Blinded by Beauty (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 8)

Chance laughed. “If I’d known that was all it would take, I would’ve hit you upside the head a long time ago.”

“I know you would’ve, buddy.”

“When I realized you were shooting at Lunceford, I thought you were pulling a Hail Mary, so I jumped Bayless. Little did I know your sight had returned.”

Kaylyn released him. “Okay. You can see. Tell me what I’m doing right now.” She stuck out her tongue.

“Is that an offer for a kiss, baby?”

Chapter Twenty

Sheriff Jason Wolfe had moved this morning’s meeting to Ethel O’Leary’s courtroom. Thankfully, the explosion yesterday at the courthouse had been in the parking lot, so the building had suffered no damage.

Jaris walked into the crowded room with Kaylyn and Chance. They’d kept his recovered vision secret. Kaylyn, being Kaylyn, wanted to make an announcement about it after today’s meeting. She wanted the whole town to celebrate the surprise together.

Currently, the only four people who knew he was no longer blind were Kaylyn, Lyle, Chance, and himself.

Jaris held Sugar’s lead and Chance held Annie’s. Dr. Strong had examined them and all the dogs, including Bayless’s, last night.

“Have a seat everyone.” Ethel stood behind her desk, wearing her robes.

Just like Jaris had imagined, the eighty-year-old was a regal-looking woman. Quite the lady.

“You see any open seats?” Chance asked.

He looked around the room and saw Nicole sitting with her two men, who he’d only seen once—right before Patti had shot him. Beside the trio were three empty seats.

Nicole had always been pretty back in Chicago, but here in Destiny between her husbands and wearing a simple dress, she looked radiant.

“Follow me,” he said, taking Kaylyn, the most beautiful woman in the room, by the hand. “These seats taken?”

“Hi Jaris,” Nicole said. “They are yours.”

He took a seat. “It’s nice to see you out of uniform for a change, Deputy. You look nice in that dress.”

She smiled back. “Thanks, Jaris.”

He grinned, knowing she hadn’t realized he could see.

Sheriff Jason Wolfe took the microphone. “Thank you all for being here. I know it’s been a hectic couple of days. You may have noticed that Judge O’Leary is in her robes. The reason is we got started early this morning getting our prisoners indicted.”

The crowd applauded. Even though everyone was exhausted, they were in a celebratory mood for winning the war on their town.

“The man who shot Kaylyn and his cronies are in custody as well as more than a dozen of Lunceford’s other men.”

“That’s right,” someone on the left side of the room shouted. “And Jaris Simmons killed the bastard. Kip Lunceford is dead.”

The crowd came to their feet, cheering. “Jaris. Jaris. Jaris.”

“Let’s bring the man of the hour up here,” Patrick O’Leary said. “We want to hear from him.”

Kaylyn squeezed his hand. “Go. They won’t take no for an answer.”

“Only if you and Chance come with me.”

“Okay.”

They went up to the front and stood by the sheriff, who was smiling broadly.