Page 13 of Bridge to Safety

Rachel leaped up from her table and dashed toward him. “My teacher won’t let me call Shiloh…Shiloh.” Her brow furrowed.

“Are you supposed to be out of your seat?” He arched a brow.

“No, but no one will say anything because you’re a deputy.”

He cleared his throat. “Don’t use me as an excuse to misbehave. Go sit down while I get my lunch. And, at school, you will call Shiloh, Ms. Sloan.” He kissed the top of her head and went to purchase the day’s offering.

The cafeteria ladies let him eat from the teacher’s salad bar and heaped his plate with more than he could usually eat despite his protests. They also refused to let him pay, so he added money to a child’s account that had a negative balance. A win-win for everyone. Doing his best not to go deaf from the noise, he sat next to Rachel and listened to her prattle on about this kid or that, the third-grade bully, and her class’s pet guinea pig. “I can’t wait until it’s my turn to bring it home over the weekend.”

Well, he could wait.

“Can you please tell my teacher to let me visit Shiloh’s room at least twice a day?” Rachel patted his arm.

“No, I will not. She’s working, and you’re learning.”

She gave a dramatic eye roll. “But I can help her, Daddy.”

“Not this time.” He finished eating, kissed his daughter’s cheek, and went back to work. Rowan drove past the mechanic garage, relieved to see Duke in the bay working on a vehicle. He wouldn’t take kindly to finding out about Deacon. Not if he truly thought Shiloh wanted him around, which any fool could see she didn’t.

Duke glanced over and scowled.

Rowan tossed a wave and continued, not wanting to antagonize the man and make things worse. By three-thirty, he pulled into the car line at school to pick up his daughter on time. She reminded him every morning when he dropped her off that he’d forgotten her on the first day of school last week. He waved at Shiloh who was moving students to their proper places and smiled as Rachel climbed into the backseat. “I did good today, didn’t I?”

“Let’s see if the good behavior lasts.” She hooked herself into her booster seat.

The words that came from his daughter’s mouth kept him entertained on a daily basis. She reminded him of her mother so much it hurt. His gaze fell on Shiloh. But, there might be someone to fill the hole in his heart.

~

Duke watched from the safety of his van as Deacon Jones studied the roof of Shiloh’s house, then continued around until he returned to the front.

She waited for him on the front porch that obviously someone had already been working on. The deputy, no doubt. Why hadn’t she taken Duke seriously about letting him fix the house? He wouldn’t charge her any money. After all, once the house was complete, and she realized they belonged together, he’d move in. Now, he had another problem to get rid of. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, accidentally hitting the horn. Neither Shiloh nor Deacon glanced his way.

“Can I help you?” A young man carrying a bag of garbage approached his van.

“No, thank you.”

“Are you lost?”

“Just taking a break.”

“Okay.” He didn’t look convinced, but dropped the bag into the garbage can and returned to the house.

When Deacon finally left Shiloh’s house, Duke turned the van around and followed the man home. As Deacon unlocked the door, Duke hurried to stand behind him. “I’ve a word to pick with you.”

“Oh?” Deacon pivoted to face him, his eyes wide. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a man, Duke. I could’ve been armed.”

“You going to work on the Sloan house?”

“Yes. I’ll start this weekend on the roof.”

“That’s a good idea.” Duke crossed his arms.

“Why not? We’re the only two contractors in town. There’s plenty of work to go around, and you’re busy with the garage.”

“Not that busy. Shiloh is my girl. I’ll fix the house.” Heat rose up his neck.

“If she’s your girl, then why hire someone else?” He squared his shoulders. “I’ve always wondered about her story all those years ago. Maybe she was right.”

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