A Reason To Stay

Las Vegas casino manager Ruby McPhee needs to lay low while the police deal with a stalker at work. So she’s trading in her high heels for cowboy boots and assuming her twin sister’s identity at the Gold Nugget Ranch. Ruby only plans on staying in Sweetheart, Nevada, until the threat back home has passed. But then she discovers a detail her sister forgot to mention—the handsome sheriff she’s dating.

It only takes a single kiss for Cliff Dempsey to realize the woman in his arms is someone entirely different…and completely irresistible. To protect Ruby’s secret, Cliff maintains her ruse, but soon the lines between duty and desire begin to blur. Ruby and Cliff know they have a once-in-a-lifetime connection, but will they have a chance to let their love grow?

“I’m fine, Cliff.” Ruby tossed her purse on the table. “You can leave.”

“I will. Soon.”

Was it possible he didn’t want to go?

It was entirely possible she didn’t want him to go.

“Can I get you something?” She wasn’t thinking of water.

Neither was he. Heat flared in his eyes. “I’m okay.”

Seconds ticked by. Neither of them moved.

This was stupid, Ruby thought. Any relationship they had was doomed from the start. Her home was in Vegas. His was in Sweetheart, three hours away. She was evading a stalker and would probably be a material witness in his upcoming trial. One of them needed to be the adult.

“I’m pretty sure the coast is clear,” she said.

“You’re right.” He inched slowly away.

She buried her frustration. What did she expect? For him to sweep her into his arms? Hadn’t she just admitted the pointlessness of that?

He hesitated on the porch. “I had a nice time tonight.”

Her heart skipped. That was the kind of remark a man made to a woman at the end of a real date. Not a pretend one.

Dear Reader,

I often plot my books many months before I start writing them. In that time, the story outline sits tucked in a file underneath a lot of other files without me looking at it much. When I finally begin writing the book, it can be a little disconcerting. Did I really think this was a good story? Are these characters the least bit appealing?

Once in a while, however, magic happens. That was the case for me with Most Eligible Sheriff, particularly with my hero Cliff Dempsey. As the words flowed and the story took shape, he became a different person than I first imagined him to be. Deeper. More complex. More interesting. More troubled. And let’s face it—a troubled hero makes for an interesting hero! Oh, and he has this great sidekick. A three-legged retired police dog named Sarge—who was a complete surprise when he suddenly appeared on the pages one day.

Yeah…magic.

While I’m sorry to think about my Sweetheart, Nevada series ending, I thoroughly enjoyed writing this last book. I hope you enjoy reading it, and that Cliff and Ruby’s struggle to find love touches your heart as it did mine.

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

P.S. I always enjoy hearing from readers. Visit me at www.cathymcdavid.com, or you can contact me at cathy@cathymcdavid.com.

Most Eligible Sheriff

Cathy McDavid

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cathy makes her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains, where hawks fly overhead, javelina traipse across her front yard and mountain lions occasionally come calling. She embraced the country life at an early age, acquiring her first horse in eighth grade. Dozens of horses followed through the years, along with mules, an obscenely fat donkey, chickens, ducks, goats and a potbellied pig who had her own swimming pool. Nowadays, two spoiled dogs and two spoiled-er cats round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary and historical ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her books.

When not writing, Cathy and her family and friends spend as much time as they can at her cabin in the small town of Young. Of course, she takes her laptop with her on the chance inspiration strikes.

To my mother. I don’t tell you often enough how greatly you enrich my life and how much I value the lessons you’ve taught me. Love ya.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

Seriously, who in their right mind hid a spare key under a flowerpot where any thief could find it? Ruby McPhee’s sister, apparently. Climbing the porch steps, Ruby counted the third chrysanthemum from the right. The key was there, exactly where Scarlett said it would be.

Small-town living, Ruby told herself as she opened the trailer door—only one lock, no dead bolt—with shaking fingers. Inside, she felt less anxious than she had outdoors, but not much.

At the front window, she pushed aside the curtain. Early morning sun cast lengthy shadows across the yard, the exaggerated silhouettes of tall ponderosa pines resembling daggers.

Okay, she was letting her imagination get the best of her. No one, not even her boss at the Century Casino or her closest friends, knew her exact whereabouts. Just her sister and the Las Vegas police detective assigned to her case. The one who had recommended she lie low for a while after her stalker violated the order of protection against him and showed up at her work, looking for Ruby and threatening a coworker.

Her case. Lie low. Order of protection. The words had a scary ring to them, and Ruby was tired of being scared. That was the whole reason she’d come to Sweetheart, Nevada, this out-of-the-way little mountain town. To be safe and to sleep through the night undisturbed by sudden noises and bad dreams.

She let the curtain fall back in place and inspected the single-wide trailer. It was old and sparsely furnished with the barest of necessities. So typical of her sister, who rebelled at the thought of lingering too long in one place.

Ruby sighed and started toward the narrow hall leading to the single bedroom. Despite a lack of creature comforts, the trailer would suit her purposes just fine.

Something caught her eye as she passed the worn checkered sofa. A framed picture, the only one in the room, sat on an end table. She picked it up, recognizing the photo as one taken a few years ago at their mother’s birthday party. Her heart immediately softened.

Like most identical twins, Ruby and Scarlett were the spitting image of each other. So much so, they were nearly indistinguishable when dressed the same. But unlike most identical twins, they weren’t inseparable and didn’t share some sort of psychic connection. They’d grown apart during high school and had never quite bridged the gap that widened when their mother remarried.

Until now. Scarlett had come to Ruby’s aid when she needed it most. Perhaps blood really was thicker than water after all.

Replacing the picture, she removed her smart phone from her purse, sat on the sagging sofa and dialed her sister’s number. Scarlett answered on the first ring. She sounded so happy, Ruby almost forgot her own worries. Almost.

“You made it,” Scarlett said. “Any problems?”

“None. Thank you, MapQuest.”

“I really, really appreciate this.”

“I’m the one who owes you.”

“They’re going to put that guy away, Rubes. Don’t worry about it.”

“Right.” Ruby shivered at the reminder. How could she not worry?

She saw herself coming home at 3:00 a.m. and walking unsuspectingly into her darkened condo. Heard again the strange scuffling sound, then heavy breathing as an inky figure emerged from behind a corner. Felt strong hands grab her by the throat and squeeze, cutting off her air supply.

Only a miracle had enabled her to escape with minimal injury.

Forcing a calming breath into her lungs, Ruby changed the subject. “Things okay with you and Demitri?”

“Wonderful. Fantastic. It’s going to work this time.”

“I’m glad.”

Scarlett had left Sweetheart for San Diego around midnight. Three hours later Ruby was in her car and leaving the Vegas city limits.

Her sister was meeting her off-and-on-again boyfriend for yet another reconciliation while Ruby was taking her sister’s place. Literally. Occupying her trailer and filling in for her at work.

The two sisters had spent the better part of the previous evening on the phone, with Scarlett describing in detail her job, her boss and his wife, their family, the Gold Nugget Ranch where she worked as the only female wrangler, and the layout of the town.

Ruby had asked endless questions and scribbled pages of notes. Still, she worried about her ability to pull off the switch. Especially the job part. While once an accomplished rider, she hadn’t been on a horse in eleven years. Hopefully, it was like riding a bike.

“If things go well,” Scarlett continued, “and I’m sure they will, I won’t need my job anymore.”

“Would you be happy living in San Diego? You’ve always been a country girl.”

“I’ll be happy anywhere, as long as I’m with Demitri.”

Scarlett’s boyfriend worked as a marine biologist at SeaWorld. Currently, Ruby corrected herself. He traveled extensively and often spent months at sea aboard a research vessel. Well, working in their favor, Scarlett wasn’t a homebody. Another distinction between the sisters.

“You’d better hurry,” Scarlett said.

Ruby glanced at her watch and mumbled a curse. She—Scarlett—was due at the Gold Nugget in twenty minutes.

“Boots!” she blurted.

“In the bedroom closet. Jeans are in the dresser. Good luck.”

“What about—”

“Gotta go, sis. Demitri’s leaving. Bye.”

With that, Scarlett disconnected, and Ruby was left to manage on her own.

She hit the bathroom first, washing the lack of sufficient sleep from her face and arranging her hair in a simple ponytail. Ruby, assistant manager of the casino’s exclusive VIP lounge, wore carefully applied makeup and elegantly styled her long tresses. Scarlett the cowgirl didn’t bother with makeup or styling her hair. Too much trouble.

In the bedroom, Ruby ransacked the closet and bureau drawers, finding jeans, a shirt, a belt, socks and boots. As she dressed, she reviewed her pages of notes laid out on the bed.

Scarlett had only worked at the Gold Nugget Ranch for three months. Nowhere near long enough to have earned vacation time. It was also May, the start of the guest ranch’s busy season and a month before some huge town-wide wedding event. The ranch couldn’t spare her.

That didn’t matter to Scarlett, however. If Demitri wanted her to come to San Diego and give their relationship another go, she’d do it and damn the consequences.

When Ruby had told her sister about the stalker and the detective’s recommendation that she leave Vegas, Scarlett, always the more daring of the two, proposed that they change places. No one would find Ruby, and Scarlett would have a chance to visit Demitri without losing her job.

Ruby’s boss, sympathetic to her plight, had given her the time off, with the promise she return after her attacker’s arraignment. While it was doubtful her stalker would plead guilty, it was hoped he’d leave Ruby alone, not wanting to make his case worse by committing another crime.

