Alex followed in Maya and Brady’s wake back inside the house. She was so good with her brother. Respect and admiration filled his chest. She’d been so young when she’d had to take on the role of parent.
He wondered, what were her dreams? What had she planned for her life before the tragedy that had taken her parents and put her on a new path? He wished there was something he could do to help her and Brady.
Something more than just protection. Though what, he didn’t have a clue.
He liked this woman. He liked the way she pitched in when she saw the need. He liked the way she was so calm and gentle with her brother and with Mr. Johnson. With his dad.
He’d told her the unvarnished truth of his childhood and she hadn’t judged him or his dad. He appreciated her acceptance. And admired her for her dedication to her brother and to the legacy that her parents had left behind in the store and in the town.
Maya directed Brady to the dining room table. Alex sat and folded his hands on the table. He should’ve changed out of his uniform but there was no helping it now.
Alex waited, letting Maya take the lead.
With her arm around his shoulders, Maya said, “Okay, Brady. Tell us about that man in the photo.”
Brady’s gaze was filled with anxiety. “You sure he can’t get me?”
Alex clenched his fingers. “I’m sure.”
Brady nodded. “I saw him on the trail. But he got mad at me because he didn’t want me to see him. He told me not to tell anybody I saw him or he would get me. He yelled at me and made me very scared, so I ran and I ran and then I tumbled and hurt my ankle. And then the nice people found me.”
“That must have been very scary,” Maya said.
“Thank you for telling me, Brady.” Alex glanced at the large watch Brady always wore. “Do you remember what time you saw the man?”
Brady frowned and looked at the watch on his hand. “It was time for me to turn back.” He made a face. “But I ran in the wrong direction.”
Alex met Maya’s gaze. “Any idea when that would have been?”
“Brady left the store at nine. He should’ve headed back around ten thirty.”
That narrowed down the window of when the man had died. Alex rose. “I need to talk to the sheriff.”
The next morning, Alex dressed in his parade uniform. He and Truman were slated to ride with the other mounted patrol officers in the Harvest Festival parade. The plan was Brad, Maya and Frank would come to the parade and watch from the announcers’ podium. Since Sheriff Ryder and Mayor Olivia Yardlee would both be doing the announcing, Alex figured Maya and her brother would be safe in the box. Plus, it had the best seat in the house to see the floats.
He told Maya and Brady the plan.
“That would be good for us,” Maya said, clearly pleased by the arrangement.
“No!” Brady protested, his face scrunching up. “I’m riding on the church youth group float.”
Maya grimaced. “Honey, you’re going to have to skip the float this time.”
“I always ride on the float. That’s my thing. I get to ride on the float.”
From the stubborn jut of Brady’s chin and the mutinous expression in his dark eyes, Alex could see the kid was not going to bend about riding on the church youth group’s float.
Maya sent Alex a pleading look. “Is there any way to make that happen?”
If Maya wouldn’t forbid her brother from the float, then Alex had to figure out a way to keep them both safe. “How about this? Maya, you’ll sit in the announcers’ booth with Dad, the mayor and the sheriff. I’ll ride as an escort for Brady on the float instead of with the other mounted patrol officers.”
“Yes!” Brady pumped his fist in the air.
Maya gave him a very warm smile that made his heart pound. “You’d do that for us?”
“It’s not ideal but we’ll make it work. Truman and I will stick close to Brady. If anybody tries anything, they will have us to deal with.”
There was affection in Maya’s gaze and Alex wanted to lap it up like a cat drinking milk.
“I appreciate everything you’re doing for us, Alex. Brady looks forward to the float every parade. And the church kids are so accepting of him.”
Alex chuckled. “This town does love its parades and festivals.” Every month there was a reason to celebrate.
Brady grinned. “I like the floats. I get to be up front and throw candy. People like me then.” His expression changed into sadness as his smile faded. “The rest of the time nobody really likes me.”
Anguish crossed Maya’s face. She put her good arm around Brady. “That’s not true. You have plenty of friends.”
Brady sighed. “I have a few. But there’s nobody like me here. But if I went to the camp that Doctor Brown told us about...”
Maya made a pained expression. “Brady, we’ve talked about this. It’s not an option.”
“If I found the treasure, then we could afford it,” he insisted.
Alex gave Maya a curious look. She shook her head, apparently not wanting to explain.
