B.J. Daniels - The New Deputy in Town

“No, I don’t. Bo is perfect for me.” Another catch in her voice.

“Still, every bride-to-be gets cold feet,” Laney said.

“Not me.” She’d hesitated. “We’ve had our problems, just like any other couple. But once we’re married things will be different.”

Her cousin didn’t really believe that marriage solved the problems, did she? “Maddie—”

“I’m fine. Really. There is nothing to worry about.”

But Laney had worried.

Now she heard a car and glanced at her watch. Aunt Sarah had called and offered to take some of the desserts for the party to the community center in her van.

Sarah had also helped with the decorations and volunteered to taste treats as was needed over the week.

“Because of your darned sister, I’ve gained ten pounds,” Sarah said as she came into the house.

“I had to refuse to taste another thing,” Laney said. “Laci was giving me a toothache. Is Maddie ready for the party?”

Sarah nodded, her face beaming. “This is so exciting. A party for my baby. Thank you for doing this. I can’t tell you what it means to us.”

“It’s all Laci’s doing,” Laney said, but she could see what it meant to Sarah. She wasn’t so sure about Maddie. She considered broaching her concerns about Maddie to her aunt but Laci came out of the kitchen with a container full of bite-size chocolate-covered cherry cheesecakes, and Sarah began oohing and aahing over them. They were beautiful. And much too pretty to eat.

After Sarah left with the back of her van full, Laney checked her watch again.

“Shouldn’t we be getting over to the community center?” she asked her sister.

Laci was nervously staring through the oven glass. “Just a few more minutes on the caramel puffs. They’re best if served warm. I have the macaroons resting at room temperature.”

Laney shook her head. “Lace, there is no way we’re going to be able to eat all of this.”

A knock at the door surprised them both. Laney thought it might be Sarah back for something. “I’ll get it. You watch your puffs.”

Geraldine Shaw was standing on the porch. She wasn’t dressed for the party. She looked harried and upset as Laney opened the door.

“Where’s Maddie?” Geraldine asked abruptly.

“I don’t know.”

“She was gone when I returned from the post office and my mother’s diamond bracelet is missing,” Geraldine said, looking past Laney. “Are you sure she isn’t here?”

“Yes. She might be at home or at the community center, but I’m sure if the bracelet is missing, Maddie had nothing to do with it.”

“I showed her the bracelet when we were cleaning out some things. When I left, I told her to be sure and put it back in the box.” Geraldine sounded near tears. “It’s gone .”

“I’m sure it’s just misplaced,” Laney said with concern. “Why don’t I call Maddie and see if—”

But Geraldine was already off the porch steps, huffing as she climbed into her car and tore off in a cloud of dust.

A shriek came from the kitchen. Laney went racing in to find her sister hysterical.

“My caramel puffs fell. This is an omen. The party is going to be a disaster.”

Laney calmed down her sister and sent her to get ready. She didn’t have the heart to tell Laci that there were worse problems with the party than some fallen caramel puffs. Not that Laci would appreciate the gravity of the missing bracelet. Not when gravity had ruined her caramel puffs.

WHEN NICK DROVE into Old Town Whitehorse, he was amazed at how many vehicles were parked around the community center. Laci Cavanaugh was right about one thing: the entire county had turned out for the engagement party.

He parked and walked down the road to the center, reminding himself he was on a case—even if not technically on duty. He planned to leave in time to watch the bars tonight in Whitehorse. It was Saturday and if the assailant was true to form, he’d be attacking some poor cowboy before the night was over.

As Nick slipped into the crowded building, the band broke into a country ballad. His best friend would have gotten a real kick out of this.

Just the thought of Danny O’Shay cut like a blade into his heart. Danny couldn’t see this because Danny was dead. And Nick was the reason.

“Deputy Nick Rogers,” said a female voice dripping with sugar. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

A tall, thin middle-aged woman with a braying laugh reached for his hand and shook it vigorously. “I’m Arlene Evans. This party is for my son and his fiancée.”

Bo’s mother. While her son was a nice-looking young man, Arlene Evans was one of those rawboned ranch women.

“And this is my daughter, Violet,” Arlene said as she grabbed the woman’s arm next to her and literally dragged her over. “Violet, say hello to Deputy Rogers.”

Violet Evans gave a meek nod.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Nick said. With Violet it was hard to tell her age. She was as plain as any woman he’d ever seen. She had her mother’s raw-boned look but on a larger frame.

“Deputy Sheriff Rogers is new in town and single,” Arlene said and winked at Nick. “The Whitehorse grapevine.”

Violet stared at the floor, but Nick noticed a flush creep up her neck and several veins pop up prominently. The woman was more than embarrassed.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Titus,” Nick said as the band took a break. As he escaped, he heard Arlene chastising her daughter about not saying something interesting to make Nick stay. This was the woman who’d raised Bo Evans, he reminded himself. It could explain a lot.

“I see you made it,” Titus said and looked past him to the crowd. Titus Cavanaugh was a large, white-headed man with a powerful voice and a strong handshake. “My granddaughters are here somewhere. Quite the turnout. I hope you’ve tried some of Laci’s desserts. She really did go all out, but then that’s Laci. She was born with a spoon in her hand.” He laughed at his small joke.

Nick wanted to ask about Laci and Laney’s parents. He hadn’t heard anything about them. But he didn’t get the chance.

Across the room, he spotted Maddie Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a pale blue dress the same color as her eyes. Even from here he could see that her face was drawn, her freckles seeming to jump out. She looked upset.

He saw that she was listening to something Arlene Evans, her future mother-in-law, was saying. Arlene had a firm grip on Maddie’s arm and seemed to be trying to lead her out the back door.

“Here’s one of my granddaughters!” Titus announced.

Nick turned to come face-to-face with Laney Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a peach-colored dress that fell like water over her curves. Her face had a glow to it that had nothing to do with makeup, and those eyes, those amazing emerald eyes…

Past Laney, he saw Arlene Evans drag Maddie outside.

Nick cursed under his breath. “Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back,” he said to Laney and made his way through the crowd after Arlene and Maddie.

WELL, THAT WENT WELL. Laney tried to hide her disappointment. She’d been looking forward to seeing Nick Rogers all week. In fact, when she’d spotted him talking to her grandfather, she’d made her way through the crowd, too impatient to wait for him to find her.

Or maybe worried he wouldn’t.

Laney wasn’t used to behaving like this. She turned away, fighting the urge to flee. Instead, she went over to the dessert table to see if she could help her sister.

“It’s a success,” Laci announced and sighed. “My first catered party. I can tell you now. I’m opening my own catering business, Cavanaugh Catering, right here.”

“Here?” Laney stared at her sister. Not because this surprised her. The way Laci loved to cook, it was the perfect career choice. “Here in Old Town?”