him he was just that bastard Justin Kincaid and that heâd been a fool to think she might have cared about him.
The anger might be old, but it still lived inside of him. He wished it would burn hot enough to allow him to make her pay for what sheâd said and done, but that wasnât possible. He could never hurt Megan. Which is why he had to stay out of her way.
As he crossed the dark, empty street, he noticed light shining out of the sheriffâs office. He hadnât lit any lanterns before heâd left, so he must have visitors.
As he approached the building, he saw two men standing in front of his desk. One of them turned toward the window. The muscles in Justinâs stomach clenched tight. He recognized the light brown hair and mustache. It had taken Wyatt the better part of five months for it to grow in that thick. Heâd been so proud of his mustache that Justin wasnât surprised to see he still wore it, after all these years. He didnât know the younger man standing next to Wyatt, but he knew who they were. The gleaming silver badges on their chests told him. His deputies.
He walked softly toward the door, then paused before entering. Wyatt had been one of the boys who had taken pleasure in beating Justin up. When Justin had grown big enough to hurt back, Wyatt had given up his game. Justin wondered if his old enemy knew who the new sheriff was.
He opened the door and stepped inside. The two men turned toward him. The stranger gave him a half smile, but Wyatt stared as if heâd seen a ghost.
âEvening, gentlemen,â Justin said. He walked closer to the men. âIâm Justin Kincaid, the new sheriff of Landing.â
The smaller, dark-haired man held out his hand. âDaniel Thomas, Sheriff. Itâs a pleasure to meet you.â They shook hands. Justin studied the younger man, taking in the firm set of his jaw and the straightforward appraisal of his eyes.
âThomas,â he said. âHow long have you been in town?â
âAbout three weeks, sir. I worked as a deputy up North for a while. Iâm sure excited about this job.â
âGood.â Justin turned his attention to the other man. âEvening, Wyatt.â
âJustin.â Wyattâs blue eyes met his. Justin read the confusion there, the shock and anger. Then all the emotions were banished, and the other man smiled. âWelcome home.â
Justin walked over to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. âIâve got a contract that says Iâll be here for a year. I wonât accept less than complete loyalty and obedience. You can either work with me, or move on. Which is it to be?â
Wyatt shifted his weight and brought his right hand up to rest on his waist, right above the butt of his pistol. Justin didnât blink. He wasnât armed, but that wasnât something he cared about right now. Wyatt wasnât going to draw, the man was just testing him. He didnât mind the testing, what he cared about was Wyattâs decision. He would rather be a man short than work with someone he couldnât trust.
Thomas glanced from him to Wyatt, obviously confused. Wyatt stared at Justin. âI heard the name but didnât believe it. If someone had told me we were going to meet in a sheriffâs office, I would have guessed youâd be on the other side of the bars.â
Justin smiled. Wyatt was right. After all the trouble heâd caused in town and the reason heâd been run off, it made sense to assume that. âI almost was,â he said. âBut Iâve learned from my mistakes. Iâve been a deputy over five years. Iâve studied law, even been offered a turn at being a judge. My qualifications were enough for this town. I donât give a damn about whether or not theyâre good enough for you. I just want to know where you stand. I wonât watch my back. Either youâre with me, or you find yourself another
The anger might be old, but it still lived inside of him. He wished it would burn hot enough to allow him to make her pay for what sheâd said and done, but that wasnât possible. He could never hurt Megan. Which is why he had to stay out of her way.
As he crossed the dark, empty street, he noticed light shining out of the sheriffâs office. He hadnât lit any lanterns before heâd left, so he must have visitors.
As he approached the building, he saw two men standing in front of his desk. One of them turned toward the window. The muscles in Justinâs stomach clenched tight. He recognized the light brown hair and mustache. It had taken Wyatt the better part of five months for it to grow in that thick. Heâd been so proud of his mustache that Justin wasnât surprised to see he still wore it, after all these years. He didnât know the younger man standing next to Wyatt, but he knew who they were. The gleaming silver badges on their chests told him. His deputies.
He walked softly toward the door, then paused before entering. Wyatt had been one of the boys who had taken pleasure in beating Justin up. When Justin had grown big enough to hurt back, Wyatt had given up his game. Justin wondered if his old enemy knew who the new sheriff was.
He opened the door and stepped inside. The two men turned toward him. The stranger gave him a half smile, but Wyatt stared as if heâd seen a ghost.
âEvening, gentlemen,â Justin said. He walked closer to the men. âIâm Justin Kincaid, the new sheriff of Landing.â
The smaller, dark-haired man held out his hand. âDaniel Thomas, Sheriff. Itâs a pleasure to meet you.â They shook hands. Justin studied the younger man, taking in the firm set of his jaw and the straightforward appraisal of his eyes.
âThomas,â he said. âHow long have you been in town?â
âAbout three weeks, sir. I worked as a deputy up North for a while. Iâm sure excited about this job.â
âGood.â Justin turned his attention to the other man. âEvening, Wyatt.â
âJustin.â Wyattâs blue eyes met his. Justin read the confusion there, the shock and anger. Then all the emotions were banished, and the other man smiled. âWelcome home.â
Justin walked over to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. âIâve got a contract that says Iâll be here for a year. I wonât accept less than complete loyalty and obedience. You can either work with me, or move on. Which is it to be?â
Wyatt shifted his weight and brought his right hand up to rest on his waist, right above the butt of his pistol. Justin didnât blink. He wasnât armed, but that wasnât something he cared about right now. Wyatt wasnât going to draw, the man was just testing him. He didnât mind the testing, what he cared about was Wyattâs decision. He would rather be a man short than work with someone he couldnât trust.
Thomas glanced from him to Wyatt, obviously confused. Wyatt stared at Justin. âI heard the name but didnât believe it. If someone had told me we were going to meet in a sheriffâs office, I would have guessed youâd be on the other side of the bars.â
Justin smiled. Wyatt was right. After all the trouble heâd caused in town and the reason heâd been run off, it made sense to assume that. âI almost was,â he said. âBut Iâve learned from my mistakes. Iâve been a deputy over five years. Iâve studied law, even been offered a turn at being a judge. My qualifications were enough for this town. I donât give a damn about whether or not theyâre good enough for you. I just want to know where you stand. I wonât watch my back. Either youâre with me, or you find yourself another
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