Page 28 of Shelter from the Storm

“You’re giving away more of my cake?” Manny asked, aghast.

Edith chuckled. “It’s Gretchen’s cake.”

Gretchen visibly relaxed, and even managed a weak smile.

Until Edith returned with Sheriff Jacob Anderson in tow.

Theo swore Gretchen’s pale complexion faded four shades, until she was ghostly white. She took a couple steps backward, clearly intent on going back to the kitchen. She was forced to halt when Edith called out to her.

“Gretchen, I want you to meet Jacob Anderson, Gracemont’s sheriff. Jacob, this is the young lady I was telling you about earlier. She’s starting work at Stormy Weather Farm on Monday.”

Gretchen hovered in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, and Theo would bet every cent he had to his name that she wasn’t walking toward the sheriff because her legs wouldn’t carry her.

She wasn’t visibly trembling, but Theo had caught the previous glimpses of fear in some of Gretchen’s reactions—to his loud laughter, to him swiping at the bee. She’d flinched in fear, even whimpered.

But both of those times were nothing compared to this—what he was witnessing now was absolute terror.

“Nice to meet you, Gretchen.” Sheriff Anderson walked over to shake her hand.

Gretchen swallowed deeply, then—impressively—managed to put her hand out without it shaking…much. “You too.” Her voice was thin, but luckily, the sheriff and Edith didn’t notice.

Sheriff Anderson had a well-known sweet tooth, so Theo was under no illusion the man would have stopped by to meet a newcomer to town if the promise of cake hadn’t been included. That was confirmed when he instantly turned away from Gretchen, rubbing his hands together excitedly when he caught sight of the three-layer chocolate cake sitting on the sideboard.

“I’ve been thinking about this cake ever since you invited me this morning, Edith.”

She sliced the sheriff a big hunk of cake, setting it in front of him at one of the open spaces at the table. Sheriff Anderson dug in with gusto, muttering what Theo assumed was “yes, please” when Edith asked if he’d like a cup of tea.

Gretchen stepped aside as Edith went into the kitchen. She remained there, her eyes darting toward the sheriff, then away.

Theo wondered what had her so spooked. He’d heard of people who were afraid of cops, but he’d never seen anyone have such a visceral reaction to someone in uniform.

Of course, Jacob Anderson had been the sheriff of Gracemont’s tiny law enforcement department since God was a baby, and the man was as gentle and jolly as they came. He’d played Santa at the town’s annual holiday celebration for so long, even Theo had sat on his lap as a young kid and told him what he wanted for Christmas.

No one in Gracemont was afraid of Sheriff Anderson, because there wasn’t a single scary thing about the guy, except for the gun on his belt that Theo had never seen out of its holster. Most folks in town liked to joke that it wasn’t even a real gun, just a prop for show, because it certainly hadn’t ever been used as intended.

“Gretchen.” Theo stepping close to her.

She startled at his voice, clearly so distracted by the sheriff she hadn’t seen him approach.

“I…” She licked her lips. “I have a bit of a headache coming on.” She watched Sheriff Anderson plow through his first slice of cake before he and Manny both went back for seconds. “I might go up to my room now. Will you tell Edith for me?”

She was determined to make a quick escape. Theo was tempted to tell her Sheriff Anderson was harmless, but he didn’t think it would matter if he did.

“I’ll tell her,” he promised.

She didn’t even say goodbye to Sheriff Anderson or Manny, who were too busy happily humming their way to chocolate bliss to realize she’d gone.

Edith frowned when she returned from the kitchen with a fresh pot of tea in her hands.

Theo stepped next to her. “Gretchen had a headache. She went upstairs.”

She glanced toward the staircase, confused. “She seemed fine a few minutes ago.”

Theo didn’t want to voice his opinion about her being afraid of the sheriff in case he was wrong, or in case Sheriff Anderson overheard him.

Edith put the teapot on the table. “Manny, pour the sheriff a cup of tea for me, will you?” She returned to the kitchen for a moment. When she came back, she handed Theo a bottle of water and some Tylenol. “Will you run those up to her?”

Theo nodded, climbing the stairs. Gretchen’s door was closed, but he could hear the opening and closing of drawers. He knocked, trying to catch her before she started undressing for bed.

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