by B. J Daniels
She’d hardly noticed, keeping busy tying up all the loose ends from the case.
Spring came like it always did. One minute the sun was out, the next snow began to fall and kept falling until the sun came out and melted it all over again. For months, Lizzy trudged through the snow and slush to do her job. Every day, she thought of Shade in sunny Arizona. Not that she would have traded him places.
Every day, she thought about quitting. But then she would get up the next morning and go to work. Sid had promised it would get better. She stood in the snow at funerals, hired a new deputy and advanced one of the more seasoned deputies to undersheriff. She did what had to be done, waiting for things to get better.
The new deputy she’d hired to take Ace’s place was a woman who’d worked for the police department in Missoula.
“Ace would have loved it,” Sid said when he heard.
That had made her smile, realizing how untrue that was.
Every night when Shade called, she heard the exhaustion and worry in his voice. His calls were the only thing that warmed her as December turned into January and January into February and then March headed toward April.
“Hannah is fighting to stay alive for Maisie,” Shade said. “But it’s a losing battle even as determined as she is. Maisie is watching her slip away. It’s breaking my heart.”
“I’m so sorry, Shade. I wish there was something I could do.”
“The treats you sent have been a real hit. I’ve told Maisie about you. I love the way she says Lizzy with her little lisp. It’s so dang cute. She says you bake good cookies.”
“Gertie baked them,” she blurted. “I cannot tell a lie.”
He laughed. “It’s our secret. How are you doing?”
“Hanging in there.”
Every night when he called after Maisie had been put to bed, they talked about everything and sometimes nothing. Even the silences felt right.
Sid and Dorothea had moved their wedding to June. They’d said they’d changed their mind about a Christmas wedding because of the weather, but Lizzy suspected it had more to do with her and Shade and Maisie. Dorothea was hoping Maisie might want to be a flower girl.
Everyone was waiting for Shade and Maisie to come home. Especially Lizzy.
* * *
SHADE WAS HOLDING Hannah’s hand when she passed. Before that, he’d relieved the hospice volunteer and had sat with Hannah, promising to take care of Maisie, to love and protect her and make a home for her.
“With that sheriff of yours?” she’d whispered with a smile.
“She’s not mine yet, but if I have anything to do with it...” He’d smiled. “Yes.”
“I’m so glad you’re Maisie’s father. I know I’m leaving her in good hands.” She’d closed her eyes and after a moment, her hand had gone limp in his.
He carefully laid it on the bed beside her and, leaving the room, made the call to the coroner before going down the hall to Maisie’s room.
His daughter was curled up in her big girl bed, a pink-and-blue comforter over her. Her blond hair was splayed across her pillow patterned with characters from a kids’ movie he’d now seen a dozen times and would see a dozen more. Hopefully with Lizzy present.
He looked down into her sleeping, peaceful face and prayed that he would have the words to tell her that her mother was gone. The last months he and Maisie had bonded, spending more and more time together as Hannah became more and more sick. And yet he was terrified even at the thought of the responsibility he felt for his daughter’s well-being. He was a cowboy and had more experience with horses and cows than children.
After the coroner arrived and Hannah’s body was taken away, Shade called Lizzy.
“Maisie and I are coming home in a few days.” His voice broke. “I can’t wait to see you. I’ll call you when we get back after the funeral arrangements have been made.” He realized it would always be we now.
* * *
SHADE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. He and Maisie were finally back in Montana. He pulled out his phone to call Lizzy. He had imagined this moment so many times that he shouldn’t have been so nervous. But then again, this was nothing like anything he could have imagined—not in his wildest dreams.
Lizzy picked up on the second ring.
“Hey,” he said, feeling like a teenager again.
“Hey,” she said lazily. He could almost see her lie back on her bed to settle into his call as she had for months. He’d loved those phone calls after he’d gotten Maisie to bed and Hannah settled in for the night with the live-in nurse.
They’d talked about everything from bigfoot to aliens from another planet, from furniture to favorite vegetables, from pet peeves to perfect days they remembered. By now, they knew practically everything about each other, including their favorite colors, who was a morning person and who wasn’t, and what made them happy and what made them cry.
Shade hadn’t cried since he was a boy when he’d broken his arm trying to ride a bull that his father had told him to stay clear of. But he’d definitely teared up a lot lately when he looked at his daughter and felt for Hannah and what she was about to lose.
“About that date,” he said now.
He heard her sit up. “You’re home?” The concern in her voice made it clear that she knew what that meant.
“My family had a room all ready for Maisie in my wing of the ranch house. Wait until you see it. They went all out.”
“Oh, Shade. Is she all right?”
“She knew her mommy was sick and in pain. It could be rough for her for some time but she and I have been pretty inseparable for months, since Hannah was bedridden so much of it. We’ve talked about her mommy going away to a place where she isn’t sick, but at her age... These months with Maisie, I wouldn’t take anything for them. It’s strange how things work out.”
“How are you?”
