The Sheriff 0f Wickham Falls (Wickham Falls Weddings Book 3)

by Rochelle Alers

  It had taken ten years for him to get over his distrust of all women. Even when making love he forced himself to remain detached from the most intimate act between a man and a woman. He’d thought of it as a physical release and nothing beyond that.

  This was not to say he didn’t want to sleep with Natalia but that wasn’t a priority for him. Seth enjoyed them talking, cooking and just sitting together listening to music. Her presence offered him a peace he hadn’t known possible. And because he was aware that she had been unlucky in love he knew he had to let her take the lead in whatever relationship he hoped to have with her.

  “You’re probably right,” he said after a comfortable pause.

  “I know I’m right, Seth. We both were blindsided. The difference is the woman I occasionally saw had my baby and I didn’t find out about it until after she passed away. I was luckier than you because Lily was actually my daughter. But I must say you’re a hell of a good guy—you could’ve punished your ex by not agreeing to the divorce and raising the child as your own. And then there’s the other side when you could’ve reported your superior officer for sleeping with your wife.”

  “I don’t like a mess, Giles.”

  “Neither do I. Most times I agree with Mya rather than argue about what turns out to be nothing more than minutia.”

  A hint of a smile parted Seth’s lips. “Being deployed makes you look at life differently because you don’t know whether your next breath will be your last.”

  “Amen, brother,” Giles whispered.

  They moved along the food line selecting from an assortment of hot and cold dishes until reaching the meat station. He touched elbows with the Wolf Den’s pit master extraordinaire Aiden Gibson. The tall, blond, former Navy SEAL had affixed the trident pin to his blouse. Most folks in The Falls weren’t aware that Aiden had been a SEAL until he married his daughters’ teacher in a military ceremony last fall.

  “How’s the family?”

  Aiden smiled. “All is good in the Gibson hood,” he quipped.

  “Are they here?”

  “My girls are coming with my sister. Taryn’s staying home because she’s too close to her due date.”

  “Have you guys picked out a name for your son?”

  The skin around Aiden’s bluish-green eyes fanned out when he smiled. “We went back and forth and finally settled on Daniel Marcus Gibson.”

  Seth nodded. “That’s a nice strong name for a boy.”

  “Speaking of babies. There must be something in the water because Sawyer Middleton just told me he and Jessica are expecting their first baby before the end of the year. And there’s also something calling folks to come back to The Falls. You came back and so did Sawyer, and I overheard talk at the Den that Leland Remington is moving back to help his sister run the boardinghouse.”

  “How many years has it been since Lee left?”

  “Too many to count,” Aiden said.

  Seth heard someone clear their throat behind him. “I’m standing here jawing and holding up the line.” He extended the empty plate. “I’ll have some pulled pork, fried chicken, brisket and ribs.” Aiden filled the plate with meat from the trays under the heat lamps. “Thanks, Chief Petty Officer Gibson.”

  Aiden gave Seth a snappy salute. “My pleasure, Master Sergeant Collier.”

  Seth returned to the table and set the plates down in front of Natalia. “I got a little bit of this and that.”

  She pressed her shoulder to his. “Everything looks delicious. I’m going to get some empty plates so we can all share.”

  “Don’t get up,” Giles said. He handed Lily to Mya. “I’ll get them.”

  Seth rested his hand at the small of Natalia’s back. Giles was right. He had to be patient and let their friendship and hopefully a relationship unfold naturally. He’d promised Natalia that he wouldn’t stalk, cheat or attempt to control her life, and if he broke any of those promises he knew whatever he hoped to share with her was doomed.

  He thought about what Aiden said about their peers returning to The Falls. He, like many others he’d attended school with, felt their existence too insular, the town too cloistered and they wanted a change.

  Sawyer enlisted in the military, founded a New York–based software company and came back a multimillionaire.

