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She was the only guest at the bed-and-breakfast. The parts of the house that she’d seen so far were gorgeous. The entry and main staircase were intricately carved dark wood. The sitting room off to the left side when you entered the house was decorated with Victorian furnishings. And the formal dining room that lay through an ornate arch to the right side of the entry boasted a polished wood table that could seat twenty-four people! The room was elegant, with tapestries and a large crystal chandelier.
Briana descended the staircase from the second floor, where her room was, and walked through the hallway to the kitchen, where she found Norma at the stove. “That smells so good,” she said.
“Thank you. I like to make soup. It’s so easy and when you pair it with a good home-baked loaf of sourdough, you have a hearty meal,” Norma said.
“Well, it’s perfect on this cold and blustery day,” Briana said, moving farther into the room. She stood in front of the wood-burning fireplace that glowed brightly, radiating heat into the room. “Thank you again for renting me the room. I know you weren’t planning on guests.”
“I’m happy for the company. This time of year, it is so dead around here. You know, our population in these parts drops considerably during the winter. Many people only use their homes up here as summer homes.”
“I can understand why,” Briana said with a smile. “How often do you get snowed in?”
“Often enough that I always keep two freezers full of food, my pantry stocked with canned goods, and my generator gassed up. We don’t lose power often, but when we do, it’s usually out for days.”
“I bet it is beautiful here in the warmer months,” Briana said.
“Yes, it is. I don’t mind the winters and the cold, though.”
She ladled the soup into two large bowls and set them on the table. Steam rose from them. Then she took a loaf of bread from the oven, sliced it on a cutting board and then wrapped it in a cloth, and set it onto the table as well. Briana sat in the comfortable chair and finally relaxed a bit after the horrible morning as she inhaled the amazing aroma of both the soup and the bread.
Until the back door opened and the Sheriff, followed by one of his deputies, walked into the kitchen accompanied by a gust of frigid air. A shiver ran through Briana.
“Brr, Darren, close that door,” Norma said.
“Sorry, Norma,” both men muttered as the deputy secured it.
“Hello,” the Sheriff said to Briana. “I’m glad to see you made it here.”
“Hello, Sheriff,” she replied, focusing on speaking as calmly as she could even though her chest had constricted the moment he came through the door. “Deputy,” she acknowledged with a forced smile and a head nod.
Norma handed two large thermoses to the men that Briana hadn’t seen on the counter. She also handed them a second loaf of bread. “Enjoy, freshly made.”
“Thank you, Norma,” Sheriff Darren Elsworth said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “It smells delicious.”
“You both stay warm and safe out there,” Norma said.
“You both stay put here, and you’ll stay warm and safe,” the Sheriff said jokingly, flashing them both a grin. Then he kissed Norma’s cheek again. “Thanks again, doll.”
His smile made Briana’s skin crawl. His lips touching Norma’s cheek made her want to rush to them and pull her away. But she remained in her seat and watched the two men leave through the same door they’d entered and, with another blast of frigid air, invading the kitchen.
“That man is such a flirt,” Norma said, blushing like a giddy pre-teen.
“Are you two?” Briana asked with implication.
“Oh, heavens, no,” Norma said as she took the chair across the table from Briana. “Not that I would be opposed. He is good-looking, funny, is straight, and is one of the best sheriffs we’ve ever had. Many women in this town feel the same way. I’ll tell you that.”
“Isn’t he married?” Briana asked.
“No, he is as eligible as they come. Are you interested?” Norma asked.
Briana’s stomach turned. “Me, no. I have a serious boyfriend. But I saw the Sheriff at a diner in town yesterday afternoon with a very attractive blond woman. I thought they were together, and she was wearing a wedding band.”
“That would have been his sister, Amanda, poor dear, lost her husband to some sketchy circumstances. Darren let her move in with him so he could look after her. She doesn’t socialize much with anyone. Darren said she suffered a real trauma when her husband died. I think something really bad happened to her.”
Briana soaked in every word. Sister? No, she knew that wasn’t the case. She checked out all her clients before accepting their cases. There was a marriage license for Darren and Amanda Elsworth. They were married alright.
“That’s terrible, poor woman,” Briana remarked. She took a bite of the bread and complimented Norma on her baking. It tasted as good as it smelled. “It was so nice of you to provide lunch to the police.”
“Gotta back the blue, as they say,” Norma said. “It’s so cold out and they will be out all day making sure everyone is safe. It’s the least I can do.”