Promise Made

By Mitzi Pool Bridges

Five years after leaving Sheriff Dugan Callahan at the altar, defense attorney Kate Maroney is back in Oaktree, Texas. Her boss has proposed, and she's come home to figure out what to do. When her grandmother falls and Kate stays on to care for her, Kate starts accepting clients, hoping to keep her mind off of the fiery attraction she still feels for Dugan.Dugan wants to know: What is Kate running from now? And why does she fight the obvious feelings between them? Kate's agreement to represent a battered woman's murder case pits them against each other even more. After the biggest trial in memory, half the town is rooting for them to get back together, while the other half would rather see Kate return to Austin and leave their sheriff alone.Who is right? Who is wrong? Will Kate run again, or will love win out in the end?

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781628303131

Book preview

Inc.

Promise Made

by

Mitzi Pool Bridges

The Callahan Series, Book 4

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Promise Made

COPYRIGHT © 2014 by Mitzi Pool Bridges

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Kim Mendoza

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Champagne Rose Edition, 2014

Print ISBN 978-1-62830-312-4

Digital ISBN 978-1-62830-313-1

The Callahan Series, Book 4

Published in the United States of America

Praise for Mitzi Pool Bridges

FIND MY BABY

"FIND MY BABY is a rip roaring good mystery, with a surprising twist at the end...I loved the plot and characters, loved the mystery, and Mitzi Pool Bridges is now one of my new favorites."

~Manic Readers

"FIND MY BABY is highly recommended for being unique, well written, and a story that is nearly impossible to put down."

~Sizzling Hot Reviews

"FIND MY BABY is riveting romantic suspense at its best. With an emotional subject that will touch any heart, the pace only grows stronger as the book continues. I'm adding this author to my watch list!"

~Storm Goddess Book Reviews

PROMISE BROKEN

"If you love a good, solid romance with strong family ties, set in rural Texas, PROMISE BROKEN will be one of the highlights of your year."

~Night Owl Reviews

PROMISE HER

"PROMISE HER...is an extremely good book and I would recommend it to those romance readers who love a strong heroine and a hero that would do anything to protect her... I also recommend reading the other books prior to this one in this series to get to know the secondary characters."

~The Romance Studio

Dedication

For all my readers who love a good romance.

Books by Mitzi Pool Bridges

FIND MY BABY

~*~

The Callahan Series

PROMISE KEPT — Book One

PROMISE BROKEN — Book Two

PROMISE HER — Book Three

PROMISE MADE — Book Four

Chapter One

From horizon to horizon, stars, bright and abundant, scattered across the night sky. A full moon washed the familiar landscape in a soft glow.

Kaitlin Maroney could find her way without the bright beams of her Camry’s headlights.

She took a deep breath and let the beautiful night settle her nerves down a notch as she tried to negate the panic of the last few hours. A deep breath and that familiar sense of peace washed over her just as it had each time she returned to Oaktree, Texas.

She patted the pet carrier. Almost there, Heidi. Not long now.

Once she crossed the city limit sign her troubles seemed a million miles away. She wanted them to stay there.

From the carrier there was a soft purr. Kate chuckled. I know how you feel.

She couldn’t wait to get to Gram’s. Kate had so much to tell her. Would the telling be a worry for her gram? Kate hoped not. What she wanted was a sympathetic ear. Gram was good at that.

Kate smiled. She could almost taste the coconut cream pie and bowl of homemade potato soup sure to be there.

It was a comfort to know some things in life were predictable.

She let the driver’s side window down to catch a whiff of fresh, cool night air.

Home!

There was no place quite like it. Here she’d shake off the weirdness of her abnormal reaction to what should have been a normal situation. Plus, she’d just made a drastic change in her life and didn’t know where to go from here.

Her cell phone rang. She scrabbled in her bag, taking a few seconds to find her phone.

Are you there? Jenna asked. You were supposed to call me, you know.

Kate chuckled. You worry too much. I’m at the city limits. It won’t be long.

I wish you had waited. We could talk about it.

But Kate wanted, needed, to talk to her gram. Jenna was a dear friend, but she would have a hard time understanding what was in Kate’s head right now.

