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Mel admired him for picking his battles. Nancy could be formidable. A self-defense mechanism, no doubt, from losing her only child at a young age.
Funny that Nancy and Dolores had become close. Then again, Dolores was the nurturing kind, taking the lost and lonely into her care. Hadn’t she done that with Mel’s father and, a few hours ago in the restroom, with Mel?
What if she was pregnant? Mel had tried hard to keep the thought at bay, but it crept back every few minutes, shouting, “You can’t ignore me,” in her ear.
As if sensing her distress—was he that tuned in to her?—Aaron glanced her way again. Confused and emotionally overwhelmed, Mel turned and snuck away in search of a quiet place.
Five minutes. That was all she needed. Time enough to collect herself and calm her frayed nerves.
Heading outside the café, she skirted the corner to an old hitching post that was still used today for customers arriving by single horse rather than two hundred of them beneath the hood.
Leaning her forearms on the thick railing, she let the warm breeze blow over her. A thin crescent moon hung in the sky above the mountains, waiting for dusk to fall and the stars to come out. Faint strains of piped-in music drifted to her from the patio.
“Hiding?”
Hearing Aaron’s voice, Mel jumped.
“Are you okay?” He strolled over to her, his eyes roaming her face. “What’s wrong?”
Did he have to look as good in jeans and a cowboy shirt as he did in his uniform? “Just tired. It’s been a long week.”
“You need to take better care of yourself.” He raised his hand and rubbed a knuckle along her jawline. The tender gesture nearly undid her.
It wasn’t like him to break the rules. Her, either. No intimacies away from the motel where they typically met. Boundaries were to be respected.
But, then, she remembered she was two weeks late.
“Aaron.” She suddenly wanted to confess everything. The fact she was late. Her increasing feelings for him. Her constant confusion.
Wasn’t that what couples did? Communicate?
Except, they weren’t a couple. They were sex buddies. At her suggestion and insistence.
“What?” he prodded.
“Nothing.” She pushed off the hitching post. “We should get back to the party.”
At that moment, an older pickup truck going too fast pulled into the parking lot, its tires squealing. Aaron tracked its slightly slower progress to the back row and the only available spaces.
“Someone you know?” Mel asked.
“If it’s who I think it is, I ran into her yesterday.” He was no longer Aaron but Deputy Travers. “Do you recognize the truck?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Just then, she heard the truck door slam and watched a young, slim woman navigate the parked vehicles, purpose in her stride. Rather than enter the café through the main entrance, she went directly to the outdoor patio.
“Maybe she’s someone’s plus one,” Mel mused.
“I’ll be back,” Aaron said, barely acknowledging her.
She’d seen this determination before when he was on the job. Did this stranger have something to do with the horse thefts?
“Wait!” She trotted after him, refusing to be excluded.
She reached the patio moments after Aaron. The young woman stood near the food tables, searching the room. Cupping her hands to her mouth, she shouted, “Where’s Ray Hartman? I need to talk to him.”
For a wild second, Mel thought the young woman was delivering a singing telegram. Except, she didn’t wear a costume. Unless one counted that ratty old ball cap.
“I’m Ray.” Mel’s father, beaming as if he, too, was expecting a birthday surprise, emerged from the crowd, a heaping plate of food in his hands.
“Do you recognize me?”
“’Fraid not.”
“I’m Samantha Egherman.” She glared at him. “Your daughter. I’m here for my share of the lottery money.”
Bursts of laughter vied with gasps of disbelief.
“Who’s that?” someone asked.
“She said she’s Ray’s daughter,” another answered.
“Is this someone’s idea of a joke?”
Mel was convinced she’d misheard the young woman. Then, like everyone else in the room, she looked at her father. His expression wasn’t one of surprise but rather guilt and resignation.
This couldn’t be happening. Samantha Egherman? Mel had never heard the name before.
Her ears started ringing, the sound increasing in volume until it blocked out everything else.
His daughter? That made no sense.
Slowly, Mel’s father set his plate on the nearest table. Facing the young woman, he said, “Samantha,” as if testing her name.
In that instant, Mel knew the outrageous claim was true. She had a half sister. More than that, her father had apparently known and hadn’t told anyone.
