Page 107 of Home Town Knight

Stillwater could run, but they couldn’t hide. Not forever.

“This is my current list of suspects,” I said. “I haven’t ruled out DA Grissom or Jud Hale. You’ll see several names here we’ve discussed before as well. But the latest addition is the one I’m most interested in. Charlotte McKinley, the Colorado Lieutenant Governor. She used to date Jud Hale, and she visited him multiple times here over the years. That could be the Hartley connection. And there are enough red flags about her otherwise that?—”

“No.” River had gone completely still, glaring at his screen. “It’s not her.”

“You know Charlotte McKinley?”

“I know it’s not her.”

Owen sat back in his chair. “Riv, could you give us a little more to go on than that?”

His dark eyes flicked up to Owen’s. “You can take my word for it. That should be enough.”

I exchanged an uncomfortable glance with my boyfriend. River’s entire demeanor had shifted when he’d seen Charlotte’s name. There was more to this story. But it was clear River didn’t intend to fill us in.

River got up from his seat. “Thanks for this, Gen. I’ll look into the other names here. See what else I can find for you. I’ve got something else to do. You can see yourselves out.” He vanished into his bedroom and shut the door, leaving Owen and me bewildered in his kitchen.

Our meeting had barely lasted ten minutes.

“What was that?” Owen whispered.

That’s a man who’s holding tight to his secrets, I thought. “We should go.”

Back out on the street, Owen and I spoke in low voices. “I’ve never seen River that upset,” I said. In the last several months, I’d come to consider River one of my closest friends in Hartley. “I have no idea what that was about, but I feel bad. He’s usually so unflappable.”

“Whatever’s going on, it’s not your fault. River only ever shares what he wants to. We’ll just have to wait until he’s ready.”

Almost a week later, we arrived at Trace and Scarlett’s house for dinner in honor of Jessi’s birthday. “Get in here!” Scarlett said, waving us into her bright kitchen. “We’re just setting up.” Platters of food were arranged over the counters.

I gave her a quick kiss and set down the salad we’d brought.

Owen hugged her, then held up a six-pack. “Where’s the cooler?”

“Out back. That’s where Aiden and Trace are. Jessi’s playing corn hole with Vivian and Toby.”

Owen barked a laugh. “They’d better get ready for the corn hole champion. I’m going to wipe the lawn with them.” He winked at me before heading to the back door.

I stayed to help Scarlett. “This looks wonderful. But I’m surprised Aiden didn’t plan some elaborate feast for Jessi’s birthday. That man is smitten.”

“Hmm, true. But Aiden might have something else in the works for tonight. Wait and see.” She aimed a knowing grin my way. “I hear Vivian and Toby are interning with you at the Gazette? They’re ecstatic. Been talking our ears off with ideas for stories they want to write.”

“I’m thrilled to have them. They’re great kids.”

“Thanks. I think so too.”

I’d been surprised that Scarlett had two teenagers considering how young she looked. But then I’d learned how she and Trace had adopted the pair toward the end of last year. They were a tight-knit family. The kind I wanted to have someday.

It made me think of Owen’s words again, as I did often. He’d said that loving someone, having a family, could be an adventure. Looking back, I was pretty sure that had been the moment I’d started to fall in love with him. Just a little.

“And how about you and Owen? How are things? The sheriff seems to be all smiles lately.” Scarlett laughed before I’d had a chance to respond. “Wow, that blush on your cheeks says it all.”

I touched my face, feeling the heat there. “Owen is amazing. I’m ridiculously in love, and it’s better than I ever imagined.”

“I know what you mean.”

On our way back from Denver a couple of months ago, we’d stopped at his grandparents’ ranch. Met the Douglas family. Owen’s grandma had a strong personality, but a soft heart, much like him. There was still tension between him and his grandad, but things were getting better. They’d invited us to come for Thanksgiving this fall, and Owen had promised to teach me to ride a horse.

“I’m not all that surprised though,” Scarlett said. “I had the feeling you would end up in Hartley.”

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