Page 94 of Surly Sheriff
“Yet you stayed away.”
She had no defense against that bitter accusation.
“Get out of my store,” Bella hissed, “and don’t set foot in it again.”
“Bella—”
But her sister-in-law lifted her arm and pointed down the hallway. “Get. Out.”
Knowing that further discussion was futile, at least for today, Rae turned and walked away.
Only to discover an audience when she emerged from the hallway. Thea Hudson and Nancy Jacobs stood by the edge of the counter, and judging by their scowls, they, too, were not happy to see her.
A lump formed in her throat.
What did you expect, Rae? A ticker-tape parade?
Rae met their hostile looks with a resigned one of her own, nodding her head as she passed by. “Ladies,” she murmured.
She crossed the store to where Jack kneeled beside Molly, and gave Oliver, seated in an armchair beside the table, a grateful look. “Thanks for keeping an eye on him. Come, Jack, time to go.”
“But I’m playing with Molly.”
Rae looked down over the children’s heads. Theywerein the middle of a Snakes and Ladders game, but the last thing she wanted was for Bella to accost her in front of her son. “Sorry, kiddo. We need to go.”
“Momma! No!”
“Now,” she snapped.
She seldom raised her voice when addressing her child, and that she did so now in front of a hostile audience galled her. Jack looked at her with big eyes. “Momma?” he whispered, his lips trembling.
Remorse flooded her, and she crouched beside him, rubbing her palm across his shoulders. “I’m sorry for snapping, Jack, but wereallyneed to go.”
“But why?”
“My nephew can stay. It’syouwho’s not welcome.”
Rae froze at Bella’s words. Great. Just what she wanted to avoid. She hooked a hand under Jack’s arm, pulling him upright as she rose to her feet. “Come, Jack.”
“Let him stay. His dad can pick him up later.”
Rae stared at Bella, her mouth gaping in shock.
“I don’t have a dad.”
Jack’s innocent proclamation echoed in the deafening silence left by Bella’s words.
“Oh, Bella,” Sunny said, moving nearer.
“How could you?” Rae whispered, and sprang into action, scooping Jack into her arms.
They needed to get away.Now.
“My puzzle, Momma!”
“We’ll find another one.” She rushed across the store, shaking with anger. Oliver reached the door before her, pulling it open. The bell jarred her nerves, and she vowed to never set foot in that place again.
Oliver followed her outside.
