It was my mother and Mrs. Duke chatting together inside the multi-purpose room which took me by surprise.
“Parker, sweetie, I thought I’d come and say hi,” Momma said. “These days I never know where you might be.”
I leaned in, kissed my mother’s cheek, taking a moment to wonder if she meant I was busy, or that I’d spent more time at the men’s house than my own. That I’d been in a haze of newfound lust—and love?—ever since I took Honey to the vet. And that thought made my heart lurch, my cheeks get hot. I’d forgotten about Poe’s actions for all of a minute.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I replied.
Momma was fifty-five and I looked just like her, although she was five-four and petite in figure. I got my size from my dad, although I’d only seen pictures of him because he’d died in a work accident three months before I was born. She always had a smile on her face and a nice thing to say about everyone. I always wondered why she hadn’t remarried, but never pushed. She was involved in so many activities around town—a bowling league, teaching Sunday school and even learning French—that she seemed content.
“I talked with Ava Carter and I start at the Feed and Seed on Monday.” She smiled almost brilliantly, clearly excited about her new job.
“That’s great.” It really was. An understanding boss was important now, especially if she had doctors’ appointments or needed to rest for a bit because of her sugar levels.
“I know nothing about animal feed or machinery, but if I can learn about teeth and dentures, I can probably figure it out.”
Mrs. Duke laughed, her chin length hair swaying. She was quite tan from her cruise. “Dottie, a new beginning for you. I don’t speak ill of too many people, but I’d think not seeing Roger Beirstad every day will be a wonderful change.”
Gus and I may have headed off to college and not talked for ten years, but Momma and Mrs. Duke had kept up and, while perhaps not close friends, liked each other very much.
Momma laughed. “You’re right. I feel… liberated.”
Mrs. Duke had always been so nice to me. Hell, she was nice to everyone. I remembered being the nervous girl who’d dated Gus and Mrs. Duke had always made me part of the family. Had me over for dinner and one time took me for a manicure with her and Julia. “Ava is a sweetheart and it will make Colton and Tucker feel better knowing she’s not driving that stretch of road between the ranch and town when the snow begins to fall. You’ll be an asset to all of them.”
“It’s nice how they’re so protective,” Momma added.
“All my boys are that way.” Mrs. Duke turned to look at me, her graying brow arching up. “They take after their father. They mean well, but sometimes you want to strangle them. Gus was like that when he was younger, wasn’t he, Parker?”
I nodded. Gus had been possessive and bossy even at eighteen. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And now?” she asked pointedly.
I glanced at my mother, who eyed me with eagerness. They knew about Gus, Poe and Kemp, but wanted confirmation. I wasn’t sure if Gus told his mother we were together or if the small town grapevine had picked it up. Either way, I was in no place to deny it. Mrs. Duke’s older two sons were in relationships where two men claimed one woman. It wasn’t as if being with Gus, Poe and Kemp would be shocking to her now. And Momma didn’t have her head in the sand. It might be a little weird for her to adjust having her daughter be with three guys, but I knew she only wanted me happy. One man or three, she probably was eager for grandkids, just like Mrs. Duke. I wasn’t ready to give either of them any, but it was a step in the right direction.
“More so,” I replied.
Both women beamed and Momma pulled me in for a squeeze. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so happy for you. Those three men are beyond handsome. And thoughtful. They went door to door last March when that big blizzard hit and made sure everyone had power and heat.”
“They’re bossy, too,” Mrs. Duke added. “Be prepared to stand your ground.”
The council members moved to their seats at the front of the room. Mrs. Duke patted me on the arm and said, “Glad you’re finally part of the family again.”
I stared after her as she walked away, then took a seat beside Momma as the meeting began.
I tuned it all out, replaying everything Poe had said. Even now, hours later, I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment because the guys from the outdoor store knew that Poe spanked me, and not for fun. Well, not just fun. He’d made it seem I couldn’t be self-sufficient, that I needed someone to control me because I was wild and perhaps dangerous to myself. He’d used my darkest desires against me, and that was what hurt. What shamed.
I’d given them… him, my trust, the most secretive part of me, and he’d belittled it all.
I liked that the three of them were possessive, that they would protect me. I felt a foot shorter and fifty pounds lighter, like a dainty female who had Neanderthals watching out for her when I was with them. I felt feminine in a world—and a job—that made me feel anything but. Poe had made his thoughts on my job well-known. He hated me being sheriff. While it was kind of him to talk to Porter Duke about a job, it had been done in poor taste.
Obviously, Porter hadn’t said anything to Poe about me starting to work at the DA’s office in November. It w
asn’t his place to share and I respected him for it. I could have told the guys at any time that I wasn’t putting my name in for the sheriff’s job, but we’d been pretty busy not talking.
Now I was glad I hadn’t said anything, for Poe’s true feelings had come out. I knew where I stood with him and it wasn’t as an equal. It wasn’t as the woman who gave my control over to them as a gift. He’d taken it and used it like a weapon against me.
“Sheriff Drew,” one of the council members called. “Your update, please.”
I stood, but didn’t move to the front of the room. It was small enough where everyone could easily see and hear me from where I was. I’d prepared this morning for the meeting and read from my notes I’d pulled from my pocket. It only took a few minutes to cover my list and I sat back down.