Uh . . . Sheriff. Can I talk to you a minute?” Heath asked.
Harper watched him. Did she hope he would persuade the sheriff to let her help with the investigation? He’d do what he could on that, but he had an entirely different reason for speaking to Taggart.
“I need to get back,” Detective Moffett said. She let herself out the door.
Harper remained where she stood. Heath had meant to talk to the sheriff in private. “Is she free to go, Sheriff?”
The sheriff nodded. “I’ve already told her she is.”
“Good. Make yourself at home, Harper. Get some rest. I’ll be back soon.” Heath ushered the sheriff out the door and onto the porch. He eyed the door. Maybe this was still too close. He didn’t want Harper to listen in on the conversation. “Let’s walk back to the cabin.”
They stepped off the porch and started hiking. Taggart would need to head this direction anyway since his vehicle was parked near the cordoned-off area.
“Spit it out, McKade.”
“You assigned me to keep Harper safe. I can do anything you ask me, but I’m not the right man for that particular assignment.”
Taggart stopped and fisted his hands on his hips. “Is that so? And why not?”
Where did he even start? He was a deputy, for crying out loud. Sharing with Taggart all his perceived weaknesses or about how he thought he was such a screw-up wasn’t something the man wanted or needed to hear. But here went nothing. “I don’t have a great track record when it comes to protecting people.”
Taggart arched a brow. “You’re talking about what happened a few months ago when you were shot.”
Heath’s attempt at helping, fixing what was wrong, always seemed to be the catalyst that caused the incident he meant to prevent.
Every time. “Assign me the mailboxes like you said earlier.”
“Not with the bombing of your cabin. Those incidents could be related. As for protecting Harper, you’re the best man for the job, Heath.” Taggart took a step closer and squeezed Heath’s shoulder. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen you put yourself in the line of fire for the sake of others.”
“And you know how it all turned out.”
Taggart nodded, his expression somber. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re a hero, Heath. Willing to put your life on the line for someone else—whether you know them or not. And in this case, I can tell that she matters to you. If anyone is going to keep her safe, it’s you. So you see, there’s nobody better.”
The sheriff gave one last hearty squeeze, then hiked off and left Heath standing there, grappling with his words.
Then he realized he’d all but forgotten about convincing Taggart to let Harper look at the camper and truck. He jogged to catch up to him.
Looked like he wasn’t getting out of bodyguard duty. And if that was the case, then this time Heath had better get it right—he couldn’t bear it if something happened to Harper on his watch. He would have to suck it up, bolster himself with a confidence he didn’t feel.
Heath would protect her at all costs.
This time he couldn’t fail.