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  “Concerns her car.”

  “Is it bad?” Annie asked.

  Bic gave another low bow. “I’m afraid you done blowed a head gasket, your um, highness,” he said. “The part don’t cost all that much, but I’ll have to take the head off the engine. I usually charge six bills for that, but for you—” He leaned closer. “I’ll do it for half that price. I would like to have good relations with your country.”

  Annie did not know what to make of the man’s behavior. “Excuse me, Mr.—”

  “Bic,” he said. “Just call me Bic.”

  “I’m Annie. And you need not bow.” She saw that he was staring at her head. “Oh, the tiara?” she said. “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just an adornment, of sorts.” She paused, feeling embarrassed for the umpteenth time in one day. “As for the limo, I can’t afford to have it repaired right now. I don’t have any money with me.”

  Bic didn’t look the least bit bothered by that fact. “That’s okay. I can go ahead and tow it over to my garage, and we can discuss payment when you’re ready. And under less stressful circumstances, I hope,” he added and smiled. “I just want you to know that most folks in this town are real friendly.”

  Annie thanked him, then, turned to the sheriff. “So, what’s it going to be?” she asked.

  Sheriff Hester looked at Sam and shrugged.

  “Okay,” Sam said. “I think we can settle this easily enough.” He regarded Annie. “Do you swear that this is your father’s vehicle, and, if so, are you planning on returning it to him in a timely manner?”

  “Yes, I swear it’s his vehicle, and, yes, I plan to return it once I make repairs,” she said. Annie was almost glad she didn’t have the funds because she wanted to give her father time to cool off, although, realistically, that was not likely to happen. He would never forgive her. Ever. And it wasn’t as if her father desperately needed the limo since he had a Rolls-Royce and a Bentley claiming two slots in their six car garage.

  Sam turned to the sheriff. “See, Harry? The young lady is just borrowing the family car.” Sam looked pleased with himself. “You can’t arrest her for that.” He leaned close to Hester. “Well, I suppose you could if you decided to play hardball with her,” he whispered, “but you’re going to end up looking like the bad guy.”

  Sam didn’t know why he was going to bat for the woman; after all, she was a complete stranger, and she had not gone out of her way to be friendly. Besides, he knew Harry wouldn’t lock her up. But he figured as long as he had an audience gawking from the sidewalk, he might as well do some fancy lawyer work and drum up a little future business.

  He reached into his shirt pocket for his business card and passed it to Annie. “Give me a call if I can help. Also, I’m part owner of a used car lot in case you need, um, a reliable vehicle. Which seems to be the case,” he added and pointed across the street where a construction trailer was surrounded by cars, trucks, SUVs, and even a couple of motorcycles.

  She looked confused. “I thought you owned a restaurant.”

  “Yes,” he said, “and we’ve got the best food in town.”

  “This card has you listed as an attorney.”

  “He’s a multi-tasker,” Darla said.

  “You might want to hang on to my card in case Sheriff Hester has a change of heart and decides to haul you in.”

  “Harry better not arrest her,” Darla said, cutting her eyes at the sheriff. “If she goes to jail, I go with her.”

  Agnes Moore, the town librarian, joined in. The crowd had circled the car again once Annie stepped out in her bridal gown. “I’ll not only go to jail with you ladies, I’ll notify the Friends of the Library and ask for their support.”

  The Petrie sisters, both elderly, stepped forth, almost shyly. “You can count us in,” Edyth Petrie said. Sister Ethyl nodded vigorously.

  Annie was touched. She had never met the women, but they were eager to help her if need be.

  “Enough already!” Harry shouted. “I’m not going to arrest her, but I don’t want to hear any bellyaching if she decides to take off in one of your pickup trucks.”

  Sam caught the sheriff’s eye and shook his head. The man just kept digging holes and jumping into them.

  “You know what your problem is, Sheriff?” Darla said.

  “No, but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

  “You’ve spent so many years looking at suspects and thinking the worst of people that you’ve forgotten how many good and kind people there are in this world. I’ll take full responsibility for Miss Hartford,” she said. “She can stay at my place as long as she likes. And she won’t have to steal anyone’s pickup truck because she can use my car.”