Chapter Three
Aaron and the other partygoers watched the train wreck unfolding before them with a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and sympathy for those involved. And, of course, morbid fascination. Ray repeating the young woman’s name was the equivalent of two locomotives colliding. Mel’s startled cry of distress was the first piece of wreckage flying.
Worried by the unsteady way in which she swayed, Aaron pushed past several people to reach her.
“I got you,” he said, grasping her elbow.
“I don’t believe it.” She lifted her face to his. “I don’t want to believe it.”
Well, who would? Discovering you had an eighteen-year-old sibling wasn’t typically on anyone’s bucket list.
“Are you okay? You’re shaking.”
“Okay? You’ve got to be kidding.” She gave a brittle laugh and then bit back a sob.
“I’m happy to see you, Samantha,” Ray said. “Finally. I’ve been waiting a long time.”
The young woman glared at him. “Look. All I want is my money. Then I’ll get out of here.”
Her money? Aaron thought she had some nerve. Make that a lot of nerve. Ray had bought the winning ticket. The money was his to gift to whomever he chose.
“Is she scamming Dad?” Mel obviously didn’t see the resemblance between her and Samantha that Aaron had noticed yesterday.
“Just wait.” He increased his hold on her. “Give them a minute.”
Mel briefly resisted before relenting, which probably had more to do with Frankie’s warning glance than Aaron’s advice.
“Why don’t you have some supper?” Ray offered Samantha a smile. “You must be hungry. Then we’ll go home. Continue this discussion in private.”
“I don’t want any food,” she said, her voice tight.
“All right then.” He turned and addressed the entire room. “Thank you everyone for coming and making this birthday special. Please stay and enjoy all this great food. My...daughter—” he glanced at Samantha “—and I are leaving.”
After that, Aaron couldn’t stop Mel from rushing to join them. Her sisters, Frankie and Ronnie, beat her there.
“Dad,” Mel said, “you don’t have to do this. You have no proof she’s who she says she is.”
“I’m sorry.”
Aaron wasn’t sure which of his daughters Ray was apologizing to and what for.
“Is it true?” Frankie demanded. “Is she our sister?”
Ray’s smile faltered. “We’ll talk about this at home.”
“Yes, it’s true,” Samantha insisted.
“Oh, God.” Frankie blinked rapidly as if that could halt the tears filling her eyes.
“I know you.” Ronnie nudged Mel aside and pointed at Samantha. “I’ve seen you compete. You’re a barrel racer. A national junior rodeo champion. You turned professional this year.”
Being recognized visibly upset Samantha. She didn’t let it faze her, however, and rallied by raising her chin. “I know you, too.”
From the rodeo circuit or as her long-lost sister?
Ronnie must have wondered the same thing, for she asked, “Why didn’t you say something to me when we met before?”
Samantha’s answer was to raise her chin another notch.
People continued to gawk and whisper behind the shields of their hands. A few respectfully inched away. The gaps they left were instantly filled.
Aaron debated whether to don his deputy hat and clear the room or allow things to play out. He wasn’t on duty, no crime had been committed and no one was in immediate danger. Unless Mel’s fragile state counted.
He took a step forward. The hell with this being the Hartmans’ crisis to handle. Mel needed a friend, and he was that first and foremost.
His next step was blocked by Nancy, who held Kaylee’s hand in a death grip. “Let’s go home, Aaron.”
“Not yet.” He wasn’t leaving without talking to Mel.
“Kaylee’s upset.”
He glanced down at his daughter, who stared over her shoulder at Mel’s nieces, a forlorn expression on her face. If she was upset, it was at having to abandon her friends.
It was on the tip of his tongue to chide Nancy for overdramatizing things. Instead, he nodded at their neighbors who were gathering their things.
“There’s Geo and Leslie,” he said. “Why don’t you ask them for a ride home?”
Nancy frowned, not liking the idea. “What about you?”
“I’ll be home soon.” Aaron bent and gathered Kaylee close. “I love you, jelly bean.”
“I wanna stay, Daddy.”
“You’ll see your friends at preschool on Monday.”
Kaylee pouted. In another minute, she’d be whining. In two minutes, she’d be crying.
“I’ll be home in time to tuck you in.” Aaron straightened. He’d been ready to promise, then stopped himself. With the demands of his job, he couldn’t always be where he wanted, when he wanted, and he hated disappointing Kaylee.
