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  Emma stopped on the stamped concrete walkway, and he gave her an assessing look. Since he wasn’t wearing a uniform, the belt holding his gun and badge were the only evidence he was in law enforcement. Unless, Emma thought, you took in his demeanor. He had that air of authority most cops wore. She shifted uneasily under his scrutiny. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “There are many answers to that question, but right now I’d have to say it’s those big eyes of yours. They’ve hooked me.”

  He looked unconcerned when she frowned at him.

  “Look, I appreciated the coffee yesterday, but that doesn’t mean we’re buddies.” Emma fought to keep emotion out of her voice. “It’s not personal but I don’t like cops, and having a run-in with a cop will ruin my beautiful morning.”

  He glanced around. “You’re right about one thing at least, it is a beautiful morning. And there’s no way I want to be buddies with you.”

  He brought his gaze back to focus on her and she had an inkling his affability was a pretense, that his innate intensity was tamped down, tethered close beneath the surface.

  “But the other thing,” he continued, “that you don’t like cops? I’d like to know why, so I know what I’m up against.”

  “You’re not up against anything. My past has nothing to do with you.” Emma hoped he didn’t notice the waver in her voice. “You’re the police chief. I’m a law-abiding citizen. We should have about zero need to run into each other.”

  He laughed, and her heart stuttered. She really liked that grin of his. “Emmaline, one detail you should know about me is I simply can’t resist a puzzle. I like puzzles. I like looking at them from all angles until I figure them out. And right now you’re a puzzle in a very attractive package. We’ll be running into each other regularly. You can count on it.”

  Torn between a simmering attraction and an ingrained fear of the police, she gave a frustrated sigh. “Please leave me alone.”

  He lifted his hands and took a step back, all humor draining from his expression. “Look, if you really don’t want a relationship with me, I’ll have to accept that. I won’t like it, but I’ll accept it. But if it’s because I’m a cop, I’d ask you to reconsider. You can’t condemn all cops because of something in your past.”

  Relationship? He wanted a relationship with her? Emma felt like she was looking over the edge of a steep cliff, and one misstep would send her tumbling over. Maybe he didn’t mean that type of relationship. Regardless, what he’d said made her feel small and petty. He’d been upfront with her and shown her nothing but honesty and decency. And he was right, she was judging him because of the actions of another.

  “You’re right. I’m not sure about this relationship business, but I’m not being fair to judge you because you’re a cop.” She heaved out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I need to go.”

  When she would have walked off, he reached for her hand. “Wait a second. We need to talk.”

  She stopped. His calloused fingers held hers loosely and lazily he rubbed his thumb across her palm. His gentle stroke must have a hypnotizing effect because she wanted to stand there all day with him doing exactly that.

  “Relax,” he told her before nodding to a man who called, “Hey, Chief,” on his way into the building. The guy hardly lifted a brow at the police chief holding a woman’s hand in front of city hall, but Emma could feel her cheeks flush.

  Shaking her head in confusion, she muttered, “This isn’t right.”

  His expression turned inscrutable. “Look beyond the job, Emmaline. Look at me.” A flicker of vulnerability she would never have associated with him crossed his face.

  “I’m trying.” She must be, because the signals Brad found her attractive were coming at her loud and clear. And instead of reacting with revulsion, a thrilling heightened awareness, an almost electric connection, arced between them. “You confuse me.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, you’ve thrown me for a loop, too.”

  Their gazes locked and Emma wondered if this was what it was like touching a live wire and being unable to let go.

  “What on earth are you doing to this child, Bradley? She’s not under arrest, is she?” A woman’s voice, sharp with annoyance, spoke from behind him.

  Ripping her gaze from Brad’s, Emma looked past his shoulder into frosty-blue eyes. The woman, sleek and sophisticated, was dressed in a stylish, trim, professional suit with white lace peeking provocatively from her cleavage. Her auburn hair was styled in a complicated twist with curling tendrils that framed a striking face. Suddenly, Emma wished she’d done more than pull on jeans and a jacket.

