Support Your Local Sheriff by Melinda Curtis

Author:Melinda Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Doris stood guard on the top porch step of the bed-and-breakfast with a well-dressed elderly woman when Julie approached. “I got a coffee refill at Martin’s and you were gone.”

Julie’s already-slow stroller pace slowed to snail speed. Birds sang in the big pine tree by the driveway, happy for the spring breeze and the warm sunshine. They sang despite Doris and her vinegary attitude. Despite threats from cats and hawks.

“Birdy.” Duke angled his face up until he met Julie’s gaze. He grinned.

As long as he was fed and rested, Duke smiled at everyone. Julie didn’t feel like smiling. How dare Nate say he’d left the force because of her. How dare he imply she couldn’t work with him and conduct herself with dignity. She didn’t feel like smiling, but she lifted her lips toward Doris anyway, waiting to answer until she was closer.

Julie reached the bed-and-breakfast porch steps, her hands shaking so hard it took her three tries to release Duke from the stroller. Darn you, Nate. “We went to El Rosal.”

“We? We?” At Julie’s nod, Doris sharpened her tone. “As in you and the boy? Or you and the enemy?” Doris’s attitude was the caustic kind that earned drivers speeding tickets, not warnings. “Leona serves coffee and breakfast here, you know.”

Speaking of the devil, Leona opened the door and stared down at them all. “Are you expecting to come in?”

“Two of us are.” Julie made for the door, riding the energy of anger, hefting Duke, the backpack and the stroller up the stairs. “We need to check out. We’re leaving town.” She meant it this time.

Reggie bounced on her toes behind Leona, spouting an apology.

But Doris sputtered and cut her off, flinging her arms about. “Julie, you have to listen to what I have to say first.”

“I don’t, actually.” Julie tried to edge past Leona, but the battle-ax wasn’t letting her inside or Reggie out.

“Don’t go. Your friend Nate is a horrible lawman.” Doris crowded into Julie’s space and gestured to her elderly friend. “He forbade Lilac to drive around town.”

Nodding, Lilac slid her big round sunglasses into her short and stylishly streaked silver hair. She looked competent enough. Clear-eyed and steady handed.

“I see Nate all over town, working on people’s houses.” Doris hooked Julie’s arm with fingers that dug into flesh. “While he’s being paid to do police business.”

That caught Julie’s attention. “As a side job?”

“He abuses his power.” Doris increased the volume, so caught up in the moment she didn’t realize she was yelling in Julie’s ear. “He’s holding this town ransom.”

“That’s not true,” Reggie said, her voice echoing in the empty foyer.

Julie exchanged a glance with Leona, while Duke covered his ears.

“What you believe is up to you,” Leona said flatly.

“Leona doesn’t take sides on anything.” Lilac tossed a teal crepe scarf over her shoulder.

“I don’t take sides, but I do enjoy a good town shake-up.” Leona’s words were as hard as the hair spray lacquer on her salt-and-pepper beehive hairstyle.

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