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by Kris Bryant

  She rested her head on the steering wheel and wallowed in memories for a few moments before walking up to the door. She missed him so much. Their family seemed so small without him. He had been a bear of a man, who stood six inches taller than Natalie and sported the bushiest red beard. She joked that he looked like a serial killer when he wore flannel and a beanie, but he assured her it was proper lumberjack attire and accessorized with a red ax that he called Brenda. He always threatened he would greet her dates dressed like that, but she never brought anybody home. He never got the chance to meet anybody she dated. She wondered if he knew about her crush on Sarah or if he even knew who she was.

  “Hi, sweetie. How are you this morning?” Linda kissed her on the cheek and poured her a cup of coffee.

  “I’m tired, but good. How was your night?”

  “I wrote for a bit, then watched television. Nothing exciting, but I understand you had an exciting night.” Linda smiled at her knowingly.

  Natalie threw up her hands. “Is there no such thing as discretion anymore?”

  “I was just guessing, but it seems I was right.”

  Natalie playfully growled at her mother. “You know, it was a good night, and we set some boundaries.” She continued at her mother’s encouraging nod. “So, we were in the moment, and Sarah pulled away because she decided it was a bad idea to rush into everything. She wants to take us slow.” She air-quoted the word us for effect.

  Linda squeezed her hand. “That’s a good thing. She’s coming off a divorce and has a child. That’s a sensitive spot to be in.”

  “Harley’s already met me, and it’s not like I’m out playing the field.” Natalie took a deep breath and confessed, “I’ve wanted Sarah for a long time.”

  “Honey, everyone knows that. It’s not a surprise. I think you’ve come together at the perfect time in both of your lives. Sometimes love takes longer to find people, and sometimes it leaves people too soon.”

  “I know, Mom. I was just thinking about Dad when I pulled up. I miss him.”

  “I miss him, too. But I have you and friends and a lot to still be thankful for in this life.”

  Natalie didn’t think her mother would ever date again but was hopeful. She didn’t want her mother to be alone forever, but she also understood what it meant to yearn for someone.

  “Okay, enough of the sad and sappy. Let’s get you ready for Halloween. I see you’ve decorated the porch already.” Linda was known for her big holiday displays, but the last few years, she’d toned it down. Guilt rested on Natalie’s shoulders as she realized she should have helped her mom get set up, but she was too wrapped up in her own world.

  “I think I have enough candy, and I still have the lanterns to line the steps for the children.”

  “Do we need to do anything?”

  Linda shook her head. “Nope. How about we eat some lunch and relax before the chaos hits?”

  “Perfect. I doubt I’ll get dinner, so let’s fatten me up.” Natalie patted her stomach, knowing full well her mother was not only going to ensure she ate a proper lunch but would pack a brown bag for when she patrolled later.

  * * *

  “It sure is quiet out, Sheriff.”

  Joshua was patrolling the other side of the small town and reported only a few pranks and stopped two boys with three dozen eggs. The oval bombs were confiscated, and the kids were taken home to embarrassed parents.

  “I’m not seeing much either.” It wasn’t that she wanted things to happen, but she was bored and, truthfully wanted to spend the evening with Sarah and Harley. It was too soon to be a fixture in their lives, but tonight was all about fun, and Harley had childhood innocence and enjoyed Halloween so much. She didn’t even see them out trick-or-treating, though she made several trips over to their neighborhood. “It’s ten. I think we can call it a night. Anything that happens this late is a crime, and we’ll deal with it in the morning.”

  She looked down at her phone, hoping for a text message from Sarah, but the only thing she saw was a temperature of forty-two and a time of 10:04. A photo of Ghost Dog was her wallpaper, and she smiled at his beautiful face. She’d go home to him and would see Sarah in the morning when she picked up Harley for school.

