Page 35 of Starcrossed Colorado

“Do you think Stella likes me? Even as much as she likes other dogs?”

“Look how much fun she’s having with you.” I pretended to think. “If you were a dog, what kind would you be? A Maisie-doodle?”

She laughed like that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. A sound full of joy.

After fetch, we went to the playground. I helped Maisie on the swings. Then she pumped her legs to keep going. Stella sat by my side and watched. A few other kids appeared, and I said hello to their parents or sitters or whoever was with them.

Meanwhile, I took pictures with my phone and sent them to Ashford.

Me

Look who’s having a great time at the park.

About ten minutes later, the response came.

Ashford

Wish I was there.

And to my surprise, I kind of wished he were there, too.

My day had started out awful. But now, it was the best day I’d spent so far in Silver Ridge.

Until I kept noticing the stranger in a dark blue rain slicker.

He, or maybe she, was standing between some trees in a wooded area of the park. The person had their hood up, their face shadowed. They were average height, medium build. But something about the build seemed male. The raincoat was odd, since the skies were clear now.

At first, I ignored him. But after a while, I couldn’t shake the creeping feeling that his eyes were on us.

“Hey, kiddo,” I called out. Maisie had run over to a kid-sized climbing wall. I didn’t want to shout her name, just in case that creep was listening. “We’re going to head home now.”

Was I overreacting? Maybe. But I didn’t want to take any chances. Strange men hanging out alone near children’s parks were a definiteno.

“Not yet! Please, Emma? I have to reach the top.”

“It’s time to go,” I said, more firmly this time. “I’m counting to five, and when I get there, your feet need to be on the ground, missy.”

“Nooo.”

“One, two, three…” When I reached five, Maisie jumped down to the ground and fell to the grass. I cringed, worried she’d hurt herself, but she jumped up. The knees of her pants had grass stains.

“Where’s Stella?” she asked.

I looked around. A wave of worry hit me.

There was no sign of Stella anywhere.

TEN

Ashford

My sessionat the sheriff’s headquarters in Hartley went well. It was a joint training with other area departments, including the folks from Silver Ridge PD who’d driven in for the workshop. I taught the officers a variety of defensive moves based on Krav Maga to use against aggressive suspects without causing undue harm.

Teaching courses like this didn’t pay a ton, but I never turned down the opportunity.

“Thanks, Ashford. Great class,” Sheriff Douglas said afterward, shaking my hand. He was around my age with a reputation for being diligent and fair. Unlike a lot of elected sheriffs, who might skip a training session in favor of sitting at a desk, Douglas had been out on the mat with his deputies. He’d served as a Marine, and he had some skills.

“There’s a rumor that some of my deputies are grabbing dinner at Last Refuge Tavern after this,” the sheriff said. “You should join. Same with you and your officers, Chief Landry.” He nodded at Teller, the chief of our tiny Silver Ridge department.

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