The Deputy's Perfect Match (Love Inspired)

by Lisa Carter

  Honey gripped Sawyer’s sleeve. “Sawyer...”

  “If the horseshoe fits.” Charlie jutted his jaw. “Then, yeah.”

  He and Kole were never destined to be friends. Too much history. Bad history.

  Sawyer pushed the brim of the Stetson higher onto his forehead.

  Charlie frowned. Sawyer’s gesture seemed familiar. But he couldn’t place where or why.

  “Maybe you and Miss Shaw could help Mr. Keller with the other group of kids by the creek.” The smile Sawyer threw his way wasn’t meant to be friendly. “And leave the cowboying to the real cowboys, Deputy.” His attention returning to Evy, Sawyer tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”

  Charlie’s blood boiled. Cupping her elbow in his palm, he gritted his teeth and dragged Evy around the corner of the house.

  He didn’t like the way Evy peered over her shoulder, focusing on Honey and Sawyer as they walked away. She stumbled.

  “Watch where you’re going, Miss Shaw,” he growled.

  Evy stopped. “Are you mad about something?” she whispered. “Mad at me?” She blinked rapidly behind the glass frames.

  Charlie hated the uncertainty in her voice. And one look at those eyes of hers... He had no right to be angry at her.

  No business taking out his angst about Sawyer Kole—Honey, too, if the whole truth were told—on Evy.

  He let go of her. “Is there a reason I should be mad at you, Evy? You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?”

  The bridge between her perfectly arched brows pinched. “No, I guess not.” Biting her lip, her eyes skittered over the silver ribbon of the tidal creek.

  She was lying. Or at best, hiding something.

  Abruptly he veered toward the creek bank, where a cluster of children surrounded old Mr. Keller and a thirtysomething woman Charlie didn’t recognize. He left Evy to follow. Or not.

  “Reinforcements. Hoorah.” Mr. Keller raised a child-sized fishing rod. “I was wondering how Felicia and I were going to drive the boat, bait hooks and make sure no one drowns.”

  The lady helped a child thread his arms into a life preserver. “I’m Felicia Kerr. I’m a counselor with the county here to help the children get reacquainted with their siblings.”

  “Charlie Pruitt.”

  Mr. Keller handed around more life jackets. “Charlie is a deputy sheriff, kids.”

  One or two of the children went motionless. Charlie understood. Some of these children’s only experience with a deputy had been the day when they’d been forcibly removed from their families for various reasons. He hoped by getting to know him, the children would gain more positive impressions of law enforcement.

  Evy ventured onto the small dock. “I’m Evy Shaw.”

  Charlie did his best to ignore the feelings—like dragonfly wings frolicking against his skin—her proximity evoked. He reached for the bait bucket. “We’re here to serve. Put us to work.”

  Mr. Keller pointed his chin at Evy. “You’re the new librarian, aren’t you?”

  “Guilty as charged. I’m afraid I’m not very water-savvy.” She wrinkled her nose at the fishy smell emanating from the bucket. “Or experienced in fishing. Are we going to have to touch those things?”

  The children surged toward Charlie and peered at the contents of the bucket. “Oooh...gross...cool...”

  A mocha-skinned little girl with colorful barrettes in the cornrows of her hair hung back. “I can’t get the buckle to click.”

  Evy went down on one knee to inspect the orange life vest. “Let me see what I can do.” She untangled the clasp and clicked it closed. “There. What’s your name?”

  “Latasha.” Her large brown eyes grew fearful. “I’ve never been on a boat before. S’pose I fall out?”

  Evy took the child’s hand. “You hang on to me, and I’ll hang on to you. We’ll make sure neither one of us falls out, okay?”

  Latasha hugged Evy’s hand. “Do you know how to swim?”

  “Actually, not so well.” Evy gestured at Charlie. “But see this big guy here?”

  Latasha gave Charlie a quick up-and-down appraisal.

  “He knows how to rescue people.” Evy aimed her mouth in the direction of his ear. “You do know how to rescue people, don’t you?”

