Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss(66)

“You think he’s part of the Syndicate?” He already told Bill about the ledgers he’d found. About Vernon’s threats, though not the promises Hunter had made to him to keep Meredith safe.

Yucton slowly arched one eyebrow. “You think he isn’t?”

Hunter didn’t answer. The truth was carved into the walls of Yucton’s cell, the same one Abbott had spent time in. He only wished he had seen it sooner, maybe he could have saved everyone a world of hurt. But he’d never thought to look at his father. He’d been the supposed victim of the crime, after all. But he guessed that was the intent.

“Vernon, Laidlow. Maybe Platt and Bancroft, too. They showed up in town at the same time and both claim to hail from San Francisco. Unless Bancroft is from Colorado. Depends on which family member you ask. Either way, it’s all conjecture. I’ve got no proof. I need whatever it was that Abbott had on them. The homestead was ransacked after the trial.” At the time he’d thought it was drifters, now he knew better. “Where the hell did Abbott hide it?”

Yucton shook his head. “He said I was better not knowin’.”

“Great.” Hunter rubbed a hand down his face.

“You know what you gotta do.”

Hunter nodded, but it didn’t mean he liked it. Fact was he hated it. But there was no other way. The old file had yielded nothing and time had run out. He needed to keep Meredith safe and Salvation Falls was no longer a safe haven. Maybe he should have spoken to the town council, but he hadn’t. He couldn’t do that to her. Not that it mattered now. Even if the town council voted against Vernon and approved her dress shop, he had to wreck her dreams and get her out of town either way.

Just like he had before.

“This is just temporary,” he said. “Once I find the proof and take the Syndicate down, I’ll bring her back. I’ll convince the council to reverse their decision.”

Neither of them acknowledged the ugly truth hanging in the air. Meredith would never forgive him for running her out of town a second time. The tenuous bridge of trust they had rebuilt crumbled underfoot.

“I’ve gotta go,” he said. “The town council meeting is starting. I should at least be there.”



“I don’t see the need for this business. Women in this town can make their own dresses.” Vernon’s acidic tone raked over her.

“I don’t deny many can, but there are also many who can’t, or who don’t have the time. Currently they must buy ready-made dresses whether the sizing is to their advantage or not, or they must order from a catalogue, never knowing if, when the item arrives, it will fit properly. The service I provide is to make a dress using quality materials and cut specifically to the woman’s needs.”

“For a price.” Vernon sneered at her, as if the idea of her making money disgusted him.

“Yes, for an affordable price. It’s a business, Mr. Donovan. Not a charity.”

“Something you would know ample about, if I recall.”

Her skin burned from the slight but she refused to back down. “My business will give the women of Salvation Falls choices they do not currently have at their disposal. They will be able to choose from a variety of patterns from plain and serviceable to the more elaborate designs that rival anything coming out of London or Paris.”

“Fripperies,” Vernon barked, reminding her of an angry dog.

Caleb spoke up before she could protest. “I don’t see how outfitting a woman in the dress of her choice is a frippery. Are you going to tell me your suits aren’t custom-made, Mr. Donovan? Or yours, Mayor Greggs?”

Mayor Greggs squirmed in his seat. His gaze slid down the table to where Vernon sat before quickly skidding away.

“I can vouch for the fact mine are,” Bertram said. He puffed up his barrel chest. “As are the suits of many others on this council, you included Vernon.”

For a brief moment, Vernon’s glare left Meredith and rested on Bertram, though the old lawyer appeared far less affected by it than she. She was fighting for her livelihood and losing badly. Her run-in with Laidlow had left her shaken and, try as she might, she found it hard to regain her footing.

“Rachel would be more than happy to see a dress shop open here,” Caleb said. “Between running a ranch and looking after the boys, she doesn’t have the time to be sewing her own wardrobe. I’m certain she would appreciate the service.”

“Perhaps we should call for a vote?” Mayor Greggs suggested.

“Can I say something?”

Meredith glanced over her shoulder. She had been so focused on the council she hadn’t heard Hunter approach. He stood a few feet behind her, his hat held in his hands. The lamplight set up around the room to ward off the early November nightfall made his dark hair glisten.