Precisely at noon, the sheriff showed up clean and smelling rather sweet in a blue suit. The suit seemed to bring out the gray of his eyes. His smile beamed at her, displaying perfect teeth. She liked a man that groomed himself. Her nerves were jangled. A black hat finished his appearance. It looked as though he could veil his thoughts with his so-long lashes.
Jo Ella had donned a lovely flowered peach dress, homespun and more to keeping with what the town women wore. She didn't want to stand out, but wanted to fit in more than anything.
Harry escorted her to the buggy. It must have been a rented one from the stables as it was very luxurious.
"This is a fine looking buggy," she said in an alarming soft voice that had him taking another look at her.
His lashes cast a shadow over his cheeks, but a slight smile played at his sensual lips.
It dawned on her that the sheriff was courting her, and all the towns people were smiling at them as they rode about. He pointed out all the local businesses, which didn't amount to much, and then they headed out of town.
He smiled and waved at people as they drove by, but this smile was different from the one she received. This smile was to appease the gossips.
"Where are we going?" Her voice sounded breathless.
"On a picnic, of course." He said charmingly. The way he glanced at her from time to time showed he was definitely interested in her. The way he explained this excursion was that he was showing her around. But the look in his eyes said much more.
Jo Ella began to relax, and he pointed out several spots of interest. The fresh country air hit her as soon as they were out of town. The seldom used road made the land look so untouched, except by nature itself. Blue bonnets peppered the fields, along with buttercups and Indian Paints. An occasional oak or pecan tree dotted the rich grassland valley.
"You really have a lovely town." She tried to think of something else to say. "And it's beautiful out here. I seldom take the time to enjoy the countryside. I don't know why, I love to be outdoors."
"This area is owned by the big ranchers. The properties are all well cared for." He stopped the buggy and motioned to a big pecan tree in the distance. "Let's put our quilt over there, in the shade."
"Of course. " She waited for him to help her down. As her feet touched solid ground once more, she noticed him staring at her. "Is something wrong? Do I have my dress on backwards?"
"Why no, of course not. It's just that I’m not often escorting the prettiest girl in town about." He smiled again, and she noticed the smile was more relaxed now, more natural. Was the big tough sheriff actually a shy man around women? If so, how did he get the nerve to ask her out here? "In fact, I can't remember the last time I escorted any female."
"I'm honored. Are you originally from Veda, sheriff?" She picked the basket up and tried to ignore the compliment.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered curtly. "Born here, raised here, and I guess I'll remain here the rest of my life. It's home. And you might even find me boring because of it."
"You sound as though you regret living here." She glanced up to read his expression, but he guarded it with that shy smile.
"In some ways, I do. Deep down, I have an itch to see more of the world, but family means a lot to me. My mother is here. I was born here. My friends are here. It would be hard now to move on. I should have done that years ago."
He spread the quilt and took the basket from her. She glanced around, then sat down on the quilt and waited until he did. Only he stood staring again.
"You keep staring at me. I feel as though something is wrong or out of place."
"No, it's just you look a little familiar." He squinted from the sun then joined her on the blanket. "A pretty girl like you, you'd think I could place you easily enough."
"Now, sheriff that's rather an old line, don't you think?"
He sent her a crooked smile. "I'm a little out of practice in courting a lady."
"Is that what you are doing?"
He leaned toward her. "Yes ma'am. I'm trying to."
Jo Ella allowed the kiss, out of curiosity. His lips met hers firmly, but there was tension she hadn't expected. It was the way he took her into his arms, so gently, so carefully. The question of his kiss was unmistakable. The man was somewhat controlling. She pulled away.
"I really don't know you very well, sheriff." She blinked. "And I don't usually kiss a man until I know him better."
"You're right. I am sorry." He shrugged. "My name's Harry. Sheriff sounds a little formal, don't you think? Especially on a picnic," he murmured as he stared into her dark eyes. His hands sat at her waist.
"Harry, why don't you tell me about yourself? I can't get to know you unless you open up a bit."
"I don't like to talk about myself," he mumbled as he pulled away. "Besides, a lady doesn't want to hear all the bad things about a man."
"Why not?" she asked, now interested in this man who kept himself in control of matters.
"You've met my mother. You've talked to people in town. You know most of my life. There are very few secrets in Veda. It would be hard to impress you with my feats of courage."
She opened the picnic basket. "Suppose you tell me what's going on with you and this Dillon character? I've heard a little talk about it."
"We do have our gossips." Harry looked out toward the meadow. He shrugged again, but this time she felt some of the tension between them lift away. "His father was killed last year, and ever since we've been at odds. I haven't been able to find the culprit, and he's angry. Thinks I'm not doing my job. Nothing secret or complicated about it. Why are you so interested? I mean, a woman like you, I'd think you would be more interested in how many dances we have a month rather than a slight feud I have with a rancher."
"I don't know. I've always been the inquisitive type to some degree. An unsolved mystery interests me." She set the fried chicken out and napkins.
"There's no mystery. I know who killed his father."
"You do?" She stopped and observed his cool reserve. "Then why haven't you arrested them or him."
"You sound like Dillon." He stared at her for a long moment. "I represent the law in Veda. And the law says you need proof to make an arrest. I have no proof. I'm working on it, but right now, that's all I can say."
"Does Dillon know who did it too?"
"He suspicions, but he has no proof either. That puts us at a stalemate." Harry took a piece of chicken. "Until something breaks, I can't do anything about it. And my job is to make sure he doesn't make a move to take things into his own hands. Which Dillon is used to doing."
"Is this Dillon a danger to you?" she asked flippantly.
"No, he knows better than to tangle with me. He knows I'm working on it, but he's impatient. He's a son of a big rancher who is used to getting things done right away. The problem is he usually doesn't wait. He acts. Sometimes that can get you in a world of trouble. Until I can gather proof, I've got to watch Dillon and make sure he doesn't do something foolish he'll regret."
