Her Valentine Sheriff

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Her Valentine Sheriff Page 8

by Deb Kastner


  He handed her a sandwich, opened a bag of chips for her and popped the top on a soda can. Then he did the same for himself.

  “I feel like a clumsy idiot,” she admitted, brushing her shoulder-length curls back behind her ear. “I really do come out here all the time, and I’ve never had the least bit of a problem before. Talk about humiliating.”

  “We all stumble once in a while.” He realized as he said the words that they were as true for him as they were for her. Literally and metaphorically.

  “It’s a good thing God is here to pick us up when we fall. And in this case, I was fortunate to have you around, as well.”

  He chuckled. “Anything I can do to help.”

  “If I’m not careful, I’m going to thank you again. And I know you don’t want to hear it. So let’s talk about you and Bullet.”

  Eli’s day had been going so well. Why was there always a twinge of discomfort every time he thought about Bullet? Even after all this time in the dog’s company. He liked Bullet, most of the time, but that didn’t take away the organic discomfort he sometimes felt. It disgusted him that he was still bothered by his stupid phobia.

  “What about us? Is it time for our performance review? Should I be taking notes?”

  “No, nothing like that.” She laughed, but it was a nervous sound. “I have no notes. You two worked really well together today. You acted as a unit, which is why I think the time has come for you to make Bullet a permanent part of your life.”

  “What does that mean?” He and Bullet were already together every working hour. As relaxed as he’d been moments before, he was equally as uptight right now. His shoulders rippled with tension.

  “It’s time for you to make Bullet an official part of your family. He’ll be living with you on a full-time basis from now on. That’s how it goes with K-9 units. You get the benefit of having Bullet with you even when you’re off duty.”

  No one had mentioned that part of the bargain when he’d taken this promotion. Why did he have to live with the dog? She might think he was ready, but he knew he was not.

  “No.”

  The word was out of his mouth before he thought better of it.

  “What?” Clearly Mary hadn’t anticipated his objection.

  “I don’t mean no, no,” he amended hastily. “I’m only saying that I’m not ready for him yet. I haven’t prepared my place. It’s not...dog-proofed. And I don’t have anyplace for him to sleep or any food for him or anything.”

  “I’ve seen your apartment, Eli,” Mary reminded him. She and her friends Samantha and Alexis—known collectively in town as the Little Chicks—had visited during the occasional party he’d hosted over the years, and now that he thought about it, Mary had once brought him homemade chicken soup when he’d missed Sunday services because of pneumonia.

  “And?” He didn’t mean to make the word sound like a challenge, but he knew it had come out that way.

  “And you don’t have to do anything special to dog-proof the place. I’ve never seen a more spit-polished home in my life. You’ve seen my house. If mine is dog-proofed, then yours passes with flying colors.”

  She had him there.

  “Yeah, but the rest of it—”

  “Is being supplied by the police force. I’ve got a nice little care package waiting for you back at my place. All the essentials. No worries.”

  No worries.

  Except being on his own with a K-9 he didn’t entirely trust. Bullet had never shown any sign of aggression toward him, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen when they were alone together in his apartment, without Mary’s confident dog-demeanor to keep Bullet at bay.

  It was as if she’d splashed cold water in his face. He’d been thinking more about how his day had gone with Mary than how things were working out with Bullet. And now, suddenly, it was all about the dog.

  He would never sleep again.

  Chapter Five

  As she drove the short distance to Alexis’s Redemption Ranch, Mary lifted her soft peach-colored silk scarf to her nose and inhaled the woodsy smell of Eli’s aftershave. It had been eight days since she’d worn it—since the day she’d twisted her ankle—but Eli’s unique scent still permeated the fabric.

  He was a hero, that one. She’d known it since she was a fifteen-year-old wallflower at the town’s Sweetheart Social. His actions of eight days ago only confirmed that verdict in her mind.