“We need to finish getting ready if you want to be on the float when it takes off from the high school,” Alex said, hoping to distract Brady from the subject.
“Yay!” Brady beamed, quickly switching from his momentary blue mood. “I’m ready.”
“Did you brush your teeth?” Maya questioned.
Brady wrinkled his nose. “I will.” He raced down the hall to the bathroom and disappeared inside.
“What camp?” Alex asked.
Maya pinched the bridge of her nose with her good hand. “Camp PALS. It’s an organization that provides a camp experience for individuals with learning disabilities. Doctor Brown thinks it would be good for Brady to attend.”
“Brady sounds game.”
She turned an anguished gaze his way. “It’s too expensive. I hadn’t realized paying for the camp was why Brady was so determined to find the Delaney treasure.”
His heart folded in half, and before he realized what he was doing he offered, “I could help pay for it.”
Maya shot him an incredulous stare. “No. Besides, it’s in Denver. That’s too far away.”
Ah. Alex figured she’d just admitted the real reason she was loath to let Brady go to camp. Maya wanted to keep her brother close. He wasn’t sure he agreed with her but it was none of his business. “I’ll get Truman in the trailer while you finish getting ready and meet both of you at the truck.”
“We’ll be right out.”
Alex went outside and found his father had already trailered Truman and loaded a packed ice chest in the back of the truck.
At Alex’s raised eyebrow, Frank shrugged. “I needed something to do.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Alex wasn’t sure what to make of his father. His dad had changed but Alex kept expecting the man he’d known growing up to reappear. The man who’d been drunk more often than not, who had a hair-trigger temper and wouldn’t lift a finger to help anyone. Not even his family. This new version of Frank Trevino was unsettling.
A few minutes later, Maya and Brady joined them and they left the ranch. They arrived at the high school football field. The floats were lined up and preparing for the start of the parade. Alex parked off to the far side of the field. Brady and Maya headed toward the float area while Alex led Truman out of the trailer. Dad hung back with the truck.
The theme of the Bristle Community Church’s youth group float was of the Bible story “Daniel in the Lions’ Den” with a crouching papier-mâché lion painted yellow and brown. A dozen or more kids were on the float and they all cheered when they saw Brady. He hopped up and took a seat at the front of the trailer. Someone handed him a large plastic bag filled with candy.
Alex could see how the warmth and acceptance of the teens and children on the float touched Maya. Her eyes grew teary.
“Wait! Brady, your backpack,” Maya called and rushed to the front of the float. “You don’t need it. Let me hang on to it.”
Brady relinquished the blue backpack to Maya. She walked back to Alex’s side. “You’ll keep an eye on him?”
“Of course.” Alex wished he could alleviate her fears. “Nothing is going to happen to Brady.”
“Okay. Okay,” she said as if she was convincing herself that her little brother would indeed be okay.
Alex flagged down Deputy Chase Fredrick atop his own mount, a beautiful Arabian named Sanchez. “Hey, can you hang here for just a bit? Keep an eye on Brady while I get Maya and my dad settled in the announcers’ booth?”
Chase gave a slight tug at the brim of his Stetson. “Sure.”
“Thanks, man.” Alex handed Truman’s reins to Chase. “I’ll be right back.”
Alex drove Maya and his dad closer to the town center, where the announcers’ booth had been erected in the green space between the library and the pharmacy. They climbed the ladder to the raised platform. Sheriff Ryder and Mayor Yardlee were already in their chairs beneath the attached awning.
Alex introduced Frank to the sheriff and the mayor. Mayor Olivia Yardlee was a descendant of the founding family of Bristle Township. She was in her late sixties and was an attractive woman with silver hair held back at her nape by a fancy clip. She wore pearls around her neck and at her earlobes. She had sparkling green eyes and tan skin, which was a testament to her time spent outdoors.
She was no delicate flower. Olivia Yardlee was a woman who got things done. From what Alex had heard, since she’d come into office nearly twenty years earlier, she’d implemented the various festivals as a means to draw in more tourist trade. Her efforts had brought Bristle Township from the brink of bankruptcy to the thriving town it was today.
“I better head back,” Alex told Maya.
Sheriff Ryder pushed himself out of his chair and settled a big hand on Alex’s shoulder. “We’ll keep her safe, deputy.”