  Charlie crouched beside Latasha. “I worked as a lifeguard at the pool when I was in high school.”

  Evy smirked. “Of course you did.”

  “Come on, Latasha,” called a boy, already seated in the boat.

  “That’s my brother.” Latasha twined her fingers into Evy’s. “We don’t live together anymore.”

  “You must miss him.” Evy stared at the water, glittering like diamonds in the early morning sun. “I sure would.”

  Charlie stared at her. Something fretted at the edges of his consciousness.

  She dropped her gaze. “I mean, if I had a brother.”

  Latasha poked out her lips. “I miss my brother a lot.”

  Evy’s eyes welled. “How wonderful it is, though, that you get to spend the weekend together at camp.”

  Charlie reached for Evy’s other hand. “I think you’ll like fishing, Latasha, if you give it a chance. It’s pretty out on the water and peaceful waiting for the fish to bite.”

  “Okay... I’ll try if you will, Evy.”

  She didn’t let go of Evy’s hand as they stepped aboard Keller’s boat. The next few minutes were spent making sure everyone applied sunscreen.

  As the boat chugged away from the dock, Keller pointed out the string of barrier islands across the tidal marsh, which emptied into the Atlantic. He increased the throttle as they left the shore behind. “I know a great little fishing hole, kids,” Keller shouted above the roar of the motor.

  With the children laughing at the antics of shorebirds swooping in lazy figure eights over their heads in the bright September sky, Charlie propped his elbows against the railing. His favorite type of day. Out on the water.

  He glanced over at Latasha perched in Evy’s lap. “Not so bad, see?”

  The wind whipped through Evy’s hair and loosened her ponytail. She brushed a strand out of her eyes only to have it fly into her face again as the boat gained speed. She grimaced. He laughed and gave in to the urge to touch her hair.

  He caught the silky blond lock between his thumb and forefinger. He tucked the tendril behind her ear, and his hand lingered. The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Looking into her eyes, he felt weightless.

  Flushing, Charlie dropped his hand. And found Keller’s gaze on him. Keller winked.

  The children squealed with excitement as the boat skimmed over the blue-green waves of the Machipongo Inlet. Evy did not. By the time Keller dropped anchor, she appeared a bit green herself.

  Charlie, Keller and Felicia got busy showing the children how to bait their hooks. Latasha hopped off Evy’s lap and entered into the joy of the day. At first, Evy moved from one child to the next. Offering her encouragement, if not her expertise.

  But finally she sank onto the seat at the railing. Her mouth thinned. A sheen of sweat broke out on her lip.

  Charlie headed over to her. “Are you okay, Evy?”

  She gave him a wobbly smile. “I—I don’t feel so good.”

  “Try not to stare at the horizon. It’s the motion of the boat on the waves. It distorts your perspective and unsettles your equilibrium.”

  She squeezed her eyes closed. She clutched her stomach.

  “Mr. Deputy?”

  He left Evy for a moment to help one youngster untangle his line.

  Planting their feet even with their hips to widen their center of gravity, the children stood shoulder to shoulder around the perimeter of the boat. They called to each other, teasing each other, as the water tugged on their lines.

  Latasha elb
owed him. “Evy don’t look so good, Mr. Deputy.”

  He pivoted. No, she didn’t. Then Evy leaned over the side of the boat and vomited.

  He hurried over to her. “Evy?”

  She retched again and again. He kept his hand on her shoulder. Silent tears rolling down her face, she emptied her stomach until dry heaves remained.

  “I’m so sorry.” Embarrassment flushed her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

  He ran his hand over the crown of her head. “It’s okay, Evy.”

  “No,” her lips trembled. “It’s not.”

  Felicia fished a tissue out of her jeans and gave it to Evy.

  He extracted a bottle of water from the cooler. He unscrewed the cap. “Swish out your mouth and spit it over the side.”

  Latasha left her fishing pole. “It’s okay, Evy,” She patted Evy’s back. “I’ll take care of you.” She sounded like a little mother.