  “Hello, sweet boy! Did we have any trick-or-treaters?” He seemed calm and wagged his tail, indicating everything was quiet on the home front. Even though it was chilly, Natalie walked him through the neighborhood. He had been locked up since five, and she felt guilty. Maybe one day, he could go to work with her or be around other people. He was comfortable with Sarah already, but she was worried about him with Harley. Since she didn’t know his history, she didn’t know his triggers. They returned, and after she took a long, hot shower, they crawled into bed as if they did it every night. Natalie remembered rubbing his ears before drifting off to sleep. When the alarm rang seven hours later, she woke in the same position, but Ghost Dog had crawled up closer and was resting his head next to hers.

  * * *

  Natalie starched her uniform and ironed it carefully, as if she was under inspection. Her badge was polished and hat firmly pressed on her head. It was an important morning. She had a promise to keep. She wished she had a kid’s deputy badge or a small campaign hat for Harley but came up empty-handed. She vowed to get more involved with the schools and have fun things to pass out. Interacting with kids was proving to be beneficial. Maybe getting through to them now would help them later during their struggling teenage years.

  “Okay, big guy. I’m out. Be good, and I’ll see you at lunch.” She wiped off the back seat and picked up every tiny piece of paper, ensuring it was clean and ready for her next passenger. It took five minutes to get to Sarah’s house. She parked on the street and marched up the stairs.

  “Can I help you?”

  Natalie wasn’t prepared for a stranger to open the door. “Hi. I’m Natalie. I’m here to take Harley to school.” It was hard to keep the confusion out of her voice. The stranger rubbed her hands over her face to wake up and smirked at Natalie.

  “Sorry we didn’t call you, Sheriff. I’m taking her to school today.”

  “Where’s Sarah?”

  “She’s in the shower. I’m Francine, and it’s nice to meet you.” She leaned her shoulder up against the door frame and crossed her arms across her chest as if she belonged there. She was attractive, with short, dark hair, light-blue eyes, and a tan that didn’t make sense this time of year. Her boxer briefs and tank top showed off a sinewy body and left little to the imagination.

  Natalie stood face-to-face with the ex-wife. She tamped down the need to push past Francine and find out what was going on. Instead, she kept her cool. “I’m Natalie. Can you please tell Sarah and Harley that I stopped by and that I will catch up with them later?” There was a bit of a snark in her, and her tone might have implied she was more involved with them than she was. Francine was doing the same.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Of course I will. You have a nice day.” And without so much as a good-bye, Francine looked away and closed the door right in Natalie’s face.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sarah instantly exploded with anger when she opened the front door and saw Francine standing in the doorway with a duffel bag. “What could you possibly be doing here?” She did nothing to hide her dismay.

  “Whoa. Relax. I have a conference in Portland that starts Tuesday and thought I would come up here and hang out with Harley for Halloween. I’m only here for a day,” Francine said.

  “And it never occurred to you to call me and see if it was okay to just stop in?”

  “I don’t need permission to see my daughter, Sarah.” Francine held out her arms when Harley yelled out her name and raced over to her.

  Sarah gritted her teeth and smiled at Harley. “Look who’s here, baby.”

  “Francine. Guess who I’m going to be for Halloween?”

  Rather than try to guess, Francine shrugged. “Tell me.”

  “Captain Marvel. Because she’s cool an
d fights the bad aliens.”

  “Perfect. I can’t wait to see your costume. Want me to take you trick-or-treating?”

  Sarah almost laughed when Harley shrugged. “Mom’s taking me, but I guess you can come with us.”

  “Hello, Francine.” Judy’s voice was clipped and unemotional.

  “Aunt Judy. How are you?” Francine asked. She threw her duffel bag by the front door and kicked off her boots.

  Sarah hated how comfortable Francine made herself. She was no longer a member of this family, yet she paraded like a peacock in front of them, as if she not only was still a loving part, but head of household.

  “I’m well. We’re all doing fine. Thanks for asking.”

  “Apparently Francine will be trick-or-treating with us tonight. She’s attending a conference in Portland on Tuesday so thought it would be a nice gesture to swing by and disrupt our plans.” Nope. She didn’t intend to go down without a fight. Maybe Francine would not feel welcomed and leave early.