Crazy as it sounded, the old switching-places scheme might succeed. Ruby and Scarlett had done it before. Frequently, in fact, when they were younger.

Once, Ruby had impersonated Scarlett and taken a difficult calculus test for her during their junior year in high school. Another time, Scarlett had broken up with Ruby’s boyfriend when Ruby didn’t have the nerve.

This could work. Ruby just needed to stay focused and keep her wits about her. Not give anyone cause for suspicion.

She didn’t require MapQuest to find the Gold Nugget Ranch. There were plenty of signs in town pointing the way. She read them in between looking anxiously in her rearview mirror or over her shoulder—habits that had become second nature last month when the stalking started, and increased last week after the attack in her condo.

At the gas station where she filled up her car, she paid at the pump, in case someone inside was friends with Scarlett and would want to chat.

Her car! Oh, no. She hadn’t thought about that until right this second. Scarlett drove a Jeep. Someone was bound to notice the strange vehicle and ask questions. The three-mile drive along the highway to the ranch gave Ruby time to concoct a plausible story.

A rental car. Because her Jeep was in the shop. Yes, that sounded good. She repeated the fabrication three times over so it would flow more naturally off her tongue.

Perspiration formed on her brow. This leading a double life wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d first thought. Maybe she—Scarlett—should call in sick for the week after all. Scarlett had actually suggested it, but Ruby dismissed the idea, not wanting to give her sister’s boss a reason to fire her.

Ruby had her doubts about this rekindled romance with Demitri. If he and her sister broke up again, which was likely given their history, Scarlett would need a job.

When Ruby pulled into the ranch, she drove slowly, visually comparing the buildings and landmarks with those her sister had described. Spotting the barn, she headed straight there and pulled in next to a pickup truck parked along the side. This, Scarlett had advised, was where the wranglers left their vehicles.

Standing outside her car, she paused. The horse corrals were across the way. Beyond them, the arena, bunkhouse and, on the nearby hill, a half-dozen guest cabins. She should head toward the corrals. Scarlett had told Ruby to check in with the trail boss first thing upon arriving.

At the sight of so many people gathered at the corrals, she momentarily lost her nerve and ducked into the barn instead. Just for a few minutes, she told herself. Until she felt calmer.

The smell of hay and horses triggered memories of years gone by when riding had been part of Ruby’s daily life. She made her way to the four box stalls standing in a row. According to her sister, the working trail horses were housed in the corrals, and the barn served as a sort of infirmary.

Two stalls were empty. A third contained an old, swaybacked mare and the fourth a pony that poked its nose over the side of the stall and nickered at her. She couldn’t resist and reached out to pet the whiskered face.

“How you doing, little fellow?”

In reply, the pony pressed its warm nose into her palm.

“Hey, Scarlett, what’s going on?”

Ruby spun, alarm shooting through her in waves, and faced the woman who had come up silently behind her. Hoping her smile didn’t appear too nervous, she tried to place the woman from her sister’s descriptions. The owner’s wife? In her current disconcerted state, Ruby couldn’t remember.

“H-hi. I’m...ah...checking on the pony.”

“Mooney’s fine.” The woman smiled in return. “Her thrush is much better.”

Ruby mentally repeated the pony’s name and ailment for future reference.

“Lyndsey’s been taking care of her,” the woman continued. “Cleansing the hoof and medicating it.”

Lyndsey? That was one of the owner’s little girls. Could this woman be Annie, his wife? Ruby wished she could be sure. She didn’t dare call the woman by name for fear she was wrong.

“Well, good,” Ruby replied. “I’ll just mosey on over to the, ah, corrals, then.”

She shoved her hands in her jeans pockets, and then whipped them out, deciding the stance made her look uncomfortable. Which, she was, but she didn’t want to appear that way

“Stop at the house first,” the woman instructed. “I got a call a minute ago. Someone’s here to see you.”

“Who?”

There was a twinkle in her eyes. “Who do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“Cliff, of course.” The twinkle brightened. “He’s waiting in the kitchen. Come on, I’ll go with you. The first trail ride isn’t for another hour. You have plenty of time for a visit.”

Time, but no desire. Not until she was more acclimated to her surroundings.

The kitchen, Ruby recalled, was in the main house. Halfway there, she and the woman passed an SUV. She noticed the official logo on the side and came to a sudden stop, the alarm from earlier zapping the strength from her knees.

“Is that the sheriff’s vehicle?”

“What else would Cliff drive?” The woman took hold of Ruby’s arm to hurry her along.

“Why is he here?” Had the Las Vegas detective phoned the sheriff? Told him of the switch? If so, wouldn’t he have alerted Ruby?

Beside her, the woman blew out an exasperated breath. “Because that’s what men do when they’re dating a woman. They show up unannounced and surprise her.”

“Dating!” Ruby squeaked.

“Unless you have another definition for when a couple goes out six times in the past month.”

Scarlett had a boyfriend. Another boyfriend besides Demitri. And he was the local sheriff!

A rush of anger steadied Ruby. Of all the details not to share, her sister had to pick the most important one.

* * *

CLIFF DEMPSEY SAT at the long oak table, a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. The next moment, he sprang to his feet and began pacing. What, precisely, was he doing here?

“Something wrong?” Sam asked.

His friend and owner of the Gold Nugget Ranch had joined Cliff in the empty kitchen. As recently as last week, a dozen guests would have competed for elbow room at the crowded table. Since completion of the new dining hall, the kitchen belonged solely to the staff.

“I probably shouldn’t bother Scarlett when she’s at work,” Cliff said.

“Don’t worry about it.” Sam nodded at the bouquet of fresh flowers lying on the table. “You asking her to the square dance this weekend?”

“Yeah.” Cliff nodded, wiping his damp palms on his khaki slacks.

As the law in these parts, he’d handled every situation from breaking up fights between drunken wranglers to singlehandedly taking down an armed bank robber to talking a possibly suicidal woman off the cell-phone tower at Grey Rock Point. Yet the prospect of inviting Scarlett McPhee to the dance had him sweating like a pig.

This was hardly their first date. It was, however, their first date after a recent lull. He and Scarlett had started out strong enough but this past week, she’d seemed to lose interest, not returning his calls and sounding distant when they did talk.

Cliff wasn’t sure what to make of it. Could be something simple as her having a case of nerves. Just because he was considering taking their relationship from casual to serious and wanted to test the waters didn’t mean she was, too. He was determined to find out.

“Nothing like waiting till the last minute.” Sam dropped into an empty seat. “The dance is the day after tomorrow.”

Cliff sat across from him. “I wasn’t sure I could get the evening off.” In truth, he’d stalled, doubting the wisdom of showing up unannounced. She may not appreciate it.

If he could go back in time to five minutes ago, he’d head straight to the station rather than call Sam’s wife looking for Scarlett because, par for the course, she hadn’t answered her cell phone.

“It’s none of my business,” Sam said, “but you want to tell me what’s really bothering you?”

Cliff pushed his cowboy hat back on his head, then took it off and set it on the table. “My aunt Hilda thinks I should get married.”

“It’s a nice state to be in with the right woman. I can vouch for that.”

“She thinks I should get married at the Mega Weekend of Weddings in June.”

“Whoa!” Sam sat back. “Kind of soon, isn’t it? That’s only six weeks away. You and Scarlett haven’t been dating very long.”

“Real soon. Hilda has it in her head the local sheriff marrying will be a big draw. Bring more tourists to town for the event. Registration is only about half of what the town council hoped for.”

Cliff’s aunt not only owned the Paydirt Saloon, Sweetheart’s most popular watering hole, she was also the mayor and a driving force behind the Mega Weekend of Weddings extravaganza.

The town of Sweetheart had a colorful history. It was founded by a pair of young lovers who met on a wagon train passing through. They married in California and returned to Sweetheart to settle down and raise a family. The man promptly discovered gold in the nearby mountains, and the town experienced its first boom.

Around the turn of the twentieth century, young couples began eloping to Sweetheart, their marriages officiated by a judge who didn’t inquire too deeply into a person’s age. The surrounding natural beauty drew tourists and outdoor recreationists, eager to hike, fish, horseback ride and, during the winter months, cross-country ski.

For the past fifty years, until the forest fire last summer nearly destroyed the town, the citizens of Sweetheart had capitalized on the wedding and tourist trade. Most of the local economy had depended on it for their livelihoods. When the tourists stopped coming after the fire, the economy died. Cliff’s aunt, along with Sam and several dedicated others, was leading a fierce fight to restore Sweetheart to its former glory.

“She also thinks it will help with my reelection this fall,” Cliff continued. “Hers, too. Not that anyone would run against her.”

“You, either.”

Sam had a point. A Dempsey had held the office of sheriff since the 1860s. It was a long-standing tradition the citizens were more than happy to continue.

“The mayor may be right, however.” Sam sipped at his coffee. “You could be a draw. But is that any reason to get married? It’s a huge step. Are you even in love with Scarlett?”

“No. But I like her. She’s fun. Pretty. Smart. Good with kids.”

“You sound like you’re picking her out of a catalog. Might be why you’re jumpier than a toad on a hot sidewalk.”

Cliff had to laugh. “Rest assured, I’m not asking her to marry me or even considering it. My aunt will have to come up with another gimmick.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“But I’d like to see where things go with Scarlett. Test our potential.”

