Reunited with the Sheriff

by Belle Calhoune

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your father more angry,” Tate said, surrendering to a full-on chuckle. “Didn’t he kick you out of class?”

  “Yep,” she answered with a grin. “I had to sit in his office and write the phrase patience is a virtue one hundred times. To this day I don’t understand why it’s such a virtue. Even as a kid I always ripped through my Christmas presents in record time.”

  “I suppose that was the downside of being the pastor’s daughter. Having your father teach Bible Class couldn’t have been much fun. You never got away with a single thing.”

  “Tell me about it,” she said with a groan.

  “Was it that bad?”

  “Not always. There were lots of good things about being a pastor’s daughter. But the expectations...I can’t say I enjoyed that part. I held a lot inside.” Her face held a wistful expression. “I wish I’d been allowed to fail as many times as I flew. It wouldn’t have been so devastating when it all fell apart. Does that make sense?”

  Tate nodded. “It makes perfect sense. Failing would have given you some perspective.” His voice got quiet. “I wish you would’ve told me that back then. Maybe you wouldn’t have felt so alone.”

  How could he not have seen all her turmoil? They’d been so close, practically joined at the hip. His thoughts were full of the past, full of his relationship with Cassidy. More than anything he’d thought they’d shared a solid friendship. Perhaps if he’d known all the pressure she’d been under, things might have been different. Perhaps she wouldn’t have hightailed it out of town when everything had gone so terribly wrong. At least now he understood how much stress she’d been under leading up to the accident.

  She wrinkled up her nose. “I don’t think I was very honest with myself back then,” she admitted. “I was too busy keeping up appearances. It took me several years to come to terms with things.”

  The hospital room door swung open with a creak, and Pastor Blake stepped out into the hallway. The strain of his wife’s health crisis had left telltale signs on his face. Tight lines had formed at the sides of his mouth while his complexion had a grayish tinge. He’d never seen him look so vulnerable.

  Cassidy jumped up from her seat, her eyes wide as she asked, “What are the doctors saying?”

  Pastor Blake placed his hand on Cassidy’s shoulder. “She’s doing fine. They said she was dehydrated and hadn’t taken in enough fluids or food today,” Pastor Blake explained. “Basically, she overextended herself. Her immune system is weakened due to the chemo, so she really has to make sure to eat throughout the day and drink plenty of fluids. They’re going to keep her in the hospital for a few days so they can stabilize her electrolytes and monitor her.”

  Cassidy’s shoulders sagged with relief and she let out an emotional cry. “Thank the Lord!”

  Tate reached out and clasped Pastor Blake’s hand in a gesture of solidarity. Just then a few parishioners made their way toward them from the waiting room. Mona Jackson, Doc Sampson and Tate’s deputy Cullen Brand were among them. As he watched Cassidy and her father draw comfort from the congregation, a feeling of peace settled around his heart. Cassidy was home, back in the bosom of her family and the congregation. Even though some people in West Falls objected to her being back in town, there were many others who rejoiced at her homecoming. It was what he loved most about his hometown—the way the community gathered together in times of hardship.

  It was time for him to go. Now that he knew Maylene was fine and that the Blakes were being supported and loved, he had no business being here. It was way too dangerous to his peace of mind to be around her. He met Cassidy’s gaze, letting her know with a hand motion that he was on his way out. She mouthed her thanks, then flashed him a sweet smile.

  He felt Cassidy’s eyes on him as he strode down the hallway. Although he was tempted to turn around and catch one last glimpse of her, he suspected it would only make the conflict raging inside him that much worse.

  Chapter Five

  The past forty-eight hours had been an emotional roller coaster. Although she was thankful her mother was being released from the hospital this afternoon, she was still consumed with worry about her health. She had spent the better part of the morning with her mother, meeting with her oncologist and discussing postsurgical options. Seeing her mother looking so fragile in her hospital bed had frightened her. It reminded her that life was a tenuous thing, impermanent and unpredictable.