  Evy’s arm went around the child’s waist. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you, Latasha. Not the other way around.”

  Latasha smiled. “We’ll take care of each other.”

  “Sorry to be such a landlubber,” Evy whispered to him.

  “It’s okay. Really. Most of us on the Shore have been out on the water since we could walk. You’ll get used to it.”

  Evy’s eyes clouded. The supercompetent librarian didn’t like feeling inadequate.

  “Once we get underway back to shore, it won’t be so bad.”

  “I don’t want to cut short the children’s fun.”

  Mr. Keller shook his head. “These small fry have been baking in the sun long enough. Time to get back for lunch.”

  At his words, Evy moaned.

  Charlie eased onto the seat beside her. “Did you eat anything this morning before we left?”

  She shook her head.

  “An empty stomach is the worst on the water.”

  Evy looked at him as if she didn’t believe it.

  “No, truly. Once you eat something, you’ll feel—”

  She groaned. “I may never eat again.”

  “Crackers. Baby steps before you decide to starve yourself forever.”

  “Fine.” She put a hand to her head. “But can we stop talking about food?”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Evy’s mouth curved up. “I reserve the right to remind you of that later.”

  He laughed. “Good to know you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

  She made a face. “Just my appetite and my pride.”

  * * *

  Evy held on to Charlie’s arm for support as they stepped onto dry land. Weaving, unsteady on her feet. If only the ground would stop moving.

  “I suppose you’d think me melodramatic if I dropped and kissed the ground.” She hung her head. “If I can find it.”

  “Your equilibrium will stabilize in a few minutes, I promise. Take some deep breaths.”

  But she was mortified. Could she appear any more inadequate? She had to vomit in front of Charlie, of all the people in the world. Still, hanging on to his arm wasn’t the worst way she’d ever spent a morning.

  The scent she was coming to associate with Charlie Pruitt—clean soap and cinnamon gum—floated across her personal space.

  Charlie Pruitt was a nice guy. A true Virginia gentleman. Sort of old-fashioned. Her favorite kind of hero.

  She might not have as much experience as most women, but she had enough to know that nice guys like him weren’t a dime a dozen.

  Charlie stiffened at the sight of Honey Kole, arms crossed, at the top of the slope. “Why don’t you go help Wanda and Betty set out the box lunches for the children, Evy?”

  “Where will you be?”

  His gaze cut to Honey. “I’ll be along in a minute. Don’t worry about me.”

  Feeling abandoned—not a new sensation—Evy drew herself up and plodded toward the screened porch where two ladies from church poured water into plastic cups. She reached for the handle of the screen door when—

  “Why did you bring her here, Charlie?” Honey hissed. “You’re going to ruin everything.”

  Over her shoulder, Evy watched him hustle Honey around the corner of the house, out of earshot. Something was going on between them. Unfinished business?

  Evy was surprised by the fierce possessiveness she felt toward Charlie. Swinging open the door to the creak of hinges, she reminded herself that Charlie’s past relationships weren’t her concern.

  After lunch, she accompanied Latasha’s group to the corral. Charlie, Felicia and Mr. Keller departed with the other group in the boat. Evy’s stomach had settled, thanks to the crackers Charlie had scrounged up for her. Under Honey’s scornful eye. Too late, Evy figured, to fly under the radar with her.

  She was beginning to understand how Alice felt falling through the proverbial rabbit hole. Evy resisted an inward shudder. The Duer sisters were intimidating to someone like her. Especially Honey, Delmarva’s Hostess with the Mostest and owner of the Duer Lodge. Because Evy wasn’t the Mostest at anything. Except at keeping secrets.

  Individually, the women made Evy anxious. Collectively, she became mute in their presence.

  But Sawyer’s pregnant wife, Honey—with the sweet smile and Southern belle pearls—terrified Evy. Somehow people know when they’re not liked. And the Duers—mostly Honey—didn’t like Evy.

