Most Eligible Sheriff

“I have no problem. As long as you can ride.”

“It’s been a while, but I think I can manage. Learning the trails may take a few days.”

“I’m going with her,” Cliff volunteered.

He hadn’t left her side once from the moment they exited the house. They’d found Sam and a wrangler readying horses for the trail ride—something Ruby, or Scarlett, should be doing as part of her job. Sam must have stepped in to help when she and Cliff took so long in the kitchen.

Across from the corrals, guests milled about, watching the process of saddling a dozen horses with either fascination, excitement or, in the case of one middle-aged woman, stark fear.

“I’ll go on the ride instead of her,” Sam offered.

Cliff countered the suggestion. “I think she should stick to Scarlett’s regular job routine. She’ll draw less attention that way.”

“What about the guests?” Ruby asked. “Will they be safe?”

“Crowley doesn’t like crowds. Even when he approached your coworker, it was at night, in an empty parking lot.”

That much was true. Detective James had explained to Ruby that she was Crowley’s target. He had no real interest in anyone else, other than as a means to get to her.

“He especially won’t do anything with me along,” Cliff added.

“Aren’t you on duty?” She remembered him getting a call back in the kitchen that had sounded official.

“I am. But I’ll have my deputy cover for me.”

Cliff’s tone implied a twin impersonating her sister was probably the highlight of his year. In a town of barely one thousand mostly peaceful citizens, Ruby doubted much happened.

Sam turned to her. “Luis will lead the ride. You and Cliff can bring up the rear, seeing as you’re already attached at the hip.”

Ruby’s cheeks warmed with embarrassment.

Cliff appeared unaffected.

She silently cursed his ability to remain cool, calm and collected.

“Keep an eye peeled for Crowley or any suspicious strangers while we’re gone,” Cliff warned Sam. He’d had Ruby give Sam a rough description when they first talked.

“Are you really sure you’re okay with this?” She couldn’t stop fretting about Sam and his family. “You have two young daughters. I’d hate putting you and them in danger.”

“Cliff says the danger’s minimal. For the moment.”

“Yeah.” It was that “for the moment” that concerned Ruby. She’d believed she was safe in her condo. Look how wrong she’d been.

“If for any reason the situation changes,” Cliff addressed Sam, “you’ll be the first person I tell. After Ruby.”

She released a worried sigh.

“If Crowley and his resources track your sister here, all they’ll report back to him is that Scarlett McPhee is alone and doing her job as usual. It should be enough to deter him.”

“What about my car? It’s parked beside the barn. Scarlett drives a Jeep.”

“We need to move it out of sight right away.”

“If you want,” Sam said, “I’ll park it in the barn while you’re on the ride.”

Ruby dug in her pocket and extracted her keys. How was she going to get around?

Sam must have read her mind. “Can you drive a stick?”

She nodded.

“We’ve got an old Chevy half-ton pickup you can use. Scarlett’s driven it before on errands.”

Ruby was touched by his generosity. “I can’t impose on you more than I have.”

He smiled kindly. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

Her sister’s boss was clearly a good man, if a little crazy for going along with the switch and all it entailed. “You owe me nothing,” Ruby reminded him.

“Oh, don’t think you’re getting off scot-free. You’ll have to work. Pretty hard, some days.”

“I’m used to it.” She hadn’t risen to the position of assistant manager in two years by being a slacker.

Today might be different, however. She was running on pure adrenalin. When her lack of sleep and acute anxiety caught up with her, her energy level would plummet.

“Well then, let’s see what you’re capable of,” Sam said. “Starting now.”

Ruby glanced around. In the time they’d been talking, Luis had finished with the horses. All twelve stood shoulder to shoulder, tied to the fence.

“Which one’s mine?” she asked, evaluating the selection from a distance.

“None of those.” Sam started for the corral, motioning to Ruby when she was slow to follow. “Your sister’s favorite is Mama Bear.”

The remaining horses came over to greet the newcomers, seeking a petting. Good, solid, dependable stock, Ruby decided. Trustworthy enough for the most beginner of riders and capable of giving the experienced ones a run for their money.

Ruby took an instant liking to Mama Bear. With a prominent nose ridge, the medium-size dapple gray was no beauty. But her eyes were gentle and the hair on her muzzle was softer than peach fuzz.

Sam nodded approvingly. “She’ll go all day long if you ask her.”

Cliff settled on a handsome brown gelding that followed him to the gate like a puppy dog, then nearly ran him over in his haste to join his pals on the ride.

In the tack shed, Ruby perused the equipment. It was of good quality and sound condition. There were also helmets for those riders wanting extra protection. The Gold Nugget Ranch didn’t take any risks when it came to their guests and employees.

Except for letting her ride along with them.

Ruby prayed Cliff and Detective James were right about Crowley and that the danger to others was minimal.

Locating Scarlett’s bridle, saddle and blanket on the rack, she carried them to where Mama Bear was tied. It really was like riding a bike. The leather straps felt familiar in her hands, as did the smell and sound of horses. She’d missed being around them. Funny, the different paths her and Scarlett’s lives had taken.