  At the three-way stop, she closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the tender way he’d carried her back to her vehicle, the way he’d fussed over her and treated her as if she were delicate and valuable. As if he cared for her—really cared. She’d never felt as cherished by anyone as she had in that moment.

  And therein lay the problem. She had no doubt her romantic ramblings were not at all the impressions Eli had intended to leave with her.

  He’s a good guy, she reminded herself. That was the beginning and the end of the matter, with the strongest punctuation her mind could muster. She was fluffing the middle with her fertile imagination. And she had to get over it. Now.

  Especially since she’d completely trampled over whatever moment they may or probably had not had. She had panicked, opened her big mouth and said the first thing she could think of to stop his fussing in its tracks.

  I think the time has come for you to make Bullet a permanent part of your life.

  Could she have uttered any more foolish words? Short of You were the first guy I ever loved, she couldn’t think of a single thing that would make Eli run away faster and farther.

  She’d known he was uneasy with the dog. She’d watched him, gauged his resistance. Knew that it still lingered just under the surface, even if she still did not know why.

  But once the words had come out, there was no way to take them back. For a moment, she’d almost hoped that he’d surprise her by taking the news well. She thought she’d seen major progress, given the way Eli and Bullet were working as a unit that day. She’d thought Eli was growing more comfortable with Bullet, as the dog certainly was with him.

  She’d been sorely mistaken on that point.

  Eli had taken the dog into his home, and though he hadn’t complained, it was clear he wasn’t pleased with the arrangement. It had been pure torture working with him all week.

  Adding on to the renewed tension on Eli’s part, Mary had had to deal with her own tangled feelings. Her mind kept returning to the memory of Eli catching her in his arms, carrying her with such gentleness, taking care of her like she mattered to him. Over and over again, she told herself not to make so much of it—to remember that Eli had no romantic interest in her at all, and it would be ridiculous to fall back into her silly crush on him again. She wasn’t a child anymore. She could be sensible, and remain in control of herself and her feelings...couldn’t she?

  Apparently not, since she’d spent the whole week worrying that she would accidentally display her unresolved feelings for Eli in a glance or an action.

  She had been looking forward to an Eli-free weekend. The stress of being with him was almost too much for her, and she desperately needed the downtime to rest and recuperate, so she could find a better angle with which to approach this sticky situation.

  Mary’s sigh echoed through the cab as she turned her SUV onto the long unpaved driveway that led to Redemption Ranch, which Alexis and her twin sister, Vivian, had inherited from their grandfather. Unfortunately Vivian had no interest in the land, much less the ministry for troubled youth that was part and parcel of Alexis’s life and heart. Like Natalie, hair, fashion and high living were the bedrocks of Vivian’s existence. Perhaps Mary and Alexis’s shared experiences with their sisters was one of the reasons they’d bonded so closely as friends.

  Mary pulled to the side of the house and braked suddenly, finding a large truck already parked in he
r usual space. Was that Eli’s?

  She slid out of her vehicle and limped around to inspect the foreign truck. Slick, black and well waxed, the vehicle was rarely used because Eli preferred to ride his motorbike whenever the weather cooperated. Still, she’d seen it often enough to recognize it beyond a doubt.

  Yes, that was Eli’s vehicle, all right. The real question was why was he here? What was the strangest part of this was that Eli had known she was going to help Alexis with the intake of her teenagers this weekend, yet he’d never given her a single clue that he was going to be part of the experience himself.

  What was going on?

  For a brief moment she considered turning around and going back home without announcing her presence, but she quickly nixed that idea. She’d promised Samantha and Alexis, and she wasn’t the type of woman to go back on her promises, even under duress—and Eli definitely qualified as duress.

  Slightly more motivating was the moment she realized Eli was looking out Alexis’s front window, his arm crooked to hold back the curtain. Bullet was with him, nosing the window with his feet propped on the sill. The dog’s presence explained why Eli had brought his truck instead of his motorcycle.

  And Eli was waving. At her.