Red and blue flashing lights lit up her rearview mirror. She looked down at the speedometer and gasped in surprise. Yes, she was in a hurry, but she hadn’t realized... Her heartbeat kicked up a few notches. Was it him? No. This late at night he’d be home, not handing out tickets to speeders. That was for rookies.

Gotta go. I think I’m going to get a ticket for speeding.

When she pulled over and those lights followed right behind, her heart was in her throat. She watched closely as the car pulled in behind her, blue and red flashing in the inky darkness.

From her rear-view mirror, she saw the door open. She braced herself. In the side mirror, a man approached. A big man in uniform. Her heart did a quick dance as he stopped at the back of her car to jot down her license number.

Don't let it be him! After the drama of her life lately, she couldn’t handle it.

But what if it was? How could she have forgotten the downside of going home? It didn't matter. She’d made peace with her decision long ago. She’d have to face him again sooner or later. Although later would be better. Much later.

She took a steadying breath. Waited. Perhaps she could talk him, whoever he was, out of the ticket.

Or maybe they’d grown tougher on speeders. The one-horse-town she’d grown up in needed all the money it could get. Tickets would be a good way for Oaktree to bolster their meager funds.

For a moment, she leaned her head back against the seat. We don’t need this, Heidi.

Footsteps crunched on gravel as they headed her way. Kate reached for her purse and resigned herself to the inevitable. After all, she had been speeding. She took out her license, and opened the glove box to get her insurance papers.

Got some kind of emergency, ma’am?

Kate’s heart stopped, then started again in an erratic rhythm. She’d recognize his voice anywhere. On the light breeze, his familiar scent carried through her open window. Memories wafted her way. Memories she didn’t want or need.

He was the last person she wanted to see. They were on different paths, had been for a long time. Hadn’t Gram told her his engagement was imminent?

Kate had deliberately avoided him these past five years. It wasn’t hard to do. Her visits had always been quick because of her job. In and out. This one could be the same. Or maybe not. She didn’t know. Since she owed him a long overdue apology and explanation, this encounter could be more than uncomfortable.

Willing herself to act the sophisticated attorney she hoped she was, she turned and smiled.

He stood there, all six feet of him: his Stetson low over his forehead, a gun strapped to his waist, a flashlight in his hand. Hello, Dugan, she said, with a smile in her voice. If there was one thing she was good at it was control. She’d mastered that trick long ago. No matter how upset she was she could count on that control. Always.

Dugan Callahan pushed his Stetson back and leaned toward the car. She caught the familiar scent again, the one that had always been Dugan’s. Spicy aftershave, soap, and coffee.

Kate...is that you? He shined the light in her face.

It’s me, she said shading her eyes. Put that down. I can’t see.

Sorry. New car?

Yep.

Didn’t know you were slated for a visit. His voice was low, a touch of anger in it. What did she expect? A welcome-home party?

She handed him her papers. I missed Gram. We don’t see each other nearly enough.

Saw her today, she seemed to be fine.

Kate wasn’t accustomed to this crisp, professional demeanor. Not from Dugan. It was far removed from the young man she’d known and loved.

She sat up straighter, looked at him. The only light came from the headlights of his patrol car and his flashlight, but she could feel those green eyes bore into her. Funny how after all this time he could still rattle her. Gram’s fine.

Heidi decided it was time to let out a howl.

Jeez! Dugan’s flashlight found the source of the noise. Still have Heidi, I see. She doesn’t look too happy.

Stiff. That’s how she’d describe him. Maybe she knows I’m getting a ticket.

He tucked the flashlight under his arm, scratched on his pad as if he didn’t hear.

So much for past lovers.

She wasn’t one bit surprised.

****

Dugan willed his hand to still.

Kate was back for a visit. Anger welled up inside him like a smoldering volcano.

Over the past five years, she had visited her grandmother, Grace Stockwell, often, the visits so quick he hadn’t seen or talked to her. Just like he wanted. Now, here she was, barely two miles inside the city limits.

What luck. He wanted to vent. Instead, he choked back the bitterness.

He wasn’t supposed to be on duty. Jonathan Eubanks was. Only Eubanks was home with the flu.

Dugan had almost let her go. Now he wished he had.