  “Not without a driver’s license,” Hester reminded her.

  “And that brings me to your other problem,” Darla said. “You can be a real jackass when you put your mind to it.” Darla smiled at Annie. “Okay, it’s all settled. You and I are going to be roommates.” She paused. “But let me warn you, it’s not going to be nearly as nice as what you’re used to. I’m not rich, but I love my job and I have more friends than I know what to do with so I guess you could say I’m rich in a different sort of way.” She fished a set of keys from her pocket, removed one from a silver key ring and handed it to Annie.

  Darla looked at Sam. “I need a favor.”

  “Don’t you always?” He suddenly smiled. “Your timing is perfect. You just told Annie you love your job.”

  “Don’t let it go to your head, Sam,” she replied. “Anyway, if you could please drive Annie to my place so she can change clothes that would be great. Lord knows she can’t go traipsing around dressed like that.” Darla paused and gave the dress a once over. “Although, as wedding gowns go, you struck pure gold with that one,” Darla added.

  Sam checked his wristwatch. He had already wasted more time than he should have, what with all the fuss, and he did not have time to listen to Darla sing the praises of Annie Hartford’s wedding dress. “We need to get going,” he said, his comment aimed at both women.

  Darla gave Annie a closer look. “I think we’re about the same size. Help yourself to anything in my closet. Once you’ve changed, Sam can drive you back, and we’ll whip you up something to eat.”

  “You’re very kind,” Annie told Darla, feeling close to tears. She had lived with her father’s bad moods, ill temper, and negativity for so many years she was amazed that Darla was willing to go out of her way to help a perfect stranger.

  “I have no money at the moment so—”

  “Did I ask you for money?” Darla said. “Honey, I don’t expect anything in return. Not one thing. Even if you tried to pay me I wouldn’t accept it, so there. Subject closed.”

  “All I have of value at this time is my dress,” Annie said.

  “Your dress?”

  “I’ve no need for it.” Annie knew that, even as beautiful as the gown was, she would never wear it again. Too many bad memories, she thought.

  “You’re giving me your wedding gown?” Darla asked, almost choking on the words.

  “Yes. It’s yours if you want it,” Annie said.

  “Oh. My. Lord.” Darla’s jaw dropped, her eyes rolled about in her head, and she swayed.

  “Watch out!” Sheriff Hester said. “She’s goin’ down!”

  He’d barely gotten the words out of his mouth before Darla went completely limp and sank toward the ground. Sam caught her just in the nick of time. He shook her lightly. “Darla? Are you okay? Darla, speak to me.” She did not respond. Sam looked up. “She’s out cold,” he said.

  Chapter Two

  Thanks to the Petrie sisters, whose father had been a pharmacist and owned the local drug store for fifty years, they carried a veritable pharmacy in their oversized purses. No one was surprised when Edyth Petrie announced she had smelling salts and asked people to step aside so she could reach Darla.

  Fortunately, Sheriff Hester immediately ordered everyone back to the sidewalk and threatened them wit
h fines if they did not stay put. In a matter of seconds he produced a blanket from the trunk of his patrol car and Sam gently placed Darla on it and saw that her legs were covered. Even as worried as Annie was about Darla, she was touched by Sam’s gesture.

  Edyth knelt beside the unconscious woman, cracked an ampule of the salts, and waved it several inches from Darla’s nose. Several people gasped when Darla bolted upright into a sitting position, wheezing, eyes blinking rapidly, and demanding to know why she was lying in the street.

  “You fainted,” Sam told her.

  “No way!” she said. “I’ve never fainted in my life. Why should I start now?”

  “It’s my fault,” Annie said. “I think I gave you quite a shock.”

  Darla looked from Annie to Sam and back to Annie. “Oh, I remember,” she said to Annie. “You told me . . .”

  “Easy does it, Darla,” Sam said.

  “You said I could have your wedding gown,” Darla managed. “Do I still get it?”

  Annie smiled. “If you promise not to faint again,” Annie replied as she and Sam helped her to her feet. Annie looked at Ethyl Petrie. “Will Darla be okay?” she asked. “Does she need to be seen by a doctor?”