  He had the advantage over her. He’d known she would be here today. It almost seemed as if he’d been waiting for her.

  She shook her head and scoffed at herself for not moving forward. Even if he wasn’t staring right at her, which he was, what would be the point of avoiding him? She had to work with him practically every day as it was. Instead of reacting to her own fears and doubts, she ought to be thanking God for Eli’s willingness to go above and beyond for Alexis and the teens.

  Mary was being selfish, and she was better than that.

  Eli opened the front door for her before she even knocked, with Bullet close at his heels.

  “The kids haven’t arrived yet. Alexis is back in the kitchen putting some finishing touches on some finger food for them,” he said by way of greeting.

  “Oh, yum. Pigs in a blanket, I hope. No one makes them like Alexis. I’m always first in line with my plate when she serves those up at community events.”

  Her face burned. She’d been speaking figuratively, of course, but she’d made herself sound like a cow desperate to stuff her face. She was already overly self-conscious about her weight without having to go and make herself out to be a glutton.

  Surely Eli had been perfectly aware of the extra weight on her frame when he’d swept her off her feet after she’d sprained her ankle. As a woman who’d spent all her life struggling with her weight, self-conscious didn’t even begin to cover it.

  “You think she’d let us steal a couple before the teenagers get to them? You know how teenage boys are. One look and they’ll be gone for sure.” He put a hand at the small of her back and guided her toward the kitchen, leaning in close to her ear. “Should we be polite and ask, or...” He paused and winked at her. “I have a few stealthy moves I’ve perfected over the years, especially where food is concerned.”

  “And you, a cop. I should have you arrested.” Mary laughed, amazed at the way Eli had managed to put her at ease. Had he recognized her discomfort and started cracking jokes to take the heat off of her? Or had he just missed her self-conscious drama moment altogether? Hopefully the latter.

  “I think it’s safe to say Alexis will share with us,” she guessed.

  Alexis appeared in the doorway that separated the dining room from the kitchen, bearing a large platter of pigs in a blanket and fresh-from-the-oven snickerdoodle cookies. She grinned, showing a line of naturally straight teeth, and extended the tray to them. She had one of those smiles that sent men reeling, but she was too preoccupied with her work here at the ranch to use that smile much.

  “Alexis,” she informed them, “can hear you two plotting out here.” Her lips twitched with merriment. “Count yourselves blessed that I thought of you guys and planned ahead. One of each, cookies and piggies. Take your pick.”

  Mary hung back as Eli hovered over the platter, stretching out the time as he selected the biggest cookie available. He groaned in anticipation, then picked up the nearest pastry-covered sausage and popped the whole thing into his mouth at once, chasing it down with the cookie. One bite. Two. And it was gone.

  Alexis swatted at him with her free hand. “Elijah Bishop!” she exhorted, playfully shaking her head. “Where are your manners? Didn’t your mama teach you to chew your food before you swallow it?”

  “My mama,” Eli responded, one side of his lips creeping up as he took the tray from Alexis and offered it to Mary, “taught me how to appreciate good food. And to thank the chef when I’m finished.” Alexis was tall, so he didn’t have far to lean to buss her noisily on the cheek. “This is well worth a thank-you.”

  Alexis giggled. Coming from anyone else, a thirtyish-year-old woman giggling would have sounded ridiculous or coy, but Alexis’s laughter was at once joyful and flirtatious, and without a note of pretension. It was no wonder Eli was grinning at her like she was today’s top headline.

  Despite the fact that his attention had drifted to Alexis, Eli still held the platter out to Mary. She resisted the urge to decline a treat. She was the one who had been raving about the pigs in a blanket to begin with, and she wasn’t kidding when she said they were out-of-this-world delicious. It would be silly not to take one. She selected the smallest one and delicately nibbled on an end.

