The Sheriff Of Wickham Falls

A laugh slipped through Natalia’s parted lips. “You want me to cook for you?” Seth nodded. “How do you know if I can put together a palatable meal?”

His eyebrows lifted a fraction. “You didn’t buy all of this fresh food just to look at it. Otherwise you would’ve selected prepackaged meals.”

“What about your wife or your girlfriend, Seth? Do they cook for you?”

“No, because I don’t have a wife or a girlfriend. My cooking skills are passable, and when I don’t cook for myself, then I’ll occasionally eat at Ruthie’s or the Wolf Den. I’m certain you passed Ruthie’s on your way to the supermarket, while the Wolf Den is a sports bar located between here and Mineral Springs.”

Natalia began emptying the bag with milk, butter, eggs, yogurt and cheese. She could not begin to imagine why a man who looked like Seth wasn’t married or involved with a woman.

“What exactly do you do when you’re not on vacation?”

“I’m a deputy.”

She blinked slowly. “You’re a US deputy marshal?”

“No. I’m Wickham Falls’ deputy sheriff. And what brings you to The Falls?”

Natalia opened the French door refrigerator and then moved several open boxes of baking soda to the back before she stored the perishables on shelves and in drawers. “I’m here to assist Dr. Franklin.”

Seth applauded. “Well, it’s about time he hired someone to help him out. Folks have been known to spend hours in his office waiting for him to see them just for a follow-up visit.”

“That’s because he’s very thorough,” Natalia said in defense of her new boss. She’d watched him examine one of his patients who had come in complaining of back pain.

“Thorough and very, very slow,” Seth countered. “When do you want to start painting?” he asked.

“Today,” she confirmed.

“If we work together I’m certain we can finish today.”

Natalia wanted to tell Seth that she still had to unpack boxes, but didn’t want to appear ungrateful. “If I’m going to spend the entire afternoon painting, then I can’t cook for you.”

“That’s not a problem. I’ll take you to the Wolf Den tonight and you can cook for me tomorrow.”

Natalia did not want to believe her neighbor had mentioned taking her out to eat as if it was something they’d done before. And she hoped he didn’t think of it as a date, because she wasn’t ready to date any man, even one as attractive as her next-door neighbor. “You’re really on this kick for me to cook for you.”

“I told you it’s been a while since I’ve had a decent home-cooked meal.”

Despite his obvious arrogance, Natalia did not want to believe she had hit the jackpot when it came to a neighbor. Not only was he tall, dark and deliciously handsome, but he was also willing to donate his time to help her paint. “Do you usually moonlight as a painter in your spare time?”

Throwing back his head, Seth laughed loudly. “Not quite. My dad was a local handyman.” He held up his left hand when Natalia opened her mouth. “Don’t say it,” he warned softly.

“Don’t say what?” she said as she struggled not to smile.

“You were going to mention my hitting my hand instead of the nail.”

“That’s called an accident,” she said, rather than tease him about his mishap with the hammer. “Give me about twenty minutes to put everything away and for me to change my clothes, and then we can begin painting. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

Her eyes met Seth’s. The magnetism coming off him in waves held her captive until Natalia dropped her gaze. She could feel pinpoints of heat stinging her face and she was grateful for her darker complexion to conceal what would’ve been an obvious blush. And she also prayed he hadn’t caught her staring at him like a starstruck groupie coming face-to-face with her idol.

Seth gave her a mock salute. “I’ll see you later.”

Natalia exhaled an audible breath of relief when Seth walked out of the kitchen. She had relocated to Wickham Falls to become a small-town doctor, and had no intention of falling under the spell of her sexy neighbor.

Chapter Two

Seth wasn’t certain why he had volunteered to help Natalia paint the kitchen because he knew her treating his hand had little to do with it. However, he did appreciate her concern, which told him she hadn’t hesitated when she believed he’d seriously injured himself. And he had been truthful when he told her that folks living in Wickham Falls looked out for one another.