  “Come on. Don’t be like that. I haven’t seen Harley in months.”

  Sarah turned and hissed. “Whose fault is that? I thought we discussed this already.”

  Francine didn’t back down. “Let’s talk in the morning.” She turned to Harley. “Why don’t you put on your costume so I can see this Captain Somebody costume.”

  “Can I put it on, Mom?”

  “No. Francine can wait until five. It’s only three now. After you eat you can put it on, okay?”

  Harley wasn’t a child who pouted or threw tantrums. She had Sarah’s gentle disposition. “Okay. That’s soon. Can I play on the iPad for a bit?”

  Sarah nodded. Secretly she loved that Francine’s visit had very little effect on Harley. She waited until Harley was out of the room. “You can’t just stop by when you want. That’s not how this works.”

  “She’s my daughter.”

  “No, she’s my daughter. Remember when you dragged your feet on adopting her? You have zero rights with her. I’m allowing this visit strictly as a courtesy, but don’t ever drop in unannounced again.” She clenched her fists at her sides. She was just finding her footing here in Spruce Mountain, and the last thing she needed was her past blowing up her future.

  “I helped raise her. Don’t forget that.” Francine puffed up her chest and stood taller.

  “Oh, please. You were too busy playing doctor with everyone to give us a second thought.” This was not a conversation she wanted to have in front of Aunt Judy or within earshot of Harley.

  Francine held up her hands. “I get it. I’m not staying. I came up on a whim because the conference was so close. I’m not trying to win you back or upset anything you’ve done here. Truthfully. I come in peace.”

  Sarah backed down and nodded. “Okay. I can respect that. I just don’t want to confuse Harley, and I need to keep my sanity, too.”

  Francine rested her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. Sarah stiffened immediately and stepped out of the familiar embrace. It wasn’t appropriate. Francine had crossed too many lines in the span of ten minutes.

  “Are you hungry, Francine? Do you want anything to eat?” Judy yelled out from the kitchen.

  “Always. I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.”

  “Well, tonight we are having fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. It was Harley’s request. In the meantime, I have leftover pot roast and mashed potatoes I can heat up if you can’t wait.”

  “That sounds delicious. I’d love a plate. Thanks, Judy.”

  Sarah remembered that Francine had the metabolism and energy level of a chipmunk. She ate a lot but ate healthily. She was always snacking on nuts or fruit. At least Harley had gotten her good eating habits from Francine. Sarah stood there awkwardly, trying to figure out what to talk about or even if she wanted to be in the same room with her ex. It wasn’t fair for Aunt Judy to have to entertain her uninvited guest, so she pulled out a dining room chair and sat down. It was going to be a long, stressful evening, one she dreaded even though she loved Halloween as much as Harley did.

  * * *

  By five, Sarah needed space. Everything about Francine annoyed her. How she had stayed married to somebody so shallow and superficial amazed her. What had happened to her back then? Maybe being away from Francine and surrounding herself with good, honest people like Natalie, Linda, Aunt Judy, and Uncle Bob had changed her for the better. “It’s time. Who’s ready?”

  “Yay!” Harley raced to put on her boots.

  Sarah made Harley wear tights and a sweatshirt under her costume because the temperature was going to drop after the sun set. “You look great, kiddo.”

  “Hopefully, I’ll see Sheriff Natalie out tonight.”

  “She’s working, but I bet we run into her.” Sarah was too nervous to even think of the possibility. What would she say? How would Natalie take it? She was sure Natalie would understand that Francine being with them wasn’t her doing. New relationships were tricky though. Misunderstandings stressed her out. “Let’s go.” Aunt Judy sat in the front seat, while Harley and Francine sat in the back. Sarah drove slower than the speed limit to avoid any unnecessary spillage in the trunk. They had all worked so hard on the apples, and the last thing they needed was a sharp stop and the apples to tumble out of the pans.

