Page 24 of Bridge to Safety

Rowan threw his truck into park. “Stay here, Rachel.” He shoved his door open and went to stand about six feet from the man. “You’re blocking the road.”

“What do ya know?” He pretended to look around. “I sure am.”

“What do you want?”

“I thought maybe you didn’t understand me when I told you to stay away from my woman.”

“She isn’t your woman. Shiloh can be friends with anyone she wants.”

“Friends?” He tilted his head. “Is that what you are? Well, I don’t believe in men and women being just friends.” He pushed away from his van. “I’ll tell you one more time, Deputy. Stay away.”

“Do you realize I can arrest you for threatening me?” Rowan clenched his jaw.

“People around here don’t go against me. You’d do well to remember that.” He glanced to where Rachel hung out the window of the truck. “Yep. Best to remember.” He climbed into his truck. “Mind moving? You’re blocking my way.”

Rowan moved out of the man’s way, then drove the rest of the way home. At the first opportunity, he’d arrest the man, but he needed to make sure the charges would stick. And when he did arrest the man, he wanted to make sure Duke Larson was locked up for a very long time.

“I don’t like that man, Daddy.” Rachel slid from the truck.

“Neither do I, sweetie, and I want you to stay away from him, okay? Let me know if you see him anywhere near you.”

“Okay.” She skipped up the porch steps.

Before following, Rowan gave a good hard look down his drive. Not seeing any sign of Larson, he entered the house and locked the door before stepping into his office and calling the sheriff.

“He’s threatened you twice, and he’s still a free man?” The sheriff chuckled. “I guess that means you have something up your sleeve.”

“I do.” He told him of his suspicions regarding alleged sexual assaults on several women in Misty Hollow over the years. “I want to find out why these people are so afraid of him, how many victims there are, then I intend to collect enough evidence to rid the town of him. Right now, that means he needs to think he can’t be touched.”

“The fact he’s threatened law enforcement is enough reason to bring him in, but if you want to keep digging, keep a file, and the department will work with you. I’ll give a briefing on Monday to watch Larson without tipping him off.”

“I appreciate that, sir.”

“Word of warning, though.” The sheriff paused. “You have a little girl that man can use as a bargaining chip. Be careful.”

Chapter Ten

Shiloh stowed acooler and an old quilt in the trunk of her car. “Come on, Peanut. Let’s have a picnic.”

The dog tore her gaze from the hill up the road and bounded into the backseat.

As Shiloh drove away from the house, she glanced in the rearview mirror and marveled at the transformation new paint and some boards could do. The house no longer resembled the shack she’d seen on the first day back. Instead, a cozy cottage waited to provide respite at the end of a long day of work. She smiled and waved at the neighbor who had mentioned Duke watching her and headed for the lake. Nothing would mar the beauty of this day—she wouldn’t allow it.

Spotting Duke in the parking lot of the mechanic shop, she drove by without glancing his way. Maybe if she pretended he didn’t exist, he’d realize she meant what she said. There could be nothing between them. He’d ruined that years ago.

She did wave at Rowan sitting in his patrol car. The man had proven to be a great friend. If not for him, she’d still be painting. Friend? She frowned. What if she encouraged him to be more than friends? Did Rowan want a relationship after the death of his wife? Why hadn’t such a handsome man, a wonderful father, remarried? Shiloh shrugged. It was none of her business, although if he did enter the dating world, she wanted on his list. She chuckled. “Hear that, Peanut? Now that I’m settled back into Misty Hollow, I’m dreaming of romance. Pathetic, aren’t I?”

The dog licked the back of her neck, turning the chuckle into a giggle.

“You have been my best investment in years, girl.” She couldn’t imagine life without the silly canine.

The car’s tires crunched as she pulled into the gravel parking lot of Misty Lake Park. She opened the back door to let Peanut out, then retrieved the items from the trunk. “Let’s find the perfect spot to watch the water—hopefully, away from people.” After a week of teaching and days of workmen swarming around her place, she could use a few hours of solitude.

She led the way down a well-worn dirt path until she found a patch of grass near the lake’s shore. The afternoon sun kissed the water with diamonds. A few fishing boats floated in the middle of the lake. Geese swam and fished. She hadn’t seen anything more idyllic in a long time.

After spreading the quilt, she sat and opened the cooler. She poured some water into a bowl for Peanut, then poured herself a drink before leaning back on her elbows to simply be. Closing her eyes, she lifted her face to the sun.

A rustle behind her alerted her to the fact her dog had left the blanket. “Don’t go far. I don’t want to lose you.” Shiloh lay on her side, using her arm as a pillow and watched Peanut nose around in the bushes.

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