Except, this was personal and not work related. He didn’t have to stay.
“Will you tell me a story about Mommy?” she pleaded.
Guilt pricked at him. “Of course.”
Nancy wasn’t the sole keeper of Robin’s memories. Aaron’s stories tended to be less eloquently spun than Nancy’s, but they were told from the heart. He made sure Kaylee knew how much she’d been adored by Robin and how much Robin had been adored by him.
“Bye, Daddy.”
Aaron watched his daughter and Nancy until the patio door closed behind them. By then, thankfully, more guests had left, their tongues wagging, Aaron was sure. A few kindly individuals began clearing tables and packing food. No one had heeded Ray’s invitation to stay.
Mel, her sisters and Ray stood shoulder to shoulder, presenting a united front. Samantha, for her part, didn’t flinch. She either had a lot of nerve or was desperate.
Because he couldn’t just stand around doing nothing, he grabbed a heavy-duty plastic bag and began collecting trash. When Mel noticed him, he mouthed, You okay?
She shrugged limply. Her red-rimmed eyes indicated she’d been crying or trying hard not to.
He wished he could comfort her. Wrap his arms around her. Without conscious effort, he pictured them lying nestled softly together in the aftermath of making love. In those moments, he let himself imagine a life beyond stolen evenings here and there. Unfortunately, the fantasy always vanished the instant he set foot inside his house.
It did now, too, as Samantha continued causing a scene.
“Fine,” she spat out. “I’ll follow you in my truck.” She made for the door, her boots clomping on the concrete floor.
A chagrined Ray hurried after her. He was either escaping the wrath of his wife and daughters or attempting to head off disaster. Perhaps a little of both.
“Are we just going to let them leave?” Mel demanded of her sisters.
“Hell, no,” Ronnie and Frankie chorused.
“Maybe you should give them some time alone,” Dolores said.
The three sisters blinked at her in disbelief.
She crossed her arms. “I’m serious. And you know I don’t usually put my foot down. Ten minutes, then you can go. For now, let’s finish cleaning up.”
“What about the girls?” Frankie asked, more to herself than anyone else. “I can’t just leave them, and I don’t want to take them. For obvious reasons.”
All eyes fell to Dolores, who gave an expansive huff.
“Thank you,” Frankie said, taking the huff as agreement to help.
“We’re not excluding you.” Mel at least sounded apologetic for all of them taking terrible advantage of Dolores.
“Meet you at the house,” Dolores said. “And tell your father to leave me the car. He can catch a ride with one of you three.”
Frankie called after her. “Bring the leftover barbecued beef home. Everything else can be stored in the restaurant cooler.”
Dolores stopped midstep. “Anything else?”
“Um...no.”
Aaron gave Dolores a lot of credit. She was coping very well with a difficult and awkward turn of events no one had seen coming. She also wasn’t protesting when Mel and her sisters took advantage of her generosity. He hoped they let Dolores know how much they appreciated her.
One by one, people were leaving. He supposed he should hit the road as well−−except his legs disobeyed his brain and took him in the direction of Mel. She’d already had a rough time tonight and appeared to have a rougher time in store.
When he neared, she actually brightened as if glad to see him.
“Call me if you need anything,” he said in a low voice. “I don’t care how late it is.”
“Thanks for staying. You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.” Glancing around first to make sure they weren’t being watched—everyone’s attention remained elsewhere—he brushed her hand. “I’m here for you, Mel.”
When he would have walked away, she quickly touched his arm. “That means a lot to me.”
More stolen moments. They were fast becoming not enough.
Outside, the parking lot was considerably less full than earlier. As Aaron crossed it, raised voices drew his attention. In the back row, Samantha stood beside her junkyard truck, its hood raised. Ray was with her, and the two of them argued bitterly.
Aaron hesitated, reminding himself yet again that this was none of his business. If only the law-enforcement officer in him didn’t view the situation differently.
Uttering a low groan of frustration, he changed direction. Mel would probably be mad at him for interfering, but Aaron didn’t feel he had any other choice. Here was a powder keg on the verge of exploding if ever he saw one.
* * *
“IS THERE A PROBLEM?” Aaron asked.