Cliff had another, more personal reason for pursuing Scarlett he didn’t share with his friend. He was a family man without a family of his own. A homebody without a full house to come home to. Last summer, he’d moved his newly divorced cousin Maeve back to Sweetheart and was now helping to raise her brood of three. His involvement with them served to emphasize how empty his personal life had become.

With the town’s population of roughly one thousand, there weren’t a lot of available women for Cliff to choose from. His job, the long hours and potential for danger, required an understanding wife, which narrowed the field even more. Scarlett McPhee, new to town, was a definite prospect.

Sam stood and clapped Cliff on the shoulder. “Take it from me, don’t rush into anything. I married the first time for the wrong reasons, and we spent a lot of years making each other miserable.”

At that moment, Sam’s new wife Annie entered the kitchen. Cliff watched his friend’s eyes light up and his smile grow wide. That never happened when Cliff looked at Scarlett. At least, not to the same degree.

It could, though. They might fall in love. Eventually.

Scarlett walked in behind Annie. Cliff ran a hand through his hair and did his best to flash her a smile as wide as his friend’s. It froze, then waned. Judging by her wary expression, she wasn’t at all happy to see him.

Damn. What was going on with her?

Annie greeted him with a warm, “Morning, Cliff,” then winked at her husband. “Let’s get out of here and leave these two alone.”

Sam hesitated, his brows raised in question. Cliff shook his head. He didn’t need backup. If he was going down in flames, he preferred to do it without an audience.

Once they were alone, he waited for Scarlett to speak. After a lengthy and awkward pause, he muttered, “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Coffee?”

“Sure.” Rubbing her palms together, she went to the counter and helped herself to a mug from the stack.

Cliff had been going to fix her the coffee. Instead, he watched, completely captivated. Scarlett glided across the room with an elegant—and subtly sensuous—grace he hadn’t noticed before. As if she were wearing heels and not cowboy boots.

She took her coffee black. That was different. Maybe he and his cowboy tastes were rubbing off on her. The leather belt was also different. She usually didn’t wear one. He found himself wishing she had. The belt accentuated her trim waist and ample curves, which were only hinted at before.

She raised the mug of coffee to her mouth, pursed her lips and blew on the liquid, then took a sip. A jolt Cliff hadn’t felt in Scarlett’s presence before arrowed through him. He’d always thought her to be attractive but not necessarily sexy. The sudden revelation unnerved him. He generally kept a firm grip on his emotions, a necessary skill in his line of work.

Picking up the bouquet, he said, “These are for you.”

“Thanks.” She accepted the flowers and, with both hands full, set them back down on the table. “You didn’t have to.”

“They’re a bribe. I was hoping you’d go with me to the square dance Friday night.”

The community center had finally reopened nearly a year after the fire. The barbeque and dance were in celebration.

“I...um...don’t think I can. I appreciate the invitation, though.”

“Are you going with someone else?” He didn’t like the idea of that.

“No, no. I’m just...busy.” She clutched her mug tightly between both hands.

“I’d really like to take you.” Fifteen minutes ago, he probably wouldn’t have put up a fight and accepted her loss of interest. Except he was suddenly more interested in her than before. These slight nuances in her were intriguing. “Think on it overnight.”

“O...kay.” She took another sip of her coffee. As she did, the cuff of her shirt sleeve pulled back.

He saw it then, a small tattoo on the inside of her left wrist resembling a shooting star. A second jolt coursed through him, this one of an entirely different nature. He hadn’t seen the tattoo before.

Because, as of seven days ago when he and Scarlett ate dinner at the I Do Café, it wasn’t there.

“Is that new?” He pointed to the tattoo.

Panic filled her eyes. “Um...yeah. It is.”

Cliff didn’t buy her story. There were no tattoo parlors in Sweetheart and, to his knowledge, she hadn’t left town. And why the sudden panic?

Before he could question her further, his cell phone rang.

“Tom Welch just called,” his deputy Iva Lynn said. “Seems some of his chain saws disappeared overnight from his garage. Though, knowing Tom, he probably lent it to a friend and can’t remember.”

“What’s his address?”

“140 Matrimony Lane.”

“Tell him I’ll be there shortly.” Cliff disconnected. “I’ll call you later,” he told Scarlett. And he would, if only to get to the bottom of her strange behavior and new tattoo that really didn’t look all that new.

“All right.”

Any other time, he would have given her a kiss. It felt strange under the current circumstances, so, instead, he opted for a brief, one-armed hug—which she tolerated more than returned.

The top of her head came to just under his nose. Cliff inhaled, only to pull back and stare at her.

Scarlett averted her face as if shy. Or she was hiding something. His police instincts told him it was the latter.

Leaning down, he took another whiff of the scent that had triggered his internal alarm. She smelled delightful, reminding him of the flowers he’d brought for her. It also wasn’t at all how Scarlett normally smelled.

Something was seriously wrong.

He scrutinized her face. Eyes, chocolate brown and fathomless. Same as before. Hair, thick and glossy as mink’s fur. Her lips, however, were different. More ripe, more lush and incredibly kissable.

He didn’t stop to think and simply reacted. The next instant, his mouth covered hers.

She squirmed and squealed and wrestled him. Hot coffee splashed onto his chest and down his slacks. He let her go, but not because of any pain.

“Are you crazy?” she demanded, her breath coming fast.

Holding on to the wrist with the new tattoo, he narrowed his gaze. “Who the hell are you? And don’t bother lying because I know you aren’t Scarlett McPhee.”

Chapter Two

“Don’t hurt me! Please.”

Ruby had made the identical plea eight days earlier when she was accosted in her condo. The stalker hadn’t listened and instead had increased his choke hold, starving her body of oxygen as he whispered vile things in her ears.

This man, Cliff, did listen. He released her but planted himself directly in her path, his stance and demeanor that of a linebacker. If she tried to run, she wouldn’t make it three feet before he dropped her in her tracks.

“Who are you?” he repeated.

She wavered, forcing herself to concentrate as her heart banged against the side of her rib cage. He was the local sheriff. Sworn to serve and protect, yes? And Ruby, God help her, needed protection.

He was also someone her sister had liked well enough to date. Ruby should be able to trust him, only she didn’t.

She cradled her wrist, the response more reflexive than anything else. He hadn’t hurt her. Not really. But the kiss, and its suddenness, had startled her, releasing a flood of harrowing memories she’d give anything to forget.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“No, I’m not.” She’d never be okay again.

He reached for her wrist. “Let me see.”

Alarmed, she retreated a step. He was already too close for comfort. “I’m fine.”

“Tell me your name.”

Ruby considered her answer. Lying, as he’d pointed out, was useless. He might arrest her. Probably would anyway. Either way, he’d find out very quickly she wasn’t Scarlett.

“Ruby,” she finally whispered. “Ruby McPhee.”

“Scarlett’s sister?”

She nodded. “Twin sister.”

His eyes bore into her, noting, she supposed, the resemblances and very tiny differences that only their parents and close friends could distinguish. She averted her head and prepared herself for the onslaught of questions.

He asked only one. “Why?”

She instinctively knew her answer would decide his course of action. She settled on the truth, the lesser of two evils.

“I needed a place to hide out for a week or so.” When he said nothing, she continued. “The detective on my case recommended it. At least until after the arraignment. So, Scarlett and I decided to trade places.”

“Where is she?”

“San Diego. Visiting—” Ruby swallowed. Revealing that her sister was off reconciling with her old boyfriend probably wasn’t a good idea. “A friend,” she finished lamely.

“Who’s arraignment? Yours?”

“Absolutely not!” He thought she was the criminal? Of all the nerve. “I was attacked last week. By a stalker. He was arrested and charged, then released on bail within hours.” Ruby had barely left the station before an army of attorneys secured Crowley’s freedom.

“Where did the attack take place?”

“My condo. He broke in and ambushed me when I came home.”

“A former lover?”

There it was again, that accusatory tone. “No. We met at the casino where I work.”

“A dealer?”

“I’m assistant manager of the VIP lounge. Crowley was a customer. Well, his father, actually. He’s a regular and started bringing his son a few months ago after Crowley graduated college.”

Ruby didn’t tell Cliff more than that. She’d been advised to keep her mouth shut. The senior Crowley was a local politician with considerable clout. His lawyers had contacted Ruby twice, pressuring her to drop the charges in exchange for compensation.

It was yet one more reason she’d decided to leave Vegas until after Crowley’s arraignment and why she would feel safer going home afterward. Once Crowley entered his plea, his attorneys would stop pressuring Ruby.

“Which casino?” Cliff asked.

How many questions was this guy going to ask? “The Century Casino. In Vegas.”

“Did you encourage this guy? Why’d he pick you?”

Ruby frowned. Suddenly, their conversation had become an interrogation. She felt as if she was back at the police station, wanting to cry out that she was the victim, not the perpetrator.

“Contact Detective Dorell James of the Vegas Metro P.D. You can ask him the rest of your questions.” She squared her shoulders. “Am I free to go now, Sheriff? Or are you taking me in?”

“I’m considering it.”

An indignant gasp escaped her. “I haven’t broken any laws.”

“That remains to be seen. Your sister’s missing.”

“I told you. She’s in San Diego. Call her if you don’t believe me.”