  Evy wasn’t sure what had given her away. She was usually forgettable and easily overlooked. But she’d been shut out of the Fourth of July planning committee, headed by Honey. And Evy’s offer to volunteer at Keller’s Kids Camp for foster siblings this summer had been ignored until Charlie brought her here today.

  Nor was she sure what her end goal had been in her thwarted attempts to infiltrate the Duer clan. Reconciliation, a long shot. If nothing else, a long overdue closure.

  She was nervous enough without Honey’s watchful glare. Like she was just waiting for Evy to make a fool out of herself. Evy had been scared to death meeting Sawyer that morning. Scared and excited all at the same time. Finally, the chance to get to know her long-lost brother.

  And when he didn’t recognize her? Relief followed by a sharp disappointment. But it was for the best, she rationalized. Their lives were so different. They hadn’t seen each other since they were children, when Evy had been adopted out of their foster home.

  Leaning against the gate, she watched as he gave instructions to the children on how to mount a horse and how to tuck their sneakers into the stirrups. She was the ultimate non-outdoorsy girl. He was so in his element.

  One by one, Sawyer led the children around the corral. “Nice and easy. Sit back in the saddle. Hold the reins loose in your hands,” he said to them.

  Several children refused to get close to the horses, however, much less ride. Including Latasha.

  The little girl remained glued to Evy’s side, watching, like Evy, from a distance. “They look ginormous,” Latasha whispered.

  Evy patted her. “Sawyer said there’s nothing to be afraid of. That the horses are very gentle and used to kids.”

  Latasha poked out her lip. “Then how come you’re not riding?”

  Good point. Somehow Evy had to find a way to harness her own terror. The children climbed onto the railing. Why couldn’t she be braver?

  Holding on to the bridle, Sawyer led the horse over to them. “Sure you don’t want to join us, Miss Shaw?”

  The horse nibbled at Evy through the railing. She shied away as drool dribbled on her hand.

  “I—I don’t think so.” She gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I always wanted to learn how to ride, but my parents didn’t think it was a good idea.” She laced her fingers together. “Me, the preteen girl who devoured every horse book in the library. Silly, huh?” She shrugged.

&nbs
p; “Not silly, Miss Shaw. They’re wonderful companions. Loyal. Hardworking. Magnificent.”

  “I just never imagined them to be so—”

  “So big?”

  Evy glanced into Sawyer’s light blue eyes and found sympathy. “I’m not a very good example to the children. Nor have I made much of a contribution today.” She surveyed the farm. “This is way outside my comfort zone.”

  “It’s okay to be scared. Everybody gets scared when it’s something they’ve never done before.”

  He smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting. “I hear you’re very smart. We make contributions by using the skills that God has gifted us with. Maybe not fishing or horses. But I’m sure we can find a place for you at Keller’s Kids Camp. The children like you. And in my book—” he smiled “—no pun intended to librarians, their trust in you is worth more than anything else.”

  She relaxed a smidgeon. Sawyer Kole was one of the nicest men she’d ever met, she decided. Other than Charlie. Honey was a lucky woman. Evy hoped she knew that.

  “Maybe some other time when there’s less commotion, you could give it a try.”

  She so wanted Sawyer’s approval. “Maybe...”

  Tipping his hat to her, he led the horse back to the barn. Several ladies motioned the kids toward tables underneath the leafy canopy of the pecan trees. Craft time, judging from the construction paper, glue and assorted markers strewn across the tables.

  Hearing footsteps, Evy turned as Felicia approached.

  The brunette smiled. “Just the person I was looking for.”

  Evy let out a sigh. “Then you might be the only one.”

  “You’re the town librarian, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Many of these children—” Felicia’s brown eyes flicked around the farmyard “—have suffered trauma at the hands of those who were supposed to love them the most. Separated from everyone and everything they knew, most of them have learned to hide their true feelings behind masks.”

  “All they had was each other.” Evy felt as if a heavy weight pressed on her chest. Making it hard to breathe. “Then they were ripped away from brothers and sisters.”

  “Exactly.” Felicia cocked her head. “I think you might be the perfect person to help me.”