With a quick flick of his wrist, he tore the ticket loose and handed it through the window. He found it hard to speak. What did you say to a former lover, the woman you’d asked to marry you—the woman who stood you up at the altar? What did you say to a woman who ran out on you without a word of explanation while the town watched, wondered, and gossiped?

Slow it down, he managed to say, but his voice was not his own.

I will, she answered with a sigh.

Once this woman had been his Kate. Now she was a virtual stranger. So why the anger? He thought he’d gotten over that long ago.

She’d changed some. From what he could see from the dim light of the car’s interior and his flashlight, she was prettier than ever. Grace had told him Kate worked for a mid-size, respected law firm and was doing well. Which didn’t surprise him in the least. Kate would do well in anything. Except keep a promise.

Thanks, Dugan. She stuffed the ticket, along with her license and insurance papers in her purse. Then, she looked over her shoulder and with an offhand wave pulled back onto the highway.

He watched her go, tried like hell to still the anger in his heart. He shouldn’t be this upset over a chance encounter.

He walked back to his patrol car, kicked a tire.

She wasn’t the same Kate she’d been back then. This Kate was more sophisticated, more urbane. Why wouldn’t she be? She’d been in Austin all this time. Not in this small, nondescript town. So yeah, she’d outgrown them. She’d outgrown him.

He took off his Stetson with one hand, ran the other through his hair before settling it back in place.

Grace didn’t say a word today about Kate’s visit. As was his custom, he’d been by her place, mowed the lawn and changed a light bulb, then shared a piece of pie and a glass of tea. Not a word about Kate.

But then she wouldn’t.

Grace seldom mentioned Kate. Not because she didn’t adore her granddaughter, but because she was astute enough to know that to bring up Kate’s name might upset him.

Grace was right.

Dugan glanced at his watch. Midnight. His shift was over. He’d go home, get a little sleep and forget Kate was back in town.

She'd be gone again in forty-eight hours or less anyway.

That much he could count on.

****

Dugan’s morning run had netted six encounters of the nosy type. All had given him the same message. Maybe not the same words, but similar. Guess who’s back in town?

It happened every damn time she showed up. His cell phone rang as he bounded onto the porch of the small one-bedroom, one-bath cottage that came with his job as sheriff. Without checking the ID, he opened the phone with a jerk. Callahan! he snapped.

It was Mary Jo, calling to confirm their date for tonight. He apologized for being so abrupt, told her he might have to work late and asked her to meet him at Molly’s. When he hung up, his thoughts lingered on the woman he’d just spoken to. Mary Jo was a lovely lady. With short, blond hair, freckles, and a quirky personality, she was a fun date. The bank had promoted her last week from teller to loan officer. Over the last few weeks Dugan had considered asking her to marry him. Something kept him quiet. The something being the time he’d stood and waited for what seemed like hours for his bride to show up.

He pushed away the memory before anger consumed him again.

The scraggly dog he’d saved a couple of weeks ago ran up beside him. Dugan scowled at the mutt. Don’t you have a home?

Kate would give him one. She collected strays like some people collected coins. If she found a stray, she’d take it to the house and care for it until she found it a good home. If she couldn’t find a home, she’d keep it.

For years, the back portion of Grace’s property had had several pens, three doghouses, a rabbit cage and at one time, a turtle tank. I should give you to Kate, he threatened. The dog looked up at him with big brown eyes. Dugan swore he grinned. Darned dog. I’ll never get rid of you, will I? The dog padded to the door and plopped down in a corner where he’d taken up residence. Dugan bent over, rubbed his head. Inside, he headed straight for the shower.

He frowned when he remembered how Sadie Hicks almost ran him down in her effort to tell him about Kate. Though she’d been huffing when she caught up with him, her eyes were alight when she delivered her news.

Sadie was more excited over being the first to tell him about Kate being back again than when she’d turned sixty-five last month and collected her first Social Security check.

Like always, he’d have to listen to the gossips talk about Kate from now until she left. The thought didn’t settle well. But there was nothing he could do to change the town. It was what it was. Small. Nosy. Everyone knew too much about their neighbors. It had always been like this and wasn’t about to change now.

Still—didn’t they know he’d gone on with his life? That for the last year he’d been dating Mary Jo? Sure they did. Except it didn’t mean a thing to them. Kate would get them started again. Nothing had been juicier than when Deputy Dugan Callahan was left at the altar.