  At the moment her mother was downstairs in the oncology wing having some tests run. She was still scheduled for surgery in a few days, and the doctors were checking to see if her chemo treatments had reduced the size of her tumor. Even though Cassidy’s main concern was her mother, a million questions about Tate were still rolling around in her head. Although it seemed at times that he was thawing toward her, there was still a gap between them the length of an ocean. Instead of working at making amends, she’d found herself daydreaming about what her life might have been like if she hadn’t left town.

  Would her life have been different if the accident had never happened? It was a question she liked to toss around in her head every now and again. Would she be married to Tate with a few children running her ragged? Or would they have outgrown each other and gone their separate ways?

  If only she didn’t have so many powerful memories of the two of them. She’d been happy then, hadn’t she? And happy with the person she was whenever she was with him. With Tate, it had always been enough just to be herself. Which made it all the worse that she’d treated him so shabbily.

  Had she made the worst mistake of her life in leaving West Falls?

  Tears ran down her face, and her shoulders heaved under the weight of her sobs. Being home was so much more of an emotional journey than she’d anticipated. For someone who was used to hiding her feelings, it was therapeutic to allow herself to give in to the tidal wave. When her mother was wheeled back into the room, Cassidy didn’t bother to conceal the fact that she’d been crying. She was done disguising her sentiments since all it had ever done was magnify them by tenfold.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” Maylene asked as she stood up and hurried to her daughter’s side. She sat down next to her on the hospital bed, placing her arms around Cassidy’s shoulders and pulling her to her side, her eyes filled with compassion.

  “I’m sorry, Mama,” she said as she swiped at her eyes. “I don’t know where all this is coming from. I’m supposed to be your rock, not the other way around.” She tried to collect herself. Right now her focus should be on her mother, not Tate.

  “Shhhh. I’m your mother. That’s my job,” she cooed as she wiped away her tears. “To tell you the truth, I’m sick and tired of being poked and prodded. I need a distraction from all this talk about cancer. Talk to me. It’s been so long since you’ve poured your heart out to me, Cass. I want to feel like your mother, not some invalid in a hospital bed.”

  Maylene was staring at her with pleading eyes. Perhaps she was scared and nervous about her upcoming procedure. Perhaps she was just tired of all the worrying about test results and surgery. Right now she just wanted to be Cassidy’s mother. And Cassidy couldn’t think of anything in the world that she needed more at this moment.

  “I’m just so confused about Tate. I put my foot in my mouth the other day by asking about Holly. He gave me the big ole Texas slap down. Told me never to ask about Holly again.” She sniffled to hold back the tears. “He said I don’t deserve to ask about her. And he’s right. What made me think I could ask about her?”

  Her mother made tutting sounds. “No, he’s not right. And he’s not wrong either. He’s a brother being protective of his sister. He always was, even before the accident. You know that. When you were kids he barely let her out of his sight. He’s got a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, partly because of Holly’s condition and partly because of the way you left. It really d
id break his heart.”

  Cassidy covered her face with her hands and let out a shuddering sigh. The very thought of causing Tate so much pain rocked her to her core. And shamed her.

  “Then my car broke down and he ended up giving me a ride home,” she continued. “He was actually nice to me. But then he couldn’t wait to leave. Same thing happened at the bazaar. We were talking and getting along fine until I made an off the cuff remark. He told me we were strangers. And then the other day he stopped by the hospital to check on us.” She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I really want to make amends, but I keep hitting brick walls with him.”

  “He’s a kind, generous man. It’s in his nature to be that way, so I’m sure he’s torn about how to treat you and how to feel about you. He’s had a long time to let those wounds fester. He has a lot of pride. You can’t expect him to pretend as if nothing ever happened.” She reached out and grasped Cassidy by the chin, turning her face so that she could look her straight in the eye. “Please don’t forget that God won’t ever give you more than you can handle.”

