Six

      Dillon patted his mare on the neck. “Come on, girl, let’s head back to the barn.”

      He’d been working with Dandi all Saturday morning, something he did most every weekend and on the rare afternoons when he could sneak away from his office a little early.

      On this particular morning, he was really enjoying his outing. Since the unsolved break-in at the school and other teacher problems heaped on top of that, he’d been tense. Now he felt some of the stress ease out of his body, leaving him relaxed.

      Dismounting at the barn a few minutes later, Dillon shoved his hat back, wiped his brow, then lifted his head heavenward. He was ready for fall. Here it was the beginning of September, but so far no cool weather or rain. Both were needed, but as far as the eye could see, there were no clouds.

      Soon, though, summer would ease into fall, and the huge oaks, maples, and sundry other trees would flaunt their foliage like bright pieces of ribbon flowing gracefully in the wind. A sight to behold.

      And, cooler weather went hand in hand with football, his favorite sport. The home game last weekend had gone off without a hitch. In fact, he couldn’t have asked for it to have gone smoother. On the whole, the kids had been well behaved. Only a few minor incidents had cropped up, which his assistant had taken care of. Not only had the football team done exceptionally well, but so had the cheerleaders, band and drill team.

      Thinking about the drill team brought Janey Mayfield suddenly to mind.

      He frowned, wondering why thoughts of her continued to sneak up and bite him on the butt. Although it disturbed him to have to acknowledge it, he’d actually thought a lot about her since their last encounter.

      He’d seen her at the football game, too, though he’d made sure she hadn’t seen him. He’d told himself to look away and forget her. Instead, he’d found himself watching her every move; her slender hands as they had clapped in an exciting moment, the vulnerability of her exposed throat when she’d swallowed, and that hint of sadness in her eyes.

      It was the sadness that had remained with him. Perhaps it would never leave her. After all, no one could come through such a horrible ordeal unscathed.

      He certainly hadn’t, so he couldn’t very well pass judgment. But that was exactly what he’d been doing. Hell, at one time he’d been bitter, too. But the difference in them was that he’d put the past behind him and gone on. He suspected she hadn’t.

      In some ways it had probably been easier for him. He hadn’t had a child to consider. Thinking of Robin made him smile. As a young adult, she was already lovely. When she really matured, watch out. She would be a knockout.

      In her own way, so was Janey. Robin seemed to have some of her dad’s personality, though.

      Thinking of Keith Mayfield darkened his mood again. Despite the fact that they had been friends, he’d never felt comfortable with Keith, probably because the man had a controlling nature and drank far too much. Even before the divorce, Dillon had often wondered why Janey stayed with Keith. Robin, of course.

      Suddenly he shook his head to clear it. What the hell had gotten into him? Janey Mayfield and her daughter were the last people he wanted to occupy his mind.

      But as long as Robin was a student in his school, he was bound to come into contact with Janey. Most likely she would become involved in her daughter’s activities, especially the drill team. Eventually all moms did their part, even the working ones.

      So she’d better get off her high horse and treat him as if he belonged to the human race. Just the thought of the small-town rumor mill having any more grist sent a chill through him—though that wasn’t likely to happen. He and Janey were old news. Still, he wasn’t about to take a chance. He abhorred the idea of anyone talking about him in the past or present, except when it pertained to his job.

      His personal life was off-limits.

      Ah, to hell with it. What did it matter what Janey thought about him? It didn’t, not really. Besides, there wasn’t one thing he could do about it. He wasn’t about to avoid her.

      If she had a problem with him, that was her concern, not his. It would all come out in the wash, anyway, as his granny used to tell him. And it usually did.

      With that uppermost in his mind, Dillon concentrated on brushing down his mare, then feeding her. He was striding outside when he looked up and saw his foreman and brother-in-law, Mike Townsend.

      “How’s it going?” Mike asked in his lazy drawl.

      “I just finished giving Dandi a workout.”

      Mike was tall and wiry, with ruddy cheeks and what looked like a beer belly, though he didn’t drink. Instead he fattened up on Allie’s cooking.

      “I just finished taking care of the creek in the upper pasture,” Mike said, wiping sweat off his brow with the back of one hand.

      “What was wrong?”

      “Debris and leaves had the flow blocked.” Mike led his horse to the drinking trough.

      Dillon noticed immediately that Mike seemed to be dragging his leg more than usual. Thanks to the injury he’d gotten while on the oil rig, Mike now walked with a strong limp. However, that didn’t usually slow him down. He was always on the move, looking for new projects to keep the farm in tiptop shape. Dillon prized his work and couldn’t have maintained the place without Mike.

      Another