by Linda Wisdom
Sam turned back to the woman, said something with a brief smile and headed in Keely’s direction.
“Well, I can see you’ll be well taken care of,” Chloe commented, as she took off in another direction. “And I’m sure the good lawman wouldn’t want me around.”
“Chloe!” Keely felt her cheeks burn red that had nothing to do with a sunburn and silently damned herself for blushing like a teenager.
“If I had to lose out, I’m glad I lost out to someone nice.” She patted Keely on her shoulder and sauntered off.
Keely was barely aware of her friend’s exit since her gaze was locked with Sam’s as he walked a straight line toward her.
“Mrs. Harper,” he murmured, inclining his head in her direction.
A tiny smiled tipped up the corners of her lips. “Sheriff Barkley. It’s nice to know the picnic is under the all-seeing eye of our local law.”
His smile was just as small as hers, but she had a pretty good idea his brown eyes were twinkling behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses.
“We aim to serve, ma’am,” he said with the solemn gaze of a true peace officer bent on assuring the public of his trustworthiness. “How much of the festivities have you taken in so far?”
“Steffie let me get as far as the cotton candy booth before Chloe could rescue me.”
His gaze seemed to center on her mouth. “Yes, I can see that.”
Keely self-consciously touched each comer of her mouth with her fingertips and found traces of the sticky substance. “It tends to get messy.” She took a deep breath and decided to just go ahead and say it. “Are you on duty?”
“Not officially. Even my men who are officially off-duty are wearing their uniforms today so the kids don’t have a prayer in thinking they can get away with anything when there’s so many of us hanging around. Luckily, it’s never cramped anyone’s style, but it has cut down on fights.”
“Then why don’t you show me around?” she requested, tucking her arm in his. She looked up at him with a coy smile that she ordinarily would have hated herself for using. Still, it hadn’t taken her long to realize that Sam was the slow-and-easy type and would need a bit of a push. While she declared loud and clear the last thing she wanted was a man in her life, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t mind having some male company for part of the day.
“What first?” Sam asked.
She looked around. “What would you suggest?”
“You’d probably enjoy looking at the craft booths,” he suggested. “Of course, many of the good ladies will be trying to talk you out of money.”
Keely smiled. “I’ve never been known as a soft touch, so I think I’ll be safe as a window shopper.”
Sam knew they were in trouble the minute they walked over to craft booths where the ladies could see them together and speculate to their heart’s content. For once, he decided he shouldn’t mind when Keely asked him to escort her. Also, his cop’s nose was twitching more than a little after her skating accident. He hated to think it was deliberate, but right now that wasn’t what his gut was telling him.
And if that was the case, it most likely meant something even more sinister. It meant that someone from Willis’s past was in town and wanted to make Keely pay for her part in the man’s murder conviction thirty years ago.
“These afghans are lovely!” Keely enthused, picking up one done in soft pastel shades. “A friend is having a baby soon and this would be perfect for her.”
Sam wisely didn’t say anything about her assuring him she wasn’t a soft touch.
“If you’d prefer another color, I have a variety,” Gladys Fitzgerald, a spritely woman in her eighties, told her. The gleam in her eye was more than enough proof she knew she was selling one of her treasured knitted products.
Sam studied the intricate designs, amazed at what the older woman could do in spite of her arthritis. She had always told him it helped her keep her fingers nimble. He had one of her afghans decorating the bed in the guest room. She had given it to him after he found the kids who had been creeping into her yard at night and making noises like ghosts. Their punishment was spending the summer doing her yard work.
“This one,” Keely said finally, holding up one that was an intricate design in pale blue, soft green, yellow and pink.
Gladys peered closely at her through her thick bifocals. “You look very much like your mother,” she said in her soft voice.
Keely immediately brightened. “You knew my mother?”
“Oh, yes, dear, she used to help out with the meals-on-wheels for the infirm.” She sighed and shook her head. “Such a waste.” She suddenly straightened up and managed a wobbling smile. “Enjoy your afghan.”
Keely started to open her mouth to question the elderly woman further, but Sam took the afghan out of her hands and draped it over his arm, steering her away before she could say anything.
“I wanted to ask her about my mother,” she protested.
“Gladys would only start detailing everyone’s secrets,” he said, relieved she hadn’t seen his warning shake of the head to the other woman. He was grateful Gladys had understood right away.
The story of Keely’s parents’ deaths was probably the only secret left in Echo Ridge. For Keely’s sake, Sam meant to do what he could to ensure that secret was kept.
Chapter 9
How can they go on that again and again?” Keely commented, watching Steffie and Lisa hop out of a roller coaster car and get back in line.
“They have cast-iron stomachs,” Sam told her. “They also noticed that one of the boys in their class is in line just in front of them.”
She watched the two girls posture and giggle and she could only heave a sigh. “Being a mother is hell.”
“Being a dad isn’t much better. Even if said parent doesn’t mind warning the boys he has a gun and knows how to use it.” He looked over toward the food booths. “Getting hungry?”
She lifted her face and sniffed the air, fragrant with the spicy aroma of roasting meat and barbeque sauce.
