put in the overtime I do?”

  “You’re right, I’m partly to blame. I’ve asked for an increase in our budget so I can hire another deputy part time, but since we just hired Brad, I doubt it will fly. You know my wife, she can be…” He cocked his head. “If you repeat what I’m about to say to you, I’ll deny it. But you remind me of Madison when she first came to Christmas. She gave off that don’t-mess-with-me vibe, and half the folks wanted to run her out of town. You felt the same, so don’t bother trying to deny it,” he said when Jill opened her mouth to refute the statement. Then he continued, “But once we started dating, she let her guard down and showed people her softer and gentler side.”

  “Really, that’s your advice? You’re telling me that, if I want to get elected, I have to find a man like you? Someone everyone loves?” It was true. Everyone loved Gage McBride. Tall, dark, and handsome, he was also as nice as he was good-looking.

  He looked completely unabashed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  “That’s sexist. If Ray wanted to run for sheriff, you wouldn’t tell him to—” She began, referring to another of her coworkers.

  “Ray’s married. And he doesn’t have any edges to start with. But don’t worry, you have lots of time before election day. Now get out of here, I’ve got work to do.”

  If Gage was trying to make her feel better, it didn’t work. The conversation had ended up being more depressing than when it started.

  Chapter Five

  Jill had succumbed to her fairy godmothers’ plans. Her meeting with Gage had tipped the scales in their favor. Obviously, in his opinion, she needed a new image. So she went to the masters. If you needed a makeover, who better to go to than a Hollywood hairstylist and actress. Well, that was what she’d told herself earlier today when she’d arrived at the O’Connor ranch with Ty. She’d soon learned their plans also included…No, she didn’t want to think about it. If she did, she might throw up on the thigh-skimming red dress she currently had on.

  As she drove past the wrought iron gates of the O’Connor ranch on the way into town, she glanced at the swell of her boobs peeking above the ruffled neckline. Chloe was right, the bra was a flipping miracle worker. But it wasn’t as comfortable as her sports bra, Jill thought, rubbing her back against the seat.

  “Stop that. You’ll put a run in the fabric,” Ty said, shoving his hand between her and the seat.

  “A little to the left,” Jill said and lowered her shoulder.

  He rolled his eyes behind his square, red-framed glasses, then gave in and delicately scratched her back with the tips of his fingers. “Remind me to find you a backless dress for the prom.”

  Her sigh of relief when he hit the right spot morphed into a groan at the mention of the prom. Christmas High’s seniors had postponed the event in honor of Chloe. She’d chaired the committee to save the high school from closure. And because they’d announce whether the school remained open or would close that night, all former students were invited to attend.

  Jill twisted her sweaty palms on the steering wheel, growing more nervous by the second. “Yeah, about that. I’m pretty sure I have to work on Friday. So there’s really no reason for—”

  Ty crossed his arms over his black T-shirt. “No way, you’re not chickening out. You promised.”

  She’d promised a lot of things, but as they drew closer to town and the Penalty Box, she was having second thoughts. No, she’d had second thoughts when she arrived at the O’Connor ranch four hours ago. She must be on her twenty-third by now. “I’m not chickening out. But I do have bills to pay, you know. I can’t just—”

  A grin spread across Ty’s handsome face, and he tucked his hands under his armpits, then flapped his arms. “Bawk, bawk, bawk.”

  “Real mature,” she said, trying not to laugh.
The itch started back up, and she moved her shoulders as casually as she could so as not to draw Ty’s attention. When that didn’t work, she pointed out the window. “Look, there’s a moose.” As soon as he turned his head, she rubbed her back against the seat.

  “Where, I don’t…” He swiveled his head, trailing off as he stared at her with wide eyes.

  She sighed. “I can’t help it. This bra is—”

  “No, you have a welt on your neck, like a huge one,” he said, leaning over to unzip her dress.

  “Umm, we’re friends, but we’re not that—”

  “Hives,” he said, lightly running the tips of his fingers over her back.

  “Oh, yeah, a little harder,” she moaned.

  “You sound like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. Don’t waste it in on me. Save it for Sawyer.”