  Giles had joined Sawyer as the newest multimillionaire when the real estate mogul married Mya and made Wickham Falls his permanent home.

  Talk that Lee Remington was planning to return was certain to divide the townsfolk who either loved or hated Leland. Some were quick to judge the young man who’d insisted he was innocent, and even after he had been exonerated they contained to blame him.

  Seth went completely still when Natalia rested a hand on his thigh under the table. He stared across the table at Lily as Mya fed her a spoonful of mac and cheese in an attempt not to concentrate on how close her fingers were to his groin. “What are you doing?” he asked between clenched teeth.

  Natalia removed her hand. The lashes that shadowed her cheeks flew up. “What’s the matter?”

  He saw indecision in her eyes and chided himself for overreacting. It was apparent she wasn’t attempting to seduce him. “I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else,” Seth lied smoothly, something he loathed doing to her.

  Reaching for the pitcher of water, he filled a cup and took a deep swallow. The icy liquid cooled his chest but did little to quench the fire between his thighs.

  Chapter Nine

  “Drs. Franklin and Hawkins, you’re needed in the waiting room!”

  A week following the Memorial Day celebration Natalia rushed out of her office where she’d updated a patient’s chart to see why Angela had summoned her and Henry to the front of the office. Henry was several steps behind her, and jolt of adrenaline kicked in when she saw Seth lowering his boss to the floor. Roger Jensen’s face was flushed and the front of his khaki uniform was stained from the blood streaming from his nose.

  “I need gloves,” she shouted. Within seconds a pair of disposable gloves appeared and she slipped them on. “What happened?” she asked Seth as he knelt beside her.

  “He said he was feeling dizzy and was going to lie down for a while. When he began complaining of a headache followed by a nosebleed, I knew it was time he see a doctor.”

  Henry took over while Natalia checked the lawman’s vitals. “I need everyone to clear the office. Please step outside,” he ordered when several people began complaining about not wanting to wait.

  Natalia saw concern in Seth’s eyes. “He needs to go to the hospital. He’s in hypertensive crisis. His blood pressure is one-eighty over one-twenty.”

  Seth activated the radio attached to his shoulder and spoke quietly and calmly into it. “The EMTs are on their way. Aren’t you going to give him something?”

  She rested a hand on his shoulder. “No. The EMTs will stabilize him before he gets to the hospital.” The words were barely off her tongue when two men came in with a gurney. Natalia gave them her findings as they placed Roger onto the rolling stretcher and strapped him in.

  Lines of tension ringed Seth’s mouth as he forced a smile. “Thank you. I’m going to ride with them. I’ll call your cell to update you on his condition.”

  Natalia nodded. “Okay.”

  “You handled that nicely,” Henry said when the door closed behind Seth and the technicians. “It looks as if you haven’t lost your touch when it comes to a crisis.”

  She took off the gloves and discarded them in a container for infectious materials. “I’ve seen enough medical emergencies to last a couple of lifetimes.”

  Henry pushed his hands into the pockets of his white coat. “The last time I saw Roger I told him he had to exercise and lose at least fifty pounds.”

  “Let’s hope he’ll take your advice after this scare.”

  “Angela, you can
let the people in now,” he told the receptionist.

  Angela walked to the door and opened it. “You can come in now.”

  * * *

  Seth lost track of time as he waited for Roger to be evaluated in the county’s medical center. He’d opted to remain at the hospital rather than return to The Falls with the technicians. He called Michelle, the sheriff’s wife, to reassure her that he would stay with Roger until she arrived.

  Georgina had called him twice to check on Roger’s condition. And he repeated to her what he’d told Roger’s wife, that the doctors wouldn’t tell him anything about the sheriff’s condition until Michelle got there. Georgina told him Andy had volunteered to cover his shift and that he would run the department as assistant sheriff until Roger’s return. Seth thought Andy was being premature about taking over the department when Roger was still officially responsible.

