Page 129 of The Lonely Road

He chuckles. “I hope so. Wiley’s been single since his wife left and turned into an ornery bastard about it. But it’ll take time. You don’t get over a husband—considering what they had, which was a good marriage—just because he’s gone.”

I nod. “Do you know who Sid Trafton is?”

“Have an idea.” His phone buzzes. He reads it without showing much, but I cross-examine people for a living, and I can see he’s affected. “Why don’t you come by the Sheriff’s office tomorrow—say around ten?”

It’s not a request, even though it’s phrased like one.

“I’ll be there.”

He stands and puts on his hat. “I’m going to head home. You should, too. Wiley will take care of them.”

I stand, feeling more than a little helpless. “Do you think she should just sell? Is any of this worth it?”

The Sheriff gives me a long, deliberate look. “You of all people should know, Taya, that people don’t like being driven out of their homes. This isn’t about money—sure, dollar bills are necessary—but what’s more important is the kind of life you want to live. That’s the crux of it. Clara comes from ranching people. Deke’s family had this land for four generations. Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it isn’t theirs to hold on to.”

I wrap my arms around myself. “I know. I’m just afraid for them.”

“We’ll make sure someone’s here.” He says it with the ease and confidence of a man who knows how this valley works. “Between Mav and Duke, we can get eyes on this place until you wrap up your case.”

He says it simply. Not as a favor. As a fact.

That’s how things are done around here—not because of money or power, but because of community. A way of life that people in Wildflower Canyon have been choosing, generation after generation, over everything easier.

CHAPTER 33

taya

Since the Wildflower Canyon County Sheriff’s office sits on Main Street, unassuming and solid, only a seven-minute walk from mine, I leave my office at ten to ten the next morning.

“How you doin’, darlin’?” Opal Hennessey, the dispatcher and the town’s unofficial gossip channel, greets me.

Opal can tell you who was arrested, why, and what they were wearing when it happened. She can also tell you who is sleeping with whom—regardless of who they’re married to. She intimidates in the best way possible.

“I was summoned.” I open the candy jar on her desk and pull out a caramel cream.

“He’s been summoning a lot since that man—his nerve—was at Clara’s place. Imagine, scaring those darlin’ kids?”

The candy wrapper crinkles in my hand. I pop the sweet into my mouth.

Opal leans over her desk. “So—I hear that Kaz is FBI.”

I roll my eyes. “Are you allowed to talk about that? Since he’s—you know—” I trail off.

She scoffs. “Everyone and his mother knows that Kaz has an FBI-issued ball and chain. When Bree finds out—which is any minute now—there’s gonna be hell to pay.”

Kaz’s cover is blown, and whatever is going on between him and Bree is going to come to a head very soon.

“Oh, and—” Opal looks around to make sure no one’s listening— “did you hear that Noelle is getting married to that old guy from Denver?”

Now, that is juicy news.

Noelle Dunn behaves like a princess but is a rancher’s daughter, with a reputation of sorts ever since she dated Cade Mercer and tried to stir up trouble between him and Dr. Kirk, one of the two vets in Wildflower Canyon. Noelle is not popular, and everyone knows she’s been hunting for a rich husband.

“Old guy? Who?”

“He’s the one who owns the titty bar on⁠—”

“Opal, for cryin’ out loud, woman, can you send people in instead of diggin’ into their private lives?” the Sheriff calls out in mock indignation.