Promise Made (The Callahan Series)

by Mitzi Pool Bridges

  Dugan’s first order of business would be to call and see how Jon was doing. It wasn’t like him to be sick this long. But the flu had kept him out all week and they’d all suffered for it.

  Their numbers were small. When anyone was out, they played catch-up.

  It was clear Sybil had heard the news. She didn’t like Kate, but wouldn’t be rude enough to voice it.

  His other deputy, Ralph Selby, on the other hand, still brought her name up on occasion. Mostly to ask Dugan what the hell he did to make her run away. Ralph’s wide grin and twinkling eyes made Dugan want to hit something.

  You’d think after all this time, his and Kate’s past would be just that—the past. Forget it. Leave it alone. It’s over.

  Not in this town.

  Dugan walked to his office at his regular pace, stopped at Sybil’s desk. “What’s going on this morning?”

  “Nothing you don’t know about,” she answered with a trace of knowing mixed with sarcasm.

  Okay. So everyone in town had heard the news. The grapevine was alive and well. Kate Maroney was making her usual hit and run visit to town and Sheriff Dugan Callahan had given her a ticket. That should keep them talking for a while. The busybodies would think he’d pulled her over on purpose.

  It didn’t matter what they thought, except he’d have to live with what they said.

  He shut the door to his office, put his Stetson on the rack, and sat down with a sigh. He wanted the day over and it hadn’t even started. He picked up the phone and started his calls.

  The dog had followed him in and plopped down in the corner, his eyes never leaving Dugan.

  It was going to be a long day.

  Chapter Two

  Morning came with a blast of sun in her eyes. It didn’t take Kate long to throw on a robe and go to the kitchen where her grandmother waited. The sense of relief, peace, and safety exhilarated her. Her problem was still there, only now it seemed further away. Here she could think. She took a seat in the breakfast nook next to her gram. Yogi, the small terrier Kate had had for years, lay at her feet. Across the room, Heidi gave him annoyed “Are you still alive?” looks. Every so often, Kate would put a hand down to rub Yogi’s back. “I missed you, Yogi.”

  Gram chuckled. “He should be accustomed to your short visits by now, but every time you leave, he mourns.”

  “Don’t tell me that. It makes me feel bad.”

  “Didn’t mean to. I know you can’t have a dog in your condo.” She looked over at Heidi. “Heidi gives you enough company and I’m delighted to have Yogi as a companion.”

  Kate forked up a piece of pie.

  “Not a very nourishing breakfast, Katie-Girl.”

  “I dream of your coconut pie, Gram. Don’t deny me my pleasure.”

  Gram patted her arm.

  Kate took another bite, slid a look at her grandmother. “You’re amazing. No matter how much time has passed since I’ve seen you, you don’t age a day. How do you do it?”

  Gram put her mug of coffee to her lips, took a sip. “You always say that. It’s not true, you know. I’m getting old.”

  “You may be seventy, Gram. But you don’t look or act it.”

  “I certainly hope not,” she huffed and pulled herself up tall and straight.

  Gram had on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt with a long-sleeved jean shirt over her slim form. Her short, white hair was brushed back from her face; her blue eyes twinkled. She looked amazing, even more vibrant since Kate’s last visit. “I hope I look half as good as you when I’m your age.”

  Gram pushed an unruly lock of dark hair from Kate’s face. “You’re a rare beauty, Kaitlin. Now, why don’t you tell me why you’ve come for a visit in the middle of May when you were just here for Easter? Not that I don’t love you being here. It’s just not like you. You’re always so busy.”

  Kate scraped the last bite of pie off the plate, put it in her mouth. She didn’t want to answer Gram’s question just yet. Actually, she didn’t know where to start. They could talk later.

  “You really don’t mind?”

  “Silly girl. I not only don’t mind, I wish you’d stay. This is your home.”

  She had taken an abrupt leave of absence yesterday and walked out on her boss without taking anything but a few clothes with her. All of her law books still sat on the bookshelves in her office. Her condo had dishes in the dishwasher.