Clearly, the sheriff meant he would keep her safe so Alex could focus on Brady. He released the breath he’d been holding. Sheriff Ryder nodded in approval.
Maya stopped him with a touch on his sleeve. “Be careful.”
Her concern was nice, though not warranted. “It’s going to be a good day.” He winked at her before slipping down the ladder.
Secure in the knowledge that Maya and his father were safe in the sheriff’s care, he hustled back to the high school. He took the reins from Chase. After checking Truman’s saddle, he put his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself onto the seat.
He moved Truman into position alongside the church float. Brady waved, grinning from ear to ear.
The high school marching band began to play, indicating the start of the parade.
Alex smoothed a hand over the horse’s neck. “We’ve got this,” he murmured. And sent up a silent prayer that the dread gripping his gut wasn’t worth worrying about.
From the vantage point of the announcers’ booth, Maya could see all of downtown Bristle Township. Down at the far end of Main Street, the first of the floats were just starting to turn the corner as the parade began. Mayor Olivia Yardlee and Sheriff James Ryder began talking into the mic. Their voices boomed out of large speakers set up at strategic places along the parade route and the local radio station would broadcast their parade commentary.
A large crowd gathered along both sides of the main thoroughfare. Maya had heard that the Bristle Hotel and the many bed-and-breakfast inns around town were filled with people wanting to be a part of the Harvest Festival.
The coffee shop was operating a portable booth, and serving lattes and hot chocolate. The rotary club was selling helium balloons in fall colors. After the parade, the stores would open, welcoming the tourists and the locals in for special deals and sales.
She should have the hardware store open but had decided to close for the weekend. She wasn’t sure what the loss of income would be, but after the scare of yesterday, she wasn’t in a mood to put money over safety.
Later today, there would be a mini rodeo at the fairgrounds and other activities for young and old. Usually, she and Brady would attend. Leslie would be riding along with many other local favorites and out-of-town riders, as well.
Tomorrow, after church let out, there would be a huge pancake breakfast with more activities, like a pumpkin toss on Main Street and hayrides around the county to various farms and ranches for more merriment. All in an effort to boost the economy of the town.
Alex hadn’t mentioned if his ranch would be participating. She glanced at Frank. “Is this your first time at one of our parades?”
“Yep. I don’t think I’ve actually ever been to a parade.” A pained look crossed over his face. “One of many regrets I have from Alex’s childhood. I was too caught up in my own stuff to make good memories with him.”
Maya touched his arm as empathy bubbled within her chest. “You can’t live in the past. You have to look forward. You can make new memories with Alex and forge a new relationship.”
“That is my hope,” he said in a voice that broke. “I just don’t know how to break down the walls he’s put up. I don’t blame him. His mother and I were too young and too dysfunctional to be a couple.” There was shame in Frank’s tone. “Let alone good parents.”
“Alex is resilient.” She touched his arm, empathy flooding her. “He’ll come around. He just needs time.”
Frank smiled at her, his gaze warm and contemplative. “Maya, I appreciate your words of encouragement. Pastor Foster has said something along the same lines.”
“Pastor Foster is certainly a wise man. He’s counseled me much over the years as I’ve tried to raise Brady.”
“I’m amazed and in awe that you took on the challenge of your brother at such a young age. And the store on top of that.” He regarded her for a moment and then said, “I’m really glad Alex brought you and Brady home. I think you are good for him. He’s different when you’re around. Not so withdrawn. More open.”
His words both delighted and confused her. “We’re only there for the time being,” she said, careful to keep her voice low so that it wouldn’t be picked up by the announcers’ microphones.
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
That was a good question—one she didn’t have an answer for. Yes, she wanted things to be calm, she wanted to be able to move around freely and not worry that somebody was going to attack her or Brady. She wanted to not feel the need to look over her shoulder every time she went somewhere.
And to be honest, she liked being so close to Alex.
But once the danger was resolved, life would go back to normal.
Maybe they could be friends now, though? Friends who spent nonromantic time together. Like his teaching her about stock and bonds, and all that. Her gaze went to the street as the church’s youth group float rolled toward them. She stood up to wave. “Here come Brady and Alex.”
Brady grinned and waved.
Alex nodded at her and Frank, a very serious look on his handsome face as he and Truman trotted alongside the float.