He’d spent the first eighteen years of his life in The Falls and the next eighteen serving his country as a marine. Now, at thirty-eight, he was back to stay. Unlike some kids who couldn’t wait to grow up to leave, it had been different with Seth. Perhaps it had something to do with reconnecting with his parents and sisters, because each time he was granted leave it was to come back to his hometown.

He walked into his house and descended the staircase to the basement. In the two years since his honorable discharge, Seth spent most of his spare time working on the house where he had grown up. He had updated the kitchen and finished the basement. He’d also had a company put on a new roof and replace worn shingles with vinyl siding.

Seth knew he had disappointed his late father when after graduating high school he refused to join Adam Collier’s general contracting business. But, the elder Collier understood his son’s wish to embark on a military career because of the stories he’d told Seth about serving in Vietnam, as well as Seth’s grandfather fighting in Korea.

Seth opened the door to a storeroom and selected an extension pole for a paint roller, a pan and several pan liners, a pair of safety glasses and a package of respirators to prevent the inhaling of paint fumes. He checked the shelves and made a mental note to restock several items the next time he went to Grand Hardware. Like most residents in The Falls, Seth made a concerted effort to shop locally, although he could save a lot more money by shopping in the stores off the interstate.

Ten years ago, members on the town council embarked on a shop locally campaign to sustain the viability of the independent stores in the business district. Every couple of years, they voted down proposals to allow national chains or franchises in Wickham Falls, much to the delight of local business owners.

Gathering what he needed for the painting project, Seth returned to the first story. The throbbing in his left thumb was an indication he had to ice it again. He retrieved an ice pack from the freezer and placed it over his hand. He’d hoped the swelling would disappear before he was scheduled to return to work. The sheriff, an ex-marine drill sergeant, who was noticeably out of shape himself, expected all of his deputies to be physically and mentally fit to perform their duties.

After icing his thumb, Seth exchanged his jeans and T-shirt for a pair of painter bib overalls, a long-sleeved cotton polo and paint-spattered running shoes, then covered his head with a tattered baseball cap. He felt as comfortable in what he deemed work clothes as he had in his military police and deputy sheriff uniform.

* * *

Natalia had emptied the bags and stored her groceries in the refrigerator-freezer, on shelves in the miniscule pantry, and had changed out of her blouse and jeans and into a pair of shorts she should’ve discarded last summer and an oversize white T-shirt. A pair of flip-flops had replaced the ballet flats. She debated whether to cover her short hair with a hat or a bandanna, and then decided on the latter.

Affecting a short, natural wash-and-go hairstyle had been advantageous when working double, and on occasion triple, shifts at the hospital. Then she would shower in the doctors’ lounge, grab at least four hours of sleep, then go back on duty. She had been so sleep-deprived, Natalia knew she would never catch up on the hours she’d lost. She was looking forward to assisting Dr. Franklin, because not only would it be a different environment but she would be able to develop a relationship with her patients.

Natalia left the bedroom and walked into the kitchen, smiling when she saw Seth standing on the ladder and putting blue tape around the windows, cabinets and along the ceiling. He’d removed the stools at the breakfast island and covered the countertops and the round oaken table and four chairs in the eat-in kitchen with drop cloths. The radio positioned under a row of overhead cabinets was tuned to a station playing soft jazz.

“I didn’t hear you come in,” she said. Seth had entered the house so quietly that Natalia hadn’t detected his presence.

Seth glanced at her over his shoulder. “That’s a warning that you should keep at least one of the doors locked whenever you’re home alone, because you don’t want someone to walk in on you. Nowadays you have to take every precaution to protect yourself.”

“Wickham Falls is so small that I thought there wouldn’t be a lot of crime here.”

He climbed down off of the ladder. “We don’t have much when compared to larger towns or cities but there is crime here.”

“What about opiates?” Natalia asked.

Turning slowly, he gave her a direct stare. “Did Dr. Franklin tell you about our drug problem?”

Natalia shook her head. “He didn’t have to. It’s become an epidemic that’s affecting large and small cities and towns throughout the country. Even the so-called affluent neighborhoods aren’t exempt.”