  “Are you really happy in Austin, Katie-Girl?” Gram asked with her usual astuteness.

  Kate didn’t answer. Instead, she looked out the window at Gram’s beautiful roses. The scent wafted through the open window. It smelled of home.

  She was happy here. Had come to love the place after Gram took her in thirteen years ago. It was easy to gripe that the town was full of busybodies. But, in a way, it was a comfort. They took care of one another. There wasn’t a person in the county who went hungry or had their utilities cut off for lack of payment. Someone always found out and miraculously fixed the problem.

  Not like the big city.

  Kate didn’t know her next-door neighbor in her high-rise condo complex. On the street, people nodded to one another, but didn’t speak. Not that they were standoffish; they were busy.

  Here in the Hill Country, especially in Oaktree, it was customary to stop and talk. It was rude to do otherwise. Besides, how else would anyone learn what was going on?

  She stood, took her plate to the sink, rinsed it, then helped herself to more coffee. “Refill?” she asked.

  “Sure,” her grandmother said with some reluctance, though she lifted her cup so Kate could pour. “It’s a lovely day. What would you like to do?”

  Kate grimaced. “I don’t have a choice. I have to pay the fine for the speeding ticket I got last night. Then I think I’ll take a walk.”

  “You drive too fast, Katie-Girl. Maybe a ticket will slow you down.”

  Chuckling, Kate sat back down. “I try to watch it. Honestly, I didn’t know I was speeding. But Dugan did.”

  “Dugan gave you a ticket?” Gram asked, her face one big surprise.

  “You don’t think for one minute your honest-as-the-day-is-long sheriff would let me off with a warning, do you?”

  Gram sniffed. “That’s what makes him a good sheriff.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. I deserved it. So I’ll pay up and not complain.”

  “All right.” Gram stood, walked to the door. “Since you’re busy this morning, I’m going for my walk. We’ll talk later?”

  “Of course. I'll be here.” Kate followed her to the door. Gram hurried down the front walk to the street, looked left, then right. Gram seemed antsy this morning, twisting her hands in her lap, stealing glances at the clock as if she couldn’t wait to get out of the house. It wasn’t like her.

  In the bathroom, Kate looked in the mirror, wondered if Dugan had seen the changes. Probably not. It had been dark, so he couldn’t see much. She hoped he didn’t see the worry lines around her eyes or the strained look on her face. Not that it mattered. He was part of her past.

  She didn’t use much make-up, just a touch of color to her lips. Then, dropping her robe, she put on her jeans and T-shirt, added a light jacket, and stepped outside.

  Gram was right. It was a beautiful day. She opted to walk the four blocks to the courthouse.

  As she walked down the driveway to the street, she was reminded of the first time she’d seen Gram’s house. She’d just turned thirteen. How afraid she’d been—how alone and devastated she'd felt that day.

  It had taken a while, but Gram had made it right.

  When she got to the gate, she looked back at the house that had been her home until she left for Austin. It was an old two-story, built in the forties. But Gram kept it in good repair, had even added an extra bath upstairs. Green shutters gleamed against whiter than white painted boards. Ivy climbed toward the windows in green trails. Multi-colored flowers; everything from zinnias to petunias, bloomed in beds that didn’t sport a single weed.

 
Kate loved this house. This place.

  Each time she came home for a visit, it got harder to leave. Maybe this time she wouldn’t. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Couldn’t.

  Her gaze went to the old Connor place next door. What a difference. The houses were probably close to the same age, but the Connors’ had been vacant for so long it had fallen into disrepair. The roof actually looked as if it was about to cave in.

  Thank goodness a large span of yard separated them.

  As she made her way to the courthouse she was stopped at least a dozen times with more questions than she could answer.

  Still, the sameness was a comfort. She didn’t feel as if she were being judged. It was such a great feeling that she smiled at Emma Wells, one of the town’s biggest gossips, and decided she might actually stay a full week or more this time around.