“Only if the food is as good as it smells.”
“It’s even better.” He led her over to the booths. “Why don’t you find a table while I get us something to eat? Soda or beer?”
“Beer.”
He watched her head for the grouping of picnic tables under nearby trees before heading for one of the booths. “Hey, Marie, how about two of your barbecue brisket sandwiches?” he asked.
“So, Sheriff, who’s the lady?” the young woman asked coyly.
He frowned at someone he’d known since she was a toddler. “Shouldn’t you be worrying more about college than speculating about my so-called love life?”
“Sheriff, you haven’t had a love life any of us have been able to gossip about. And here you are walking around with some pretty lady,” she said cheekily. “Besides, I figured you’d be willing to wait for me to graduate.”
“Somehow I can’t see Scott letting me horn in on his territory,” he teased, accepting the waxed paper wrapped sandwiches.
She flushed prettily at the mention of her boyfriend’s name. “I had to console myself with someone, didn’t I?” she teased back as she accepted his money.
Sam received more kidding when he purchased their drinks and he deflected it the same way. He knew there would be gossip. It was inevitable. Still, he kind of liked it. As he walked toward Keely with their food, he noticed her bright smile and realized he wanted to see more of that.
Another thing he started to realize was that he wanted to see even more of Keely and was eager to find out just how her lips tasted.
“You expect me to eat all of that?” Keely asked, stunned by the huge sandwich he set in front of her. “I doubt I could eat even half if I was starving.” She sipped her beer and nibbled on her sandwich. “Mm, I just might be able to make an exception this one time.” She took a bigger bite.
Sam chuckled. “Red Whittaker firmly believes barbecue isn’t any good unless it’s slow-cooked fo
r at least two days. Everyone looks forward to town gatherings just so they can have one of his sandwiches.”
With Keely’s mouth filled with beef, she could only nod with enthusiasm.
“Think you’re going to be able to finish it?” he joked.
“Mmmf,” she mumbled then swallowed and took a sip of her beer. “Definitely, so don’t even think about trying to steal any of this,” she warned.
As Keely chewed her sandwich, she noticed elderly Gladys walking across the grass.
“You said you’ve lived here all your life.” She waited as he nodded. “Did you know my parents?”
If Keely had thought about it, she would have realized that he hesitated just a second too long.
“I was a kid more interested in Little League and building the ultimate tree house,” he replied.
“I wouldn’t have expected you to remember me since I was so young, but I would think you might have remembered my parents,” she pressed. “After all, my dad did run a nursery here.”
Sam silently cursed. He’d forgotten her father had owned a local business at that time. At least she didn’t know he’d worked for her dad that last summer. And when he thought about it, he could recall a big-eyed little girl with pigtails running around the trees and bushes.
“As I mentioned, back then I had my own interests,” he said with a finality he hoped she would pick up on and leave the topic alone. He should have known better.
She idly twirled her beer bottle between her fingers. “Something is wrong here,” she mused. “Both of my parents grew up here. I was born here, but it’s as if people don’t want to talk about them. I feel as if there’s a secret about them no one wants to tell me.”
Sam mentally uttered a few more choice curses. He should have known she was quick enough to catch on. He thought of all the years the truth about the Davis’s deaths had been kept under wraps. How everyone living here at that time had been so shocked by the first violent crime committed in the town for more than fifty years and saddened that an innocent little girl had had the misfortune to be the only witness. After her illness that left her with the memory block regarding the murders, it was easy to manufacture a fiction about her parents being killed in an auto accident and in all these years that story had never been disputed.
“You’re talking about something that happened thirty years ago,” he said finally. “Some of the people who lived here back then have either moved or have passed away. Others have grown to the age where the memory isn’t what it used to be and they’d hate to admit it”
Keely set down her sandwich and half turned on the bench so she could face him. “Gladys didn’t look feebleminded to me.” A trace of alarm crossed her features. “What is it that no one will tell me?” she demanded.
Sam was hard-pressed for an answer and could only thank the fates when two whirlwinds descended on them.
“Oh, good, you’re almost finished.” Steffie plopped down next to her mother and picked up her sandwich. Two bites had it gone. “Actually, now you’re finished.” She presented Keely with her most blissful smile. “Do you know what we’re missing?”
Keely looked instantly wary. “To be honest I don’t think we’re missing anything.”
“You’re going to feed me, aren’t you?” Lisa asked her father with an outstretched hand.
Sam sighed and pulled out his wallet “I pity the man you marry.” He handed her several bills.
Lisa hopped up and ran off to the food booths.
“Lisa and I met this very nice man named Howard,” Steffie said. She frowned at Sam when he covered his face with his hand and groaned loudly.
“Don’t listen to her,” he warned.
“Give Mom a chance,” Steffie ordered then turned back to her mother. “Anyway, Howard has the answer to what we truly need at the house.” She looked up and smiled when Lisa set half of her sandwich and a soda in front of her.
“You’ll be sorry,” Sam said.
“Not fair, Dad,” Lisa scolded.
“You won’t talk me into this,” he replied.
Steffie threw up her hands. “Mo—ther.” She drew out the word in two syllables.
