Only By Your Touch Read Free

her hip at the stranger. Under the best of circumstances, the child was timid around men, and given their recentdiscussion about Native Americans, he was warier than usual.
    The stranger’s smile blinked out. After studying the boy for a long moment, he directed a burning look at Chloe. All warmth gone from his voice, he said, “You can take the advice for what it’s worth. No skin off my nose, either way.”
    She stared bewilderedly after him as he strode off. She didn’t know what had upset him, but his gruff tone had frightened Jeremy and set him to trembling.
    She smoothed a hand over Jeremy’s curly hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
    The child clung more tightly to her leg. “See? He doesn’t like us.”
    Chloe could think of no better explanation. “I guess maybe not.”
     
    Twenty minutes later, when Chloe pushed a brimming cart to the checkout counter, the dark stranger had already left. Still upset over the way he’d frightened Jeremy, Chloe was glad to find him gone.
    The clerk greeted them with a friendly smile. An older woman, she had a wiry, no-nonsense look well suited to someone working in a feed store. Propping her elbows on the counter, she took in the cart of merchandise, her blue eyes dancing with amusement. “Looks like you found everything.”
    Chloe nodded. “And then some. I’m afraid we went a little overboard.”
    “You must be the new gal over at the sheriff’s department.”
    Chloe was momentarily taken aback. “Why, yes. How did you know?”
    “I’ve seen your car parked over there—or one like it, anyway. You could have been a tourist, but when you mentioned the puppy, I figured you had to be thenew gal. You’ll get used to our grapevine. Jack Pine isn’t very big. Gossip travels fast, and a new hire at the sheriff’s office is hot news.” She thrust out a hand. “Lucy Gant.”
    Returning the handshake, Chloe said, “Chloe Evans and my son, Jeremy.”
    “Hi, Jeremy.” Lucy grabbed a jar of individually wrapped candy from a nearby shelf and unscrewed the lid. “Help yourself, young man.” Jeremy politely selected one piece. “No, no, take a handful,” Lucy urged.
    Jeremy helped himself to several candies. “Thank you.”
    “You’re quite welcome,” Lucy said. “I got a soft spot for boys. Have two of my own.” She watched Jeremy wander away to look at the animated displays in the front windows. “Handsome boy.”
    “Thank you. I think so.”
    “I heard your last name is Owens.”
    “That’s amazingly close. I guess there really is a grapevine.”
    “Anytime you want to know anything about anybody, honey, just come see me. How do you like the new job?”
    “I love it. The people I work with are really nice, it pays pretty decent, and the health insurance is great.”
    “With the cost of insurance nowadays, that’s a plus. You get weekends off?”
    “Unfortunately, no. I work the three-to-eleven with Wednesdays and Fridays off. But I lucked out on a sitter. Deputy Bower’s daughter, Tracy, stays with Jeremy. He absolutely adores her.”
    Lucy nodded. “Nice girl, Tracy. Spittin’ image of her mama, that one.” Lucy leaned across the counter to pass a scanner over the bag of dog food. “Sheriff Lang’s a decent fellow. A little too laid back to be agood lawman, but nice. We graduated the same year. He went off to college.” She tapped her chest. “I got married to a good-for-nothing, gave him two sons, and then got left to raise them alone.”
    Chloe knew how hard that was. She laid a red puppy collar on the counter. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been very difficult for you.”
    “I managed. All things considered, I was better off. He was a mean-tempered man and quick to rile.”
    Chloe’s throat tightened. She and Lucy Gant had a great deal in common, it seemed.
    The older woman shook open a sack and glanced after Jeremy again as she began bagging items. “So what did you think of Crazy Ben?”
    “Pardon?”
    “Ben Longtree,