  By eight, everyone was exhausted, Harley’s bag was filled with more candy than Sarah would ever allow her to eat, and the foursome had hit most of the neighborhoods Natalie suggested. Sarah was still getting used to the good areas of town. Not that there were any bad, but some of the houses were a bit run-down. She was surprised, and somewhat relieved, that they never crossed paths with Natalie. Sarah didn’t send her a message, telling herself it was because Natalie was working and she shouldn’t disturb her, but really it was because Sarah didn’t want to explain Francine. Once they got home, she expected Francine to grab her things and leave. What she didn’t expect was Aunt Judy to bring bedding and place it on the couch in front of Francine.

  “Thanks, Aunt Judy,” Francine said.

  “What’s going on here?” Sarah’s voice was one octave higher, as the day’s frustration mounted on her heart and conscience.

  “It’s late, and Francine asked if she could crash here and head out in the morning. I figured we’d all be asleep within the hour anyway.”

  Sarah heard the sharpness of Aunt Judy’s voice and conceded. By the time she got Harley bathed and in bed, it would be close to nine. Everyone needed to decompress. She and Harley would stay downstairs until morning. “Okay. Say good night to everyone, baby.” She wisely took Harley’s candy and waited for her to say good night to Aunt Judy and Francine. Uncle Bob was still at the lodge and would be for hours. “Sleep well, Francine.” Sarah nodded at her, kissed Aunt Judy’s cheek, and led Harley to their private space in the basement.

  Not once did Harley bring up Francine’s name when she was getting tucked into bed. When Sarah carefully asked her what she thought about Francine being there, Harley shrugged and continued talking about all the things they saw, and who gave her the most candy, and what her favorite kind was. “So, you’re not mad that she’s here?”

  “No. I don’t like that she makes you mad.”

  Out of the mouths of babes, Sarah thought. “I’m sorry. She just surprised me because she didn’t call and we weren’t expecting her. I had different plans for us tonight.”

  “I still had a lot of fun.”

  Sarah pressed a kiss to Harley’s forehead. “I did, too, baby. And that’s the important thing. Get some sleep. You have school tomorrow.”

  * * *

  It had slipped Sarah’s mind completely that Natalie was going to take Harley to school until she was filing away Wynonna Earp graphic novels and saw an illustration of a sheriff on one of the covers. She sent a text to Natalie for the first time in almost twenty-four hours.

  How was your night? We looked for you but never crossed paths. She inserted a sad-face emoji.

  She watched as bubbles popped
up, then disappeared. Natalie must be busy. The day after Halloween had probably resulted in several trick calls that she and the deputies had to field.

  Francine stayed later, insisting she wanted to take Harley to school, and they walked her in together. Sarah gritted her teeth the entire time and breathed the heaviest sigh of relief when she watched Francine head out of town. What a stressful twenty-four hours. She hoped Francine didn’t pull this stunt on the way back to Texas. Sarah made it crystal clear that she didn’t like the spontaneous pop-in and her aunt’s hospitality wouldn’t be extended a second time.

  You were pretty busy last night.

  Her heart sank at the passive-aggressive message. Somehow Natalie knew. Of course she knew. The town was small, and nothing spread faster than gossip. Everybody saw them together. Somebody was bound to tell Natalie.

  Got a surprise visit from the ex. Wasn’t expecting her, but Aunt Judy wouldn’t let me throw her out.

  She seemed pretty comfortable.

  You saw us?

  No. But I stopped by to pick Harley up for school this morning, and Francine informed me that she had it handled.

  Sarah groaned in frustration.

  I’m so sorry, Nat. It wasn’t planned. She had no right to tell you that. The last several hours have been extremely stressful with her here, but she left this morning, and I made it very clear that she didn’t have the right to barge into our lives anymore.

  She didn’t want to over-explain herself. What had happened wasn’t something that would continue to occur, and as much as she wanted Natalie to know, she thought that if she pressed, she might seem guilty of something that didn’t happen.

  It’s okay. It was a busy night, and this morning we’ve been running around answering calls. Did Harley have a good time?