Reunited with the Sheriff Read online

  Tate studied his parents from a discreet distance. They looked scared. His father was yanking at his collar while his mother kept casting nervous glances around her. He suspected it stemmed from their uncertainty about how the congregation would receive them after the uproar over Pastor Blake. It didn’t help matters that they had stopped attending services at Main Street Church. He scratched his head. For the life of him he couldn’t remember the last time his parents had gone to church. It wasn’t his place to judge, but everything inside him was telling him that they would thrive by being part of the congregation.

  Dear Lord. Please help my parents find their way back to you. Let them rejoice in being part of a warm and loving congregation. Let them find fellowship and welcoming arms.

  He wanted nothing more for them than to find everlasting peace and healing.

  Tonight was a big step for them, he acknowledged. Putting their pride aside and agreeing to host the gathering had been a monumental leap in the right direction. At first his mother had been adamantly opposed to it and she’d accused him of being wrapped around Cassidy’s little finger. Her venom toward Cassidy took him by surprise. His mother wasn’t a vengeful woman, yet she still hadn’t found it in her heart to let go of her hostility.

  “The gathering isn’t about Cassidy, Mama,” he’d told her. “It’s about coming together as a united community to restore Main Street Church. It’s about stepping forward and pitching in as a town.”

  “Do you expect me to just forget the past?” she’d shouted, tears streaming down her face.

  “No, Mama,” he’d said in a subdued voice. “I expect you to do what you’ve always taught Holly and I to do.” He inhaled deeply through his nose. “The right thing. Sometimes that’s the hardest thing in the world to do, but it doesn’t mean we still shouldn’t do it, does it?”

  In the end, after much hand-wringing and tears, she’d agreed to host the community gathering. His father had eventually relented after an emotional appeal from Holly, but he’d made it clear that he didn’t want his wife unsettled by Cassidy’s presence at the ranch.

  Cassidy. He felt her presence before he laid eyes on her. A prickle ran down the back of his neck, and he turned around, just in time to see her striding toward him. She was decked out in a beautiful aqua shirt. An intricate pair of turquoise Native American earrings hung from her ears. She was wearing a pair of silver cowboy boots that peeked out from the hem of her jeans. Silver and blue bracelets were stacked on her wrists. All he could manage was a simple hello. The sight of her took his breath away. His mind took flight, and suddenly he was thinking of things he’d let go of years ago. He fisted his hands at his sides, resisting the impulse to reach out and wind one of her strawberry blond curls around his finger.

  “Wow. Everything looks amazing!” Cassidy said, her face lit up with joy as she glanced around the area. “It is so beautiful!” Tate’s eyes swept over her. The same thing could be said about Cassidy, he thought. She projected an image of classic beauty in her trendy attire. Her subtle makeup enhanced her features, adding drama to her already striking cheekbones and eyes.

  “Can you believe it? It doesn’t even feel like my family’s ranch.” Led by Mona, he and Cassidy, along with a team of volunteers, had spent all day setting up the ranch and transforming it into a dazzling wonderland. The finishing touches—lights, sunflowers on every table, food, music—had all been added after Cassidy had gone home to change for the event. The best part was that almost 100 percent of the items had been donated by local vendors.

  “The band sounds great, doesn’t it? I can’t believe Tug agreed to do this free of charge.” Cassidy was swaying back and forth to the beat. It made him want to take her by the hand and pull her onto the dance floor. It made him want to place his arms around her and gently glide her across the floor to the rhythms of Tug Matthews and his band.

  “He’s just a hometown boy who wants to help out,” Tate said, a smile splitting his face wide open.

  A thoughtful smile hovered on Cassidy’s lips. “Where you’re from never leaves you. You can try to outrun it, but it always catches up to you in the end.”

  He felt worry gnaw at him. Would Cassidy always be outrunning her past in West Falls?

  “Is that what you tried to do, Cass? Outrun it?”