“I will. After I verify your story.” Removing a satellite phone from his belt, he punched numbers into the keypad and offered no greeting to whoever answered. “I need you to locate a Detective Dorell James, LVMPD. Patch me through once he’s on the line. Tell him it’s regarding Ruby McPhee. Yes, that’s right. Ruby. Not Scarlett.”

He watched her while he waited, like a predator studying its prey in the seconds before pouncing. Ruby tried not to squirm and observed him in return through lowered lashes.

The sheriff—it was hard to think of him as Cliff—was one of those men who did justice to a uniform. Tall, broad shouldered, rugged features. She’d noticed his short cropped blond hair before he donned his hat and it disappeared beneath the brim. His eyes, pale blue when he looked into the light and gray when he looked away, were disarming. She doubted they missed the smallest detail, which must account for how he’d so easily discovered her ruse.

Under different circumstance, Ruby would find him attractive. She didn’t blame her sister for dating the sheriff in Demitri’s absence. He was certainly better boyfriend material than a nomadic marine biologist. Not that Ruby was in the market for a boyfriend.

She caught herself fidgeting and immediately stopped. The sheriff, for his part, hadn’t so much as blinked.

This would be over soon, she told herself. Once Detective James explained her situation, surely the sheriff would release her...and probably go straight to the owner of the ranch.

She should have chosen a different town, gone to stay with her father in North Dakota. Not agreed to Scarlett’s harebrained scheme. Too late now. She and Scarlett were both going to suffer the consequences—Scarlett losing her job and Ruby enduring a grueling visit to the station.

“Detective James. This is Sheriff Cliff Dempsey from Sweetheart, Nevada.”

Ruby straightened.

“I have a woman here claiming to be Ruby McPhee. She’s been impersonating her sister, Scarlett McPhee.” After a pause, he handed the phone to Ruby. “He’d like to speak to you.”

Ruby accepted the heavy phone, its weight and solid form oddly comforting. “Hello.”

The detective’s rich baritone filled her ears, also comforting. “Are you okay?”

How often had she been asked that question in recent weeks? Fifty? A hundred? Twice in the previous two minutes. “Yes.”

“What happened? You only arrived in Sweetheart an hour ago.”

She couldn’t very well tell him that the sheriff had kissed her and instantly concluded she wasn’t Scarlett. “I think my tattoo tipped him off.”

“You’re going to have to be more careful if you intend to pull this off.”

“Yeah.” It was a stupid mistake.

“Might be to your benefit if I fill him in.”

Detective James didn’t need to spell it out. Crowley had easily found the address of Ruby’s condo. With his father’s powerful connections and a full week at his disposal, he could possibly discover where she was hiding.

“Your call, Ruby.”

“All right. Tell him.” She handed the phone back to Sheriff Dempsey, looking away but listening raptly to his side of the conversation. Thankfully, it didn’t last long. From what she gathered, reports and a photo of Crowley would be forwarded to the sheriff’s office.

“I’ll keep you posted.” Cliff disconnected from Detective James and immediately placed a second call. “Your sister isn’t answering,” he said after a moment.

Ruby’s head snapped around. “Why do you want to talk to her? Detective James confirmed my story.”

“To verify that she’s all right.”

“She’s fine.”

Deep vertical creases formed between his brows. “Where is she?”

“I told you. San Diego.”

“With a friend.” He said the last word as if he knew darn well boy should be in front of it.

“Are you going to tell Sam and Annie about the switch?”

“Yes.”

Worry seized her anew. “What if they fire Scarlett? She needs this job. And the fewer people who know about me, the better. I’m in danger. From the stalker and his family.”

“Call your sister.” His expression was all hard lines and uncompromising angles. “I want to speak to her.”

Left with no other option, Ruby removed her cell phone from her shirt pocket and dialed.

“Put the call on speaker,” Cliff said.

She did as told, refraining from rolling her eyes in exasperation. Scarlett answered on the fifth ring.

“Hi,” Ruby’s voice shook with relief.

“Sorry I didn’t pick up sooner. Demitri was showing me the baby Beluga whale. It’s so cute.”

“Listen, we have a—”

“Oh, sis,” Scarlett cut in. “Everything is just perfect. Demitri’s being a dream.” There was a wistfulness about her that even the speaker’s tinny quality didn’t distort. “He says he loves me and that he’s sorry.”

The sheriff’s eyes darkened. He’d figured out Ruby wasn’t her sister in a matter of minutes. He was surely connecting these dots at lightning speed. Was he hurt? Angry? Feeling betrayed? No one wanted to be the rebound.

Ruby dismissed an unbidden rush of guilt. Why did she care? She was hardly responsible for her sister’s complicated love life.

The bouquet of flowers lying on the table caught her eye, and the guilt returned. The gesture was sweet. Thoughtful. That of a man who held affection for a woman.

If she hadn’t asked for Scarlett’s help, her sister might have stayed in Sweetheart.

Fat chance. The sheriff was history the second Demitri crooked his little finger. Ruby’s appearance changed nothing.

“Scarlett,” Cliff said into the phone. “Are you all right?” Each word was delivered with an icy undertone.

There was a long, awkward pause. Ruby half expected her sister to hang up. No matter. Cliff knew Scarlett was alive and well. That had been the whole purpose for the call in the first place.

Or, did he have an ulterior motive? He might have insisted Ruby call her sister in order to confirm the friend was indeed a boyfriend. Maybe he was retaliating by embarrassing both Scarlett and Ruby.

Anger prompted her to blurt out, “He knows about us. He saw my tattoo.”

The pause that followed was considerably shorter. “I’m sorry, Cliff,” Scarlett said. “I didn’t mean for you to find out this way. I’d have told you, but everything happened so fast.”

“Are you all right?” he repeated.

“I’m great.” She sighed. “Look, maybe we can talk about this when I have more time. Then, I can explain.”

“Not necessary.” Turning on his heels, he snatched his half-finished coffee off the table and carried it to the sink where he rinsed out the mug.

Ruby removed the phone from speaker before continuing the conversation with her sister.

“For crying out loud, Scarlett, why didn’t you tell me about him?”

“I thought it was over.”

“You thought?”

“All right, I wanted it to be over. When Demitri contacted me last week, I blew Cliff off. Sort of.”

“Sort of? Really?”

“I avoided him. Didn’t return his calls. I figured he’d get the message.”

“He obviously didn’t. He brought you flowers.”

“Oh.”

“You should have leveled with him.” Ruby found it difficult to keep the disappointment from her voice. Her sister thought first of herself, then others.

“How’s he doing?”

Now she suddenly cared?

“I have no idea.” Ruby stared at Cliff’s rigid back, then at the flowers on the table, and her heart cried a little for him.

“How are you doing?” Scarlett asked.

“Well enough, all things considered.” She returned to the subject of Cliff. “Detective James says Sheriff Dempsey is someone I can trust. A straight-up guy.”

“He is. And he’s really sweet. If not for Demitri, I’d still be going out with him.”

Second choice. Ruby decided to spare Cliff that tidbit of info.

“He’s gorgeous, as I’m sure you’ve noticed,” Scarlett continued, talking more to herself than to Ruby. “And I liked the attention. Demitri was being his typical indifferent self, and I needed a distraction.”

Ruby gnashed her teeth together in frustration. How many times would her sister keep returning to that loser before she wised up?

The “gorgeous” guy in question stood at the sink, staring out the window, the muscles in his neck corded with tension.

Whatever Ruby did next, stay or leave, was partially up to him. She wasn’t reassured. There was nothing yielding or compassionate about him as far as she could tell. Even his kiss had been hard. Void of emotion. She was nothing more to him than a lead in a possible crime.

And he was definitely not the person in whose hands she cared to place her fate.

A click alerted her there was a call waiting. “I have to go,” she told Scarlett. “Someone’s buzzing in.”

“Sorry about Cliff.”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”

“Call me later.”

“I will.” Ruby checked the display, aware of Cliff’s intense scrutiny. The incoming number wasn’t one she recognized.

“Who is it?” he demanded.

“I’m not sure.” Her new number was only a few days old.

Normally, she’d let the call go directly to voice mail. If it was important, they’d leave a message. But Cliff’s intimidating presence threw her off balance.

She swiped her finger across the phone’s screen, accepting the call. “Hello.”

“Hey, baby. Miss me?”

Terror froze her bones. For a nanosecond. Then, fury took its place, just like it had that night in her condo. A fury that had ultimately saved her life.

“How did you get this number?” she rasped.

“You should know you can’t hide from me forever. I’ll always find you.”

Her arm shook so violently, the phone started to slip. Using both hands, she held it in front of her mouth and screamed into the receiver, “Leave me alone!”

Cliff materialized at her side. Grabbing the phone from her, he barked, “Who is this?” Empty silence answered him, and the display returned to the home screen.

Crowley had hung up.

Ruby’s legs went out from under her, and she leaned against the nearest solid object, which happened to be Cliff.

* * *

“HERE, SIT.” CLIFF LOWERED Ruby into a seat at the table, then fetched her a bottle of water from the fridge. He held it to her mouth. “Drink this.”

She complied, and the water seemed to restore her strength. “The bastard,” she muttered.

Cliff couldn’t agree more.

She pressed her palms to her cheeks. “I don’t understand. How did he find me? I changed my number three days ago.”

“He may not have found you, only your new number. Let’s assume for the moment you’re still safe.”