  His cell phone vibrated again and he glanced at the screen. Natalia was calling him. Seth left the waiting room for an area where he would be able to use the phone. “Hey, babe.”

  “How is he?”

  “I don’t know yet. They’re still running tests. Roger’s wife is on her way.”

  “I’m coming to the hospital.”

  He heard a signal indicating she’d ended the call. Seth knew it would take Natalia at least twenty minutes to get to the hospital, which gave him enough time to get coffee from the snack bar before it closed for the night.

  Seth garnered curious stares when he walked into the renovated snack bar that reminded him of those in airport terminals. The hospital had been in disrepair before the board began an aggressive fund-raising campaign to renovate the facility and install the latest medical equipment.

  The clerk at the register offered him a friendly smile. “Good evening, Deputy. That coffee has been there awhile, so if you’re willing to wait I’ll put on a fresh pot.”

  The liquid in the half-filled pot resembled sludge. Seth returned her smile and nodded.

  He thumbed through a magazine while he waited for the clerk to brew the coffee. The distinctive aroma wafted to his nose. He filled a large container, added a splash of creamer and handed the clerk a bill.

  “Keep the change.”

  “But...but you gave me too much.”

  “No, I didn’t. The tip is for the fresh coffee.”

  “Thank you,” she called out to his retreating back.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Seth sat in the same chair he’d vacated earlier to await word on Roger’s condition. Stretching out his legs, he crossed his booted feet at the ankles. The plastic chair was uncomfortable and not constructed for someone wearing a gun belt. He’d drunk half the coffee when Natalia walked into the waiting area. She hadn’t bothered to change out of her scrubs and had the leather tote she seemed to bring everywhere with her.

  Pushing to his feet, he went over to her. “How fast did you drive to get here?”

  “I did exceed the speed limit by a few miles.” Natalia touched his hand. “Stay here. I’m going to use a little professional clout to check on Roger’s condition.”

  He watched as she walked over to the nurses’ station and spoke quietly to the woman wearing a floral pink tunic. Minutes later a young doctor appeared and spoke with Natalia. Seth couldn’t pull his gaze away from her. She and the doctor were similarly dressed and in that instant her choice of a profession was even more evident. When she’d asked to look at his injured thumb and revealed she was a doctor, it hadn’t actually registered with him.

  But when he watched her take charge to check Roger’s blood pressure, monitor his heartbeat and examine his eyes while at the same time comforting him with words that had put Roger at ease made him realize becoming a doctor had been Natalia’s calling. He had half supported and half carried Roger from the station house to the medical office, fearing the worst when his nose began bleeding. Seth was certain his boss was having a heart attack or a stroke. The technicians had stabilized him during the ride to the hospital where the staff met them upon their arrival.

  * * *

  Natalia approached Seth, and took his hand. “The doctor says they’re going to keep Roger for a few days because they want to monitor his blood pressure. They ran a CT scan and the results show he suffered a small stroke. They also had to cauterize his nose to stop the bleeding.”

  Seth froze. “A stroke?” he repeated.

  “A very mild stroke, Seth. Right now he’s resting.”

  “Can we see him?”

  “The doctor said we could, but only for a few minutes. His wife is with him right now. Come with me. He’s in room two-fifteen.” Natalia knew Seth was concerned about his boss’s condition, but Roger was in the best place where he could be closely monitored. They followed the signs to the elevator and took the car to the second floor. “This is a nice hospital.”

  “Do you miss working in a hospital?”

  She gave him a sidelong glance. “No. Been there, done that.” Natalia sanitized her hands from the dispenser outside Roger’s room before entering. He was hooked up to an IV and a machine monitoring his vitals.

  He slowly turned his head. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you two tonight. Michelle just left to go to the snack bar. She has to eat to stabilize her blood sugar.”

  Natalia walked closer to the bed. The readings on the monitor indicated a decrease in his blood pressure. “I wanted to be certain you’re all right.”