“Better than I thought I’d be. I can’t tell you what it was like to feel that jet touch down in Montana again. I have missed it so much. Missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you.”
A comfortable silence fell between them. “I’m having Hannah buried back here. She has no family and her ex is fine with it. I hope you understand. I want Maisie to have somewhere she can go to visit her mother in the years ahead.”
“Of course you do. It’s the right thing to do.”
He let himself breathe before he said the rest. “It’s going to take a little bit for us to get settled in at the ranch. But once we do...” He sighed. “Lizzy, I’m dying to see you. Tell me you still want to go out with me.”
She laughed. “Shade, nothing’s changed.”
He laughed at that. “Seriously? We were both almost killed and now I have a two-year-old daughter. I’d say a lot of things have changed.”
“Do you think any of that changes how I feel about you?”
He couldn’t help but grin. “How do you feel about me? No, don’t tell me. Save it for our date.” He chuckled, finally starting to relax a little. He knew this woman. “I’ll call you soon.”
“I can’t wait to meet Maisie and see you.”
“You sound tired. How is the job going?”
They talked for a while about the day-to-day problems that came with being sheriff of a growing county.
“How are things at the ranch?” she asked.
“Will and Garrett are pretending they couldn’t run the place without me. Actually, I don’t think they’ve missed me at all. Will and Poppy will soon be heading up to the guest ranch to get ready for another big season.”
“You said you were booked solid? I guess the murders didn’t turn anyone away,” she said, sounding surprised.
He laughed. “They say even bad publicity is good. Apparently so.” He heard her yawn. “You should get some sleep. I’ll call you soon for our date. If you still want to.”
Those were the best words he thought he’d ever heard. “Then it’s a date.”
“Give Maisie a hug for me.”
He disconnected and found himself smiling. The big hurdle was yet to come though, he reminded himself. The date. The one he’d wanted for so long. What if he blew it? Worse, what if Lizzy and Maisie didn’t hit it off? What if—?
He cursed himself, knowing he needed sleep, needed to have faith, as Dorothea always told him. He was home and Maisie would settle in. And he would finally get to go on that date with Lizzy.
Dorothea had already offered to babysit. Maisie had taken to her right away. She wasn’t so sure about his brothers, but who could blame her, he thought with a laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
LIZZY COULDN’T HELP being nervous about the date. It had been so long in coming. They’d built it up so much. What if neither of them could think of anything to say?
“You look beautiful.”
She turned from the full-length mirror in her bedroom to see Gertie standing in the doorway. “This dress isn’t too much?”
“Not hardly,” her aunt said with a laugh. “If it was any less... I’m kidding,” Gertie said, stepping into the room. “It’s a perfect fit. Although you look a little thin to me.”
Lizzy laughed. “You’ve always said that.” The emerald green dress seemed to accentuate her curves, proving she hadn’t lost an ounce.
“That color brings out the dark of your eyes and hair,” her aunt said. “You’re a vision.” She wiped at her cheeks. “But it needs something.” Gertie reached into her pocket and took out a heart-shaped silver necklace. “It was your mother’s.” She motioned for Lizzy to turn around so she could put it on her.
Lizzy felt her eyes sting as the cool silver brushed her skin. “My mother’s?”
“It was her favorite. She tucked it into your blanket the day she left. She wanted you to have it.”
Lizzy had to wipe her tears as she turned again to look at herself in the mirror. The silver heart shone against her olive skin like a light. She touched the solid silver heart and tried to swallow the lump in her throat.
“She loved you, never doubt that, and she would have been so proud of you,” her aunt said and hugged her.
Lizzy’s phone rang. She checked it, fearing it would be Shade, canceling. Instead it was her office.
* * *
EXPECTATION WAS RUNNING HIGH. Too high, Shade thought as he dressed for his long-awaited date with Lizzy. He didn’t like the way it was already beginning. Lizzy had called to tell him that she had to go to her office. Something had come up at the last minute. She would meet him at the restaurant.
That didn’t bode well, he told himself as he stood in front of his closet trying to decide what to wear. Dorothea knocked and came in to see how he was doing.
“I’m thinking about wearing a suit. What do you think?”
“Have you fallen on your head recently?” she snapped. “You’re going to be nervous enough since you’ve made such a big deal out of this date. Wear something comfortable that’s more you.” She handed him a pair of clean, newer jeans, a nice pale blue shirt and a navy jacket. “Wear your lucky boots.”
“My old boots?”
She laughed. “Wear your good boots. I’ve put a good luck spell on them. You have nothing to worry about tonight. It’s going to go great.”
He wished he could believe that. She was right. He’d put too much importance on this date. He wondered if Lizzy felt the same way. With all the months of talking to each other at night, he’d thought they wouldn’t be uncomfortable around each other.
But as he dressed, he feared it would be just the opposite. They’d been apart for so long and for such an unusual reason. He just wanted to get this date over with, for it to go well, and for them to move on to what he hoped would be the good stuff.