  “She’ll be fine,” Ethyl said, “although she might experience a bit of irritation in her nasal passage. It will go away soon enough.”

  Darla did not seem to hear a word of the conversation as her gaze was fixed on Annie’s gown, seemingly in reverence. “I never in a million years thought I would own such a dress,” she told Annie. “I don’t even want to know how much it costs because I might faint again, but it looks like it came right out of a fairytale. And that tiara! I know the stones aren’t real—I’m pretty much a diamond expert thanks to a friend of mine—but they certainly look real.”

  Annie smiled.

  “I feel like I need to pinch myself and see if I’m just dreaming.”

  “You are dreaming,” an amused Sam said, “if you think any minister is going to let you walk down the aisle in a white wedding dress.”

  “Bite me, Sam,” Darla said.

  Annie noted the humorous light that passed between them and suspected they were only exchanging a little good-natured ribbing. They were obviously close friends, perhaps even lovers. Darla was certainly attractive enough, with her unusual dark red hair and great figure.

  “Besides,” Darla went on, “women wear white all the time these days, don’t they Annie?” she asked, as though she considered Annie an expert on the subject.

  “Absolutely,” Annie said. “Even women who have already been married before,” she added.

  “Even those who’ve been around the block more times than most mail trucks?” Sam asked.

  “Very funny, Sam,” Darla said. “Perhaps we should inquire as to what color gown your next fiancée will be wearing.”

  “My guess would be gunmetal gray,” Annie blurted, “to match her leg irons.” Annie realized as soon as she said it she may have gone too far; she and Sam were strangers. But it felt good participating in their fun banter.

  Darla burst into laughter. “So she can’t escape,” Darla managed to add as she doubled over with laughter.

  Sam crossed his arms over his chest. “Having a good time, ladies?” His own smile was tight. “The only way I’m going to walk down the aisle is if some girl’s daddy is holding a shotgun to my back. And since I’m, too, um, sophisticated to let something like that happen, I don’t plan to spend the rest of my life shackled to any woman.”

  “You have a very romantic way of looking at love and commitment,” Annie said, trying to pull herself together even though Darla had yet to stop laughing.

  Sam arched one dark brow. “Excuse me, Miss Hartford; you must be confused. I’m not the one who stole my daddy’s limo and high-tailed it out of town to escape wedded bliss.”

  Annie had a great reply on her tongue, but Sheriff Hester interrupted. “Okay, let’s break it up,” he said and waved his arms to get everybody’s attention. “I’ve got work to do, and I don’t have time to stand around yammerin’ all day.” He looked at Annie. “I’m not finished with you yet. I want to think on this some more. Don’t go leaving town on me, y’hear?”

  “Yes, sir.” Annie nodded but wondered how he thought she was going to leave town without a vehicle or money to fix it. She couldn’t even buy a bus ticket.

  The crowd thinned. Darla gave Annie last minute instructions. “I’ll see you in a little while,” she said and hurried toward the restaurant.

  Annie had no purse to store the key so she tucked it in her bodice. The sound of Sam’s voice made her jump.

  “My Jeep’s parked behind the restaurant,” he said. “Might be easier if I bring it here instead of you staggering about in that mammoth skirt,” he added.

  “Thank you,” Annie said. “That would be helpful.” Once he left her, though, she felt ridiculous standing on the sidewalk while strangers eyed her, probably wondering whether she was playing with a full deck. Bic Fenwick had backed his tow truck closer to the limo, and another man was in the process of hooking cables beneath the limo. Annie prayed they wouldn’t scratch it.

  Finally, Sam pulled up in a black Jeep Cherokee. He reached across the seat, lifted the door handle and pushed the door open for her. “Hop in,” he said.

  Annie took one look at the space on the passenger’s side, and her heart sank. There was no way she would fit. She still could not believe she’d managed to fit inside the limo, even though she had pushed the seat as far back as possible and driven tiptoed. Funny thing about an adrenaline rush—one could sometimes accomplish the impossible. “This isn’t going to work,” she told Sam.