“Amen,” Seth confirmed under his breath. He opened a gallon of paint, attached the pour spout and slowly drizzled paint from the can into the pan with a liner, then repeated the action with the second one. “I brought over an extra pan for the paint, so we can both use rollers.”

Natalia glanced around the kitchen. “How long do you think it’s going to take us to finish painting this?”

“Probably about two to three hours.”

“What I don’t understand is the walls in the other rooms are spotless, while the kitchen is a mess.”

The house’s pristine condition and updated appliances, along with a washer and dryer in the unfinished basement, were the reasons Natalia had decided to rent it. When she’d questioned the realtor why the home had remained vacant for a year, the woman said interested tenants complained that the rent, which included a two-month security fee, was out of their price range, but for Natalia it was less than what she’d once paid for her mortgage and maintenance on her condo.

“I’m willing to bet that Chandler’s nephews are the culprits,” Seth said.

“Mrs. Riley at the realty company told me that my absentee landlord is a confirmed bachelor and lived alone.”

“He is and does, but every once in a while, his sister would drop off her twin boys and that’s when chaos erupted. Chandler and his sister were raised by a single mother. They were never allowed to have friends over because Mrs. Evans said she didn’t want them tracking dirt inside. Chandler is also a neat freak, but he’s also a very indulgent uncle when it comes to his nephews.”

Although she was curious to know more about her landlord and her neighbor, Natalia decided not to question Seth further because she wanted them to finish their painting project. Picking up a disposable respirator, she put it on and then protected her hands with a pair of rubber gloves.

* * *

Natalia stood next to Seth admiring their handiwork. They’d completed painting the kitchen in less than two hours. The bluish-gray color was the perfect complement for the stainless-steel appliances. “You did a very nice job, Seth.”

Attractive lines fanned out around his eyes when he smiled. “So did you,” he countered. “And I’m willing to bet that this isn’t your first painting project.”

Folding her arms under her breasts, Natalia nodded. “The year I turned thirteen, I asked my mother if I could paint my bedroom and she said okay as long as it wasn’t black. One year it was fluorescent pink, and another year it was lavender. I was in the pink and purple phase for a while until I left for college. It was only after I graduated medical school that Mom told me since I was a doctor, I’d forfeited the room and she was going to paint it with a color of her choice. My mother liked oyster-white walls, which I’ve always found much too sterile. Although Mom tells everyone she’s a very modern woman in reality, she’s very conservative.”

“There’s something to be said for conservatism.”

Natalia glanced up at Seth. “You’re a conservative?”

He angled his head. “I’m more of a traditionalist middle-of-the-road guy.”

“Is that another way of saying you’re old-school?”

“Not as much old-school as I am a conventional person. Give me the rules and tell me the law and I will follow them without question.”

“So, if you were to stop me for speeding, I’d never be able to talk you out of giving me a citation even if I told you I was going to a medical emergency.”

“That would be the exception because if it’s a 911 call, I’d escort you to see your patient.”

Natalia knew without question that Seth was inflexible when it came to bending the rules, and she wondered if it was the reason why he wasn’t married or had a girlfriend. That it was his way or the highway.

“Well, let’s hope I don’t have too many medical emergencies,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Are you going to alternate hours with Dr. Franklin?” Seth asked.

“Not initially. We’ll work together for a couple of months until we’re able to establish a routine where we may be able to have at least two late nights to see patients. Speaking of patients, let me look at your thumb again.”

“It’s okay.”

“It can’t be okay if you’re massaging it,” Natalia said accusingly.

* * *

Seth let go of his left hand. He hadn’t realized he was manipulating his thumb to ease some of the tightness in the digit. Some of the swelling had gone down, but now it appeared to have stiffened. “I hit it pretty hard so it’s going to take a few days before I stop favoring it.”

Natalia reached for his hand, cradling it in her much smaller one. “Do you want me to spray it again?”

He snatched his hand away. “No! I’ll ice it again when I get home.”

“You can apply a warm compress after you ice it again.”

