Page 10 of Seaside Cowboy's Fairy Tale

Austin’s arm tightened around his wife. “It won’t happen again.”

He must feel guilty she’d moved here from her modern beach house with its high security and multiple cameras. Rachel had heard he’d disliked the sleek and expensive place, preferring his simple ranch house, and Kennedy hadn’t minded moving here.

Rachel grunted, then frowned. “Well, this place sure doesn’t have any bells and whistles in terms of protection. From what I’ve seen of it, that entrance lock wouldn’t be much of a challenge, either.”

Oops. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so blunt. Unlike Kennedy, who was subtle, tactful, and thoughtful, Rachel often spoke before she thought.

Austin stiffened. “For what it’s worth, the ranch has never had a single break-in before. Even in the tourist season when the local low crime level increases with burglaries and pickpockets on the streets.”

“Huh” was all Rachel could say. Couldn’t he see no one had cared to break in before Kennedy brought her moneyed lifestyle here?

At least, Rachel keptthatto herself. Besides, people in this small town were probably way less cynical than she was. As she searched the room for minuscule traces of mud or fibers, she vowed to do everything she could to help her friend. Besides, the story behind the ring already stirred her interest. Oh, she should’ve asked already, but her tired mind wasn’t as sharp as usual. “Was everything inside the safe insured?”

“Just the heirloom ring.” Holding the puppy with one hand, Kennedy placed her other hand on her husband’s forearm when he winced at her words. “But it’s okay. The rest were just gold chains and a bracelet, much lower in value. They can be easily replaced.”

Rachel suppressed a wince. Kennedy sometimes didn’t realize her privilege, and as untactful as Rachel was, she wasn’t about to remind her. Her previous friendships had never lasted, and she wanted this one to be different.

Unlike Kennedy, all the jewelry Rachel had ever owned consisted of one thin golden chain, and even that one, she’d gotten months after she’d started working in the security business. There were also earrings and a bracelet her sixty-something female boss had given her for different birthdays, but they must be gold plated. Because why would the CEO where she worked give Rachel real gold?

“I know a great company that can install cameras and a security system,” she ventured. “Would you like me to call them?”

Kennedy grimaced. “We hoped we wouldn’t need them in this house. Apparently, we do. I already called someone.”

The puppy squirmed in her arms and demanded to be put down, so Kennedy did just that. The puppy ran to the beagle, who was peacefully stretched in the sunny spot, and nudged him with her nose. The beagle opened one eye and closed it again. The pets got along, but from what Rachel observed, they had different energy levels.

She hid a smile and switched her attention back to the case. “The lock at the entrance didn’t seem broken, and all the windows I’ve checked were locked from inside. I assume that was the case when you found the safe?”

“Yes.” Kennedy nodded.

Hmm, two jewelry thefts in one night. Was it a coincidence? Granted, the MOs were different. This one seemed to be professionally done, and Kennedy was targeted because of her known wealth. The theft at the charity ball had seemed sloppy, brazen, and more like a crime of opportunity.

Or was Rachel wrong? Too bad, she couldn’t discuss it with Tex. Or maybe she just wanted to see him again.

“How did you discover the safe was open?” Rachel searched the floor for any fibers or traces again, this time through the rest of the rooms, though surely the police had already done a much better job than she could. But at least the attempt placated her conscience.

The puppy gave up trying to make the beagle move for now and lay down nearby. That wouldn’t last long.

Kennedy sighed. “I woke up in the middle of the night and remembered I didn’t put away a gold chain as I’d meant to.” Kennedy used to have insomnia but seemed cured at the moment, though she must still wake up at night from time to time.

“So the burglary could’ve occurred one of the previous nights—or rather days.” Rachel frowned. “Um, when did you open the safe previously?”

Kennedy brushed her fingers through her golden hair. “Three days ago. It was locked then. And undisturbed. Two days ago, we went away for the weekend in Charleston and took the dogs with us. That’s when I assume it happened.”

Rachel’s frown deepened. “Who knew you left for a weekend?”

Austin moved forward. “Most of our family. Some people in town. In Port Sunshine it isn’t easy to keep things a secret.”

Indeed. When working for Kennedy, Rachel had discovered there were few secrets here compared to in the city.

After growing up in a larger city, she wondered how it would feel to be part of a small-town community and a rambunctious close-knit family like Austin’s. Maybe she and Kennedy had become cautious friends partly due to their lonely childhoods. “I’ll do what I can. Sorry this happened to you. I hope the new security system will prevent anything like this from occurring again.”

Austin rubbed the back of his neck and ducked his head with a guilty-puppy look. “It’s my fault. I never thought of putting in a security system. Nobody at the ranch had been robbed before.”

So he’d said earlier.

“But now we have been.” Kennedy visibly swallowed. “Because of me.”

“No!” Austin hugged her. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

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