The Unexpected Hero

“Yup. And note the way you say ‘the new sheriff.’ He’s been doing it for three years now, and everyone still says he’s the new sheriff.”

David chuckled. “That could get annoying.”

“Gage doesn’t seem to mind. He’s either a really good actor, or he has his priorities straight.”

“I don’t really know him, either. I don’t have a whole lot of contact with the sheriff’s department.”

“Well, we’ll have to change that. It’s the best way to get wired into the county. You probably know my sister, though. Wendy Yuma, the flight nurse with the emergency response team.”

“She’s your sister? I know her all right, her and Billy Joe. Great people.”

“Maybe we should all get together some time.” As soon as she said it, she wanted to withdraw the suggestion. How much better did she really want to know this edgy, possibly difficult man? He might want to forget he’d come on like gangbusters at their first meeting, but she wouldn’t. Couldn’t afford to. She’d had enough of control freaks to last her a lifetime.

“Yeah, that could be fun.”

He went back to eating, obviously blessed with a healthy appetite as well as dark good looks. But as she sat there, nibbling at her toast and omelet, Krissie realized the man didn’t look happy at all. Either last night was still upsetting him, or he carried a load of garbage even bigger than hers.

Which wouldn’t be surprising. You didn’t come out of a war without garbage. Tons of it. Not if you were human.

But she didn’t want to go there. Not now. Maybe not ever. Even thinking about the VA hospital upset her, so how could she talk about what they’d both seen in Iraq? Sometimes it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.

Finally, Krissie simply couldn’t eat another bite. She pushed her plate to one side, expecting Maude or Mabel to come give her the standard lecture about wasting good food. Instead, Mabel didn’t say a word. She simply refilled their mugs with fresh coffee and took the plate away.

Maybe, Krissie thought with a burst of inner humor, miracles still happened.

David suddenly spoke. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll get the bill. My treat.”

As soon as he spoke, she realized he was right. She was too exhausted to manage a conversation about even something as inane as the weather.

“I am tired,” she admitted.

“I can see that.” He lifted one corner of his mouth in a smile. “Go rest up. I’m sure I’ll see you tonight.”

“Tonight?” That rattled her, then she remembered. “Oh, yeah. Tonight. I’m on shift.”

He nodded, and his smile widened. “Definitely exhausted. Off with you. See you later.”

She was strangely glad to escape the normally pleasant sounds and smells of the diner and climbed into her little car with relief.

The night was over. So much for peace.

Chapter Three (#u23b2ebd0-5109-5469-a66a-27cc6ca7daa3)

Afternoon sunlight slanted through Krissie’s bedroom window, a welcome sight as she awoke. She smiled and stretched contentedly. The air mattress beneath her made its familiar hollow sounds.

Being in the navy for six years had taught her to minimize her possessions. If it didn’t fit in a duffel bag, she didn’t own it. Then the habit proved hard to break, and the few items of furniture she had bought while working in Denver had seemed easier to sell than to move.

She needed to change that mindset, she thought now. A bed, a table, some additional cooking utensils, maybe even a sofa. She could afford these things from her savings, and since she was determined to stay here now that she had come home, she didn’t need to live like a gypsy any more.

In fact, she thought ruefully, gypsies probably had more worldly possessions. She stretched again and glanced at the small travel alarm clock near her bed. Four o’clock already! She must have slept like the dead.

Just time enough to grab a shower and try to make something to eat, then pack a lunch for her shift. And maybe a quick chat with Mom on the phone.

Almost as if reading her mind, her cell phone rang, and she saw her parents’ phone number pop up. Smiling, she opened the phone and answered.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi, honey.” Her mother’s warm voice filled her ear. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“I was just waking up.”

“Oh, goodie. So, you know what the best thing about having you back in town is?” Marge Tate’s tone became gently humorous.

“No, what?”

“I can ask you over for dinner now. And it just so happens we decided to eat early. That wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact you have to be back on shift at seven.”

Krissie laughed. “Oh, Mom!”

“So your dad’s heating up the grill and I thought we’d make burgers, and I’m in the middle of making this really great salad—”

“Sold!” Krissie said. “I just need to shower and throw some things together for tonight.”

“Don’t rush, honey. Dinner won’t be until five or so. But while you’re not rushing, hurry up. I miss you.”

Still smiling, Krissie closed her phone, jumped up and trotted to the shower. God, it was good to be home!

The Tate family house looked as it always had during the years Krissie and the five other girls had grown up there, except that it had a fresh coat of white paint and some new bushes out front. The full-size van was gone, too, no longer necessary for carting six kids around.

But it was still home, and as soon as Krissie stepped through the front door, she felt enveloped in warmth and love.

She found her parents out back on the deck, sipping tall glasses of lemonade. Immediately, they enveloped her in hugs, as if they hadn’t just seen her two days ago, then sat her down with her own glass of lemonade.

Nate, her dad, didn’t look a day older than he had when she left for the navy eight years ago. It was as if he’d weathered and aged all he could by forty, and then remained unchanging.

Marge had put on a couple of pounds, but on her they looked good. She had apparently stopped washing her short hair with henna, so the red had faded mostly to gray. The years, however, had taken no toll on her smile or her twinkling eyes.

“We invited Wendy and Billy Joe for dinner, too,” Marge said, “but apparently there was a car accident, so you’re stuck with just us for company.”

“As if I’d complain?”

Nate chuckled, a deep gravelly sound. “Well, I know how much you were looking forward to the three-ring circus.”

“No, that’s Christmas, when everyone comes home.”

Nate laughed again. “My favorite time of year.”

Marge smiled at him. “Go get the burgers, dear. Krissie has limited time and I want to have a private word.”