  Which was a huge change from her usual Christmas, Easter, and birthday visits. In between, Gram came to Austin to visit her. There, they’d go to the museum, take in a movie, go out to eat, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

  They often talked of taking a vacation together, but so far Kate hadn’t had the time.

  With so few visits, it was no wonder everyone in town was curious. But she had been busy. From her first day on the job until now, she’d juggled an enormous workload. In the process, she’d made a name for herself. A good one.

  And now she was running away again. If she were ever to have the life she wanted, this had to stop.

  To avoid another encounter with Dugan she stayed on the opposite side of the street from the sheriff’s office. One encounter was enough.

  “Hey, Kate.”

  She recognized the voice and turned. “Scott! Good to see you.”

  She smiled as Scott Bishop trotted up the sidewalk toward her.

  “How in the world are you?” he asked, his broad face beaming.

  They grinned at each other. They’d been high school sweethearts. Once she’d started seeing Dugan in college, however, that was the end of any romantic relationship with Scott.

  “What brings you to town?” he asked.

  “What can I say? Got lonesome for Gram, so here I am.” She looked him over. He still had his football wide shoulders, but was beginning to get a little paunch. “You look good. How’s Wanda?” He’d married Wanda Jackson shortly after Kate started dating Dugan. She often wondered if he’d been in such a hurry because they broke up or if he truly loved the girl. She hoped it was the latter.

  Some of the light went out of his dark brown eyes. “Wanda’s fine. Visiting her parents in San Antonio this week.”

  “Good for her. Lonely for you.” Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Dugan walking out of his office and turning their way. “Gotta run. Good to see you.”

  “Maybe we can have dinner. You know, reminisce. Talk about old times.”

  If there was one thing Kate had no intention of doing it was to start tongues wagging about her and Scott. Though they were barely acquaintances now, they had once been a twosome. Here in Oaktree, you didn’t go out to eat with a man you once had a relationship with whose wife was out of town. “My stay will be a busy one. So I doubt I’ll have time, but just in case, have Wanda call when she gets back in town. I’d love to see the two of you.”

  She escaped before Dugan crossed the street. Once inside the courthouse, she paid her ticket. It took only minutes to fork over the hefty fine.

  Even here, nothing much had changed. The building had seen better days, but Martha, the county clerk, kept fresh flowers on a table out front and the dark wood gleamed.

  Outside, Kate shaded her eyes from the glare of the sun. Gram would be back from her walk soon and they could talk. Until then, she’d indulge in her second-favorite sweet treat at Molly’s and catch up on the latest gossip.

  As she opened the door of the diner, the aroma that was uniquely Molly’s assailed her. A mixture of bacon, home fries, and homemade cinnamon rolls made her mouth water. The place hadn’t changed since the day she’d arrived in Oaktree. Hopefully, it never would.

  Oaktree was too small to support a McDonalds or a Sonic or any other fast food place. Molly’s and Gino’s Pizza further down the street, along with a small deli in Buddy’s ice-cream store were it. But Kate’s favorite was Molly’s.

  Though Molly’s and Gino’s were the meeting places for the kids after school, Molly’s was the older folks’ favorite locale for morning coffee and breakfast, cinnamon rolls, and conversation.

  Several booths were still occupied. She stopped at each one to say hello. Not everyone was friendly.

  Dusty Potter, owner of Potter’s Mercantile, stopped her. “Heard you were back,” he said. “Grace all right?”

  “She’s fine, thank you. I’m on a much needed vacation.” It was almost the truth and as good a story as any.

  By the time she’d made her rounds, she was ready for a cup of Molly’s coffee, more than ready for one of her cinnamon rolls.

  Molly greeted her with hands on her hips. “Good to see you, Kate. I should be upset.” Her grin took away the threat. “You didn’t stop in to see me when you were here for the Easter holiday.”

  Kate circled her arms around the big woman’s waist, planted a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. “I apologize. It was a short visit.”

  “This is a longer one, I hope.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Make it one. Do you want your usual?”

  “What else?” Kate laughed.

  “Cinnamon roll and coffee, coming up.”