Samantha’s laser-beam glance said butt out.
Ray, on the other hand, responded with relief. “Aaron. Samantha’s radiator is leaking and her truck won’t start. I offered to help.”
What Ray left out, but Aaron had picked up on, was that Samantha refused any assistance.
Aaron inspected the engine, Samantha peering over his shoulder. “I’m assuming you didn’t drop by Conroy’s.”
“I would if I had the money,” she snapped.
Luckily, Aaron had refilled his water jug the previous night. “My vehicle’s parked over there. Be right back.”
“I’ll pay for the repairs.” Ray reached in his pocket for his wallet.
“You got forty thousand dollars in there?” Samantha asked. “Because I figure that’s my share. Two hundred thousand dollars split five ways.”
Aaron wasn’t surprised Samantha knew the amount Ray had won. He’d chosen not to remain anonymous, an option given to winners. As a result, an article had appeared in the local paper, and he’d been interviewed by several TV stations, during which he’d stated his plans for the money. Links to both had made the social media rounds.
In five minutes of online searching, Samantha would have found out everything. Which indicated she’d known about Ray and her sisters or someone else did and told her. Her mother, for instance?
That still didn’t explain why she felt entitled to a share of the winnings. Perhaps Mel had been close to the truth when she accused Samantha of scamming her father. If not that, then something else. Aaron hadn’t trusted Samantha from the moment they’d met.
He also didn’t believe her motives were entirely bad or selfish. She struck him more like a scared kid. He knew from both professional and personal experience fear could drive a person to behave in ways they normally wouldn’t.
“I’ll give you what’s left of the money,” Ray said to her.
“How much is that?”
“Let’s start with the truck repairs.”
By the time Aaron returned with the water jug, Mel and her sisters were flying across the parking lot, bags and containers jostling at their sides. Aaron couldn’t help thinking here came the disaster Ray had attempted to head off.
“What’s going on?” Frankie demanded, out of breath.
Samantha responded as she had before by going stonily silent.
“Nothing.” Ray moved toward the young woman as if to shield her.
It didn’t go unnoticed, judging by Mel’s widening eyes and Ronnie’s narrowing ones.
“You should have told us.” Tears roughened Frankie’s voice. “We had a right to know.”
“Not here,” Ray said. “We’ll talk at home.”
That triggered a loud debate among all the Hartmans. Aaron heard the words “betrayal” and “lied to” uttered more than once.
“Excuse me.” He squeezed past Mel with the heavy water jug. Ray had already removed the radiator cap. Using his pocket flashlight, Aaron verified that the radiator was once again bone dry.
Mel appeared beside him. “You’re helping her?”
“I’m assisting a stranded motorist by filling her radiator with water. Not taking sides.”
“Sorry. This is tough.” She swallowed and looked around. “As you can see, we’re all a bit rattled.”
“Go slow. Try not to make judgments or rush to conclusions. Give your dad and Samantha each a chance to tell their story.”
Mel glanced over at the others, several feet away, and lowered her voice. “I’m not sure who to be angrier at.”
“What you’re feeling is natural. But it’s important you keep listening no matter what.”
“You sound like you’ve been through this before.”
“I worked on the Phoenix police force for eleven years and responded to my share of domestic dispute calls.”
“Is that what we’re having? A domestic dispute?”
He bent, unscrewed the cap on the water jug and lifted it up to the truck. “You’re a family with a problem.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” She watched him as he filled the radiator.
Finishing, he set the jug down and called to Samantha. “Jump in there and give it a try.”
The young woman fled to the truck cab as if she couldn’t get away from the Hartmans fast enough and shoved the key into the ignition. The engine sputtered twice, then started.
“She really does need to get that radiator leak fixed,” Aaron said to Ray.
“I’ll make sure of it.”
Aaron wasn’t the least bit disappointed this gathering was over. His part in it, anyway. Soon, he’d be home and telling Kaylee another story about her mother.
“You two are on a first-name basis?” Mel asked.
“I met her yesterday when her truck broke down on the side of the road.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“There was nothing to tell at the time.”
“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry.” She scrubbed her face with her hands and groaned. “What a mess. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
“I’ve been subjected to far worse.”
“On those domestic dispute calls?”