Even though he’d only seen Kate for a short five minutes he was totally unprepared for the anger she evoked. He threw a towel over his shoulder when he stepped out of the shower and scowled into the mirror. Green eyes glowered back. He raised a hand, ran it across his chin—his cheeks. He didn’t look the same as he had five years ago. The lines around his eyes hadn’t been there. Was that a gray hair?

I’m not the same dumb kid who figured the world was mine for the taking.

Kate had changed too. Even in the semi-darkness, he’d seen the subtle changes. Like the expensive jeans and jacket he’d caught a glimpse of—the leather bag. Others were those that came with adulthood. Like the way her hair was styled all smooth and shiny where it had once been wild and curly.

He tamped down the anger. Kate had been out of his life a long time now. Despite the reminders the townspeople were sure to shower on his head, she would stay out. Running was in her blood.

Dressed now, he grabbed the last cup of coffee from his coffee machine, turned the pot off, and walked out the door. He bent down to rub the dog behind the ears again. Mutt thought he lived here. Then Dugan walked the hundred yards to the office next door.

As usual, the dog followed.

He kept a tight rein on his facial expression as he opened the door and stepped inside. Sure enough, every head turned his way.

His dispatcher, Sybil Wells, gave him a hard look. He should have known. Morning, everyone.

Sybil’s mouth turned down in disapproval.

Sybil was an attractive forty-something woman who’d made it clear from her first day on the job she wouldn’t mind if the two of them struck up a relationship. Didn’t matter she was almost ten years his senior.

No way. He didn’t get involved with female co-workers, no matter what their age. And wouldn’t. He wasn’t even sure she was a true friend. Not like his number one deputy, Jonathan, who was still down with the flu.

Dugan’s first order of business would be to call and see how Jon was doing. It wasn’t like him to be sick this long. But the flu had kept him out all week and they’d all suffered for it.

Their numbers were small. When anyone was out, they played catch-up.

It was clear Sybil had heard the news. She didn’t like Kate, but wouldn’t be rude enough to voice it.

His other deputy, Ralph Selby, on the other hand, still brought her name up on occasion. Mostly to ask Dugan what the hell he did to make her run away. Ralph’s wide grin and twinkling eyes made Dugan want to hit something.

You’d think after all this time, his and Kate’s past would be just that—the past. Forget it. Leave it alone. It’s over.

Not in this town.

Dugan walked to his office at his regular pace, stopped at Sybil’s desk. What’s going on this morning?

Nothing you don’t know about, she answered with a trace of knowing mixed with sarcasm.

Okay. So everyone in town had heard the news. The grapevine was alive and well. Kate Maroney was making her usual hit and run visit to town and Sheriff Dugan Callahan had given her a ticket. That should keep them talking for a while. The busybodies would think he’d pulled her over on purpose.

It didn’t matter what they thought, except he’d have to live with what they said.

He shut the door to his office, put his Stetson on the rack, and sat down with a sigh. He wanted the day over and it hadn’t even started. He picked up the phone and started his calls.

The dog had followed him in and plopped down in the corner, his eyes never leaving Dugan.

It was going to be a long day.

Chapter Two

Morning came with a blast of sun in her eyes. It didn’t take Kate long to throw on a robe and go to the kitchen where her grandmother waited. The sense of relief, peace, and safety exhilarated her. Her problem was still there, only now it seemed further away. Here she could think. She took a seat in the breakfast nook next to her gram. Yogi, the small terrier Kate had had for years, lay at her feet. Across the room, Heidi gave him annoyed Are you still alive? looks. Every so often, Kate would put a hand down to rub Yogi’s back. I missed you, Yogi.

Gram chuckled. He should be accustomed to your short visits by now, but every time you leave, he mourns.

Don’t tell me that. It makes me feel bad.

Didn’t mean to. I know you can’t have a dog in your condo. She looked over at Heidi. Heidi gives you enough company and I’m delighted to have Yogi as a companion.

Kate forked up a piece of pie.

Not a very nourishing breakfast, Katie-Girl.

I dream of your coconut pie, Gram. Don’t deny me my pleasure.

Gram patted her arm.

Kate took another