Page 56 of One Night Years Ago

“Don’t forget to stop by the pharmacy on your way out. It’s not safe to drive with a headache, particularly not in this weather.”

In the car a few minutes later, the pills in her pocket, Natalie found herself heading north out of town, in the direction of Hunter’s place.

When she arrived, she saw a figure hammering a new pole into the ground by the gate. She lowered the window of the patrol car.

“Hun— Jesse. Hi.” She smiled tiredly. She wondered how she could ever have confused the two men. While they were both the same height, Hunter was wider and more muscular. And Jesse’s eyes were limpid pools of blue. They held none of the darkness that Hunter’s did.

“You’re the sheriff,” Jesse said. “You’re Hunter’s friend. He’s told me all about you.”

Hopefully not all about me.

“I’ll tell Hunter you’re here,” he said, already running away. “He’s going to be so excited!”

Excited wasn’t a word Natalie would ever associate with Hunter, but in truth he did look happy to see her as he walked out of the barn, striding quickly towards the car. His thick, muscular chest was bare. He was still working, even though it was almost seven p.m.

“Natalie,” he said. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. Is the offer of a drink still on?”

“He looked towards the house. “Sure, I think my mother’s cooking dinner, I could—”

She cocked her head towards the barn. “I meant a glass of water,” she clarified.

A small smile played on Hunter’s lips.

Bingo, there’s that dimple again.

“Jesse, tell Mom I’ll grab something to eat later. The sheriff and I need to talk.”

“Hunter and the sheriff, sitting in a tree—”

“Now, Jesse!” Hunter said, struggling to hide a smile.

“Fine, but I’m done for the day. You can finish fixing the fence yourself!” The other man ran off to the house.

“He’s a good kid,” Hunter said sadly. It didn’t escape either of them that he was talking about a grown man.

“You look tired,” he said. “Is everything alright? There haven’t been any more—”

Natalie shook her head quickly. “No, nothing like that. I have a headache, though. I got a painkiller at the hospital. Maybe I will take that glass of water, if it’s still on offer.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, his lips pursed.

“Don’t look so grim.”

“I just hate the thought of you in pain.”

They were almost at the barn when her phone rang.

Chapter 23

Natalie

Hunter held the barn door open for her. She walked in to get away from the howling wind, picking up the phone on the third ring

“Hello?” she said. She didn’t recognize the number.

“Are you at the station, Natalie?” It was a throaty, raspy voice. Not one she recognized.