Page 48 of One Night Years Ago

“He shouldn’t be in our town, Sheriff. You know that better than anyone.”

She smelled alcohol on Paul’s breath. She straightened to her full height. She was still half a head shorter than most of them, but that had never stopped her before.

“I thought I made myself clear last time we spoke. Mr. Fowler is free to come and go as he pleases, as long as he doesn’t break any laws. And right now, it looks to me like he’s not the one breaking the law.” She looked around the circle, her blue gaze memorizing the identities of each person there. “You all need to go home.”

“He was in the bank, Sheriff. Maybe he came to rob it. We’re just concerned citizens.”

“Really? Robbing a bank with his mother in the car?” She shook her head. “Mrs. Fowler doesn’t deserve this. Let Mr. Fowler get to his car right now or some of you will spend the night in prison.”

“You into felons now, Sheriff? Is that what you were holding out for all these years?”

Natalie saw Hunter’s hand become a fist and knew that he was seconds away from doing something stupid. Even as her heart clenched at the thought that he wanted to defend her honor, her head told her there was a better way to do this. She turned around and shoved the man who’d just insulted her at the same time putting her leg behind him and tripping him. He fell in a heap at her legs.

“Anybody else think insulting me is the way to go?” she said, smiling tightly.

Beside her, Hunter’s fist relaxed, his hand falling by his side again.

“Come on, everyone, move away.” Slowly, the crowd started dispersing.

They’re probably going to tweet about this. I’ll bet the mayor will hear about it by tonight.

“Thanks, Sheriff,” Hunter said. The words were right, but he wasn’t meeting her eyes.

She put her hand gently on his muscular forearm.

“Hey, Hunter, it’s going to be okay.”

“Is it?” He shook her hand way. “Because the way I see it, I came to town for a simple meeting with the bank manager, and the townspeople scared my mother half to death.”

Natalie dropped her hand and moved over to the car. She opened the driver’s door and peeked inside.

“Are you okay, Mrs. Fowler?” she asked, her voice gentle.

“I … yes, I guess I was just …” The older woman’s words died as she realized she had no idea what to say.

“They’re gone, Mrs. Fowler. I’ll speak to them and make sure they don’t come back.”

The older woman’s eyes glistened with tears. “He didn’t do it. He didn’t do any of it.”

“I know, Mrs. Fowler, I know.”

“Please move out of the way,” Hunter said, his voice hard. “I’m taking my mother home now.”

Natalie moved away, knowing there was nothing she could say.

Chapter 20

Natalie

Natalie was microwaving a sad TV dinner, her third one this week, when she heard a noise outside her house again. She considered picking up a knife then padded her way softly to the living room and picked up her gun instead. If somebody wanted a fight, they were going to get it.

She opened the door and came upon Hunter, who was just about to knock.

“Natalie—” he said, recovering quickly. “I’m sorry for the way I behaved earlier. I know you were just trying to defuse a dangerous situation, and I’m grateful for your help. I just … I didn’t react well when those people threatened my mother.”

She looked at him impassively until he took a small step back. His hands went into his pockets.

“That’s what I wanted to say. I’ll leave now.”