Page 19 of King of the Weld
I head back inside to find Sophia pacing the living room, arms wrapped around herself as if warding off a chill despite the warmth of the cabin.
"Sheriff's here," I tell her. "You ready for this?"
She stops pacing, squaring her shoulders in a gesture that's becoming familiar. "What did your brother say?"
"He knows your father," I say, watching her eyes widen in surprise. "They have business dealings together. A big project in Singapore that your father apparently needs badly."
Understanding dawns on her face. "And your brother is going to threaten to pull out unless my father leaves me alone."
"Something like that," I confirm. "Michael seems to think it will be effective."
Hope flickers across her features, quickly tempered by caution. "My father doesn't respond well to threats."
"It's not a threat," I explain, repeating Michael's words. "Just a clarification of Morrison International's corporate values. Apparently, they prefer to partner with companies that don't force their daughters into marriages against their will."
A ghost of a smile touches her lips. "Your brother sounds formidable."
"He is," I agree. "In a different way than me, but equally effective when necessary."
The sound of boots on the porch steps cuts off any further discussion. I move to the door, positioning myself between it and Sophia out of instinct.
Sheriff Tom Carter is a solid man in his fifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and the hardworking face of someone who spends most of his time outdoors.
We've known each other since I returned to Pine Haven. Not friends exactly, but something closer than acquaintances. He helped me find this property, steered me toward the building permits I needed for my workshop, occasionally stops by with welding jobs from the department.
"Ethan," he greets me with a nod as I open the door. His eyes flick past me to Sophia, then back to my face. "Got your call about trespassers. Want to tell me what's going on?"
I step aside to let him in.
"This is Sophia Valentine," I begin, watching his eyebrows rise at the name. "She's staying with me for a while. Her father and some associates showed up uninvited earlier, tried to force her to leave with them."
Carter turns to Sophia. "Miss Valentine. You're here voluntarily?"
"Yes," she confirms, her voice steady despite the tension I can see in her posture. "I left my family home four days ago to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage. Ethan found me on his property and has been helping me."
Carter nods, taking this in stride. Nothing much surprises a sheriff who's been serving rural communities for three decades. "And the men who were here today… They tried to make you leave against your will?"
"Yes," she says again. "My father, Edward Valentine. Harrison Blackwood, the man I was supposed to marry. And my cousin, Richard Valentine."
"Were threats made?" Carter asks, his eyes moving to my bandaged hand. "Looks like things got physical."
"They did," I confirm. "Richard Valentine was armed. I disarmed him. Harrison Blackwood attempted to assault me. I defended myself." I keep my tone clinical. "They made verbal threats against both of us before leaving."
Carter pulls out a notebook, taking down the details as we provide them. When we finish, he tucks it away with a thoughtful expression.
"Miss Valentine, I need to ask. Are you over eighteen and acting of your own free will?"
"I'm twenty-three," she confirms. "And yes, completely of my own free will."
"Then legally, there's not much they can do to force you to return," Carter says. "That said, families like the Valentines don't always play by the rules the rest of us follow."
"We're aware," I say grimly.
Carter gives me a measuring look. "I'll file a report about the trespassing and threats. I can issue a no-contact order if you want, though that's just paper unless they violate it."
"Do it," I say immediately. "Paper trail is important."
Sophia nods her agreement, and Carter makes a note.