  “In some ways,” she answered thoughtfully. “But you can’t run from something that’s already lodged so deeply in your heart. It would be pointless.” Was he being self-absorbed or was Cassidy talking about more than West Falls now? Was there also a permanent place in her heart for him?

  One of the teenaged servers walked by carrying mini beef sliders. Both Tate and Cassidy helped themselves to the appetizer. Cassidy nibbled at it delicately while he popped the whole thing into his mouth, letting out a groan at how good it tasted. She laughed out loud at his exaggerated eye roll and the way he rubbed his belly in appreciation. The sound of her laughter nudged at his heart and filled his soul with joy.

  His parents appeared out of nowhere, instantly wiping the smile off Cassidy’s face. Her complexion looked pale. The expressive green eyes radiated panic. Although she must have been prepared for this moment since she was standing on Lynch property, it had clearly taken her by surprise. After shooting Cassidy a look of disgust, his mother let go of his father’s hand and stormed off toward the house.

  His father stared after her and let out a great sigh. Considering his father’s over-the-top personality and no-nonsense manner, the moment was fraught with peril. It didn’t take much to imagine his father castigating Cassidy about ruining his son’s life and breaking off their engagement. A dramatic scene would ruin the event they’d all worked so hard to plan. It would also further alienate a community that was just beginning to accept Cassidy.

  “Cassidy,” his father said in a gruff voice. “It’s been a long time.”

  “F-Frank.” All she could do was stutter his name. She was scared, Tate realized. Her hands were trembling. It took every ounce of will he possessed not to place his arm around her, pull her into the crook of his arm and shelter her from his father’s wrath. But he knew that Cassidy didn’t want his protection. Not now. Not in this moment. This moment had been years in the making. He knew it was part of her journey to face it down on her own, without him shielding her from it.

  “It’s been so long I’m surprised you still know my name,” his father chided. “Eight years is a mighty long spell to be away from home.” His father’s unwavering gaze was locked on Cassidy.

  “It’s been a long time,” Cassidy said with a nod of her head. “I left for the wrong reasons, Frank—the same reasons that kept me away all this time. I’d like to think that coming back was the right thing to do. It’s allowed me to try and repair some of the damage I did.”

  Frank chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment, his eyes narrowing to thin slits as he sized Cassidy up. “You were like a member of our family. It cut like a knife when you ran off like that.”

  “For what’s its worth, I’m truly sorry for everything. And I’m grateful to this day for the fact that you opened up your home and your hearts to me.”

  For a moment they all just stood there as Cassidy’s poignant words hovered in the air.

  “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to give an old man a hug?” his father barked. A huge grin split his face wide open. His blue eyes were glassy with emotion.

  Cassidy reached out and wrapped trembling arms around his father, receiving a tight bear hug in return. He heard his father saying in a low voice, “I missed you, girl,” as Cassidy openly wept. He didn’t consider himself an emotional person, but the sight of them showing each other so much unconditional love reached down into a sacred place inside him. It tugged at him hard, cracking his heart wide open.

  Even though he’d steeled himself against it, armed with the knowledge that Cassidy would soon
be nothing more than a memory, he found himself surrendering to the heady pull of emotions that only she could evoke.

  * * *

  “I’m having so much fun.” Holly’s face was flushed from taking a spin on the dance floor. Her gold cowboy boots looked like something a famous country singer might wear for a photo shoot. A pair of glittery earrings dangled from her ears while her sleek chignon was a departure from her usual wild mane of hair. She was wearing a sparkled tank top and a pair of dark jeans.

  “This is shaping up to be a night to remember,” Cassidy said as her eyes roamed over the large gathering of people. She hadn’t seen Tate in what felt like an hour, although she knew it couldn’t have been more than fifteen minutes. After the reunion with Frank she’d needed to use the ladies room to fix her eye makeup. When she’d returned to the festivities Tate was nowhere to be found. Where was he?

  “Looking for anyone in particular?” Holly asked, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

  Her eyes met Holly’s piercing gaze, and she felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. Her friend had just busted her in the act of scanning the crowd for Tate.