“I’m not assuming anything.” Her hands fell, and she lifted her gaze to him. Tears shone in her eyes, making them large and luminous. “That’s what got me in trouble in the first place. I assumed his creepy attention was a harmless crush. When he started cornering me at work and outside my condo building, I assumed complaining to my manager would resolve the problem. I also assumed I was safe inside my own home.”

“Detective James said you fought him off.”

“I never guessed for one second anyone could make it past the locks on my door or my security system.”

“It’s easier than you think.”

“He came out of nowhere and grabbed me.” Her hand drifted to her throat. “I couldn’t breathe. Felt myself passing out. Then something snapped inside me. I got angry. How dare he intrude into my home! Violate me. I drove the heel of my stiletto into the top of his foot. Luckily, he was wearing shorts and sandals and my aim was good. He loosened his grip.”

“You ran?”

“That would have been the smart thing to do.” She chuckled mirthlessly. “Instead, I turned and kicked him square in the center of his man parts.”

Cliff kept a straight face. Inside, he cringed, thinking of her pointed-toe shoe. Crowley deserved no less.

“He sank to his knees. That’s when I ran into the hall as fast as I could. I went from door to door, screaming at the top of my lungs and ringing bells.”

“You were brave to take him on.”

“I was stupid. He could have killed me. I’m lucky he didn’t.”

“What did he do?”

“Got the hell out of there. By then, two or three of my neighbors had called 9-1-1. Another one of them took me inside her place to wait for the police. When Detective James arrived, I ID’d Crowley. They picked him up at his home a short while later. He denied attacking me, of course. But my neighbor saw his face when he pushed past her and was able to pick him out of a lineup. And then there was the injury to his foot.”

Ruby shuddered.

Cliff put a hand on her shoulder. She’d been through a lot. He didn’t tell her that this was only the beginning. A long road lay ahead of her. Opening the back of her phone, he removed the battery and SIM card.

“What are you doing?”

“Disabling your phone so he can’t trace the signal. Don’t reassemble it whatever you do.” He set the phone on the table near her elbow.

She glared at the components as if they were Crowley himself. “I shouldn’t be surprised he found my number. He learned everything else about me. My schedule at work. My friends. My route home.”

“Is he connected?” In Cliff’s experience, only someone with extensive resources or a computer hacker could find a newly issued cell-phone number.

“The mob? No. But his father’s a congressman. The family is as rich as Midas.”

Money. That explained a lot. Cliff was more anxious than ever to read the reports.

“Finish your water.” He pushed the bottle toward her.

She’d stopped trembling but was white as a ghost. He probably should have been easier on her. She didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of his anger at her sister.

Anger or hurt?

Fine, he’d admit it. Scarlett dumping him for an old boyfriend had dented his ego. Which beat the heck out of broken heart, he supposed. If anything, Cliff had dodged a bullet. He should be grateful to the slob.

Removing his phone from his belt, he dialed the station.

“Who are you calling?”

“Detective James.”

Ruby nodded resignedly. She sat finishing her water while Cliff was put through a second time to the LVMPD. Detective James expressed appropriate concern.

“Can you post a watch on her?” he asked.

“Consider it done.”

At his remark, Ruby arched her brows.

Lovely brows, he observed. Elegant and graceful.

Cliff warned himself to stay strong. Women in trouble were a weakness of his and had landed him into trouble before.

“She needs to pull off this switch with her sister,” Detective James said. “Crowley’s one sly pervert, and he’s not the kind to give up easily, as his previous record shows.”

“I’ll do everything I can.”

Cliff finished his conversation with the detective, promising to check in with the man on a daily basis. For his part, Detective James would bring Crowley into the station for another face-to-face. There’d be repercussions for him violating the order of protection.

“Here’s what we’re going to do.” Cliff took the seat next to Ruby. “Detective James agrees with me that while Crowley found your number, he has no idea you’re in Sweetheart.”

“You can’t be sure.”

“Which is why James is putting a tail on Crowley. In the meantime, we’re going to keep pretending you’re Scarlett. It makes the best sense. He’s after you, not her.”

“Forget it. Obviously I’m no good at pretending to be Scarlett. I didn’t fool you for even five minutes.”

“I’ll help you pull it off. On two conditions.”

She sent him a look.

“First, you need a new cell phone. Better yet, I’ll buy it for you. A disposable one. The only people you give the number to are your sister, Detective James, me and Sam.”

“Scarlett’s boss?”

“He and Annie need to be included.”

“They’ll fire Scarlett.”

“They won’t. Not after I talk to them.”

Ruby pursed her mouth. Her pretty mouth.

Cliff had kissed it. Solely to discern her identity. If he were to do it again...

No. That kind of thinking had to stop this instant. Ruby McPhee was duty. Obligation. Nothing more.

“I’m not sure...”

“Sam’s the kind of guy you want in your corner,” Cliff said. “He’ll understand why you and your sister switched places.”

“I can’t put the ranch in danger.” Determination flashed in her eyes. The kind of determination that had caused her to act quickly during the attack. “Not the owners and certainly not their guests. I’ll just stay in the trailer until the arraignment.”

“Use your head, Ruby. This guy’s looking for you and, by your own admission, he’s smart and resourceful. He can track Scarlett to Sweetheart in hopes of finding you.”

“My point exactly. The trailer’s safe. I’ll be out of sight.”

“You’ll be a sitting duck. The lock on that tin can wouldn’t keep out a five year old.”

“I’ll install a new one.”

“Which will hold him off for a minute at most.”

He could see his argument was beginning to make sense to her. Also that, despite the brave front she put up, she was scared.

“I’ll have a dead bolt installed. Just in case. And window locks. Leave the bedroom light on at night. Either me, my deputy or Sam will drive by every hour. If the light’s off, we’ll investigate.”

“Sam? I can’t ask that of him.”

“Knowing Sam, he’ll insist. And because a lot can happen in an hour, I’ll post a guard.”

“A guard?” Her eyes widened.

“The best one around. No one gets past him.”

“Who is he?”

“You’ll see. I’ll bring him by tonight.”

“I didn’t intend to involve anybody else when I came here. This is my problem.”

“We take care of our own in Sweetheart.”

“But I’m not from Sweetheart.”

“Your sister is. And you are by association.”

She looked as if she didn’t quite believe his reason. Well, Cliff didn’t quite believe it, either. His interest in Ruby and his desire to help her went beyond civic responsibility.

“What’s the second condition?” she asked.

“You go with me to the square dance tomorrow.”

“You’re kidding, of course.”

“If you’re going to pretend to be Scarlett, you have to lead her life. She and I are—were—seeing each other. Also, the more we’re together, the more I can protect you. If Crowley finds his way to Sweetheart, he’ll think twice about approaching you with me in the picture.”

She dropped her head and groaned.

“I understand it’s a lot to take in all at once.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“You need to decide quickly, Ruby. We’re already drawing attention by spending so much time in here alone.”

“I suppose you’re right. About telling Sam and Annie.”

“They’ll help you with the ins and outs of Scarlett’s job.”

“Her job!” Ruby’s gaze darted to the clock on the wall. “I’m supposed to be leading a trail ride in thirty minutes.” She shot to her feet. “I forgot all about it.”

“Relax.”

“Oh, God. I have no idea what I’m doing. This was an insane idea. One of the other wranglers will have to take over for me.

“Don’t worry.” Cliff steered her out of the kitchen. “They always send two wranglers.”

At the front door, she dug in her heels. “I haven’t been on a horse in eleven years. And I’ve never ridden in the mountains before.”

He turned her toward him and gripped her by the shoulders. “You can do this.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Sure you can. You fought off Crowley by yourself. Compared to that, a trail ride is a piece of cake.” He made an instantaneous decision. “And I’ll be with you the entire time.”

Chapter Three

Ruby struggled not to squirm beneath Sam Wyler’s intense scrutiny.

“Man, it’s weird.” He knocked back the brim of his cowboy hat and scratched his forehead. “I can’t tell you apart.”

At least he hadn’t kissed her in order to determine who was who.

“I’m sorry about trying to fool you,” Ruby said.

“I understand why you did it. You’re scared, and it sounds like you have good reason to be.” He gave her another lingering once-over. “Scarlett mentioned a sister but not that you two were twins.”

“If you don’t want me filling in for her, it’s quite all right.” Despite Cliff’s advice that she play the part of Scarlett, Ruby remained convinced hiding out in the trailer was the best option.

“I have no problem. As long as you can ride.”

“It’s been a while, but I think I can manage. Learning the trails may take a few days.”

“I’m going with her,” Cliff volunteered.

He hadn’t left her side once from the moment they exited the house. They’d found Sam and a wrangler readying horses for the trail ride—something Ruby, or Scarlett, should be doing as part of her job. Sam must have stepped in to help when she and Cliff took so long in the kitchen.

Across from the corrals, guests milled about, watching the process of saddling a dozen horses with either fascination, excitement or, in the case of one middle-aged woman, stark fear.

“I’ll go on the ride instead of her,” Sam offered.

Cliff countered the suggestion. “I think she should stick to Scarlett’s regular job routine. She’ll draw less attention that way.”

“What about the guests?” Ruby asked. “Will they be safe?”

“Crowley doesn’t like crowds. Even when he approached your coworker, it was at night, in an empty parking lot.”

That much was true. Detective James had explained to Ruby that she was Crowley’s target. He had no real interest in anyone else, other than as a means to get to her.

