The New Deputy in Town. B.J. Daniels

said and looked past him to the crowd. Titus Cavanaugh was a large, white-headed man with a powerful voice and a strong handshake. “My granddaughters are here somewhere. Quite the turnout. I hope you’ve tried some of Laci’s desserts. She really did go all out, but then that’s Laci. She was born with a spoon in her hand.” He laughed at his small joke.

      Nick wanted to ask about Laci and Laney’s parents. He hadn’t heard anything about them. But he didn’t get the chance.

      Across the room, he spotted Maddie Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a pale blue dress the same color as her eyes. Even from here he could see that her face was drawn, her freckles seeming to jump out. She looked upset.

      He saw that she was listening to something Arlene Evans, her future mother-in-law, was saying. Arlene had a firm grip on Maddie’s arm and seemed to be trying to lead her out the back door.

      “Here’s one of my granddaughters!” Titus announced.

      Nick turned to come face-to-face with Laney Cavanaugh. She was dressed in a peach-colored dress that fell like water over her curves. Her face had a glow to it that had nothing to do with makeup, and those eyes, those amazing emerald eyes…

      Past Laney, he saw Arlene Evans drag Maddie outside.

      Nick cursed under his breath. “Excuse me a minute. I’ll be right back,” he said to Laney and made his way through the crowd after Arlene and Maddie.

      WELL, THAT WENT WELL. Laney tried to hide her disappointment. She’d been looking forward to seeing Nick Rogers all week. In fact, when she’d spotted him talking to her grandfather, she’d made her way through the crowd, too impatient to wait for him to find her.

      Or maybe worried he wouldn’t.

      Laney wasn’t used to behaving like this. She turned away, fighting the urge to flee. Instead, she went over to the dessert table to see if she could help her sister.

      “It’s a success,” Laci announced and sighed. “My first catered party. I can tell you now. I’m opening my own catering business, Cavanaugh Catering, right here.”

      “Here?” Laney stared at her sister. Not because this surprised her. The way Laci loved to cook, it was the perfect career choice. “Here in Old Town?”

      “Not just Old Town and Whitehorse, silly. I was thinking that it’s crazy that nobody lives in Mother’s house. I could run my catering business from the house. That way I would be close to Gramma and Gramps. But I would cater the whole county.”

      Laney didn’t know what to say. Laci had always been the one who couldn’t wait to get out of here after their two-week summer visit each year. “What about Seattle?”

      “It will always be there,” Laci said with a laugh.

      Laney eyed her sister. “This seems kind of sudden.”

      “Not really. I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’ve already told Gramma.”

      Gramma hadn’t been responding to anything since her stroke.

      “It was the weirdest thing,” Laci confided. “She looked right at me. I swear she squeezed my hand. It was like there was something she wanted to tell me, needed to tell me, then she closed her eyes…”

      “She’s happy for you,” Laney said quickly, not knowing if that was true or not. Gramma Pearl had always encouraged them to do what made them happy. Laney wasn’t sure what their grandmother would think about Laci staying here though. But she was positive what Gramps would say. Titus would be thrilled.

      “I thought I’d tell Gramps after the party,” Laci said. “Oh no, we’re almost out of those chocolate-covered cherry cheesecakes. I should have made more.”

      Or kept Violet Evans away from them, Laney thought as she watched Violet devour the last of the little cakes and then move down the buffet table toward the macaroons, stuffing a handful into the big pockets of her jumper when she thought no one was looking.

      But Laney was distracted by the sight of Geraldine Shaw heading for the dessert table. Had she found her diamond bracelet? Laney could only hope so. She glanced around for Maddie, but didn’t see her anywhere.

      BY THE TIME NICK STEPPED OUT through the back door of the community center, whatever Arlene had dragged Maddie out there for was over.

      The two were standing a short ways from the back door. Maddie had her arms folded over her chest, her eyes on the ground. She’d been crying. Arlene was standing over her, glowering down at her.

      “Is there a problem?” Nick asked pointedly.

      Arlene turned in surprise, her expression instantly changing as she stepped back from Maddie. “Why, Deputy, you’re missing the dance. My daughter Violet—”

      “I was hoping to dance with the bride-to-be,” Nick said looking at Maddie. He could hear the music coming from the center, but he was more interested in what Arlene had been saying to Maddie. Whatever it had been, he was betting it hadn’t been good. Arlene had been giving Maddie hell—and at her engagement party. That didn’t bode well for their future relationship.

      Arlene’s look soured as she glanced from Nick to Maddie and back.

      “I wanted to wish her well on her engagement,” he added. “If you’ll give us a moment,” he said pointedly to Arlene.

      “Of course,” the older woman said, sending a warning glance at Maddie before she went back inside.

      “Are you all right?” he asked.

      Maddie looked up, her blue eyes filled with tears. She made a swipe at them. “I’m fine.”

      “I don’t think so.”

      “Please,” Maddie said looking nervously toward the door. “Don’t. You’ll only make things worse.”

      “Is that possible?” he asked.

      Maddie dried her eyes.

      “Let me help you,” Nick said.

      “What’s going on out here?” asked a strident male voice.

      Nick recognized it without turning. Bo Evans. His mother’s doing no doubt. She’d sent him out here. “I meant what I said,” Nick whispered to Maddie. “I can help if you’ll let me.”

      She gave him an indecipherable nod and, putting a smile on her face, stepped around him.

      Nick watched as Bo pulled Maddie to him none too gently and the two disappeared back inside. Nick swore and went to find Laney Cavanaugh.

      But as he entered the center, he heard a bloodcurdling scream and saw the crowd converge to a spot in front of the dessert table.

      Nick pushed his way through to find Geraldine Shaw on the floor. She was gasping for breath, her face bright red, her eyes bulging. “Everyone get back!” he yelled as he knelt down next to her. “Can you hear me?” He could see the panic in her face. She tried to lift her arm from the floor and he saw what was left of a macaroon clutched in her fist.

      Nick felt the woman’s panic. He’d been here before. But like before, there was no time to do anything. The poison was too fast acting. Geraldine Shaw went into convulsions and he caught the familiar odor of bitter almond just before she died.