True Knight - Patricia Logan Page 0,2

It is a very small town—population 1,593 at the last census—and from the little I’d seen of it so far, the town has retained the feel of stepping back in time to another era. I had a feeling living here was going to be a life changing experience for me. I was excited.

I reached into the bed of my truck and plucked my duffel from the back, turning as I heard a door squeak on hinges that sounded like they hadn’t been oiled in a good long while. When I glanced over, a woman stood there with her hands on her wide hips and to my relief, I was greeted with a smile. The screen door to the sheriff’s office banged shut behind her.

“Hey there,” she said, “are you Romeo Harmon?”

I grinned back at her, taking several steps toward her with an outstretched hand. “I am, but please call me Rome. You must be Sally?”

“Sally Winters, your deputy.” She shook my hand with a strong grip as she craned her neck up to look me in the eye. “Tall drink of water, huh?”

I smiled. I was taller than most men at six three but not as big as some of the guys I’d served with overseas. I let go of her hand with a short nod and her apple cheeks blushed bright red to match her hair.

“Well, come on in. It’s a bit chilly out here and I just brewed a fresh pot.” She stepped aside with an elegant flourish of her hand toward the creaky screen door.

I pulled the door open and stepped back like a gentleman, letting her walk past me into the warm office. It smelled of cinnamon orange potpourri and fresh coffee. I was grateful. My last cup had been nothing more than dregs from the ampm where I’d gassed up two hours before.

“Are you used to the altitude?” Sally asked. “Most folks new to town find it a challenge until they get used to it. Pretty sure if you’re not used to it, it’ll take some time for you too, Sheriff. Anyway, let’s get that coffee.”

I followed the little chatterbox to the back of the small station realizing that my new deputy didn’t really want me to answer her questions. I wondered whether she was the type who liked to hear herself talk just for the sake of it. We turned down a hallway and the coffee scent got stronger. She threw a smile over her shoulder as she stopped at an open door.

“This is the breakroom,” she said. “Not much since it’s only you, me, and Precious most days. Dave comes in three days a week but that’ll be your call, obviously. He wants more hours but most of the time, Prosper Woods just isn’t a hub of crime if you know what I mean.” Sally grinned at me again and then turned, walking over to a cabinet, and pulling out a mug. She set it on the counter and reached for the pot, pouring me a cup, and then returning the pot to the burner. I gratefully accepted the brew from her hands as she gestured to a refrigerator which looked like a 1950s throwback.

“Creamer and half and half are in there. We didn’t know what you’d want so Precious stocked up for you. She also brought these from home. She’s quite the baker. Doesn’t like chocolate for some reason but the general store carries the boxed brand if you like those.” Sally reached for a tin with brightly painted pictures of cookies on the outside.

“I’m sorry. Precious is who?” I reached for a sugar cookie as Sally opened the tin for me. It smelled delicious as I bit into it.

“Oh, sorry. Precious is our dispatcher. She does all our regular filing as well as handling the phones. She’s been with us about six months. Just sent her down to the post office to pick up mail and drop off bills. If we wait until Jedediah brings it around, it’ll take all day and I didn’t know how much you wanted to do today if anything. Maybe you just want to settle in and we’re fine with that.”

I chewed the cookie that tasted as good as it smelled, chasing it down with a slug of the strong coffee while she chattered. It was like listening to background noise that I was only half hearing as I pondered my new surroundings. I was fairly sure I’d somehow found heaven when I’d answered the Internet