“He especially won’t do anything with me along,” Cliff added.

“Aren’t you on duty?” She remembered him getting a call back in the kitchen that had sounded official.

“I am. But I’ll have my deputy cover for me.”

Cliff’s tone implied a twin impersonating her sister was probably the highlight of his year. In a town of barely one thousand mostly peaceful citizens, Ruby doubted much happened.

Sam turned to her. “Luis will lead the ride. You and Cliff can bring up the rear, seeing as you’re already attached at the hip.”

Ruby’s cheeks warmed with embarrassment.

Cliff appeared unaffected.

She silently cursed his ability to remain cool, calm and collected.

“Keep an eye peeled for Crowley or any suspicious strangers while we’re gone,” Cliff warned Sam. He’d had Ruby give Sam a rough description when they first talked.

“Are you really sure you’re okay with this?” She couldn’t stop fretting about Sam and his family. “You have two young daughters. I’d hate putting you and them in danger.”

“Cliff says the danger’s minimal. For the moment.”

“Yeah.” It was that “for the moment” that concerned Ruby. She’d believed she was safe in her condo. Look how wrong she’d been.

“If for any reason the situation changes,” Cliff addressed Sam, “you’ll be the first person I tell. After Ruby.”

She released a worried sigh.

“If Crowley and his resources track your sister here, all they’ll report back to him is that Scarlett McPhee is alone and doing her job as usual. It should be enough to deter him.”

“What about my car? It’s parked beside the barn. Scarlett drives a Jeep.”

“We need to move it out of sight right away.”

“If you want,” Sam said, “I’ll park it in the barn while you’re on the ride.”

Ruby dug in her pocket and extracted her keys. How was she going to get around?

Sam must have read her mind. “Can you drive a stick?”

She nodded.

“We’ve got an old Chevy half-ton pickup you can use. Scarlett’s driven it before on errands.”

Ruby was touched by his generosity. “I can’t impose on you more than I have.”

He smiled kindly. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

Her sister’s boss was clearly a good man, if a little crazy for going along with the switch and all it entailed. “You owe me nothing,” Ruby reminded him.

“Oh, don’t think you’re getting off scot-free. You’ll have to work. Pretty hard, some days.”

“I’m used to it.” She hadn’t risen to the position of assistant manager in two years by being a slacker.

Today might be different, however. She was running on pure adrenalin. When her lack of sleep and acute anxiety caught up with her, her energy level would plummet.

“Well then, let’s see what you’re capable of,” Sam said. “Starting now.”

Ruby glanced around. In the time they’d been talking, Luis had finished with the horses. All twelve stood shoulder to shoulder, tied to the fence.

“Which one’s mine?” she asked, evaluating the selection from a distance.

“None of those.” Sam started for the corral, motioning to Ruby when she was slow to follow. “Your sister’s favorite is Mama Bear.”

The remaining horses came over to greet the newcomers, seeking a petting. Good, solid, dependable stock, Ruby decided. Trustworthy enough for the most beginner of riders and capable of giving the experienced ones a run for their money.

Ruby took an instant liking to Mama Bear. With a prominent nose ridge, the medium-size dapple gray was no beauty. But her eyes were gentle and the hair on her muzzle was softer than peach fuzz.

Sam nodded approvingly. “She’ll go all day long if you ask her.”

Cliff settled on a handsome brown gelding that followed him to the gate like a puppy dog, then nearly ran him over in his haste to join his pals on the ride.

In the tack shed, Ruby perused the equipment. It was of good quality and sound condition. There were also helmets for those riders wanting extra protection. The Gold Nugget Ranch didn’t take any risks when it came to their guests and employees.

Except for letting her ride along with them.

Ruby prayed Cliff and Detective James were right about Crowley and that the danger to others was minimal.

Locating Scarlett’s bridle, saddle and blanket on the rack, she carried them to where Mama Bear was tied. It really was like riding a bike. The leather straps felt familiar in her hands, as did the smell and sound of horses. She’d missed being around them. Funny, the different paths her and Scarlett’s lives had taken.

Cliff also knew his way around a horse and was ready to mount before her. He strode over. “Need a boost?”

“No, thanks.”

She placed her foot in the stirrup and swung up into the saddle, not quite as nimbly as she’d hoped but still confident. She wriggled, trying to find a comfortable position. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible. Her stirrups were too long. Without adequate support, she’d slip and slide going up and down the mountains. Grabbing hold of the saddle horn, she moved to dismount.

“Stay.”

At the abrupt order, she glanced down at Cliff.

“I’ll get them,” he said.

Before she could muster a protest, he took hold of her ankle and removed her foot from the stirrup. Next, he unfastened the buckle and raised the stirrup two notches.

“I can do that,” she insisted.

“No problem.” He finished and guided her foot back into the stirrup, his hand remaining on her heel.

She could feel the pressure of his strong fingers through the thick hide of her boots. It wasn’t unpleasant. Then, his hand skimmed up her calf.

“How’s that?” he asked.

“Nice...” Ruby caught herself. “I mean, good.” She put weight in her heel, testing the stirrup’s length.

He went around to her left side and repeated the process. For some reason, he seemed to take considerably longer than necessary.

Leaning down, she whispered, “Hurry. People are watching.”

They were. The guests and Luis, all of them astride their various mounts, were waiting for the ride to start. Ruby was used to a certain amount of attention at work. This was different.

“Done.” Cliff let the second stirrup drop. Then, with an agility Ruby wished she’d shown, he mounted the gelding.

Her resolve promptly deserted her. She’d always been attracted to men who could sit a horse well. Figured Cliff Dempsey, sheriff of Sweetheart and her sister’s romantic castoff, would be one of them.

Fifteen minutes into the ride, the group abandoned the main road in favor of a well-used trail that was wide enough for two horses to walk abreast. Cliff kept pace with Ruby, his expression unreadable. For her part, she said nothing, unsure of what to say.

As the morning sun rose higher in a brilliant blue sky, many of the guests shed their sweaters and jackets, either tying them around their waists or behind their saddles. Ruby attempted to do her job by keeping an eye on the riders ahead of her and answering questions. The horse-related ones were simple enough. Cliff had to step in and assist with those concerning the region.

Eventually, the group settled down as the newness of the ride wore off and they became more comfortable with their mounts. Ruby’s mind drifted, lulled by the rhythmic clip-clopping of hooves on the hard ground and sunlight flickering over her face as it filtered through the sprawling tree limbs.

This day, this entire situation was surreal. Unbelievable. Yesterday, a mere twenty-four hours earlier, she’d been getting dressed for work. Then, her manager called to say that Crowley had showed up at the casino again and was asking about her. When the manager insisted Crowley leave, he became physical and shoved the manager aside. Ruby, in turn, contacted Detective James.

After that, everything went crazy. By evening, she and Scarlett were on the phone, putting together the finishing touches on their plan.

And now she was here. Riding a horse for the first time in eleven years and leading—correction, following—a trail ride. She was also attending a square dance on Friday night with the local sheriff. Whom she’d kissed.

Surreal didn’t begin to describe it. Unreal was more like it.

“This is my first time on a horse.”

A child’s voice penetrated the thick layer of Ruby’s thoughts. She blinked herself back to the present.

While she’d been wool gathering, a young girl on a compact horse had fallen behind the others and was riding beside Ruby. Cliff, she discovered after a quick glance around, was now behind her.

“It is?” Ruby felt compelled to respond.

“I like riding.” The girl grinned, showing front teeth too big for her face.

Ruby had no clue as to her age. She knew next to nothing about kids. Not that she didn’t like them. She and her circle of friends weren’t yet mothers, and she had little exposure to anyone under the age of twenty-one in her line of work. Ruby wasn’t bothered by her lack of skills. She’d long ago decided she was born minus the mothering gene.

Another difference between her and her sister. Scarlett adored kids and intended to produce a passel of her own one of these years.

“That’s nice,” Ruby muttered, glancing around. Where were the girl’s parents? Shouldn’t they be supervising her?

“I want to be a cowgirl when I grow up,” the girl continued. “Like you.”

“It’s hard work. Long days. You won’t have much time for anything else. Forget having a boyfriend. Forget any kind of social life.”

Ruby was remembering her youth. She’d been determined to compete nationally in Western pleasure classes and succeeded three years running. She’d sacrificed a lot to get there, including things most teenagers took for granted.

Unfortunately, in all her attempts, she’d failed to place higher than twelfth. Disappointment soured her. It was the reason she’d quit riding altogether after high school and moved to Vegas. No more chasing pipe dreams, she’d told herself.

Until today, she hadn’t realized how much she missed riding. Her father was fond of saying that horses were good for the soul. Relaxing into the sway of the saddle and gazing at the distant mountains, she could almost forget her troubles.

Almost. Cliff’s eyes boring into her back were a constant reminder of her present circumstances.

“I’m a hard worker,” the girl piped up.

“I’m sure you are.”

“My mommy bought me this.” She released the reins long enough to pat the top of her neon-pink cowboy hat.

“It’s bright.”

“And these.” She stuck out her foot to show off a matching pink boot.

“Mmm.” Ruby mustered a smile that, judging from the girl’s pout, was sorely inadequate.

What did she want? For Ruby to enthuse endlessly about her recent purchases?

“Every cowgirl needs a good hat and a sturdy pair of boots,” Cliff said. “Especially pink ones.”

