A Family For The Sheriff. Elyssa Henry

broke out all over the church except, of course, from Tommy and his family and friends. Tommy turned an angry, defiant face to the crowd then walked out of the church.

      “If there are any more questions, I’ll be happy to answer them as best I can,” Joe said.

      “Whew!” Amý gasped. “That was tense!”

      Maria knew Tommy wouldn’t give up that easily. If he couldn’t win fairly, he would find another way.

      The rest of the meeting went quickly. People stood and talked for a while over coffee and cookies provided by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

      “Maria!” David Martin came up to her. He kissed her cheek and hugged her close. “You’ve lost some weight!”

      Maria glanced at the man who stood just behind him, then smiled into David’s gentle blue eyes.

      “Just baby fat,” she countered. “How are you doing?”

      “Fine. Deidre sends her love, and the boys are always after us to bring them out to play with Sam. How is he?”

      “Just fine. He won second place in the science fair,” she told him, acutely aware of Joe standing there, listening to them.

      “I want you to meet someone,” David said, bringing the new sheriff forward. “I told him that, of everyone in Gold Springs, he could depend on you. Joe Roberts, this is Maria Lightner. She’s the widow of the man who was constable here for ten years. Josh and I were very good friends.”

      “We’ve met.” Joe nodded and smiled slowly at her. “Nice to see you again.”

      “You did quite a job tonight,” she told him. “Getting Tommy Lightner to shut up is nothing short of a miracle.”

      David laughed. “I was telling him the same thing. Is Tommy still running after you?”

      Maria glanced at the floor, wishing David didn’t have to tell all her secrets at once.

      “You know Tommy,” she said, hedging. “He doesn’t know when to quit.”

      “I have to go.” David kissed her again quickly. “Come to dinner one Sunday with Sam. Don’t forget.”

      “I’ll call Deidre,” she promised.

      Mike Matthews came over, nodded to Maria, then held out his hand to the new sheriff. “Anything I can do, Sheriff.”

      “Thanks,” Joe replied, taking his hand. “I can use all of your experience, Mike.”

      “Don’t let those Lightners rile you.” He glanced at Maria cautiously. “Ma’am.”

      Alone in the corner of the church together, they looked away from one another and watched the crowd around them.

      “People are pretty intense about the Lightners, good and bad,” Joe remarked finally.

      Maria nodded and smiled. “They’re a hard family to ignore. You either love them or you hate them.”

      He regarded her intently. “David said your husband was a good man.”

      “He was,” she replied simply, then put her empty paper cup into the trash. “I have to be going, Sheriff. I hope it works out for you.”

      “Thanks. Can I give you a lift for a change?”

      “No, thanks. My truck is out front.”

      “I’d at least like to walk you out,” he answered as though he’d anticipated her reply. “There’s something I’d like to ask you.”

      “All right,” she consented, curious. Her heart suddenly started pounding again, and her mouth felt dry. What could he want?

      Outside the night had grown cool. There was a hint of frost in the air, although cold weather wouldn’t visit them for at least a month or so.

      The door closed behind them, leaving the parking lot outside the small church barely illuminated by the mercury vapor light a few doors down.

      “The only time you see this many cars here,” Maria remarked with a laugh, “is Founder’s Day. You’re famous, Sheriff.”

      “I think that might be infamous,” he admitted, walking beside her. “It’ll pass.”

      “Most of it,” she agreed. “The Lightners won’t forget.”

      “I’ll deal with them, too,” Joe said quietly.

      “Well, here we are.” Maria put her hand on her truck door. “It wasn’t much of a walk.”

      “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he said, leaning against the side of the battered pickup. “I’d like to see you. You can bring Sam, if you like. Maybe you could show me some of the sights, and I could buy you dinner.”

      “I don’t date.” She gave him the standard answer she’d used many times.

      Her hands were trembling. She didn’t look at him as she spoke. She was afraid that he might see that yeaming that welled up in her suddenly at the idea of spending time with him. It might have been dark but her imagination made that desire feel like a hot, golden glow inside of her.