  Kate sank into a burgundy vinyl booth. She’d worry about the sugar high and the calories later.

  She was taking her first bite when the door opened and Dugan walked in. The diner that had been buzzing with conversation fell silent. A dozen pairs of eyes swept from Dugan to Kate then back again. Everyone here knew their history.

  Which made it a wonder anyone spoke to her.

  Dugan took his time. He stopped at each booth to shake hands and say a word. You’d think it was election year and he was politicking.

  When he got to the table where Emma Wells, Sadie Hicks, and Missy Koch, the postmistress sat, he bent to the ladies, made a show of kissing each of their hands.

  They were all aflutter. Dugan hadn’t changed. He was the same charmer and mischief-maker he’d always been. She wanted to be anywhere but here. Maybe he wouldn’t see her.

  Then he was next to her booth. “Mind?” Oh, yeah. She minded. His presence made her breath catch.

  She planted a smile on her face. “I’d love it.”

  “It’s been a while,” he said as he settled into the booth.

  Conversation around them resumed.

  The anger she’d heard in his voice last night now glared at her from emerald green eyes. She took a deep breath. Willed her heart to simmer down. Dugan was bigger, broader than she remembered. Plus he was still angry. She hated that. Hated that he still held resentment. Did she blame him? Not really. She’d done the unpardonable.

  Still, she refused to let him see how uncomfortable he made her, so she looked around the diner, out the window at the town. “Nothing’s changed.”

  “Did you expect it to?”

  Those penetrating eyes swept over her. She felt a chill. “I guess not. If things were different, it wouldn’t be home.”

  “Exactly.”

  He settled in, took off his Stetson, sat it beside him. He looked good. So good he made her throat clog.

  She had to do what she should have years ago. But where to start? “Dugan?”

  “Yeah?” he snapped, only half surprising her.

  “After all this time, you’re still angry.”

  “Some things you don’t forget.”

  “I guess not.” She looked down, unable to take another bite or finish what she had to say. Instead, she sipped her coffee.

  “I’m sorry,” she said as she looked up at him. “Sorry I treated you so shabbily and sorry I couldn’t tell you what made me turn into such a bitch
.”

  “It wasn’t like you, Kate.”

  “I know.”

  Amy, the waitress, sat a mug of coffee, a plate of eggs and biscuits down in front of Dugan. “Your usual, Sheriff.”

  “Thanks, Amy.”

  He made Kate nervous. A headache threatened. She rubbed at the spot between her eyes, willed it away, willed Dugan away. She didn’t want him so close. Didn’t want to say what she had to say.

  She looked around. No one in the diner had left. Their gazes would slide back to her and Dugan every few minutes. Kate was well aware the two of them were the center of every conversation. Time didn’t matter. She’d left their highly thought of sheriff high and dry years ago. Some days even she didn’t understand why.

  Gram had once told her the town had divided into two camps. Those who wanted the two of them to get back together, and those who were glad they didn’t marry. She wondered how many of each were seated in the diner this morning. She supposed she could figure it out by who had been friendly and who had responded coolly when she’d greeted them earlier.

  “Whatever the reason then, Kate. It doesn’t matter now.”

  He tackled his food, leaving her dumbfounded. Why didn’t he want an explanation? Dummy! Everyone she’d met had been more than eager to tell her he was almost engaged. If that were the case, she needn’t bother with an explanation for why she'd walked out on their wedding.

  She pasted another bright smile on her face, looked at her watch. “Oh! Look at the time. I’d better get—”

  “No need to run away so soon, Kate,” Dugan interrupted. “You’ve barely touched your roll. Do you want to upset Molly?”

  There was a double meaning to the words. She’d run from him once. She couldn’t let him, and the townsfolk think she was running again. She sat back, picked up her fork, and forced herself to take a bite. It smelled of melt-in-your-mouth goodness, so why did it taste like sawdust? Still, she forced down several bites. Drank her coffee.

  “Anything new around here?” she asked for lack of anything else to say.

  He shrugged. “You’re back. That’s the most exciting thing to happen since we found Piper.”