Sweet Little Lies

Chapter 2

Mrs. West throws up her hands. "You always say that." She replies, frustrated.

She turns back to me, "What about you? Did you meet anyone while you were gone? Anything serious?" She fishes, wanting all the gossip.

"I dated, but nothing serious." I answered, getting the sense I was being set up somehow.

"Well, now that you're back, Ajax should take you out." My jaw literally drops open at her suggestion. Especially if he's involved with someone. Then it hit me that she was probably just thinking of us going out as friends.

"Ma." Ajax warns. I turn towards him, he's even more handsome "Ma." Ajax warns.

I turned towards him, he. He's even more handsome now and if looks could kill, his mom would be six feet under.

I smiled weakly at him, thinking of a way to get him off the hook. Turning to Mrs. West I say, "I don't think it'd be a good idea to go out with the boss. Even as friends."

"Don't say that. You haven't even started yet." Mrs. West responds. I can tell she's only teasing.

I laughed and replied, jokingly. "I remember having a crush on a certain Mr. West. Unless you're cutting him loose---"

"Oh, gosh! You were the cutest little thing." She gushes, smiling at the memory, "Asking Paxton to marry you. Simply, adorable."

"I had good taste in men even at four years old. Plus, he'd always sneak me extra cookies." I confess, grinning at Mr. West, who winks at me and smiles widely.

"Well, you're pretty enough to be getting your own dates." She gave in.

I smiled at her understanding.

Adelaide West is always tenacious when it comes to what she wants, but she knows when to give up and that's why I love her.

I felt a tug on my arm and looked back, seeing Ma's excited face.

"We have a new sheriff in town, he's so dreamy. He's perfect for you, he's everything you've ever said you wanted. I've been dying to introduce you."

"Ma, I don't want to be set up. Do I have a classified ad attached to my forehead?" I asked, rubbing my temples.

"I just tried to set her up with Ajax, she didn't bite." Mrs. West tells Ma, earning him a slap on the arm.

"You can't turn down my oldest friend's son!" She shouts, in fake outrage.

"Ma!" I yelled, embarrassed.

"We're practically related." I, grumbled, looking at Ajax for help.

He looks just as angry as I am and I raise my eyebrows at him.

"A little help here."

"We're not related." He mutters, as Ma pulls at my arm, but I refuse to move.

"Just say, hi." She pleads, coaxing me to follow her.

Not being able to keep my eyes on Ajax and too confused about his statement, I decided I had better leave. Ma drags me along until she stops us in front of a well built man in his late twenties with light brown hair, pretty hazel eyes and a white smile.

"Brandon, this is our daughter, Harper."

He smiles down at me and I hold out my hand, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. Your mom talks about you all the time."

I nodded. "She does that a lot. My apologies."

"My mom's that same way." He nods, seeing how uncomfortable I am and trying to help.

"Where are you from?" I asked, focusing on the way he said, mom.

"A small town in Michigan. I took a transfer to a precinct in Nevada and hated it. When I found this opening, I jumped at the chance."

" Do you like it so far?" I asked, conversationally.

"Love it. Its laid back. The community is perfect for starting a family. I couldn't ask for more." He replies, happily.

"I know what you mean. Living in the city is nothing like the country. There might be more to do, but in the end, it's missing something..." I said, snapping my fingers and trying to think of a word for it.

"Heart." He replies, readily.

"Yeah, heart." I agree.

"I wouldn't raise a family anywhere else."

Behind him, I notice my best friend Kira Stuart come to the screen door.

"Are you---" He started to ask, but I interrupted him.

"I'm sorry." I said, putting my hand on his arm.

"Would you excuse me? I saw my best friend I haven't in years." I told him.

"Of course, l'Il talk to you later?"

I rushed in agreement and rushed to the door, too excited to worry about manners. Hugging her tightly, she scolds me.

"You're a horrible, no good friend! Don't ever leave for that long again."

I laughed.

"I know, I deserve it." I responded, letting her come all the way into the house.

"What have you been up to? Tell me everything." I ordered.

"Nothing really." She shrugs, then turns to me, my eyes wide.

"Have you seen Sheriff McKenna? Holy, s**t balls! Talk about hot. Ajax and Dan finally have some competition in this town." She jokes.

"Yeah, I just met him. Do you know him?" I asked, wondering if I should make the introduction.

"He comes in to eat at Amelia's all the time. We're all constantly fighting over who's going to take his order." She confesses, making me laugh.

"Well, you won't have any competition from me. He's not really my type." She gave me an 'are you stupid look.

"What? He's not." I shrug.

"And just what is your type? You're still not holding out for that dark-haired God in the other room still, are you?"

Knowing she meant Ajax, I started shaking my head in denial.

"What? No, I've moved on." Kira is the only one that I told about my crush and his rejection the day at the pond.

Her eyes narrow on my face and I keep eye contact, letting her know I'm serious.

"Well, even if you have, he's only one of the four respectable men in town."

"You mean hottest." I corrected, knowing that her own brothers and a lot of the ranch hands are all nice and respectable men.

"Same thing." She responds, shrugging.

"Kira, how are you?" Ma asks, coming to welcome her.

"Great Mrs. M. How are you?"

"Hey, Ma. Kira is interested in the sheriff." I whisper, throwing Kira in front of the matchmaking bus.

I watched as Ma's eyes lit up.

"Come with me and I'll pretend that I didn't know you two met." Ma whispers, mischievously.

I watch them go into the kitchen where I see most of the party has gathered and sneak out the front door. I hate parties. I hate the loud talking and the lack of space. I take a deep breath of fresh Montana air. I jump when I hear, "Better hide. Your Ma will be out here any minute." I slowly turned toward the voice that had haunted my dreams.

"Just take a breather," I stated. Thankfully, I can still hide the awkwardness he always makes me feel.

He nods in understanding, "Are you happy to be home?" He asks. I watch as he sits on the porch swing as I lean against the porch railing, trying to look nonchalant.

"Yeah, I missed it." I answered, truthfully.

"I'm glad you'll be working for us. When do you start?"

"Tomorrow."

He whistles, "Wow, dad isn't wasting time."

I shrug. "Its good actually. I wanted to get started right away."