Page 85 of Mistletoe

She held it out like an offering to Hal.

Hal glanced from Major Pearson to Emma and then back to the sheriff.

This was the solution that seemed so impossible just minutes ago.

In the end, it was no choice at all.

“You caught me shorthanded,” he said.

The sheriff raised an eyebrow at the weak joke. She pinned the star to his coat.

“There. Now you’re officially a deputy.” She turned to Major Pearson. “Satisfied? Or is there another building you need to set ablaze?”

The major pointed a finger at Hal. “This isn’t over.” He retreated, taking the soldiers with him.

Hal watched their retreat until they vanished in the night, the fire burning hot behind him.

Chapter Twenty-One

Emma

Nina spat on the ground, glaring at the retreating major and soldiers. Emma shared the sentiment.

Felix hung back. When the major was well out of earshot, he approached Emma. “I want you to know?—”

She held up a hand in warning. “I don’t know what you could possibly have to say for yourself, but I’m not interested.”

“I didn’t tell,” he said. “Mrs. Fairfax made the report.”

“Mrs. Fairfax? Our neighbor?”

“She said the sheriff had ignored her earlier sightings.”

Emma clenched her fist. She had half a mind to go over the Fairfax place and burn down her barn. See how she liked it.

“I did not ignore her report,” Nina said, her tone offended. “I inspected this property personally.”

“She poked her nose around plenty,” Emma agreed.

“Major Pearson knew I had been home on a day pass and wanted to know if I saw anything,” Felix said. He took off his hat and played with the brim nervously.

As well as he should, because Emma knew what the next words out of his mouth were going to be.

“I couldn’t lie to my commanding officer,” he said.

“You should have,” she replied, furious.

“I’d be court-martialed. The law requires that I report all dangerous beasts?—”

“When the law is unjust, it’s acceptable to break the law!” Frustrated, Emma threw her hands in the air. “How can you not know that? It’s the heart of every one of Pa’s poems.”

“You cannot pick and choose which laws to enforce.” He tossed a not-so-subtle glance toward the sheriff.

Nina raised her brows. “The law requires thatdangerousbeasts be reported. I’ve yet to see any evidence that Hal meets that criterion.”

Felix’s posture changed from that of nervous contrition to defensive. “So, I’m a bastard, is that it?”

Emma wanted to assure him that he was a black-hearted bastard of the first order, but she showed a remarkable amount of restraint. “No, but your commanding officer is. He put you in an impossible situation and he knew it.”

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