  The silent exchange between Eli and Alexis shouldn’t have surprised her. Now there was a woman who fit Eli’s profile. Alexis with her tall, lithe body and beautiful blond hair—ponytailed at the moment, but long and cascading when she let it down—was definitely his kind of woman. Mary could see Eli falling for her, if he ever got over Natalie, that is. He and Alexis would make a cute couple. But Mary couldn’t repress a shiver at the prospect.

  Mary took another bite of her sausage and nearly choked, barely able to swallow through her dry mouth. She adjusted her glasses. She was getting way ahead of herself, and it wasn’t helping matters any. She was already hearing wedding bells for Eli and Alexis, which was a ridiculous waste of emotional energy. And that was not jealousy stabbing the inside of her rib cage.

  Alexis reached for the tray. “Are you sure you don’t want a snickerdoodle, honey?” she tempted, waving the cookies under Mary’s nose.

  Mary shook her head. “I’m good.”

  “Can I have her cookie, then?” Eli snatched another snickerdoodle from the platter and popped it into his mouth.

  “Smooth,” Alexis admonished, chuckling and shaking her head. “Let me take this tray back to the kitchen.” She made a face at Eli. “I wouldn’t want to tempt you again. Besides, we ought to be out front when they come in. The kids should be here any moment now.” Her blue eyes shimmered with excitement and anticipation. Working with troubled youth was truly her calling, evident in everything from her posture to the expression on her face. And Mary knew her heart—it was golden.

  Just as they reached the front porch, a white van pulled slowly up the long driveway. It came to a stop in front of the house and seven teenagers piled out of the back end—four boys and three girls, and not a one of them looked happy to be there. The van driver, with a long-suffering sigh and an equally dire frown, began unloading the kids’ suitcases, placing them on the edge of the concrete that surrounded Alexis’s house.

  Mary glanced at Alexis, but her elated expression hadn’t changed. She was happy to meet these kids, even if they weren’t so enthused to see her. In her place, Mary would have been terrified that she would be eaten alive. These teenagers had teeth.

  It took a strong, confident woman to face the kinds of odds before Alexis. These young people didn’t even look like they wanted to be helped. Mary knew she couldn’t handle the kind of rejection Alexis must face on a daily basis, much less the bitte
r, entitled attitudes of youth born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouths. They were here at Redemption Ranch to work off their misdemeanors from their juvenile records with community service. Roughing it wasn’t generally their style—which was why Alexis’s therapy was so successful. Hard work and tough love had the biggest impact on this kind of kid.

  The boys were shouting and jostling each other. The girls had their noses glued to their fancy smartphones.

  Alexis tried to get their attention with a wave of her hand, but she might as well not have bothered.

  “If I could have your attention, please,” she announced, but none of the teens were listening to her. Mary wondered what she could do to help round these kids up.

  Eli put his fingers to his lips and blew a sharp, shrieking whistle that caught the attention of everyone from the van driver to the teenagers to Bullet, who sat down in front of Eli and cocked his head.

  “Listen up,” he ordered.

  It wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command, and apparently one that the kids took seriously. The boys stopped wrestling and turned their attention toward Eli. The girls looked up from their smartphones with barely masked curiosity.

  “This is Miss Alexis Granger, and she will be your counselor and guide for the next four weeks. Show her respect. Listen to her. Do as she asks, or you’ll ultimately answer to me.”

  Which wasn’t entirely true—at the ranch, the buck stopped with Alexis—but Eli’s threat seemed to work. The teenagers mumbled under their breaths and gave sullen nods. It was a hard lot. Mary wondered how Alexis would ever break through to them, especially without Eli always around to strong-arm them into complying.

  “Welcome to Redemption Ranch,” Alexis said. Her expression was still cheerful, but her voice carried more of an edge to it. “We’ll be doing a lot of fun things together in this coming month. We’ve got all kinds of livestock for you to look after, and every one of you is going to learn how to ride and care for the horse to which you’ll be assigned. This is a working ranch, so prepare yourselves for some hard work.”

 

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