"You sound frustrated."
"I am."
"Have you told Dillon that yet? I mean, sometimes if you talk things out, you can straighten out a lot of misunderstandings." She leaned on her arms and closer to him.
"No, it would do no good. Dillon is a man of action, he hates sitting around doing nothing when he knows the answers. But I'm a lawman and I have to conduct myself as such. I'm afraid Dillon might lose his head and take matters into his own hands. I wouldn't like that, because I'd have to arrest him. You see, if I hauled the man in that is responsible without proof, the judge would let him go. It would do absolutely no good at all, and it might ruin the chance to nail the guy." He was watching her hold a piece of chicken in midair and to break the tension they had created with conversation, he reached and took a bite out of the chicken.
She looked at the chicken and laughed.
"And you don't want to rile Dillon at the same time?"
His brows knitted and he leaned away from her, studying her. "Did you come out here with me to find out about Dillon?"
"Why, of course not, but the subject is a little more interesting than most. Talking about the beautiful scenery, the way we were brought up, and mundane day-to-day things doesn't interest me much. Although I do want to get to know you. And talking about Dillon gives me insight into your complex character. And whether you realize it or not, Sheriff, you are pretty complex."
"You think I’m complex?" He studied her a minute.
She smiled and nodded. "Very much so."
He nodded, and this time, he did relax. "Dillon is a romantic figure to most women. He's handsome and dangerous all in the same breath. Dillon is good with a gun. And he wants justice. Which is admirable, but not wise. I don't want to go up against him. I'd be a fool to say I did. He's fast. He's also mad, and that leads to mistakes. I don't want to kill him either. I've known him all my life. This is the first time we've been this much at odds."
"But you have been at odds before?"
Harry looked at her again. "It seems we are usually interested in the same female at the same time. So yes."
Jo Ella felt herself pulled in two directions, understanding both men and yet unable to help the situation. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I misjudged you."
"You wouldn't be the first." He bit into his chicken.
The frustration from that mere bite of chicken showed Jo Ella that this man was deeper than she first suspicioned. This man was a good man. He was not like Randal.
"Must be tough being a sheriff." She began nibbling the chicken he bit out of.
"Goes with the job." He managed a slight smile.
"I'd like to understand you and the way you look at things."
"And is understanding me so important?"
"Maybe…" Jo Ella liked his good manners and clean appearance. She liked his attention to his duty. In fact, she liked Harry. And that was a surprise. Not a plan.
"I have this gut feeling you are interested in Dillon, not me." He quirked a brow. "You are here to draw out as much from me as you can about him. Correct me if I'm wrong?"
She sat up straight and looked off as the sun broke through the white pillar of clouds. "I met him once, only briefly. He made an impression. But then so do you."
"Sometimes being just this side of the law is more intriguing than being a sheriff of a little town, who looks as though he's doing nothing. Now, tell me, why did you come here? You don't look like the desperate kind of lady that has to have a husband."
"Don't I?" She smiled. "I guess at one point or another, we are all desperate for something. I haven't settled down, and I want a family. Most girls my age are married and on their way to having a family. But I also feel like I want to find the right person to settle down with. If there is such a person…"
"I can't imagine you desperate for anything."
She eyed him perceptively."I guess I want what most women want, a man I can depend on, trust, love. I'm not getting any younger. I'd like children too. You can't do that alone. Since there were none I wanted to invest in back home, I came out here, answering that ad."
"The ad has been around a long time. I'm surprised you just now saw it. But that's an interesting way of putting it. Didn't you have a swarm of beaus back home? Surely there was an old beau?"
"Oh, I guess you could say that. But when you are raised in one area all your life and you know the people so well, I don't know. They don't intrigue you. They don't make your mind work. They don't challenge you. Maybe I was just bored."
He stared, and then he tipped his head, "And what does intrigue you?"
"You for one."
"And Dillon?"
"For two."
He smiled and kissed her again. The earlier tension was gone, and his lips melded against hers. It shocked her how easily he could persuade her mouth to open for him. He pulled her toward him, and she let him. His lips feather-touched hers several times, and she swooned. He kissed her with a sweet passion that made her heart swell. She hadn't expected this warm tenderness, like some kind of reward. This man was full of surprises.
"Remind me to challenge you a little." He smiled when he pulled away.
She fought to control herself, for the kiss promised something she hadn't been aware of…more to come. "I will." Her voice lowered, taking on a husky note.
As they talked and enjoyed the beautiful landscape, she stared at him out of the corner of her eye. Would there be more kisses like that one? Her heartbeat quickened. He hadn't been on her list of hopeful suitors until now, but the kiss changed that. Either he was very practiced in the art of kissing or he meant the passion he displayed.
Not only that, but she liked his general no-nonsense character.
He put away the basket and helped her up on the buggy. "What is it you want Jo Ella? I mean, what do you expect to find—adventure, mayhem, mystery?"
"After today, I'm not sure. I must confess, you confuse me. Until today, I really knew nothing about you and had no right drawing conclusions. But pardon me if I'm too presumptuous. You aren't looking for a wife, are you?"
"After today, I'm not so sure." He held a poker face, unreadable, and they started riding back to town. "I've never contemplated settling down and having a home. But I gotta admit, you make me rethink it. But a sheriff's wife has to have guts, trust, and a whole lot of love to put up with him." When he saw her to the door, his look mesmerized her again. "Thank you for a very pleasant day. I'll remember it, for a long time."
"I hope it's not the last."
"So do I." She murmured turning to go inside.
The way he said things, as though he meant every word, had her floundering for a response. Sometimes the sheriff took her breath away, and no one was more surprised about it than she!