Page 3 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

The drip of disbelief in her voice raised his hackles. He tensed the muscles in his neck to keep from reacting, something he had to do far too often due to his father’s position as the county sheriff. Most people assumed he’d been handed his job, but they couldn’t be further from the truth.

Not many people realized he had to put in more hours and work ten times harder to get an ounce of respect. That fact might be a tough pill to swallow, but he’d do it every damn day to get where he wanted.

“Yep. I’m covering a shift. Don’t mind helping when needed.” He wouldn’t give her any more information. Her prickly attitude had kept him away from the minute she’d moved into town, and there was no reason to try being more than coworkers. Thank God their paths didn’t often cross even at work.

Hell, he saw her more at the shelter than he ever did around town in Water’s Edge. He just hoped she gave the women who came here a little more friendliness than she passed around the station.

“Can I send you out on the roads with more than a chocolate?” Mrs. Collins asked, breaking into the tension cracking between him and Sadie.

Shoving his feelings about Sadie to the side, he focused on the petite gray-haired woman in the red velvet jumper who reminded him so much of the grandmother he missed. “Nah. I’m fine. Thanks, though. Y’all have a good evening.”

He gave his soon-to-be sister-in-law a side hug and kissed Nora’s forehead. “You two drive safe when you head home. The roads are a little icy.”

“We’ll be safe, but I’ll call Owen if I need to,” Marie said.

He waved at Mrs. Collins then dipped his chin at Sadie. “Same to you. Supposed to get more snow tonight.”

Sadie pressed her lips into a flat line. “I’ll be fine.”

He swallowed back a snort. He might not care if Sadie knew what a pain in the ass he found her to be, but he had too much respect for everyone else in the room to show it. Keeping his smile in place he gave a little wave and walked back out to the frigid air, leaving the ice queen behind him.

2

Frigid air bit into Sadie turned-up nose. She didn’t mind. The brutal wind barreled into her and woke her mind. Not everything she’d done in the military stuck with her after leaving the service, but an early morning run to start the day was something she’d never give up.

No matter how cold.

Shaking out her limbs, she started along the same path she took daily. Down the country road to the rough trail in the patch of woods a mile from her house. She didn’t have much time this morning after taking Amelia to spend the day with Mrs. Collins, but she could get a couple miles in before hitting the shower and heading to work.

Turning from the road, she increased her pace and headed into the cover of thick trees. Wisps of her chestnut hair slipped from the rubber band and whipped against her face. The branches were bare this time of year, but the mangle of limbs still stretched overhead and blocked most of the glow of the sun shimmering just above the horizon.

The worn path narrowed, the skinny trees almost taking over the trail. She lifted her arm to block the twisted limbs. Afew more steps and the path would widen before reaching the clearing. If she pushed herself a little bit harder, she’d make it in time to see the sun coming over the peaks of the Smoky Mountains. Then she could rest her lungs for a beat and bask in the glorious new day.

She pounded forward, huffing out the cold air in spirals. The trees pushed apart, making more space as she moved seamlessly toward the clearing. The break in the foliage came into view. Sadie slowed her pace and stepped up to the tree line. Leaning forward, she rested her arms on her knees and drew in a few deep breaths. Her heart pounded against her rib cage.

Standing tall, she placed her open palms on the back of her head. She lifted her gaze to the sky and warmth bloomed in her despite the chilly air. Vibrant splashes of color blossomed, the sun casting its glow on the crisp December day. A slight dusting of snow scattered along the field. Three black birds hovered in the sky, one after the other swooping low and cawing, the noise echoing through the silent sky.

A mound of green poking through the fresh white snow caught her attention. Nothing of that color should be littering the meadow. She took another step forward, straining to make out what lingered in the field.

Intuition tingled the base of her neck. She stepped slowly, keeping on high-alert while grabbing her cell phone from the side pocket of her yoga pants. The closer she got, the more the dread in the pit of her stomach grew. The birds screamed their call, warning her away, but she had to know—had to see what they’d found.

Coming to a stop, she covered her mouth with her hand and pressed the contact button for the sheriff’s station. Glassy eyes stared up at her. A dead man, skin frozen, gunshot wound in the center of his forehead.

“Millerton County Sheriff’s Station.”

The deputy on the desk’s voice sounded distant against the growing alarm in her mind. She pulled herself together, scanning the area for signs that anyone still lingered. “This is Deputy Pennel. I need assistance in the meadow off Graham Road. I just found Shawn Downs.”

A harsh laugh sounded on the line. “He passed out in a field this time, huh? At least he didn’t get himself into any trouble.”

Sadie cleared her throat, breaking up the shock and emotion lodge inside. “He didn’t pass out. He’s dead. Someone killed him.”

A yawn stretchedTommy’s mouth as he stepped out of his cruiser, parked on the side of the road, and stomped through the tall, brittle grass. Wind whipped against him with no barriers to keep it at bay. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, keeping his head bent down and feet moving. He was only an hour from being off-shift. All he wanted was to go home, curl into a warm bed, and sleep for the next twelve hours.

From the sound of the call from dispatch, that dream wouldn’t be a reality for longer than he cared to admit.

Trudging toward the center of the meadow, he lifted a hand in greeting to Deputy Pennel. “Morning. Dispatch says you think you found Shawn Downs—dead.”

She offered a tight smile and dipped her chin. “I don’t think. I know.”

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