Seth smiled. “I’ll do that. I’m going to clean up here—”

“Please don’t,” Natalia, said, cutting him off. “You’ve done enough. I’ll clean up everything. And dinner tonight is my treat.”

Seth shook his head. “No, it’s not. I never allow a woman to pick up the check when we go out together.”

“I’m not your date, Seth.”

“Whether you are or are not my date is irrelevant. I still won’t let you pay for my meal.”

“What if we go dutch?”

Not wishing to engage in a verbal confrontation, something he’d done much too often with some women in his past, he forced a smile that did not reach his eyes. “It’s almost three o’clock now, and I’d like to pick you up at six. Is that too early?”

“Oh... I mean no. It’s not too early.”

“If that’s the case, then I’ll see you later.”

Turning on his heel, Seth walked out of the kitchen. It had been less than twelve hours since he met his new neighbor, and there was something about her that intrigued him. He was more than curious about the woman driving a top-of-the-line luxury SUV bearing Pennsylvania plates, and why she was renting a house in The Falls. Seth knew he could easily find out more about his new neighbor by entering her vehicle’s license plate number into a national database accessible to law enforcement but that would be the same as snooping. After all, she wasn’t a suspect or a person of interest in a case he was investigating. And he hoped, after sharing a meal with Natalia, she would answer some of the questions that had him wondering why she had come to The Falls.

* * *

Natalia dipped the sable brush into the compact with loose powder that was specially blended to match her complexion, and tapped it lightly against the lid to shake off the surplus before she drew it over her face. Peering into the mirror over the bathroom sink, she stared at her handiwork. Although it had been a while since she’d applied foundation, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick, it was apparent she hadn’t lost her touch. A moisturizer and occasionally lip gloss were the only allowances she made for makeup when working at the hospital, and the last time she made up her face was New Year’s Eve when she’d accompanied her ex to a party hosted by one of the partners at his law firm.

What had begun as a festive evening ended with them glaring at each other after Daryl accused her of flirting with one of his colleagues. The incident foreshadowed the end of what had become a fragile relationship when she vowed never to attend another social soiree with him unless he apologized for his rude behavior. She waited weeks, and then a month, for him to express regret, but when he didn’t Natalia knew it was time to end their engagement. However, Daryl beat her to it when he moved out and took off with her ring and her dog.

Now she was preparing to go out with her neighbor. The major difference was that it wasn’t what Natalia deemed a traditional date. However, she had admit to herself that she did find Seth Collier very, very attractive, but even that wasn’t enough for her to think of him as anything other than someone who lived next door. She found it ironic that she’d lived in the condo for eight years and had never socialized with any of the other residents in her building. Although they would occasionally greet one another with a nod or perfunctory greeting, she didn’t know any of their names. Picking up a wide-tooth comb, she ran it through the strands of her short hair and then using her fingers, fluffed them to achieve greater height. Preparing to resign from her position at the hospital, closing on the sale of the condo to her sister and brother-in-law, and then packing the personal items she planned to ship to Wickham Falls hadn’t left time for her to visit her favorite Philly salon for a trim. Fortunately, time was no longer an issue for Natalia with her working shorter hours and she had to decide whether to let her hair grow out or keep it short and virtually maintenance-free.

The ring of the doorbell startled her as she hurriedly washed her hands and left the bathroom to answer the door. The clock on the living room fireplace mantelpiece chimed the hour. It was exactly six o’clock. Seth said he would pick her up at six and arriving at the appointed time revealed he was a man of his word.

She unlocked the inner door to find Seth standing on the porch staring at her with an expression she interpreted as temporary shock. She unlatched the storm door and held it open. He’d changed into black slacks with a white untucked shirt open at the neck and spit-shined black boots. Much to her disappointment the stubble from his lean, strong jaw was missing. Natalia wasn’t a big fan of facial hair, but somehow she liked it on Seth.

“Please, come in. I just have to get my jacket and purse.”

“That’s all right. I’ll wait here for you.”

* * *

Seth had told Natalia he would wait on the porch for her because it would give him time to recover from staring at her slender body in a pair of body-hugging black stretch slacks, high-heeled booties and a black-and-white striped silk blouse.