  She scratched her neck at the reminder of where she was headed and what she was supposed to do. “I can’t go. I’m covered in hives. Maybe I’m allergic to all the crap you put on my face. I hardly ever wear makeup,” she said, glancing at herself in the rearview mirror. Startled once again by the stranger staring back at her. She’d never been one of those girls who was overly concerned with her appearance. But she had to admit that it was kind of nice to feel pretty for a change. Not that she’d tell anyone.

  “It’s not crap, and you’re not allergic to it. I didn’t put any on your back or neck.” He left her dress open and reached for the air conditioner. Icy air blasted out of the vents.

  “Okay, so then I’m allergic to the dress. I don’t wear—”

  “It’s not the dress. You’re nervous about asking Sawyer to the prom.”

  She rubbed a sweaty palm on her thigh. Why did he have to remind her? Better yet, why had she agreed? Oh right, she was grabbing on to life and what she wanted before it passed her by. Before she was old and gray and sitting in a rocking chair with no one to talk to and no stories to tell because she’d had no life.

  She briefly closed her eyes. Even in her head, she was starting to sound like Chloe. The actress had become a good friend, one Jill cared about, but the woman was a total drama queen. And so was Ty. Jill never should have listened to them. “I’m not nervous. But I’m not in high school. I’m not asking him to the stupid prom.”

  “Really? You’re not nervous?” Ty pointed at her dress.

  She grimaced at the palm print. “No, I…” She trailed off as a powder blue late-model Chevy pickup came up behind her. There were a couple young guys standing in the back, thumping on the roof of the cab. Her eyes narrowed on the kid behind the wheel. She didn’t recognize him, but the truck looked familiar. He sped by, dust and gravel pinging against the side of her Jeep. The two boys laughed as they were tossed around in the open bed.

  “Idiots,” Jill muttered before connecting to the station. “Hey, Suze,” she said when the dispatcher’s voice came through the Bluetooth, “run this to see if the truck is stolen.” While Jill gave Suze the plate number, she slipped off Chloe’s red high heels.

  “Sure,” Suze said over the tapping of keys, “but aren’t you supposed to be having a makeover or something?”

  “She did, and she looks amazing,” Ty said, holding up his iPhone to snap a picture.

  “Ty,” Jill grumbled as she stepped on the gas. “This isn’t the time—”

  He cut her off. “Suze, give me your number, and I’ll text you a pic. Ignore the scowl. She looks better without it.”

  Suze laughed. “It wouldn’t look like her without the scowl.”

  “Geez, would you two stop,” Jill said, leaning on the horn to get the kids’ attention. When that didn’t work, she rolled down her window, gesturing for them to pull over.

  “Pickup hasn’t been reported stolen. It’s registered to old man Adams. I heard his grandson was in town helping him out on the farm,” Suze told her, then gave Ty her number.

  “Ty, grab my badge out of the bag.” Jill pointed to Chloe’s tan purse by his feet.

  He bent over, entering Suze’s number on his phone while reaching for the bag. His head jerked up. “You’ve got a gun in here.”

  “Of course I have a gun. Just give me my badge.”

  He dug around in the purse, then handed it over. Jill held her badge against the windshield in hopes the kids in the back would see it.

  “Jill doesn’t go anywhere without her gun. Whoa, girlfriend, you look incredible. Ty, schedule me—” Suze began.

  “Dammit,” Jill said, cutting off Suze when the kids failed to respond as she had hoped. She stuck her head out the window, the wind whipping the long hair extensions across her face. She held them back and yelled, “Pull over.”

  One of the boys flipped her off while the other one laughed, pounding once again on the roof of the cab. The Chevy picked up speed.

  “Do you need backup, Jill?” Suze asked, her voice serious now.

  “No, I’m good. Just a bunch of kids out for a joy ride, but they’re heading for Deadman’s Curve. I’ve got to cut them off. Hang on, Ty,” she said, shifting gears. Ty stared at her, his mouth falling open when she reversed without slowing down. Yanking on the wheel, she took a sharp turn onto a back road.

  “Oh. My. God. I’m on a high-speed chase. This is just like in the movies,” he said as he raised his iPhone, dropping it when they hit a pothole.

  She glanced at him. “You okay?”

  Face pale, he nodded and reached for the strap above the passenger-side window. “No one ever really died at Deadman’s Curve, did they?” he asked, his voice going up and down in time with the bumps.