At his comment, Ruby turned in the saddle to stare. Had he really just said that?

The girl also turned, beaming from ear to ear. “I still need a vest. With fringe.”

“Don’t forget spurs.”

Her eyes widened. “Can girls wear those?”

“Sure they can. And you’ll need a rope, too.”

“Wow!” She pulled back on her reins, slowing her horse until she was riding alongside Cliff.

Ruby clucked to Mama Bear, feeling officially dumped. So much for being a female wrangler and the girl’s idol.

“Can you teach me to rope?” the girl asked Cliff.

“I don’t work for the ranch, but I’ll show you a few pointers when we get back from the ride.”

“Cool. Mommy!” she shouted over Ruby’s head. “The man is going to teach me to rope.”

A woman three horses up glanced over her shoulder, mild concern on her face.

“You’re welcome to join us, ma’am.” Cliff tipped his hat. “And the rest of your family.”

The woman’s features relaxed. “All right, I guess.”

Figured Cliff would be good with children. From what Ruby could tell, he was close to perfect. Her sister really would have been better off picking him over Demitri.

Someday, eventually, Ruby would date again. Maybe when Crowley was safely behind bars. Until then, even the close-to-perfect Sheriff Dempsey would remain strictly eye candy.

“Did you barrel race, too?”

It took her a second to realize Cliff had addressed her and not the young girl. They were once more riding side by side, and the girl was with her mother. When had that happened?

Ruby really needed to concentrate.

“No, only Scarlett. I competed in Western pleasure. The closest I got to rodeoing was team penning, which I did only because I thought it was good training for my horses. Sharpened their skills. Mine, too.”

“But doesn’t your dad train barrel racers?”

“He does. And my mom breeds and raises them.” Ruby didn’t correct herself. She still talked about her parents as if they were married to each other and not to different people. The habit was a hard one to break.

“So how did you get into showing horses?” Cliff asked.

“I know, it’s strange, me coming from a rodeo family.

Even more strange was her talking so causally with Cliff about her past. As if he wasn’t here solely for the purpose of protecting her from a dangerous stalker.

“I like team penning,” he said. “Maybe we can try it one day.”

“As partners or competitors?”

“Either one.”

Was that a glint of amusement in his eyes? She must be mistaken.

“What about you? Where did you learn to ride?” Only after she voiced the question did she realize she was truly interested.

“I grew up in Sweetheart. We’re a ranching community.”

“I thought the town catered to the wedding trade.”

“We did. Until the fire last summer destroyed the local economy.”

“Scarlett said things were getting better.”

“They are. Slowly. We went from hosting fifty weddings a month to zero. We’re up to about five now. The town council is hoping to change that with the Mega Weekend of Weddings.”

It was a shame the tourists had stopped coming, Ruby thought. The charming community was situated amid some of the Sierra Nevada’s most spectacular scenery.

Formerly spectacular scenery, she reminded herself. While the area surrounding the Gold Nugget Ranch had been untouched, a large part of the region was laid to waste by the fire’s ferocious appetite.

“Ranching is our second largest industry,” Cliff said. “Prospecting, cross-country skiing and hiking all run a close third.”

“You’re from a ranching family?”

“No, but I worked at the Triple C Ranch from the time I was fourteen until I left for police academy. In between helping my aunt out at the Paydirt.”

Something Ruby’s sister said last night about the popular saloon rang a bell with her. “Your aunt’s the mayor.”

“Twelfth one from the Dempsey family. And I’m the eighth sheriff.”

Ruby drew back. “You’re not kidding.”

“A family tradition. We have a lot of them here. My uncle owns the general store. Sam’s wife’s family owned and operated the Sweetheart Inn for fifty years. It burned down in the fire so now Annie and her mother help Sam run the Gold Nugget as well as oversee the Sweetheart Memorial. The Yeungs’ ancestors settled here during the 1870s when the railroad came through. As did a lot of other families.”

Sweetheart wasn’t just a small town. Its citizens were a large extended family.

How had her wanderlust-loving sister wound up here?

Demitri’s last breakup, Ruby answered herself. Scarlett had been heartsick, as usual, quit her job and found a new one here. Miles away from San Diego.

Sadly, her sister would likely follow the same path again. Cliff was lucky he got out when he did. Before he fell head over heels for Scarlett.

Ruby recalled the bouquet of flowers. Had he fallen already?

Did she care one way or the other?

“You’re a natural,” she observed, inclining her head in the direction of the young girl.

“I’m used to young kids. My cousin has three. Two girls and a boy. Seven, five and two respectively. She’s a single working mom, so I help out when I can.”

“You babysit your nieces and nephew?”

“The term’s subjective. My cousin claims I’m merely an adult presence in the room.”

Ruby suspected he was wonderful with them and that they adored him.

How was it some woman hadn’t snatched him up yet? From all accounts, he was a catch.

“Look, there’s the ranch,” someone called out.

They’d reached the top of a gently sloping hill. In the distance, about a mile away by Ruby’s estimation, was the ranch, the main house and outbuildings, recognizable by their distinctive shapes. The ride was nearing its end.

To her surprise, Ruby felt a stab of disappointment and not just because she’d enjoyed being on horseback. Cliff’s company was a welcome diversion from the constant worry and stress she’d been dealing with since Crowley had first come into the casino and chosen to target her simply because she’d discouraged his inappropriate attention.

Then again, she reminded herself, Cliff wouldn’t be far away for very long. There was the square dance Friday night and his regularly checking in with her.

The prospect reassured her. Cliff was capable and committed to her safekeeping. It also sent a mild thrill coursing through her.

Great. Only a few hours into their acquaintance and she was already anticipating his company. What would she be like at the end of a week?

Chapter Four

Cliff didn’t let Ruby out of his sight. He watched her every move as she helped Luis with the guests. Most needed a hand dismounting, their legs wobbly after the hour-and-a-half ride. Many wanted to chat, their spirits raised by the fresh air, majestic scenery and small taste of cowboy life.

Because there would be a second trail ride later that morning, the entire string of horses was left saddled and bridled. Ruby and Luis tethered them to the corral fence. After warning their neighbors with a nip or squeal for getting too close, all the horses settled in for a well-deserved snooze.

The sight of them resting, their tails lazily swishing, reminded Cliff of the years he’d worked at the Triple C Ranch. Attending college and, eventually, police academy, had been a difficult decision. Cliff loved ranching that much.

But the Dempseys were the law in Sweetheart and had been since the days when the local sheriff wore a Colt .45 strapped to his side. Cliff had a tradition to carry on and didn’t regret leaving the Reno P.D. in order to return to Sweetheart. He’d taken to the job of sheriff just like his father and the multitude of grandfathers and great uncles before him.

What he did regret was his one stupid blunder—becoming involved with a witness. It hadn’t cost him his career; the reprimand had been light. But it did blow a case a year in the making and it left a mark on his otherwise untarnished record.

It had also cost him the complete trust of his commanding officer and partner and cut his chances for advancement in half.

“You said you’d teach me to rope.”

Cliff glanced down at the cowgirl in pink and smiled. “That I did.”

“My brother wants to learn, too.” She presented a reluctant young cowboy, a good foot shorter than she.

Cliff wasn’t sure about the boy wanting to rope. He appeared more inclined to watch and suck his thumb than participate.

“You don’t mind?” The children’s mother had come up behind them. She also wore newly purchased boots from the looks of them. Brown, not pink.

“My pleasure. But I don’t have much time.” He had rounds to make before returning to the station, and the pile of paperwork on his desk never seemed to shrink. He was also anxious to read the reports on Crowley that Detective James was sending over.

“If you’re too busy...”

“Quite all right, ma’am.” He winked at the girl. “I made this young lady a promise. Wait right here.”

With one eye on Ruby, he strode toward the tack shed. She was engaged in conversation with Will Dessaro, the ranch’s trail boss and Scarlett’s immediate supervisor. Judging by Will’s unconcerned features, he believed he was talking to Scarlett. Ruby appeared to be handling herself, although she’d shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. A sure sign she was on edge.

Cliff hated the idea of leaving her to fend for herself, but he had no choice. Sam had promised to watch her in Cliff’s absence. She wouldn’t be going on the next trail ride. Instead, Sam had assigned Ruby some of the endless chores around the barn and corrals.

Inside the tack shed, Cliff searched for a lariat. He found three hanging on the wall and picked the one best suited for a child. Even then, it was way too big.

The girl didn’t care and grasped the rope with glee when he showed it to her.

“Come on.” He led the mother and children away from the horses to the opposite side of the corral. An old tree stump provided the perfect practice target and a tall ponderosa pine offered ample shade. “We’ll start with the basics. Watch me first, then you can try.”

The girl was reluctant to surrender the lariat, but she did. Cliff adjusted the loop until it was the right size for him, then raised the lariat over his head and swung it in the air. At the right moment, he flicked his wrist and let the lariat fly. The loop landed around the tree stump with a satisfactory thwap, and he jerked the rope tight.

The little girl’s mouth fell open, and she turned wide eyes on her mother. “Did you see that?”

“Very impressive.”

“Do it again.” The little boy spoke for the first time.

“Yes, yes,” his sister insisted.

“Don’t you want to try?” Cliff asked.

She shook her head so hard, her pink cowboy hat tilted sideways.

Wasn’t that just like a kid? Cliff chuckled to himself. His own nieces were no different. Gung ho one second, timid as a mouse the next.

