Page 21 of Bridge to Safety

“Get your hands off Deacon.” Rowan stepped between them. “Deacon was hired for the job. Sorry if you feel left out, but that’s business, right?”

Anger flashed from his eyes. “I’m the one who’s supposed to do the job.”

“Go on back to your own work. You have a lot on your plate between construction and your mechanic shop. If you get stretched too far, you’ll start to lose favor with the town residents because your work will be affected.”

Duke didn’t look convinced. He looked more like he knew exactly what Rowan was trying to do. “You’re right. I have plenty of other things to do than spend my time on this rundown shack. He who comes from the wrong side of the bridge stays on the wrong side of the bridge.”

Rowan kept his gaze on him as the man climbed into his van. They locked eyes for a few seconds until Duke backed up and turned around, leaving the property.

“The man’s losing it.” Deacon shook his head. “He was going to punch me.”

“I saw that.” He didn’t think Duke would have stopped at only one punch. Spotting Shiloh watching from the corner of the house, Rowan headed her way. “Place is busy.”

“How did you know you were needed here?” She smiled. “Mind reader?”

“No, just making my rounds and added this road to my route. How long has Duke been here?” He started to lean against the porch railing and stopped right before he got paint on his uniform.

“Five or ten minutes. There’s no safe spot outside the house right now. If the kitchen steps weren’t concrete, I’d have no way in and out of my house.” She grinned, obviously not upset about a minor inconvenience. “Thank you for pitching in toward the security system, but I doubt I’ll need something that elaborate.”

“Mr. White insisted.” He’d told Rowan his suspicions about his sister, but without proof, Rowan couldn’t do anything. So, he’d eagerly pitched into the fund to make Shiloh safer. One thing Rowan would do in his spare time was dig into Duke’s past. He’d bet Rachel’s favorite doll there were a lot of Shilohs and Katy Whites. If he could prove who Duke really was to all those who saw him through glazed glasses, he could stop the man from hurting women. Men like him should not be walking the streets—definitely not working on buildings where women lived.

“He’ll come back, you know.” Shiloh set a tree near a partially dug hole.

“At least you’ll see him coming.” He motioned to where the security people were finishing up. “And then there’s ferocious Peanut.” He laughed at her running in and out of the workers’ feet.

Shiloh laughed. “I love her anyway. She’s good company.”

“I need to get back to work. Remember, I’m only a text away.” He flashed her a grin and returned to his car. Rowan parked in the parking lot of Lucy’s Diner and punched Duke’s name into his computer database. If no one ever said anything about the alleged abuse, he wouldn’t find anything. If he struck out here, he’d ask Susan Snodgrass to give him some names. Maybe after all these years, the women would talk.

Why hadn’t they talked? What could a teenage Duke have used to keep girls from alerting the authorities? Why had the town rallied behind him after the deal with Shiloh? Did they love their football that much, or did the Larson family have the power to keep people quiet?

The idea left him feeling like a cast member of some gangster movie—the good guy against the whole town. Laughing, he climbed out of his car and strolled toward the diner. He’d fallen in love with Misty Hollow within the first week of living here. The town wasn’t bad per se. Just some of the people who resided here were trouble, and he was glad he could have a hand in keeping the town safe.

The bell jingled over the door as he entered. The hostess, a girl still in high school, led him to a small table and handed him a menu.

Rowan didn’t need one. He always had whatever the day’s special was.

“That was uncool, man.” Duke exited the small hall that led to the restrooms and stopped at Rowan’s table.

“What was?” He adopted his impassive-cop face.

“Disrespecting me in front of those workers.” He crossed his arms, the sleeves of his shirt straining under the man’s biceps.

“You didn’t belong there. Shiloh Sloan chose somebody else.”

Duke rolled his head on his shoulders, then planted his palms flat on the table. “Shiloh isn’t up for bids. That wouldn’t be very good for the other…bidder.”

“Are you threatening me, Larson?” Rowan straightened to level narrowed eyes at the brute.

“Promising is more like it.” He grinned and clapped Rowan on the shoulder. “The future looks promising indeed.”

Maybe so, but not for Duke. Rowan was going to make sure the man was knocked off his high horse. Rowan did not intimidate. Duke would realize that soon enough.

Chapter Nine

Shiloh handed Deacona check that used half of her savings and stepped back to survey the outside of her house. “Sure looks good.”

A coat of new white paint had done wonders, along with a bright blue front door and shutters and a shiny white metal roof.

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