  Brad turned to face the woman. “No, Marla, I’m not arresting her. We’re having a conversation.”

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” The woman stepped closer to Brad, attention focused on him. Emma caught a whiff of expensive perfume.

  She heard Brad stifle an impatient sigh, but he let go of Emma’s hand. “Fine,” he said. “Marla Banks, this is Emmaline Kincaid. She’s Walt Kincaid’s granddaughter.” There were undercurrents between the two that made Emma wonder if they had history. “Emma, this is Marla Banks. She works in city hall.”

  The smile Marla gave looked practiced and professional. “Oh, Brad. You can tell her I’m the mayor.” She shifted her gaze from Brad to focus on Emma. “We should talk sometime, Ms. Kincaid. Our chief here didn’t mention that I’m also a real-estate broker. Your grandfather didn’t see the full potential of his property with those little cabins. I’m sure we can find you a buyer so you can get back to your life.”

  Telling herself that condescension made the woman look small and insecure, Emma forced her voice to remain calm. “I don’t plan on going back to LA. I’m going to operate the business my grandfather started and stay in Hangman’s Loss.”

  The mayor raised well-groomed eyebrows. “Oh, I don’t think you understand how tough it is to make it in this economy. And not everyone is cut out to live in the mountains.” Marla’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She dipped a hand into a stylish purse and brought out a small case. She pulled out a business card to hand to Emma. “Here’s my card. Feel free to contact me for any advice or help.” She turned her attention to Brad. “I’ll expect you at the city council meeting Thursday night, Bradley.”

  “I haven’t missed one yet, Marla.”

  The mayor strode toward city hall, clipped heels echoing on the walkway, while Emma considered the man standing in front of her. She wondered if Marla had felt the edginess radiating from him. “I’ve got some more errands to take care of, so good-bye.”

  “Wait, I need to talk to you.”

  Emma looked at him skeptically.

  “This time it’s not personal.”

  “There’s nothing personal between us.” Emma felt like she was losing ground where Chief Gallagher was concerned. Whenever she staked a claim of distance or disinterest between them, she felt the earth shift and slide beneath her.

  At her baffled look, he said, “Let’s take a walk.” He led the way down a gravel path that bordered the parking lot. A sturdy bridge spanned a wide creek Emma guessed must come from the lake. He stopped in the middle of the bridge. “This is as good a spot as any.”

  The beauty of the place wasn’t lost on Emma. Calmer, she leaned over the rail to peer into the fast-moving stream. Fish darted in the current while a blue jay called from tree branches high over the water. Light danced among dark shadows where the sun filtered through fluttering leaves.

  She glanced up when Brad rested his elbows against the rail next to her. “You hired Dory Calderon.” At her scowl he raised a hand. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have, but you need to know she comes with issues.”

  Emma responded with some heat. “Dory told me some about her husband. It’s not hard to read between the lines to guess that he abused her. Maybe Adrian, too. I know he may come after her. That’s all the more reason to give her a job, and a place to stay.”

  “We’re on the
same side, sweetheart. I know how ugly it got, so never doubt that I want them both safe.” His intensity reached out to her like something tangible. “The neighbors called nine-one-one last week. Rodrigo lost it.” He went on grimly. “I’d been trying to get her to press charges for a while, but she wouldn’t do it. Not until he hit the boy.”

  “Oh God.” Emma closed her eyes for a long moment. When she opened them again, she said, “At least she did then. Did you arrest him?” Emma’s heart hurt for little Adrian. She knew the feeling of being powerless better than she wished.

  “Yeah, but he made bail. Dory took out a restraining order and I convinced Rodrigo to visit his brother in Sacramento until his hearing.”

  Emma felt Brad’s attention on her as she gazed into the creek.

  “He’ll be back, Emmaline. My bet is he’ll come looking for Dory and Adrian despite the restraining order. I’ll be on the lookout for him. My officers know about the restraining order and that she and the boy are with you at the resort. But I wanted you to know what’s going on, and be aware of who’s coming around your place.