“What about you, partner?” The boy had once again ducked behind his mother’s leg. “Ma’am? Would you like to give it a shot?”

She broke into a laugh. “Why don’t I just take pictures? Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” He threw the lariat again.

After some more coaxing, he finally convinced the girl to try her hand. Mom snapped more photos, enough to fill an album. The family left happy, the children dashing ahead of their mother as they climbed the tree-lined path toward the guest cabins.

“If that’s how you are with kids, I’d say you’re a whole lot better than an adult presence in the room.”

Cliff spun at the sound of Ruby behind him. He hadn’t noticed the differences in her and her sister’s voices before. Ruby’s was slightly deeper and a little huskier. Very sexy.

He had to stop comparing the two of them. He also had to stop thinking of her other than professionally. Cliff had crossed the line before. He would not make the same mistake twice.

“I’m the fun uncle,” he said. “I let them get away with murder. If there’s a rule, we break it. Makes my cousin mad.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m lucky to have her, too.”

He and his cousin weren’t just related, they’d grown up together and were good friends. More like siblings. Cliff had never cared much for her ex and wasn’t sorry to see them divorced. Though, he was sorry for the pain his cousin and her children had endured.

“I’m not very good with kids,” Ruby admitted.

Cliff had observed her awkwardness with the young girl during the ride. “There’s no secret. Just show an interest in them.”

“Scarlett loves kids.”

“You shouldn’t mention her name out in the open,” he warned Ruby in a low voice.

“Sorry,” she murmured and glanced about. “I don’t think anyone heard.”

“Walk with me.”

“I can’t just leave the guests.”

Cliff reached for her hand and held up their laced fingers. “Hey, Will. I’m borrowing Scarlett for a few minutes. She’ll be right back.”

The trail boss gave them a wave. “Sure thing.”

When Ruby would have removed her hand from Cliff’s, he tightened his grip.

“Remember, we’re dating. People expect to see us together.”

“Are you going to kiss me again before you leave?”

He wasn’t sure if she’d asked the question in jest or seriousness. “We’ll compromise with a hug.”

Her relief was visible. She’d been serious.

“Call me every hour on the hour,” he told her when they reached his vehicle. “If you’re more than five minutes late, I’ll call you.”

“My phone’s in pieces, remember?”

“Use Sam’s or Annie’s or the ranch phone.” He pulled a business card from his pocket, scribbled his cell number on the back and pressed it into her palm. “Don’t lose this until you’ve memorized the number. Park the truck Sam lends you as close to the trailer as possible. And leave the porch light on all night.”

“Porch light. Living room light. I’d better check my supply of bulbs. At this rate, I’ll be going through them quickly.”

She was putting up less of a fight than she had before the trail ride. Crowley’s phone call was probably responsible.

“Good idea,” he said. “Light is one of the best deterrents. Call me when you’re ready to leave work. I’ll meet you here and follow you home.”

“With my guard?”

She’d remembered.

He smiled. “You’ll like Sarge. Best partner I’ve ever had.” As soon as he spoke the words, his smile faltered. Her sister hadn’t like Sarge one bit. Maybe Ruby would have the same reaction.

“Sarge? Is he former army?”

“Retired from the police force. There isn’t anyone else I trust more to protect you when I’m not around.”

“Do I invite him in or does he sit outside in his vehicle?”

“Your choice. He’ll be fine on the front porch.”

“All night?”

“He’s done it before.”

“Maybe he can sleep on the couch,” she said with great reluctance.

“Or in the kitchen.” Cliff popped the automatic lock with his key fob and opened the driver’s side door. “Remember to call me.”

“Thank you for everything. Scarlett and I...we acted hastily. Without thinking things through.”

“That happens when you’re scared.”

“Everyone’s going to so much trouble for me.”

“We’ll talk more tonight. Set up your new cell phone. Make plans for the square dance.”

“Okay.” She started to back away.

Cliff didn’t let her get very far before pulling her into his embrace.

“For show,” he said. “In case Will and any of the other employees are watching.”

And to comfort Ruby, he added to himself. She looked ready to crumble.

Only it felt less like show and comforting and more like how a man holds a woman he wants to kiss. Cliff was reluctant to release her.

“See you later.” Sliding behind the steering wheel, he started the engine. She turned and headed back to the corral. He watched her progress in his rearview mirror.

Leaving Ruby was difficult and not only because he was concerned for her safety.

He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had felt so good, so right, in his arms.

Cliff spent a total of fifteen minutes at Tom Welch’s place checking on the missing chain saw. While there were fresh footprints behind his barn, nothing was stolen or disturbed. Cliff considered the possibility that Tom had made the prints himself. He did have a reputation for imbibing one too many whiskeys, forgetting where he’d been and what he’d done.

After assuring Tom that either he or his deputy would drive by later on rounds, Cliff aimed his SUV in the direction of town. Traffic was light, and he passed only two unfamiliar vehicles. The occupants appeared to be tourists. Nonetheless, he made a mental note of each car’s make and model.

The Dempsey Trading Post and General Store had changed little since Cliff was a kid, though it was easily ten times the size of the original one founded in the early 1860s. His ancestors had originally come from Ohio, traveling with one of many wagon trains heading west. For reasons unknown, they disembarked early rather than continuing to California.

Sweetheart was no more than a primitive settlement in those days. Cliff’s entrepreneurial great-great-whatever uncle founded a one-room trading post that had catered to prospectors lured to the area by a gold strike in the nearby mountains. As the population expanded, so had the man’s business. His nephew became the first sheriff.

Cliff grew up spending much of his youth in the store, pestering his aunt or playing with his cousin. Even during high school, when girls and sports consumed his every waking thought, he still visited the store. More frequently when his aunt hired the homecoming queen for a part-time cashier position.

Striding down the center aisle, he tipped his hat to a pair of customers and made his way straight to the photo and electronics counter.

“Hey, you!” His cousin Maeve smiled broadly at him as she rang up a young man’s order. “Be just a second.”

He observed his cousin, taking pleasure in her happy expression and relaxed, cheerful manner. So different from last summer when he’d helped her and her children move here. Then, she’d been miserable and withdrawn.

“What brings you by, cowboy?” she asked after seeing off the customer. “Don’t tell me Evan is throwing rocks into the neighbor’s yard again.”

Lately, her two-year-old son had decided it was fun to collect rocks and chuck them over the fence. The neighbor had complained.

“Not that I’ve heard,” Cliff said.

“Thank goodness.” Maeve wiped imaginary sweat from her brow.

“I need to buy one of those disposable phones.” He indicated the display wall behind her.

“Something happen to yours?”

“Nope.”

She waited and shrugged when he didn’t offer any additional information. “I’m guessing it’s one of those sheriff things you can’t tell me about.”

“And you’d be right.”

She showed him the three brands of phones the store carried and recommended the most popular one. He chose the least popular. If Crowley was going to get this number, he’d have to work extra hard.

“Need help activating it?”

“No, thanks.” Cliff quelled her insatiable curiosity with a look.

She grumbled in frustration. “You really aren’t going to tell me, are you?”

“Sorry.”

“Will I see you at supper?” She bagged the box containing the phone. “Mom wants to talk about the Mega Weekend of Weddings.” She rolled her eyes. “What else is new?”

“Can’t. I’m on duty.”

“You’re allowed to take a meal break.”

She was right. And he often did join his aunt and cousin for lunch or supper and sometimes breakfast if it was a tough night.

“I have other plans.”

“More sheriff stuff?”

“What can I say?”

She made a last attempt to sway him. “The kids will miss you.”

“I’ll see them tomorrow.” Cliff had volunteered to watch Maeve’s lively brood in the evening while she helped her mother decorate the community center for the upcoming square dance.

Maybe Ruby would go with him to babysit. Scarlett had.

He reconsidered almost immediately, and it had nothing to do with Ruby’s discomfort around children. She was a crime victim and, therefore, off-limits. They could carry out her ruse without spending every evening together.

“All right.” Maeve sighed expressively. “If you change your mind, just call. Mom always makes enough food for an army.”

Grabbing the bag with the phone, he bid his cousin goodbye and left the store. With no other calls coming in, he went directly to the station.

Only one other car occupied the small lot outside the station. It belonged to Iva Lynn, his dispatcher, secretary and, when the need arose, his deputy. She’d even filled in as sheriff for two months, in between the time Cliff’s father retired and Cliff transferred from the Reno police force.

His parents had left behind a lifetime in Sweetheart to reside in Phoenix where the dry air and milder weather was kinder to his mother’s arthritic joints. At first, Cliff wasn’t thrilled about returning to the home of his youth. A big-city police force offered more opportunity. But then, there had been the incident with Talia.

His fault. No one else’s. The only way he’d be able to salvage his career and his pride was to start over. He didn’t like thinking of himself as having returned to Sweetheart with his tail between his legs, but it felt like that some days.

Naturally, the townsfolk had welcomed him with open arms. The incident at the Reno P.D. was never mentioned.

Cliff wiped the dust from his boots on the mat outside the door, and then entered the large room that served as the sheriff’s office. Right next door was the mayor’s office.

Both rooms had been built onto the side of the community center. Across the lot was a metal building, which housed the town’s fire engine and served as a base for the volunteer fire department. Adjacent to that was a helicopter landing pad for use in air-transport emergencies.

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