Chapter 16

Sixteen

Damon

The next day I went to several meetings, and truthfully, I didn’t absorb a word of them.

At lunch, I sat by Bill Hanes, the police chief from Cheyenne, Wyoming. He engaged me about the near accident we’d almost had several months ago. A member of Ella’s family had been climbing, so I was not only familiar with the accident because I was police chief; I had inside knowledge because she was my sister-in-law. Which Bill knew.

“How are things in Refuge Falls now?”

Instantly, my mind went to Isla and the fact that her psycho ex might be coming after her. But I didn’t want to make that a big deal to someone else. “They are fine. How are things in Cheyenne?”

Bill sighed. “You know that Cheyenne has the interstate running through here. It’s difficult. We get a lot of nonsense because of people trying to run drugs to the other side of the country or up to Canada. It’s been a lot lately.”

Compassion filled me. I knew what it was like to feel responsible for a lot of people and their well-being at all times. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Bill nodded. “Thank you. We are low on funding. I assume that you are probably low on funding too. I want to talk to the governor, who was speaking at lunch today, and remind him about funding the police.”

I remembered that these events were political, not just meetings to help us with ideas for our organizations. “I imagine you sat by me for a reason?”

Bill laughed. He pulled out a clipboard. “I could use your signature to support the upcoming tax increase. I want to get some signatures before the governor starts speaking so I can talk to him afterwards.”

Immediately, I signed the petition. “We can always use more funding. In fact, we could use salary increases for all our people.”

“I will make sure to include that.” He stood and then took off.

I watched him go and thought that I could probably be more involved in rallying for support and funding for my own people. I just had the tendency to get shut down with all the red tape around those things. I also thought about how McCrae had been complaining that there wasn’t nearly enough money. Plus, it would now affect Isla too.

I finished my lunch and tried to listen to the governor speak. My phone buzzed, and I casually turned it over. To my delight, I found it was a text from Isla.

I’m hoping I’m not interrupting anything, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m thinking about you while I’m eating my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I smiled and typed back. I’ve been distracted by you all day. I sent it and for a second regretted being so candid. Dang it, the woman had barely been back in town a week.

She sent a reply text. I’m getting the hang of dispatch. Mrs. Friendly says she’ll be able to retire early.

I grinned. I’m sure you are. You always picked up things quickly.

I felt like a teenager waiting to hear from someone who I had a crush on. How long had it been since I’d had this teenage angst in my heart?

For a long time, I’d been cynical. My siblings could attest to that.

My phone buzzed again. Go back to work. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow night.

My heart fluttered, and I responded. I’ll talk to you tonight.

I was just starting to tune in to the speech when another text came in, this time from my mother. Just so you know, the boys have been great. They may call tonight around suppertime. When you call too late, they get upset.

I was grateful my mother kept me abreast of things my boys needed. It was incredible that I’d had such great support from my family over the last two years. All my siblings were helpful, but my parents were the main rock stars.

I texted her back. Will do.

I tried to pay attention to the governor as he spoke. I even put extra effort into it because I wanted to see if he had anything to say about increasing taxes for my people’s salaries. But my thoughts kept drifting off to Isla.

Behind all the teenage angst, there was a growing concern in the back of my mind that she would leave again. I hoped I was wrong.

It was probably just my own fears.