  Her lips trembled with emotion. “Forgive me, Mama, but sometimes it seems as if He does give me more than I can handle. I wish I were strong like you.”

  “Cassidy Anne Blake! You are stronger than you know. I wish you could see that.”

  She drew a deep breath. “And it’s not just Tate that’s bothering me. Daddy can barely look me in the eye after all this time. I think he’s ashamed that I’m his daughter.”

  Maylene made a tutting noise. “Your father loves you. He’s never been ashamed of you a day in his life. I think he struggles with a lot of guilt since he’s the one who suggested you leave town. He doesn’t know if he steered you on the right path, and that’s hard for him.” She heaved a deep sigh. “That being said, he dealt with a lot of fallout when you left. The Lynches wanted blood. Your blood. Your father and I were the closest things they could get to punishing you. I never told you the whole of it. Perhaps I should have, but we didn’t want you to carry that burden. Led by Tate’s parents, some of the people in town circulated a petition to remove your father as pastor.”

  “What? Daddy has led Main Street Church for almost twenty-five years. On what grounds were they trying to oust him?”

  Maylene crossed her hands in front of her. “They believed he shouldn’t be the spiritual leader of Main Street Church under a morality clause.”

  “Morality?” Cassidy asked, her eyebrows coming together in a frown. “That’s ridiculous. He’s the most moral man in West Falls. He’s never so much as—” Understanding came like a bolt out of the blue, and despite the fact that she should have anticipated this twist, she felt as if she’d been kicked in the stomach. Her throat felt dry as sandpaper and it took her a moment to process her thoughts. “It was my morality they were questioning, wasn’t it? Daddy was just the scapegoat.”

  Tears misted in her mother’s eyes. “Yes, dear. Certain people in town thought you got off scot-free.” Maylene scoffed. “As if you didn’t suffer. They said it was immoral that you left town so soon after the crash. Some were angry that no charges were filed against you.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She sobbed. “If I’d known I would’ve stayed and let them get their pound of flesh from me. It’s so unfair that they went after the two of you.”

  Maylene nodded, her expression full of understanding. “We made the decision as a family that you should leave West Falls. Emotions were too heated at the time. Sheriff Keegan was threatening to arrest you, there were rumors about the Lynches filing a civil suit, Regina and Jenna were being interrogated. It was a terrible time.” Maylene shuddered at the recollection. “And regardless of what certain small-minded people tried to do, your father maintained his position with the full backing of the congregation, minus a few troublemakers.”

  Cassidy raised an eyebrow. “What about the Lynches? Are they still part of the congregation?”

  Maylene sighed. “Here and there. Not regularly, although the whole family does turn out on holidays like Christmas and Easter. I’m happy to say that Holly and Tate are faithful worshipers though.”

  Holly. Her pulse quickened at the memory of her former best friend, the playmate she had been best buddies with since grade school. They had once been inseparable. Sisters of the heart. A sudden image of Holly flashed into her mind—her larger-than-life smile, the big blue eyes, her dirty blond hair that she could never get a comb through—and it served as a reminder of all she’d lost. She no longer had a best friend. There was no one in her life she could tell all her innermost secrets and fears.

  “I’m glad she’s part of the Church,” she said in a wistful voice. “That means she has people to support her and to see her through all the ups and downs, the doctor’s visits, the emotional turmoil.”

  Maylene pursed her lips. “Congregations are wonderful support systems, but nothing replaces a best friend. I think you can be a help to her, now that you’re back in town.”

  Hearing her mother’s words caused frustration to bubble up inside her, then overflow. “How can I help her, Mama? I can’t give her back the use of her legs,” she snapped, struggling to keep her anger in check.

  Her mother gazed at her, emerald eyes flashing with emotion. “Oh, Cassidy. Don’t you see? Holly lost the use of her legs but she still has her faith, her family and her congregation. The one thing in her life she doesn’t have is you.”