Keely nodded. “Unfortunately, that is my name. All right, I’ll bite. What does Howard have that we absolutely need?”
“I can’t just tell you. You have to see.” She picked up her sandwich and happily munched away. “We’ll take you over there after we finish eating.”
“And here I thought it was all-important,” Keely remarked.
“You’ll be sorry,’* Sam told her, pity coupled with amusement coloring his voice.
Steffie shot him a quelling look. “She is an adult, you know.”
Sam’s gaze lingered over Keely’s form. “Yes, I can tell.”
Keely turned away before he saw her damning flush, but his quiet chuckle told her he hadn’t missed it at all.
As soon as the girls finished eating, Steffie grabbed Keely’s hand and pulled her to her feet “All right, let’s go.â€�
Keely pulled back forcing the girl to halt. She turned back to Sam. “Would you excuse me? My daughter has something vitally important to show me.”
“Are you kidding?” He rose to his feet. “I plan to watch this.” He and Lisa walked behind them. “Just as long as my darling daughter understands I will say no before we even get over there.”
“I wasn’t going to ask,” she said with a resigned sigh.
“Good idea.”
The moment Keely saw the enclosure made up of portable fencing and puppies sleeping on the grass within its protection, she had a sinking feeling she knew what her daughter was up to.
“Oh, please no,” she protested even as Steffie pulled her toward the puppies.
“Aren’t they adorable?” the girl said enthusiastically, dropping to her knees by the enclosure. She reached over the fence and picked up one of the black puppies, who immediately began licking her face. “You said we need a dog.”
Keely stared at paws that were already the size of saucers. “I was talking about a cute little terrier,” she retorted.
“We need a watchdog.” Steffie plopped the puppy in Keely’s arms.
The man standing nearby grinned. “Hi, Sam.”
“Howard.” Sam nodded. “Are these Lady Joy’s pups?”
“Yep. She had some real beauties this time. I thought this would be a good time to find them homes. The price is reasonable,” he added.
“Not in our household,” he said fervently.
“Same here,” Keely told Steffie.
“They’re a shepherd-lab mix,” the girl explained. “Ten weeks old and they’re pretty much housebroken.”
“Pretty much?”
“All right, close to it, but they make great watchdogs,” she said with enthusiasm. “And with our living so far out, it might be a good idea to have one.”
Keely look a deep breath. She had a sinking feeling this was one battle she could very well lose. She dreaded to think how much it would cost to feed a dog who would grow up to be the size of a small horse.
“Right now, they’re still puppies and won’t be eligible for watchdog status for almost a year,” she said. “Until then, a puppy will be doing nothing but eating and piddling on the carpet, which I’m sure I’ll be the lucky person to clean up.”
“I’ll take care of her.” Steffie reached over and stroked another puppy’s back.
“Not a female. Males are cheaper to neuter,” Keely said, then groaned as she realized her statement only meant she’d somehow been conned into accepting a puppy into her home. As if he understood what had just happened, the puppy raised his head and licked her face with his tiny sandpapery tongue. She laughed at the enthusiastic face washing as the puppy strained to reach all of her face.
Sam squatted down behind her and whispered in her ear, “Congratulations, you’re a mother of a fine bouncing baby boy.”
At that moment, the warm slightly musky smell a puppy gives off blen
ded very nicely with Sam’s spicy cologne. She felt a brief urge to reach behind her and tug his face down to hers. Now, wouldn’t that give something meaty for the gossips to latch on to?
Instead, Steffie’s squeal of delight took away any further thoughts she had regarding the good sheriff.
“I mean it, a male puppy,” Keely stressed as Steffie threw her arms around her neck and hugged her as tightly as the squirming puppy would allow.
“I’ll throw in a twenty-pound bag of kibble,” Howard offered
“Great.” Keely smiled gamely. “He’ll have enough food for the first few days.”
She looked at the hand stretched out in front of her and placed her own in it. Sam pulled her and the puppy she still held in one arm up.
“Is that the one you want?” Howard asked, gesturing to the puppy Keely held. His gaze flickered in Steffie’s direction. She was holding another puppy. For a second she looked hopeful.
Keely efficiently checked both puppies. “This one is a male. This is the one we’ll take,” she announced.
“I will take full responsibility,” Steffie vowed.
“Good, then you can pay the man,” Keely said as pleasantly as possible.
She decided the stunned look on her daughter’s face was worth it But in the end, she was the surprised one when Steffie pulled out her wallet and handed Howard the money.
Keely turned to Sam.
“It’s happened. My little girl has grown up.” She looked as if she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.
“Don’t worry, I’ll probably be next.” He gave her a brief hug.
“Dad?” Lisa turned her pleading gaze on him.
He slowly shook his head back and forth. “Not just yet”
“Ted’s Ramona is due to have her puppies in a couple weeks,” Howard volunteered.
“Shut up, Howard,” Sam said without malice. “Ramona is a Great Dane,” he explained for Keely’s benefit
“I guess I should consider myself lucky then.” Keely allowed Steffie to take the puppy out of her arms. She couldn’t believe that she already missed the warm armful.