The fine hairs on the back of her neck rose, sending a shiver of unease sliding down her spine. She wasn’t sure why. She scanned the crowd. Was her attacker out there somewhere? Watching her? Waiting?
For that brief moment of talking to Frank, she’d let her guard down. Now, standing up, waving to her brother, she realized she was also making herself a target. Abruptly, she sat down and watched as the church float rolled farther down the street, taking her brother and Alex with it.
A whisper of noise grabbed her attention. She swiveled in her seat to look at the back of the booth. A person dressed in black jeans, a black hoodie with a strange-looking silver mask covering his face appeared over the top of the ladder. The same type of mask she’d seen on the guy who’d attacked her in the woods.
She took in a sharp breath and prepared to scream. The person put a gloved finger to the mask where lips should have been but weren’t, while making a grab for Brady’s backpack.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” she yelled. “Sheriff!”
The intruder snagged the strap of Brady’s backpack and raced down the ladder to the ground below.
The sheriff scrambled out of his chair to follow. Maya beat him to the ladder. She raced down the ladder rungs with the sheriff close behind her, talking into the radio at his shoulder. Maya chased after the masked thief along the back street behind the businesses of downtown Bristle Township. Why would he want Brady’s old and beat-up backpack?
The thief easily dodged the large metal garbage can and vaulted over a stack of empty pallets. This had to be the same person who’d attacked her on the trail, confronted her at her home and broken into the store.
When the thief reached the bank building, Maya skidded to a stop to watch the person shimmy up the downspout.
The thunder of a horse’s hooves alerted Maya seconds before Alex brought Truman to a halt beside her. “Where did he go?”
“Up.” She pointed to the roofline.
Alex spurred Truman forward. Maya raced behind them, keeping an eye on the masked thief. He had to come down at some point.
Her breath caught as the thief leaped from building to building. When he reached the end of the block, there was nowhere for the masked person to go. Maya paused to catch her breath. She saw the sheriff and other deputies filling the end of the street.
Unbelievably, the thief did an about-face and ran back the way he’d come. Did this maniac never tire out?
Alex pulled on the reins, turning Truman into a ninety-degree turn. Maya jumped out of the way as the horse raced past. Pushing her quivering legs to move, she ran in Truman’s wake, but stumbled to a stop as her attention snagged on the masked thief as he swung over the side of the brick building of the bakery and used the fire escape like a slide until his feet hit the ground.
“Alex!” Maya yelled, pointing down the alley between the bakery and the real estate office.
Truman and Alex galloped to the alley entrance.
The thief raced out onto the main street. People scattered as Alex and Truman gave chase. Though Maya couldn’t hope to catch up with Alex and his horse, she managed to keep an eye on the thief as he darted across the street in the middle of the junior high school marching band.
“He’s going into the park!” Maya called out to Alex, though she wasn’t sure he could hear her. She bolted across the street, nearly taking a tuba player down. “Sorry!”
The intruder veered toward the restrooms. A crowd of teens slowed the crook’s progress, allowing Maya to gain on him. She managed to grab the backpack, her fingers curling around the thick material. “Let go!”
The masked bandit spun toward her and growled. He must have seen Alex on Truman bearing down on them because in a quick movement, he shimmied out of Brady’s backpack before racing away, disappearing into the restrooms.
Alex brought Truman to a skidding halt, the horse’s hooves digging into the grass. Alex jumped off, dropped the reins and ran for the restrooms after the perp. Maya hugged Brady’s backpack to her chest. Truman snorted loudly. One look at the horse made the hairs on her arms raise. His head and his tail were held high and his feet pawed at the ground.
Then Truman let out a mighty bellow that sent a shiver down her spine. She turned away from Truman to see the masked thief coming straight at her. Confusion momentarily held her in place. How could...?
Truman shoved his way in front of her, lowering his head as he snorted and stamped his foot, clearly not about to let the oncoming threat near Maya. The masked man spun and raced away.
“Alex!” Maya screamed. They couldn’t let him get away.
Alex ran out of the restroom building holding a dark hoodie and a silver mask.
Maya’s breath caught in her throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Maya’s gaze bounced between the items in his hands and the direction her would-be attacker had disappeared. A terrifying realization washed over her. She lifted her gaze to Alex. “There’s two of them.”