  * * *

  Tate hadn’t wanted to attend Sunday service this morning. Although he’d gotten closer to the Lord in the past few years and rarely missed a service, he’d almost bailed on church this morning. He had his reasons for not wanting to come today. And every single one of ’em was tied to Cassidy. Today would have been their eighth wedding anniversary, if Cassidy hadn’t dumped him and skipped town. They would have exchanged vows in this very church. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, trying not to allow his mind to roam to the forbidden place.

  If it wasn’t for Holly’s badgering him, he’d be at the ranch right about now checking on Fiddlesticks. His onyx Arabian mare was due to give birth soon, and he wanted to keep an eye on her. Although law enforcement was his calling, horses were his passion. He was devoted to them and spent every spare moment in their presence.

  He had to admit it as he gazed at his surroundings. Main Street Church was a spectacular place to worship. With its stunning stained glass windows, Gothic architecture and burnished wooden pews it had a stately grandeur. There was no other place of worship like it. Sometimes he liked to sit for a spell in one of the pews when the church was empty. Just himself, the church and the big guy upstairs. It was during those times that he had his most deep conversations with the Lord.

  As he followed Holly down the aisle he couldn’t help but notice the furtive glances in their direction and the electricity crackling in the air. Pure instinct had him glancing toward the first pew at the front of the church. Air came rushing out of his lungs and he almost stopped midstride. Cassidy was sitting with Maylene and Regina in the Blake family pew. At the moment he and Holly were making their way to the pews at the left front of the church, directly opposite the Blakes.

  It would be the first time Holly and Cassidy came face-to-face in eight long years. He let out a deep breath as Holly situated herself in the wheelchair accessible seating next to the pew. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. Something had told him that Main Street Church wasn’t a place he wanted to grace with his presence today. If only he had listened.

  * * *

  As Cassidy sat in the family pew listening to her father’s sermon, she could feel the heat of prying eyes in her direction. Although the townsfolk were still grappling with her being back in town, she hadn’t expected that reaction to extend to the church. Main Street Church was sacred. It had always been her safe place, her haven. And within its walls she’d always found acceptance. And lo
ve.

  Could she really last a whole summer here? Would the whispers, comments and looks never end? She’d dealt with it the best she could at the church bazaar. Tate had made things a lot easier by stepping in and handling her hecklers. Nevertheless the animosity had still rattled her. It drove home the point that she no longer belonged. Not really.

  Of course I’m going to stay. Mama needs me! And I need to be here to finally see things through. This time she wasn’t running away. She was just going to have to develop a thicker skin. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Wasn’t that the old adage? And she had to admit that the stares she was receiving today weren’t filled with malice. They were more curious than nasty, she realized. Perhaps they were wondering about the return of the pastor’s daughter and why she’d finally come home. She couldn’t fault them for that.

  She turned to her mother, letting her gaze roam over her graceful features. Cassidy envied her. She always seemed to be at such peace. Even as she struggled with a cancer diagnosis, her mother was steadfast in her faith and in her belief in God’s healing. Today she was wearing an elegant scarf tied around her head rather than her auburn wig. It was close to eighty degrees outside, and her mother had complained about the wig being itchy on her scalp. Cassidy thought she looked lovely. Other than her fainting episode at the bazaar, no one would ever guess she was dealing with a deadly cancer.

  The sudden buzz of whispers rippled through the church. What in the world was going on? She turned her head ever so slightly to the left, just enough so that she caught sight of Holly maneuvering herself down the aisle, followed by Tate. Goosebumps popped up on her arms. Tate met her gaze with a look of surprise and what appeared to be dismay. When Holly looked over, she felt her heart beating so fast she feared it would jump out of her chest. She braced herself for any sign of animosity in her expression. Instead Holly stared back at her, a hint of a smile on her lips. Shocked by the unexpected encounter, Cassidy turned away and stared front and center at the pulpit. She forced herself to try and concentrate on her father’s sermon.