Page 42 of Bridles and Bribery

“Tell you what,” Eloise offered in a hushed voice. “I’llwrite a letter to the HOA that’s guaranteed to send them running for the hills, and I’ll do it for free.”

Edward Wagner swung back in their direction, folding his arms defiantly. “What’s the catch?” Bitterness dripped from his words.

“No catch.” Eloise’s voice was innocent. “However, one neighborly turn deserves another. You’ll owe us dinner. Both of us.” Her gaze landed affectionately on Jillian. “My sweet daughter-in-law has been confined to her home by an overzealous retired sheriff, who fears my son’s current case is putting her in danger. She could use the company.” She shot him such a warm smile that he blinked in astonishment. “Something tells me our overzealous friend will approve of her gun-toting neighbor.”

Edward Wagner let out a heavy breath. “I’m not much of a cook.”

“Fine. Then we’ll eat at her place.” She angled her head toward Jillian and Dave’s townhome. “This evening. Six o’clock. You’re bringing dessert.”

He gave a rusty scrape of laughter and lowered his arms. “Dare I ask what you like, Eloise?”

She wrinkled her nose sourly at him. “I’m not the one who’s pregnant.”

“Right.” Looking abashed, he turned his attention to Jillian.

Before she could utter a word, her mother-in-law added, “Anything but chocolate. She’s carrying my grandchild, and he doesn’t need the caffeine.”

Jillian spread her hands, chuckling helplessly. “Honestly? I’m not too picky.”

“How about cheesecake from the bakery?” He cocked his head questioningly at her. “Topped with fresh strawberries?”

“This time of year?” Eloise frowned at him.

He loosely dangled his thumbs through the belt loops on his jeans as he swaggered in her direction. “This old goat happens to own a greenhouse.”

“You know what?” She jutted her chin at him, slapping her hands down on her slender hips. “You’re getting harder and harder to dislike.”

He drew close enough to tower over her. “You do realize there’s another option than us being enemies?”

On their ridiculously shortdrive home, Jillian kept breaking into snickers and glancing over the console at her mother-in-law in the backseat. “You were totally flirting with my husband’s newest client.”

Eloise shrugged nonchalantly. “I get the job done. If you don’t like my methods…” She shook her head, inferring that it was Jillian’s problem.

“I have no problem with your methods,” Jillian assured with another delighted chuckle. “I thoroughly enjoyed watching you wrangle a dinner date out of him.” She dramatically raised a hand to her forehead. “Should I plead a headache and stay in my room so you can have him all to yourself?”

“Whoa! Time out.” Gil parked in their driveway and swiveled around to pin an accusing look on Eloise. “You invited a complete stranger to the house?”

“No, we invited a neighbor,” Eloise reminded with a haughty tilt to her chin. “One that must’ve passed your background check. Otherwise, you would’ve never played chauffeur this morning.”

“A neighbor that you just met,” he reminded.

“What else were we supposed to do?” She waved a hand carelessly. “He owes us dinner, but he claims he’s not much use in the kitchen.”

A wave of redness crept over Gil’s freckled features. “This isn’t a joke, Eloise. I’m doing everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“I am aware.” She leaned forward to pat his arm, employing a tone one might use to soothe an angry cat. “Which is why I did my homework first. There’s not a single pencil mark in his case file you wouldn’t approve of.” She leaned back in her seat. “Army veteran with twenty-four years of service and a Purple Heart, who served another twenty-something years as a railroad conductor. Oh!” She wagged a finger at Gil. “Did I forget to mention his impressive gun collection?”

“You didn’t have to.” Gil looked exasperated. “The local HOA is filing charges against him for brandishing a deadly weapon when they attempted to have a reasonable conversation with him about the condition of his property.”

Eloise squared her shoulders. “We both know their charges are going nowhere. They’ve been harassing the bejeebers out of him over something their snobby little organization has zero jurisdiction over. They’ve also been trespassing on his property, vandalizing his weeds?—”

“Vandalizing his what?” Gil drew back, looking incredulous.

“You heard me, sheriff.” Her lips trembled from the effort of holding back a smile. “His back pasture is a sanctuary for weeds. His choice entirely since the purchase of his property predates the inception of the HOA. Besides, the rifle he was holding when he answered the door today wasn’t loaded, and he never once pointed it at us. For all we know, we interrupted him while he was cleaning it.”

“Eloise!” Gil sounded like he was striving valiantly to hang on to his temper.

“I get it, Gil,” she groaned. “Believe me, I do. You’re at your wit’s end looking after two pregnant women, and now you think you’ve got a loose screw next door to worry about.”

---