  Bic, who overheard her comment, grinned. “Looks like we might have to strap you to the hood of his Jeep,” he said. “I got plenty of rope if you need it.”

  Annie knew the man was teasing. “No thanks. I’ve already entertained this town enough for one day.”

  Sam climbed out of the driver’s side wearing a scowl. He was clearly impatient to be done with the chore Darla had given him. “I don’t know why you women go through all this fuss for a ceremony that only lasts twenty minutes.”

  Annie could hear the exasperation in his voice. “Yes, well, my father insisted that I make a grand appearance. It’s what Eldon and his snooty family would expect.”

  “Who the hell is Eldon?”

  “My fiancé.”

  “Oh, you mean the guy you left standing at the altar looking like a fool.” He paused and glanced up at her. “Wouldn’t it have been simpler to break off the engagement?”

  “I tried. My father wouldn’t hear of it.”

  “Have you always done everything your daddy told you to do?”

  “Pretty much.” She couldn’t help but notice Sam’s hair; thick and rich, the color of Brazil nuts. He had better than average looks, but instinct told her he probably knew it and used it to his advantage. “Are you almost finished interrogating me?”

  Sam only became more annoyed. “I don’t have to do this,” he said. “I could leave you standing here in the middle of the street.”

  Annie gave him a tight smile. “But you won’t because you’re a gentleman.”

  He grunted. “Boy, have you got me all wrong.”

  “I think I’d do better if I sat in the backseat,” she said, “but you’ll have to help me get in.”

  “I never doubted it for a minute.” Sam was glad the crowd had dispersed. Those few remaining were chatting among themselves, not paying any attention to the bride and her predicament. He opened the back door and stood aside for Annie to enter. She took a step up and tried to squeeze through the door.

  Finally, Sam placed his hands firmly on her rump and pushed. Annie went through the door, falling face first onto the backseat. Sam dusted his hands. “There now,” he said, making certain her feet, and the dress were inside before slamming the door. He climbed in on the driver’s side.

  Annie mouthed a couple of choice swear words as she tr
ied to dig herself out of a mountain of satin and crinoline. “Why did you do that?” she sputtered.

  Sam started the Jeep and pulled onto Main Street. “Because my patience has worn thin worrying about your dress problems,” he said. “Now please sit back and be quiet till we get to Darla’s.”

  Annie clamped her lips together tightly and ignored him as they made their way to the edge of town. Finally, Sam pulled off the main highway and drove down a dirt road, where an old mobile home sat beneath a stand of pines.

  “This is where Darla lives?” Annie asked.

  Sam pulled into a gravel drive and parked. “That’s right. I know it doesn’t look like much to a rich gal like you, but it’s paid for and Darla loves it. Besides, you can’t be too picky when she’s giving you a place to stay for free.”

  Annie’s feelings were hurt. “I don’t know why you have to be so rude,” she said. “I think Darla’s place is just fine.”

  “Sure you do.” He climbed out and opened the back door, then literally dragged her across the backseat and out of the car. Annie did not so much as glance at him; she gathered her mountain of skirts and made her way to the small deck that was attached to the front of the trailer.

  Sam crossed his arms, leaned against the front of his jeep, and waited. He’d left his cell phone at the restaurant so there was no way to call Darla and check on things. He hoped The Bride did not dawdle. He wanted to get back to the restaurant before the dinner rush began.

  Annie kicked off her Manolo Blahnik heels and carefully climbed each step leading up to the deck. Once she stood before the front door, she turned slightly so Sam would not see her reach inside her bra for the key. Not that he would bother looking. The man clearly disliked her, and it was just as clear why.

  Annie stuck the key in the front door of the trailer, unlocked it, and pushed it open. She sighed. There was no way she was going to fit through the door. Even worse, the metal on either side of the doorjamb was rusty and jagged. The skirt would be ruined if she tried to force herself through.

  “Dammit!” she cried, tearing off her veil and tossing it aside. “Dammit, dammit, dammit!” It had been a long day, and she felt close to tears. “This dress is cursed! I’m cursed!”