Most Eligible Sheriff

“Thank goodness.” Maeve wiped imaginary sweat from her brow.

“I need to buy one of those disposable phones.” He indicated the display wall behind her.

“Something happen to yours?”

“Nope.”

She waited and shrugged when he didn’t offer any additional information. “I’m guessing it’s one of those sheriff things you can’t tell me about.”

“And you’d be right.”

She showed him the three brands of phones the store carried and recommended the most popular one. He chose the least popular. If Crowley was going to get this number, he’d have to work extra hard.

“Need help activating it?”

“No, thanks.” Cliff quelled her insatiable curiosity with a look.

She grumbled in frustration. “You really aren’t going to tell me, are you?”

“Sorry.”

“Will I see you at supper?” She bagged the box containing the phone. “Mom wants to talk about the Mega Weekend of Weddings.” She rolled her eyes. “What else is new?”

“Can’t. I’m on duty.”

“You’re allowed to take a meal break.”

She was right. And he often did join his aunt and cousin for lunch or supper and sometimes breakfast if it was a tough night.

“I have other plans.”

“More sheriff stuff?”

“What can I say?”

She made a last attempt to sway him. “The kids will miss you.”

“I’ll see them tomorrow.” Cliff had volunteered to watch Maeve’s lively brood in the evening while she helped her mother decorate the community center for the upcoming square dance.

Maybe Ruby would go with him to babysit. Scarlett had.

He reconsidered almost immediately, and it had nothing to do with Ruby’s discomfort around children. She was a crime victim and, therefore, off-limits. They could carry out her ruse without spending every evening together.

“All right.” Maeve sighed expressively. “If you change your mind, just call. Mom always makes enough food for an army.”

Grabbing the bag with the phone, he bid his cousin goodbye and left the store. With no other calls coming in, he went directly to the station.

Only one other car occupied the small lot outside the station. It belonged to Iva Lynn, his dispatcher, secretary and, when the need arose, his deputy. She’d even filled in as sheriff for two months, in between the time Cliff’s father retired and Cliff transferred from the Reno police force.

His parents had left behind a lifetime in Sweetheart to reside in Phoenix where the dry air and milder weather was kinder to his mother’s arthritic joints. At first, Cliff wasn’t thrilled about returning to the home of his youth. A big-city police force offered more opportunity. But then, there had been the incident with Talia.

His fault. No one else’s. The only way he’d be able to salvage his career and his pride was to start over. He didn’t like thinking of himself as having returned to Sweetheart with his tail between his legs, but it felt like that some days.

Naturally, the townsfolk had welcomed him with open arms. The incident at the Reno P.D. was never mentioned.

Cliff wiped the dust from his boots on the mat outside the door, and then entered the large room that served as the sheriff’s office. Right next door was the mayor’s office.

Both rooms had been built onto the side of the community center. Across the lot was a metal building, which housed the town’s fire engine and served as a base for the volunteer fire department. Adjacent to that was a helicopter landing pad for use in air-transport emergencies.