Betrayed Birthright

“Of course it is.”

Maybe Abby was imagining things. “Well, if anything happens, call me immediately.”

“Same with you, sweetie. I better go now. The bridge group is meeting for lunch.”

“Okay. And, Grammy?”

“Yes?”

“As soon as this is over, we’re moving you to Blessing. My house is large enough for both of us.” Her grandmother was fast approaching her mideighties, and Abby had been trying to encourage her to move in with her for several years now. Her grandmother always insisted she needed her own space, but Abby knew the older woman was secretly hoping Abby would start dating and eventually get married and have a house filled with her own family.

“I’m coming to Blessing, but we’ll talk about whether I’m moving in with you later.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

* * *

Feeling better after a shower and change of clothes, and after lining up Grandfather Houston to take care of Dylan in case he was tied up for a few days, Noah knocked on Ms. Mayfield’s front door. A warning bark echoed through the house and Noah felt better knowing she had the dog.

But not better enough to leave her alone in the house. He couldn’t justify spending city money on personal protection, so he’d called the mayor and taken a week’s vacation. Hopefully, Cooper could handle anything that came up at the station.

He didn’t examine his motives too closely. Ms. Mayfield was a resident in his jurisdiction and he would do everything in his power to protect her. At least, that’s what he told himself.

He grinned when Cooper opened the door with his hand on his holster.

His deputy blew out a deep breath. “I sure am glad to see you, Sheriff.”

“Piano lesson that bad, was it?”

His deputy rolled his eyes. “Ms. Mayfield must have a ton of patience.”

Itching to get to work, he waved Cooper out the door, onto the front porch. “Listen, I put in for a week’s vacation so I can work on Ms. Mayfield’s problem. There’s more here than a mere break-in. Her life may be in jeopardy. I’m putting you in charge at the station.”

Cooper’s eyes widened and his chest puffed out. “I won’t let you down, sir.”

Noah almost chuckled at the eagerness in his deputy’s eyes. “I know you’ll do your best. Just call me on my cell if something comes up that you can’t handle.”

Cooper swallowed hard. “Sheriff, I know you think I’m a country bumpkin, and I also know the only reason I got this job is because my daddy is the mayor, but I’m proud to be working alongside someone with your experience. I’ve already learned a lot from you.”

Noah nodded at the gangly twenty-three-year-old staring at him with an earnest expression on his face. “You’ve come a long way.”

Time to get down to business. “You find any prints while dusting?”

Cooper shook his head. “I took Abby’s prints for matching, and called in a favor to get the prints run quickly. I ruled out all the smaller prints that would belong to her students—who are all kids—and I didn’t find anything else. The intruder must have worn gloves.”

The information didn’t surprise Noah. From the beginning this case hadn’t felt like a routine B and E. “Okay, head back to the station and call if you need me.”

“Yes, sir,” Cooper said with a big grin on his face.

Noah took a deep breath and opened the door. He had a strong feeling Ms. Mayfield wasn’t going to be happy with him dogging her every step.

FOUR (#u9cbcf4e5-90fb-5b30-9d97-80317814011d)

Abby was irritated with Sheriff Galloway for camping out in her home, but deep down, she was also relieved. This whole mess had shaken her more than she cared to admit.

She closed the front door behind her last piano student of the day, turned the dead bolt and grinned as she hurried upstairs to clean up before choir practice. The sheriff had settled himself in the kitchen to work on his laptop, and sound carried well through her historic house. He was probably pulling his hair out by now.

She freshened up in the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen. The sheriff, with Bates lying by his side, glanced up as she sailed through the doorway. “We have just enough time to grab a bite to eat before heading to church.” She raised a brow. “I assume you’re accompanying me to choir practice?”

Earlier, they’d had a heated discussion about why he needed to hang around, even though secretly she was relieved that he was there while her students were coming and going throughout the afternoon.

He pushed his computer aside and half rose. “What can I do to help?”

Abby opened the refrigerator door. She had to get dinner on the table. They could talk while they were eating. “Not a thing. We’re having leftover lasagna. I’ll just stick it in the microwave. It won’t take but a few minutes to heat.”

The doorbell rang as she put the casserole dish into the microwave and stuck several slices of garlic bread in the oven.

The sheriff scrambled out of his chair and moved in front of her as she headed toward the foyer. “I’ll answer the door.”

She thought he was being a little overprotective, but bit back a retort and allowed him to answer the door. Standing close behind him, with Bates on her heels, a surprise greeted her as Noah opened the front door. An older gentleman with slightly stooped shoulders gave them a wide grin with a perceptive look in his eyes as he glanced back and forth between Abby and Noah. But most astonishing was the child standing next to him. The boy had to be Noah’s son. The youngster was a duplicate of his father, and his interested, electric-blue eyes seemed to be taking her measure.

“My name’s Dylan, and you’re the choir director at church,” he blurted out.

Smiling, Abby made her way around Noah and squatted in front of the boy. “Yes, I surely am, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.”

The child shot his father a disgruntled look before turning to her. “Gampy said I had to stay with him because you were having some trouble and needed my dad. Gampy said we came here to offer help in your time of need, and we won’t turn down a good meal if it’s in the offering.” The precocious child lifted his chin. “Dad and Gampy can’t cook, and we don’t go to church, but a lot of my friends take piano lessons from you and I’ve seen you around school.”

Abby grinned and stood. Dylan was certainly a font of information. “That’s right. I come and play the piano when the school is having a special event such as the yearly Christmas play.” She grinned. “Which will be coming up soon. As soon as my recitals are finished, we’ll start working on the play. You’d make a great Joseph. Why don’t you try out for the part?”

His grin revealed a missing front tooth. “Maybe I’ll do that.”

The older man stuck out his hand. “Name’s Houston Galloway.” He nodded at Noah. “That’s my grandson—” he pointed at Dylan “—and this here’s my great-grandson.”

Abby shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Galloway.”

“I’d be happy for you to call me Houston.”

Noah’s grandfather and son were a delight. “I’d be happy to call you Houston.”

Realizing time was running short, Abby motioned them inside. “Come on in. I have to get to choir practice soon, but we were just about to eat. There’s enough lasagna for four if you’re hungry.”

Two sets of eyes lit up, one young and one old.

Houston spoke for the both of them. “We knew Noah was over here and were hoping you would say that. As Dylan said, us guys don’t know our way around the kitchen too much.”

Abby ignored Noah’s soft snort and led everyone in. Evidently his grandfather was taking care of Dylan while Noah was protecting her.