When Natalia opened the door, Seth felt as if someone had hit him in the chest, causing him to lose his breath, when he stared at her. He couldn’t believe the transformation. She’d gone from a fresh-faced ingenue to a seductress with smoky eye shadow and a raspberry mouth that made him want to taste her lush lips to see if they were as sweet as they appeared. It had been a while since he’d slept with a woman, but that still did not explain his reaction to a woman who unknowingly had him wanting to spend time with her.

And there were a few questions he wanted her to answer for him: why had she chosen to practice medicine in Wickham Falls and not some other town? Who or what was the reason for her leaving a cosmopolitan city like Philadelphia to live in a town where more than half the populous were at or below the poverty line, and at the same time census numbers were steadily decreasing?

A smile parted his lips when she returned wearing a loose-fitting black peplum jacket. Her big-city sophistication was definitely on display, and he wondered how long it would take for her to conform to a more relaxed style of dress. Jeans, boots or running shoes were the norm for most residents. Even the local church had eased dress code restrictions where women attended services in slacks, and some of the teenage girls had attempted to push the envelope when they showed up in shorts and tank tops.

The scent of Natalia’s perfume wafted to his nostrils when she closed and then locked the doors. “You look very nice,” Seth complimented.

Natalia’s demurely lowered her eyes. “Thank you.”

Cradling her elbow, he led her down off the porch and over to his driveway where he’d parked the Dodge Charger. Seth opened the passenger-side door and waited until Natalia was seated and belted in before he rounded the car to sit behind the wheel. He didn’t get to drive the powerful muscle car as often as he liked. He had driven it to Savannah and back, but most times he drove his late father’s Ram Pickup to and from the station house to keep it from sitting too long. Even though the sixteen-year-old vehicle had more than a hundred thousand miles on the odometer it still handled like new. His father had claimed the great loves in his life were his wife and children, and then his pickup, which he worked on tirelessly to keep it in tip-top condition.

“How far is the Wolf Den from here?” Natalia asked when they stopped at the railroad crossing. The gates were down, bells were ringing and red lights were flashing indicating an oncoming train.

Seth shifted into Park, and then stared at Natalia’s delicate profile as she looked out the windshield. “It’s on the edge of town between The Falls and Mineral Springs.”

She turned to meet his eyes. “Why isn’t it located downtown like the other businesses?”

“During Prohibition, the Gibson brothers decided they’d had enough of being miners and pooled their meager savings to buy some land off the beaten track to set up a still to sell moonshine. And to stay one step ahead of the revenuers they built the restaurant as a front for their illegal activities.”

“Were they ever caught and prosecuted?”

Seth smiled. “No. There was no way folks were going to snitch on them because it would cut off their supply of some of the best hooch in the county. Once Prohibition was repealed, the Gibsons wanted to move the restaurant into town, but several town council members retaliated and passed a law prohibiting the sale of alcohol within the business district. They’d assumed it was their way of punishing them for breaking the law, but it backfired. The Den became even more popular among those folks because they had a place where they could drink openly and eat some of the best barbecue food in Johnson County.”

“What about Ruthie’s?”

“Ruthie’s is a family style, all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant. Their busiest times are weekends when kids are out of school and also when families gather there following church services.”

A slight frown furrowed Natalia’s smooth forehead. “Are you saying Sunday dinners are passé?”

“It is with some families.”

“When I grew up we had a tradition that the first Sunday in each month the extended family would get together. We’d rotate homes. One Sunday it would be our house, and then it would be one of my aunts. My grandmothers would compete with each other as to who could come up with the best desserts. Most times it was a draw because whatever they made was spectacular.”

Seth chuckled. “Everyone brags about their grandmother’s cooking. You’ll discover that during our Fourth of July bake-off competition. Around here, holidays are cause for the entire town to turn out and celebrate. We have the upcoming Memorial Day parade and picnic.”

“Mr. Grand at the hardware store was bending my ear about the parade,” Natalia said, smiling.