voices: "That's the deputy. . ."
"From Steadfast. . ."
"What's he doing . . ."
"Maybe they caught whoever shot . . ."
Memories rushed though her—Burke helping her up last night, his tender touch, his sympathy. And today his no nonsense, right to the point manner impressed her. What a nice change from most parents. Don't be too hard on your nephew, Burke. This was Nick's first trick, and no one was hurt.
Coming back to the present, she tried to tighten her control over herself. I can't stand here gawking at Burke. Not with Freda watching. Keely couldn't let anyone here even suspect that she'd noticed the man and start the gossip train.I should turn and walk into my office. But she couldn't bring herself to move or stop watching Burke until the outside door closed behind him. That finally broke their connection. She turned to find Freda right behind her.
"My, so that's the new deputy," Freda cooed.
Keely felt her cheeks warm. "Yes, he's very efficient—"
"I should say so. That was the first word that popped into my mind when I saw him. I said what an efficient-looking man." Freda patted her heart. "Oh my, if I were only thirty years younger."
Keely refused to give Freda any reaction. Matchmaking was a popular hobby around here, especially with the ever-romantic Freda. Keely would have to be more careful how she behaved around Burke. She walked into her office.
Burke's question came back to her. Why had he asked Grady if he'd been in town last night? Did he think Grady might have been the culprit in the drive-by shooting? Had Grady snuck out again? But even if that were true, why would he shoot out the school windows?
Waves of worry washed through her. Had Grady known she was at school last night? If he had shot the windows, did he realize that a bullet might have gone astray and wounded someone, maybe her? Or could he have shot at her—wanting to scare her? Her nerves quivered with each wave. How had things gotten so bad between her and her brother that she could even entertain thoughts like these?
The unwelcome answer popped into her mind. Grady was capable of doing just about anything and just to pay her father back. Father had insisted that Grady learn how to shoot and Father had refused to send Grady away to that school in California where he'd wanted to finish high school. She thought her father sometimes went out of his way to antagonize her brother.
The bump on her head started throbbing again. Dear Lord, what's the answer? Who's responsible? Why did this shooting happen? Is there anything I should be doing? I'm at a loss.
Nearly a week had passed and today Burke had to find Keely to discuss the case of the driveby window-shooting at the high school. And he didn't want to go to her Because every day, against his will Burke's mind had drifted to the lovely principal of the high school. It had been years since a woman had entered his mind and refused to leave. And a school principal in the bargain?
He'd tried to figure this out so the solution would break the connection he felt to her. So far, he'd only come up with the fact that besides being good-looking, she was excellent at her job , caring and had a--rarely seen by a cop--quality of transparent honesty.
With a glum and surly Nick beside him, Burke drove over the county roads toward Keely. He wondered maybe his preoccupation with her was all due to the disruption of his life—the move, dealing with Nick, attending church again weekly.... Last Sunday, he'd come home feeling like a peeled onion—layers of his protective covering had been stripped from him. Pastor Weaver had preached on the parable of the unfaithful servant.
Burke had realized that he was like the servant who'd buried his talents, not even earning interest for the master. Burke's remorse over not 'spending himself' in doing what he could to help Nick get through his parents' divorce had expanded inside him, making it hard to swallow. He glanced sideways at Nick. The kid's
"From Steadfast. . ."
"What's he doing . . ."
"Maybe they caught whoever shot . . ."
Memories rushed though her—Burke helping her up last night, his tender touch, his sympathy. And today his no nonsense, right to the point manner impressed her. What a nice change from most parents. Don't be too hard on your nephew, Burke. This was Nick's first trick, and no one was hurt.
Coming back to the present, she tried to tighten her control over herself. I can't stand here gawking at Burke. Not with Freda watching. Keely couldn't let anyone here even suspect that she'd noticed the man and start the gossip train.I should turn and walk into my office. But she couldn't bring herself to move or stop watching Burke until the outside door closed behind him. That finally broke their connection. She turned to find Freda right behind her.
"My, so that's the new deputy," Freda cooed.
Keely felt her cheeks warm. "Yes, he's very efficient—"
"I should say so. That was the first word that popped into my mind when I saw him. I said what an efficient-looking man." Freda patted her heart. "Oh my, if I were only thirty years younger."
Keely refused to give Freda any reaction. Matchmaking was a popular hobby around here, especially with the ever-romantic Freda. Keely would have to be more careful how she behaved around Burke. She walked into her office.
Burke's question came back to her. Why had he asked Grady if he'd been in town last night? Did he think Grady might have been the culprit in the drive-by shooting? Had Grady snuck out again? But even if that were true, why would he shoot out the school windows?
Waves of worry washed through her. Had Grady known she was at school last night? If he had shot the windows, did he realize that a bullet might have gone astray and wounded someone, maybe her? Or could he have shot at her—wanting to scare her? Her nerves quivered with each wave. How had things gotten so bad between her and her brother that she could even entertain thoughts like these?
The unwelcome answer popped into her mind. Grady was capable of doing just about anything and just to pay her father back. Father had insisted that Grady learn how to shoot and Father had refused to send Grady away to that school in California where he'd wanted to finish high school. She thought her father sometimes went out of his way to antagonize her brother.
The bump on her head started throbbing again. Dear Lord, what's the answer? Who's responsible? Why did this shooting happen? Is there anything I should be doing? I'm at a loss.
Nearly a week had passed and today Burke had to find Keely to discuss the case of the driveby window-shooting at the high school. And he didn't want to go to her Because every day, against his will Burke's mind had drifted to the lovely principal of the high school. It had been years since a woman had entered his mind and refused to leave. And a school principal in the bargain?
He'd tried to figure this out so the solution would break the connection he felt to her. So far, he'd only come up with the fact that besides being good-looking, she was excellent at her job , caring and had a--rarely seen by a cop--quality of transparent honesty.
With a glum and surly Nick beside him, Burke drove over the county roads toward Keely. He wondered maybe his preoccupation with her was all due to the disruption of his life—the move, dealing with Nick, attending church again weekly.... Last Sunday, he'd come home feeling like a peeled onion—layers of his protective covering had been stripped from him. Pastor Weaver had preached on the parable of the unfaithful servant.
Burke had realized that he was like the servant who'd buried his talents, not even earning interest for the master. Burke's remorse over not 'spending himself' in doing what he could to help Nick get through his parents' divorce had expanded inside him, making it hard to swallow. He glanced sideways at Nick. The kid's
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