  “No one in particular,” she said, unable to keep a straight face when Holly narrowed her eyes and gave her the once-over. She’d never been able to fool her best friend, not a single time. And more than anyone else, Holly had always known the strong love she’d felt for Tate. “Okay. You caught me. I was looking for Tate,” she admitted. She shook her head when she saw the flash of interest in Holly’s eyes. “Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re just friends. Or at least we’re taking steps to rebuild our friendship.”

  “There’s a lot of water under that bridge.” Something in Holly’s voice sounded wary, skeptical even. Although Cassidy tried to brush it off, her feelings were slightly bruised. Perhaps Holly didn’t think she was good enough for her brother.

  “You’re right,” she acknowledged. “We’ve got rushing rivers between us. I did a lot of damage when I left him and he’s still carrying around some of those scars.” Although it pained her to think of strong, proud Tate as scarred, she knew it was the truth.

  “Just tread carefully. Tate is one of the strongest men I’ve ever known, but his tender side makes him vulnerable, especially when it comes to you, Cass.”

  “Nothing I do can ever make up for the past. But I’d like to think I’ve grown as a person since then. If the same thing happened today I wouldn’t run away from West Falls.” She looked at Holly, feeling a bit defiant. “I’d stay and fight for my life.”

  Holly let loose with a wild hoot of laughter. “Now that’s the Cassidy I know and love.” Holly high-fived her and sped back onto the dance floor, spinning her chair to the music.

  As she watched Holly a wave of sadness flitted through her. She hadn’t divulged the whole truth to her. The real truth was that she was more likely than Tate to get her heart broken. Her feelings for Tate were getting more intense each and every day. To her it felt much deeper than friendship. It felt as if her heart was finally coming back to life after years of being in hibernation. But with the truth of the accident standing between them she couldn’t even allow herself to hope. If Tate knew the real reason she’d skidded off the road that night, he’d hate her forever. And so far she hadn’t been brave enough to divulge the truth to him. She doubted whether she ever could.

  A sense of accomplishment filled her as her eyes swept over the teeming crowd. The gathering was a success in every way imaginable—financially, socially and spiritually. The community of West Falls had turned out in droves to support the restoration of Main Street Church. Folks from neighboring communities had also showed up, dressed in their finest Western gear with cash in hand. It spoke to how deeply people cared about the church—and her father.

  Her parents were dancing cheek to cheek, and she studied her mother for signs of fatigue. Surprisingly her mother’s energy level seemed good. She still hadn’t put back on enough weight, but the doctors were incredibly pleased with her progress. Dear Lord, thank you for your many mercies and for watching over Mama during her illness. I promise to be a more permanent fixture in my parents’ lives. I promise to care for them as they’ve always cared for me.

  Her mother’s cancer diagnosis had shown her that tomorrows are never promised. For years she had made the mistake of taking her parents for granted, firm in the belief that they would always be there. Seeing her mother weak and vulnerable in the recovery room after surgery had shown her the stark truth. Although her parents were superheroes in her eyes, in actuality they were mere mortals, susceptible to illness and aging and all the things life threw at people. They wouldn’t be around forever.

  Cassidy prayed she would never forget that again. Every day with her parents was a gift.

  Mona Jackson was wildly waving from the dance floor, beckoning her to come join her and her partner. Cassidy smiled at her joie de vivre. Mona really knew how to live life to the fullest. Without her inspiration, this event would never have gotten off the ground. Jim Tuggles and his heavily pregnant wife, Candace, were seated at one of the tables chatting with another couple who were also expecting a baby. Cassidy, who’d always nurtured dreams of having a house full of infants, couldn’t help but think that these couples must be the most fortunate on earth. What must it be like, she thought, to be so blessed?

  When she turned back around to rejoin the party she came face-to-face with her past.