  “Emmaline.” He paused until she raised her eyes to his. “If anything, and I mean anything, makes you nervous, you call me.”

  Despite her reluctance, Emma nodded her agreement.

  She heard him blow out a breath. “Sweetheart, when Walt died, he had some things to get off his chest. He told me a bit about his daughter. He felt she had made her choices and had to live by the consequences. His biggest regret was he couldn’t help you.” Brad laid a hand on her shoulder and Emma looked up. “You’re not a helpless child anymore, and I won’t let Rodrigo hurt you or Dory.”

  “Cops say that, but sometimes they can’t do anything about it. Sometimes cops hurt people, too.”

  “You can trust me.”

  “That’s hard.”

  ***

  Brad studied Emma’s profile as she leaned over the rail to look at the creek. “You have a few more minutes?”

  “Maybe.”

  He grinned. He was beginning to find the wary expression that she adopted as his own special challenge. “Want to take a ride?”

  “Ride where?”

  “Around the area. Have you seen more of Hangman’s Loss than Main Street?”

  “Not really. I’ve been pretty busy.”

  “Then come with me. I’d like to show you around.”

  Her brow furrowed like she was mentally weighing the pros and cons of his offer, then she smiled, and said, “Sure, I’d like that,” and Brad felt like he’d won the lottery.

  “Great. Car’s around back.” He led the way to the parking lot. Her steps faltered when they approached the police department SUV with the Hangman’s Loss noose logo on the door.

  “Does it bother you to ride in a police cruiser? I can get my truck.”

  She gave a definitive shake of her head. “I’m fine.” Whatever demons were haunting her, she was doing her best to fight them.

  Once they were both buckled in, he steered onto Main Street. Meandering through Hangman’s Loss, he pointed out places he thought she might be interested in. The cemetery on the hillside with its markers reflecting the town’s history, an old brick building that housed an antique shop and was the oldest structure in the area. They passed the park at the northern end of the lake, and he motioned to a clump of trees. “In there’s the tree where the posse readied a noose to hang a man accused of murder.”

  “I remember my grandfather telling me the story. He escaped, right?”

  “Hence the name ‘Hangman’s Loss.’ Good thing, since it turned out they had the wrong guy.” He pointed to the cluster of buildings surrounded by tall pines. “That’s the high school. Because most of the locals graduated from Loss High, there’s a lot of local interest in school activities, in the sports teams and such.”

  “I bet you played baseball.”

  He lifted a brow. “What gave it away?”

  “You’re long and lean, which works well with baseball. Or track and field.”

  “You were right with the first one. The newest thing is the mountain bike team. Kids seem to like that.”

  He drove to the far side of the lake, where the ski lifts snaked up the mountain. “We didn’t have a lot of snow this winter so the ski season ended early. Some years the lifts operate well into June.”

  “Do you ski?”

  “Sure. I get season passes every year. You?”

  She shook her head. “That’s a rich man’s sport.”

  “It doesn’t have to be. The passes can be a little pricey, but it’s easy to find secondhand gear in good condition. Our resort is one of the more reasonably priced in the Eastern Sierras.”

  He liked showing her his hometown. The people, the town itself with its unique history, were important to him, and he wanted to share them with her.

  He glanced at her profile as she gazed out the window. “Confession time,” he said. He was going for it.

  The guarded expression was back. “Okay.”

  “I’ve met you before.”

  Now she really looked confused. “What? When I stayed with my grandfather during the summers? I don’t remember you.”

  “No.” He circled back around the lake, taking the highway past the cabins and his own driveway, climbing steadily as they left Hangman’s Lake behind. “Through your letters. The ones you wrote to Walt? He read them to me.”

  “You’re kidding me.”

