Sweet as Honey (Aster Valley 2)

Deputy Stone looked around at the group gathered in the lodge’s kitchen. “Would someone care to explain the significance of the beads?”

Thankfully, Chaya jumped in to explain while I gently extracted myself from Sam’s embrace and went over to Barney. “Let me walk you out.”

He looked up at me with an expression I’d never seen on him before. Defeat.

“Yes. Fine.”

I felt Sam’s eyes on me as I led Barney through the kitchen and outside. He didn’t follow me which was a testament to his self-control. I knew he wanted nothing more than to boot Barney off the lodge property, but he respected me enough to let me handle it myself.

When we got to Barney’s car, he turned and grasped my upper arms. “I just want what’s best for you.”

I shrugged out of his grip. “I know.”

“You shouldn’t have to carry these burdens alone. You deserve someone to take care of you, to treat you like the precious man you are.”

I offered him a small smile. “Thank you. I agree.”

“I don’t understand how…” He sighed and dropped his shoulders. “It no longer matters. Clearly you have chosen your preferred course. I can only caution you to be careful.”

I nodded. “I will.”

His hands shook as he lifted one to run it over his hair. A few thin wisps caught in the breeze and blew the wrong way, making him look older and more vulnerable somehow.

“I’m sorry,” I added softly. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Barney stared at me for a moment as if trying to memorize my features. It wasn’t like we were never going to see each other again. We lived in the same small town, and I even hoped to be able to volunteer at the library again someday.

“Nor I, you,” he said gently. His eyes softened. “I only wanted to keep you from harm.”

“I know. And I’m grateful for everything you’ve done to care for me.”

Because I was. He’d been there for me many times when others hadn’t. Now that it was pretty clear the Stanners were probably responsible for the fire, and we knew they were the ones who’d done both hit-and-runs, I realized Barney was the one who’d tried to protect me from them the most. Even though I didn’t agree with his heavy-handed methods, I was grateful for his attempts.

“Alright,” Barney said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll leave you and your… friends alone. But please promise you’ll call if you change your mind and need anything at all.”

“Of course I will. Thank you.”

There was a pause, and then Barney said, “I think… I think I’m going to take some time off. Head to a cabin and catch up on some reading.” He moved toward the kitchen door. “So if you can’t get a hold of me, I’m probably out of range. But you have Chaya, and you have… other friends, so…”

“I’ll be fine, Barney,” I urged. “Enjoy your time away.”

He looked at me again for a moment before leaning in to kiss my cheek. And if he pressed his face against mine for a few beats too long, it was easily excused as the final gesture of a chapter that was long overdue for an ending.

I turned back to the lodge and walked eagerly toward the new chapter.

The one that opened with my need to pin the Stanner family to the wall for everything they’d ever done to me.

23

Sam

While Truman was sending Barney off, Chaya was calming Deputy Stone down. Not that the man needed calming. He took everything in with the same cool detachment he’d had before. Once the significance of the beads was explained, he promised to update the fire investigators and let them determine whether beads that clearly hadn’t even been in the fire were evidence in an arson investigation.

Even though it was clear Barney hadn’t had time to plant the beads in the few moments he’d been sitting at the table, I still wondered if he’d done it. The bead situation seemed awfully similar to the miraculous discovery of Aunt Berry’s notebook. But then why not just offer them to Truman the same way he’d done with the notebook?

And when the evidence was so clearly indicative of the Stanners’ involvement in the arson, why would Barney attempt to frame me for it? It didn’t make any sense which was the only reason I didn’t think he was a reasonable suspect for planting the mala in my bag.

So then, who else would have done it?

I looked around the room at so many familiar faces. Pim and Bill from the diner, who’d been nothing but kind and generous with Mikey and Tiller since they’d arrived in town. Their son, Solo, who was scrolling through his phone like a typical teenager. Mia and Mindy, who seemed to dote on Truman like a pair of big sisters. Nina from the ranch, Gentry, Winter, and Doran, who had absolutely no motive whatsoever considering Gent’s music career had made him millions. Winter still happily worked as an OT at the hospital clinic, and Doran continued to manage Gent’s career the way he’d done for years. That left Deputy Stone, who was definitely hard to read.