  Roger’s eyelids fluttered. “I am now. If Seth hadn’t insisted I come down to your office I doubt whether I’d be talking to you right now.”

  Seth stood at the foot of the bed. “What’s the expression? A hard head makes for a soft behind.”

  Roger chuckled. “No lie. I’ve been stuck a few times in the behind already.” He sobered quickly. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, and even after I’m released, how long I’ll be out of work. Seth, I want you to stand in as acting sheriff until I’m medically cleared to return.”

  Natalia stared at Seth who appeared shocked by Roger’s suggestion. “What about Andy?” he asked. “He’s the next in line to replace you.”

  “I’m well aware of the department’s table of organization, but I have the authority to choose who I want to replace me in case of an emergency. Andy’s a good deputy but he’s no supervisor. Once Michelle gets back I’m going to use her cell phone to poll the council members and issue an official memo designating you as the acting sheriff of Wickham Falls.”

  Seth crossed his arms over his chest. “I just wish you would’ve discussed it with me first.”

  “I didn’t have time,” Roger countered. “Besides, I didn’t know whether you were here or back in the office. I made my decision and I’m going to stand by it.”

  “You could’ve—”

  “Please let it go, Seth,” Natalia admonished quietly, interrupting him. The man had just suffered a stroke, albeit a mild one, and she didn’t want Seth to cause him further anxiety that would increase his blood pressure.

  Seth narrowed his eyes at her. “Okay. We’ll talk about this when you’re feeling better.”

  Roger shifted to get into a more comfortable position. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, can you two get out of here so I can try to catch a few winks before my wife gets back. Knowing her, she’s going to read me the riot act about eating right and exercising.”

  Natalia adjusted several pillows under his shoulders. “Once you’re released, I want you to come into the office so our medical assistant can talk to you about joining a group we’ve been thinking about starting geared specifically to diets and nutrition.”

  “I’m not doing yoga.”

  “You don’t have to do yoga. The easiest and cheapest method of exercise is walking. Instead of sitting at your desk all day you should get up and walk around the business district.”

  “Seth already offered to let me us
e his exercise equipment, but so far I haven’t taken him up on it.”

  Seth smiled for the first time since Roger mentioned his becoming acting sheriff in his absence. “And the offer still stands.”

  Roger closed his eyes and Natalia knew that was the signal for them to leave so the man could sleep. She didn’t know why the sheriff hadn’t taken Seth up on his offer to work out in his home. He had divided a section of the finished basement into an in-home gym with a treadmill, rowing machine and an elliptical bike. Roger was like a few of the patients she’d treated at the clinic. Although aware that they had to change or moderate their lifestyle, it wasn’t a priority until it became a crisis.

  “How are you getting back to The Falls?” Natalia asked Seth as they made their way to the visitor parking lot.

  “Georgina called to say she would pick me up.”

  “Who’s Georgina?”

  “She’s our clerk.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  Seth stopped when they reached the white BMW. “Do you, babe? When you asked who Georgina was, I thought you sounded a little jealous.”

  Natalia’s jaw dropped. “Me? Jealous? I think not.” She touched the button on the door handle, unlocking the vehicle. “In fact, I don’t have a jealous bone in my body.”

  “I can truthfully say there’s no other woman in my life.”

  “And if you were interested in another woman it wouldn’t matter to me because—” Seth’s mouth covered hers, stopping whatever she’d planned to say. The kiss only lasted seconds but left her mouth throbbing and wanting more. Curving her arms around his waist, Natalia buried her face between his neck and shoulder as she waited for her runaway heartbeat to resume a normal rhythm.

  “You’re protesting too much, darling.” Resting his hands on her shoulders, he led her around to the passenger side and assisted her in. “I’ll drive back.”

  Although his kiss had stopped her protests, she could not dismiss the sensations, many she’d long forgotten, whirling within her.

  Did she like him?

  Yes.