  “Nope, not kidding. When he was sick, I stopped by almost every day. He caught me looking at a photo he had of you. The next time I came by, he had this thick bundle of letters. He started with the earliest ones, and read them all to me. So I met you through your letters to your grandfather.”

  “That feels a little strange. I don’t know anything about you, but you know quite a bit about me.”

  “That’s why I wanted to tell you. Walt loved you, and I think it made him feel closer to you by reading through those letters. He wanted me to know you, too.”

  She nodded, and stared out the window. He didn’t miss that she wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve. They rounded a curve and she drew in a sharp breath as they dropped into a wide valley hazed with the green of early spring. Wildflowers dotted grassy meadows and cattle grazed behind wire fencing; snowy peaks rose in the distance.

  To the east, a ranch house with a slate roof looked over a red barn, horses grazing in a nearby pasture. Brad didn’t think it would have looked any different a hundred years ago. He glanced over to gauge Emma’s reaction. He’d wanted to show her this valley simply because to him, it was one of the most beautiful spots on earth.

  “Wow, this is gorgeous. I’ve never come up here before. Those summers I spent with my grandfather, we mostly stayed around the resort. I love it there, but this is simply stunning.”

  He pointed to a ranch overhead sign. “That’s the Broken Arrow, run by Eli MacElvoy. Besides cattle, he raises some of the finest quarter horses in the state.”

  A dusty pickup came up the gravel road from the Broken Arrow at about the same time Brad pulled the cruiser around in a U-turn to head back into town. He waved to the driver of the truck, who rolled down his window. Brad rolled down his and stopped his vehicle alongside.

  “Hey there, Eli.”

  “Brad. Chasing criminals up this way?”

  “Just out for a drive. How’s the Circle M taking the fact that you’re not selling the easement?”

  The other man scooped his hair back off his forehead. “Everything’s quiet right now. We’ll see if it stays that way.”

  “If it helps any, I think you made the right decision.”

  Eli gave him a wry grin. “Tell that to Captain Morgan.” He waved, and drove away in a cloud of dust.

  At Emma’s questioning look, Brad said, “Jack Morgan’s family owns the Circle M. A developer wants to buy their land at the end of the valley and put in a resort and spa deal, but they can’t do it without Eli’s cooperation because his land is in the way.�
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  “So neighbors are fighting neighbors.”

  “I hope not literally, but yeah, there’s some bad blood.”

  Brad steered the SUV back to City Hall and parked next to Emma’s Toyota. He considered asking if she would join him for lunch, but figured that’d be pushing his luck.

  He got out of the cruiser and circled the vehicle as Emma stepped out. She looked undecided, then offered her hand to his already outstretched. “Thank you for the tour. You were right, there’s a lot I don’t know about the area.”

  His hand engulfed hers, and he had to force himself not to keep hold. “There are day hikes to alpine lakes that are worth seeing. We should do that sometime.”

  He called it a win when she didn’t immediately say no.

  Chapter Six

  Emma spent the evening sifting through papers and odds and ends in her grandfather’s desk. Memories of him sitting here, where she sat now, his old chair making creaky noises whenever he moved, made her smile. He’d been so pleased whenever she’d been able to spend a summer with him. She leafed through records, hoping to find if he had regulars she could notify that the cabins would be open for the summer season. A letter from Great Mountain Development caught her attention. The company had presented an offer to purchase the resort property for what Emma considered a low-ball price. There were also stacks of unopened envelopes, several from Great Mountain and some from other organizations. It looked like business details had been neglected when her grandfather had gotten sick. Emma set the letters aside to read later.

  In a bottom drawer she found several large envelopes. She opened the first and several glossy photos tumbled out. Most were of her from the summer after she graduated high school and her grandfather had been playing around with an old camera. At eighteen she had worn her hair in braids. She looked happy, her head capped by that silly fisherman’s hat Walt had given her and she’d worn every day that summer. Every visit had been a contest of wills with her mother. Defying her to visit her grandfather had been hard, but she had spent those wonderful summers free from the drama that was life with Trudy.