The Sheriff Of Sage Bend. Brenda Mott

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      This book is dedicated to all the strong women

       out there who have risen above whatever obstacles

       have come their way. And to the women who are

       not so strong, who do the best they can with the

       situations life has thrown them. Godspeed.

      And with special acknowledgment

       and thanks to two of the strongest women

       I know: my editor, Victoria Curran,

       and my agent, Michelle Grajkowski.

      CONTENTS

      CHAPTER ONE

      CHAPTER TWO

      CHAPTER THREE

      CHAPTER FOUR

      CHAPTER FIVE

      CHAPTER SIX

      CHAPTER SEVEN

      CHAPTER EIGHT

      CHAPTER NINE

      CHAPTER TEN

      CHAPTER ELEVEN

      CHAPTER TWELVE

      CHAPTER THIRTEEN

      CHAPTER FOURTEEN

      CHAPTER FIFTEEN

      CHAPTER SIXTEEN

      CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

      CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

      CHAPTER NINETEEN

      CHAPTER ONE

      “YOU HAVEN’T BEEN yourself lately, Shannon.” Miranda Ward studied her sister’s drawn expression. “What’s wrong?”

      “Nothing.” Shannon feigned grave interest in her reflection as she swept her black hair into a ponytail and tied it with a scrunchie that had seen better days. “Can’t a person want a little time alone without something being wrong?” She turned to face Miranda in the riding stable’s tiny bathroom, nearly colliding with her.

      “I know you better than that.” Her sister stepped out of the way. “But if you don’t want to tell me what it is, I guess I can’t make you.”

      Shannon brushed past her, moving through their mother’s office and on into the barn. “I’m going riding,” she said. “We’ll talk when I get back, okay?”

      “Come on, let me go with you. Chet and Sam can hold the fort until Mom gets back from the feed store.”

      “Nope. Thanks anyway.” Shannon waved over her shoulder as she headed for a nearby stall.

      Undeterred, Miranda watched while her sister saddled her big bay gelding, Poker. “I was hoping you’d tell me about that phone call you got last night.”

      Shannon whirled back to her. “You were listening?” Her gaze darted to where Chet and Sam stood outside, jaw jacking with a couple of tourists who’d just returned from a ride.

      Miranda kept her voice low. “No. But I couldn’t help overhear some from Mom’s living room. Did it have to do with the trial?”

      Shannon’s eyes widened briefly, and Miranda easily caught the nervousness her younger sister tried to hide. “What did you hear?”

      “Nothing, really. Just you—on the phone. Who were you talking to at eleven o’clock?”

      “None of your business.”

      That might be true—if Shannon wasn’t a key witness in an upcoming rape and murder trial. “All right,” Miranda finally said. “You want to have supper with me tonight?”

      “Sure. If you promise not to interrogate me. I’ll get enough of that when we go to court.”

      “I thought you said we’d talk later.”

      “And we will.” Shannon led Poker down the aisle toward the open double doors at the far end. “See you.”

      “Have a good ride.” Miranda watched as Shannon swung into the saddle and set off at a trot.

      Poker’s shod hooves clacked along the hard-packed dirt trail that wound through the scrub oak, growing fainter as he and Shannon turned off the main path and disappeared into the trees.