  Jenna Keegan, with her caramel-hued eyes, jet black hair and café-au-lait colored skin looked as striking as ever. She had always been exotic and beautiful, Cassidy remembered, even as a child. The ensuing years had only served to enhance her beauty. Tonight the peach and silver blouse she wore looked lovely.

  As a teen Jenna had been shy and reserved. She’d struggled with fitting in, largely due to her biracial heritage. Her mother’s mysterious disappearance hadn’t helped things any. It had only served to make her feel more different and isolated. Her friendship with the three other roses had finally given her a place to belong.

  “Hello, Cassidy.” Jenna nodded her head imperceptibly, her voice sounding formal and polished. There was no spontaneity in her greeting, no joy at seeing an old friend.

  “Jenna. It’s so good to see you.” She meant it. Although the years had stretched out without them sharing even a single conversation or email, Jenna still held a special place in her heart. Hadn’t they always promised to be forever friends?

  There was no warmth in Jenna’s eyes. When Cassidy reached out to hug her, it felt like she was touching a marble statue. Her posture was straight and rigid, her arms never moved from her sides.

  “I heard you were back,” Jenna said in a flat voice, causing Cassidy to wonder whether she thought her return was a good or bad thing.

  “Yes, I’ve been back for over a month now. My mother’s been sick. I’ve been helping her recuperate,” she explained. By this time most of West Falls had heard about her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. It was no longer a closely guarded secret.

  Jenna’s face softened. “I didn’t know she’s been ill. I really hope she gets well soon. Your father may be the heart of Main Street Church, but your mother is definitely the soul of it.”

  With a sliver of a smile and a small wave of her hand, Jenna ambled off, her long wavy hair blowing in the breeze. A wistful feeling fluttered through Cassidy. She wished they could have really talked, not just exchanged pleasantries.

  Tate came striding toward her, pausing along the way to greet guests or to direct one of the servers in a task. His blue eyes radiated a warmth that came straight from his soul.

  He looked so handsome tonight. With his midnight-colored shirt, freshly cut hair and a rocking pair of cowboy boots, Cassidy couldn’t help but stare at him. The black Stetson added a touch of mystery to his ensemble. She hadn’t been oblivious to all the female attention he attracted. Women had been starin
g at him all night, trying to garner his interest. She’d felt a twinge of jealousy, but she’d tamped it down, knowing she had no right to be territorial about Tate. He hadn’t belonged to her in a very long time. That had become painfully clear when she’d learned about his relationship with Kit.

  “What put that little crinkle in the middle of your forehead?” Tate reached out and smoothed her forehead with his thumb and forefinger, his touch as light as a feather. As always, even the slightest touch from Tate gave rise to an intense longing from somewhere deep in her soul.

  “I was just talking to Jenna. She seems so different. Sad. Distant. She barely uttered a few sentences to me before she took off. What’s your take on her?”

  “Haven’t seen her much over the years. She’s kind of a recluse if you ask me. I heard she bought a house out by the old Native American graveyard. She lives alone out there and pretty much keeps to herself.”

  “Does she have a boyfriend?” Cassidy asked.

  “Not that I know of. If she does he’s the invisible kind,” Tate said with a smirk. “In a town this size I would have heard of a boyfriend if he existed.”

  “She doesn’t date?” Cassidy asked, surprised at the fact that a woman as stunning as Jenna would choose to live such a sheltered life.

  Tate shook his head. “Guys have asked her out plenty of times. I know that for sure. But she hasn’t taken any of ’em up on their offers. From what I hear she’s getting a reputation for being stuck-up. They seem to think she thinks she’s better than them.”

  Cassidy frowned. Jenna wasn’t a snob. If anything it had always been the reverse. She’d never felt good enough in West Falls. She’d never felt comfortable in her own skin.

  “Dance with me?”

  Tate’s deep, healing voice washed over her. His offer caught her off guard, instantly taking her mind off Jenna. She crinkled up her nose. “Oh, I get it. You really want to give them something to talk about don’t you?” she teased.