He said as much to Dorothea after he’d dressed and found her in the kitchen with Maisie. The two were making cookies, Maisie sitting on the counter playing with a handful of dough.
“The good stuff?” Dorothea said and cut her gaze to the child.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. I want us to be a family.” He went over to plant a kiss on Maisie’s adorable nose. The child laughed and offered him cookie dough. “I think I’ll wait until it’s baked. But thanks.”
Dorothea laughed. “Shade, stop worrying. I promise you, it’s all going to be fine.”
“Because of the spell you put on my boots.”
She cocked a brow. “Because the two of you are already in love with each other. Now go. You look very handsome. You’ll sweep her right off her feet.”
He gave Dorothea a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks.”
“He’s going to blow this,” Will said, coming into the room.
“Don’t tease him,” his wife, Poppy, said right behind him.
“How’s my Maisie?” Will asked her and he kissed her cheek and she giggled.
“Precious,” Poppy said. “Can I help make cookies?”
Maisie nodded and offered her some of the dough in her hand.
“Go,” Dorothea said to Shade. “We’re going to be fine.”
Will walked him into the living room. “I think there’s something you might want to take with you.” He reached into his pocket. “I’ve hung on to this for you. It’s our grandmother’s engagement ring.” He pulled out a small velvet box and handed it to Shade.
“Doesn’t this seem a little fast?” Shade asked.
“Up to you, but given what the two of you have been through...”
Shade opened the box and looked down at the beautiful pear-shaped diamond ring. “Wow, it’s gorgeous. Do you think Lizzy would like it?”
“She’ll love it!” Poppy and Dorothea called from the kitchen in unison and laughed.
Shade smiled, pocketed the ring and hugged his brother. “Thanks.” As he stepped back, he sighed and said, “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck, you have that adorable face and all that cowboy charm.”
“Right,” Shade said, heading for the door.
“Don’t blow it,” Will said behind him.
* * *
LIZZY TOOK CARE of the emergency at the sheriff’s office, telling herself that she wasn’t going to let anything ruin her date tonight with Shade. She glanced at her phone. She still had plenty of time to get to the restaurant before he got there. She could go into the ladies’ room and freshen up. Or maybe have a little wine to calm her nerves before he arrived.
She stepped out into the spring night, breathed in the fresh pine-scented air and felt herself relax a little. The night was cool and clear but the weatherman had warned of a rain shower later. There was nothing like spring in Montana, she thought as she walked the few blocks to the restaurant.
It was early so there were few people seated as she pushed open the door and headed straight to the ladies’ restroom. She wove her way through the empty tables to the back of the old downtown building. This was her favorite restaurant so of course it was the one Shade had chosen.
She pushed open the restroom door and, with a start, recognized Jennifer Fox at the sink drying her hands. Lizzy hadn’t seen Jennifer in months, not since the woman had been released from the hospital and come by the sheriff’s department to give her statement.
“How are you?” Lizzy asked, noticing that the cuts had healed on Jennifer’s arms. There was barely a scar.
“Good, how about you?”
“Good. Are you having dinner here tonight?” Lizzy stepped up to the mirror to check her makeup. She hardly ever wore makeup so she really wasn’t very good at it.
“No, I was actually here looking for a job,” Jennifer said.
That surprised Lizzy. She looked over at her and noticed for the first time the purse slung over
her shoulder. And recognized it.
“There’s a waitress position open that I’m applying for,” Jennifer said. She turned from the mirror and gave Lizzy a shrug. “I should get going.”
Lizzy nodded as she watched Jennifer start toward the door. On impulse, she pulled out her phone and called a once familiar number.
Jennifer was almost to the door when the phone in her purse rang. The ringtone stopped her dead.
“You have Ariel’s ringtone?” Lizzy asked, almost too shocked to speak. Because it wasn’t just the ringtone that had sent a chill up her spine. “Oh, my God. Jennifer. It wasn’t Kayla.”
The woman slowly turned to face her. A feeling of dread moved ghostlike through the room.
The blood had drained from Jennifer’s face. “What? Because I have Ariel’s ringtone, you think I killed her?”
“I didn’t until I saw Ariel’s purse slung over your shoulder. It was her favorite but it wasn’t the one found in her car the night she died. It didn’t hit me until just now that Ariel had her favorite purse at graduation and again at the party.”
“I always liked this purse,” Jennifer said. “I liked her ringtone, too. I should have thrown the purse away along with my own after I dumped the contents of hers into it, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t like Ariel would miss either one. Ten years is a long time. The phone didn’t make it, but I saved the ringtone.”
Lizzy shook her head, seeing what she’d been missing before. “You idolized Ariel. That’s why you kept her purse and her phone, why you use her ringtone. It makes you feel closer to her. You can’t stand it, can you?”
“Can’t stand what?”
“Not getting the credit for what you orchestrated,” Lizzy said.
Jennifer laughed. “Prove it.”
“You idolized Ariel. You wanted to be her.”