  Jill wouldn’t be putting her Jeep or Ty through this if they hadn’t, but that wasn’t something he needed to know. “No.”

  Given the way he was clinging to the leather strap, she doubted he’d let go. She reached for the bag at his feet. Keeping her eyes on the road, she took out her gun and laid it on her lap with her badge.

  He gasped. “You’re going to shoot them?”

  “No, I’m not going to shoot them.” But she had to be prepared in case she’d misjudged the situation and they weren’t a bunch of teenagers out for a joyride. Branches from the overgrown brush scraped against the Jeep as they reached the end of the dirt road. “Get out,” Jill said, bringing the vehicle to a hard stop.

  “Get out? You’re leaving me here?” he said, his voice rising an octave.

  She leaned across him and opened his door. “Yeah. Go stand behind that tree.” She pointed to an oak on the other side of the Jeep. When he opened his mouth, she held up her hand. “Don’t argue with me. Get your ass over there. They’re close.” She could hear Linkin Park blasting from the speakers and the sound of hysterical male laughter.

  While Ty got out of the Jeep, Jill slipped the high heels back on. Once he was a safe distance away, she gunned the engine, the tires spinning on loose gravel. She reached the main road and angled her Jeep in the path of oncoming traffic. Twenty feet beyond was Deadman’s Curve.

  Putting the Jeep in park, she jumped out, cursing the heels as she ran to the other side. She positioned herself in front of the hood. As the pickup sped toward her, Jill realized she was more nervous about asking Sawyer for a date than she was that the truck wouldn’t stop. She raised her gun in one hand, her badge in the other.

  * * *

  “Okay, that was seriously hot, but no more cop stuff tonight. This is the new you. The you that will make Sawyer take notice. We’re going for feminine and ladylike,” Ty informed Jill as she parked on the street between the station and the Penalty Box.

  See, even gay guys thought a female cop in action was hot. So why couldn’t he leave it at that? Feminine and ladylike…Ty and Chloe were good, but they didn’t have magic wands and Jill was no actress. “Yeah, about that. I’ll take a rain check. I have paperwork to do.”

  She didn’t. She’d let the kid off with a warning. But it didn’t mean she hadn’t scared the crap out of him and his friends first. She’d given them a particularly gory image of what would have ha
ppened had they taken Deadman’s Curve at sixty miles per hour. Her version of Scared Straight. But the kid had family troubles. He’d been sent to live with his grandfather for a few months while his parents worked things out. Her brother had blown off steam exactly the same way when they’d been sent to live with their grandmother.

  Ty raised an eyebrow, then pulled out his phone and texted someone. Two seconds later Suze poked her head out of the station’s doors. Jill scowled at Ty and got out of the Jeep.

  Suze stared at her. “The photo didn’t do you justice. Girlfriend, you are going to rock his world.”

  “Geez, keep it down. Someone will hear you.” Mortified, Jill waved a hand in the direction of the Penalty Box.

  The dispatcher crossed her arms over her tan uniform shirt. “Oh, I’ll keep it down all right. But only if you get your butt in the bar now.”

  “That’s blackmail.”

  “So charge me,” Suze said.

  Ty grinned as he closed the passenger’s side door. “Thanks, Suzie-Q.” He held up his phone. “I’ll let you know how she’s doing.”

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with,” Jill said and stomped down the sidewalk. Though she soon discovered stomping wasn’t as effective when wearing high heels. She prayed to God Sawyer was off tonight. Not that she was overly thrilled that anyone would see her looking like this. Earlier she’d allowed herself to get caught up in Ty and Chloe’s plan. It had seemed like such a good idea then.

  Ty grabbed her by the arm. “Hang on,” he said, turning her to face him. While he fixed her hair, Jill scratched her neck, wriggling in an attempt to move the fabric across her back.

  He grimaced. “Your hives are back.”

  “See, I told you this is a bad idea.”

  “No, it’s not. You just have to relax.” His eyes lit up. “Okay, so here’s what you’re going to do. Pretend you’re undercover and that Sawyer is a local crime boss you’re investigating. And the only way you can get the information you need is to seduce him. Brilliant, right?”