Page 35 of Bridge to Safety

So would the rest of the townsfolk if she didn’t stop keeping him at arm’s length. Most of them thought she wanted him. Why didn’t she? Didn’t that night mean anything to her? No one since then had meant as much as she did. Why couldn’t she see his devotion?

Ugh. He beat his fists against his head, then bolted to his feet. Work, then plans. A gift, maybe. A kitten? Jewelry? Both?

He didn’t need to decide right then. Shiloh wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was he.

But he couldn’t say the same for the deputy.

Chapter Fourteen

Crime-scene cleanershad come and gone and now, in a week’s time, a for-sale sign sat in the Nelsons’ yard. Shiloh sighed and shook her head. How many more people would move away before Duke was stopped?

She had to be careful not to make close friends or speak to anyone about him. Shiloh had managed to keep Rowan at arm’s length for his safety and hers, but she couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. Did he think about it too? Now was not the time for romance. Not until this was over. She’d do well to remember that fact.

She parked in her usual spot at the school and headed to an early morning meeting with the other two fifth-grade teachers. Her mouth fell open at the sight of Melinda’s black eye. “What happened?”

“Ran into a door in the middle of the night.” She avoided Shiloh’s gaze.

“Did Duke do that? If so, you need to report it to the sheriff.” She dropped her bag on the table with a thunk. “Enough is enough, Melinda.”

“Mind your own business.” She crossed her arms and glared.

“I’m only trying to—”

“Well, don’t. Anything bad that happens is all your fault. You shouldn’t have come back.”

Shiloh’s heart dropped. Everything was always laid on her shoulders. When would she be able to leave it all behind and show the townsfolk who the real Shiloh was? She’d almost started to believe that the old prejudices were dying away. “Have it your way.”

“Thanks. I will.”

Susan entered Melinda’s class. Bright red stained her cheeks once she saw Melinda’s face. She shook her head and clamped her lips together.

“I think the three of us should go to the sheriff about what Duke did to us.” What he was still doing to her. Shiloh refused to be deterred. “Deputy Reynolds will help us.”

“And what?” Melinda’s eyes flashed. “Have the town treat us the way they treat you? No, thanks. If you say anything, I’ll deny it.”

Shiloh glanced at Susan who shook her head. “Fine. I’ll take care of things myself.” She plopped into a chair. “Let’s get this meeting over with.” Any hopes of these two women being allies, maybe even friends, died away.

They spent the next forty-five minutes adjusting lesson plans and preparing for state testing. When they finished, Shiloh gathered her things and hurried from the room to the sanctuary of her own classroom.

Why didn’t they want Duke stopped? They need to come forward about the abuse. It would take too long for her to do it without them. She folded her arms on the desk and rested her head on them. Most likely, there were more victims, but she didn’t know who they were. Somehow, she needed to convince Susan and Melinda to help. Maybe Rowan would talk to them.

It would probably make them madder than they already were, but she was growing desperate. A time bomb was suspended over her head, ready to go off at any time, and she was right in the blast zone.

She sent him a text asking him to meet her in the school cafeteria for lunch if he was available. He responded within a couple of minutes to say he’d be there.

Good. Shiloh headed outside to collect her students wondering how she could keep the news of Rowan stopping by from Duke. Very little got past the residents of small towns.

Rowan was waiting for her inside the cafeteria at lunch time. “You rang?” He gave her a smile that sent her heart flipping.

“Let’s grab our food and eat in my room. I need your help.”

His smile faded. “All right.”

They bypassed the students in line and filled their plates from the teachers’ salad bar. Rowan added a burger and fries before following her to her room. He squeezed his bulk onto a student’s chair. “What’s up?”

“Don’t you want to eat first?” She arched a brow.

“I can eat while you talk.” He picked up the burger.

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