He was glad to see her mouth curve in the beginnings of a smile and leaned closer. “How you feeling? Stomach still bothering you?”
“Frankly, I forgot about it in all the, um, excitement, shall we say.”
Only a few inches separated them. Aaron shifted his weight, closing the distance to almost nothing. If they were alone, and oh how he wished they were, he’d gather her into his arms and kiss her over and over until he’d driven every thought of their respective families from their minds.
“What’s going on here?”
They sprang apart, separated by Ray’s voice and the surprise lacing it. Turning, they found not only Ray but Mel’s sisters staring at them.
“Dammit,” Aaron said under his breath. This was his fault. He should have been more careful. He and Mel had been getting laxer and laxer lately.
“Dad,” she started, then faltered.
They were spared from having to explain whatever it was her family thought they saw when Samantha’s truck suddenly quit running. Her attempts to start it again resulted in a horrible grinding sound.
“Shut it off,” Aaron hollered, afraid continued effort might result in severe damage.
Samantha scrambled out of the truck. Her mouth was set in an identical stern line Aaron had seen all three Hartman sisters wearing earlier. He was beginning to think looks weren’t the only quality they had in common.
By now, evening had given way to night. Above their heads, the parking lot lights flickered and crackled with an electrical hum. A few daring nighttime insects ventured down from the lights. One had the nerve to tangle in Samantha’s hair.
She swatted at it furiously. “What now?”
“I’ll call Conroy’s in the morning,” Ray said. “He’ll send the tow truck. You can leave your truck here. No one will bother it.”
“And in the meantime?”
“Where are you staying?”
Samantha hesitated, wilting a little under the pressure of being scrutinized. “The inn.”
Morning Side Inn, like a lot of establishments in the community, was horse friendly. Behind the main building, the owners had constructed a corral and dirt RV lot for guests to use during their stay, which explained what Samantha had done with her horse and trailer.
The inn was also expensive. If she couldn’t afford to pay for her truck repairs, she certainly couldn’t afford to stay at the inn for long.
“I can drop you off there later tonight,” Ray said. “Once we’ve finished talking.” He fished his keys from his pocket. “Let’s meet at the house. Samantha, you can ride with me and Dolores.” He turned in a circle and frowned, suddenly realizing his wife had been missing all along.
“No way am I riding with you,” Samantha stated frimly. “I’ll walk to the inn. It’s not far from here.”
“I think we should talk tonight,” Ray insisted. “The sooner the better.”
She scrunched her mouth to the side, debating what to do. Suddenly, she pointed at Aaron. “I’ll ride with him.”
Reactions ranged from surprise to displeasure to resistance. Aaron didn’t blame them. He’d already intruded enough on what was a private matter. Besides, someone else needed him more. “I can’t take you. My daughter’s expecting me home any minute.”
“What if I drive you?” Frankie asked Samantha.
The young woman raised her chin like before. “If he doesn’t take me, I’m not going.”
Aaron had witnessed this same stubbornness in Mel, usually when she refused to give up on a sick or injured animal. Also, the one time he’d broached the subject of them dating like a regular couple.
She’d insisted what they had suited them both. Why complicate matters? Lately, he’d been thinking he should have argued more. She deserved better than what they had, even if she didn’t believe so. And he had started wanting more, even if he refused to admit it.
Their gazes briefly connected, and he wondered if she also ever reconsidered their arrangement.
“This is probably best handled by your family,” Aaron said to Samantha.
“They’re not my family,” she contradicted him. “I already have one. My mom and dad and two brothers.”
Again, everyone except Ray seemed taken aback by the news, eyes widening and jaws going slack. What other secrets was he keeping?
Mel was the first to speak. “Maybe you should drive her to Dad’s house. We certainly can’t keep standing here all night.” Before Aaron could refuse, she added, “I’ll go with you.”
No one brought up the obvious. As deputy sheriff, Aaron was familiar with the town and didn’t need directions. Could Mel be trying to find time alone with him? As alone as they could be with another person sitting three feet away.
That wasn’t why Aaron ultimately agreed to drive Samantha. It was the scared look on her face. She was a kid in trouble, though no one else apparently saw it. If his daughter ever needed help, he hoped a responsible and trustworthy person like himself stepped in.