Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Shelby
All of the Lights
By seven Shelby hadn’t heard from Wes and started to wonder if he’d planned to stand her up while he made his appearance at the town meeting to announce his bid for sheriff.
She had given him several chances to tell her, while they’d played phone tag until today.
But he still hadn’t mentioned anything about his plans to run for sheriff.
She had to assume he was hoping to hide it from her a little longer.
She’d stayed busy helping Miranda each morning with the horses, and writing every day.
Every time she sat down at the desk in Pops’s library the words flowed from her.
It was like she’d turned on a tap to her creativity.
And there was no way she was going to be able to deny this was where she wanted to be.
Even if Wesley didn’t want her enough to be honest with her about his plans.
Like Miranda said, she had every right to stay in this town if she wanted to and it didn’t matter what anyone else wanted.
It was still an odd friendship, but she was happy to find someone in town who liked her just the way she was.
Grabbing her bag, she took one more look at herself: fitted jeans, the boots Wes had gifted her, and the winter coat over a soft white sweater with a high neck.
She did a light smoky eye and reapplied her favorite berry lipstick.
She was going to town for dinner, and then she planned to watch Wes and her brother announce their bids for sheriff.
Driving down Main Street it was clear the town folks were showing up in full force for the big town hall meeting, but then she spotted a plume of smoke down by the marina.
A dozen blue and red lights, and two fire trucks spraying water into the harbor on what looked like a boat fire.
She parked as close as she could get and then pulled out her phone to see if there was anything on the local news about what was going on.
Five Alarm Fire in Sandy Point Marina
The Shepherd Marina and Signature Sail Boat just went up in Flames.
Can Sheriff Hart keep Sandy Point safe for you?
Each story seemed more geared toward showing how Wes was losing his ability to protect the citizens of Sandy Point.
Walking the two blocks to the sheriff’s department she realized she probably wouldn’t get to ask Wes anything because it was packed.
But she overheard the desk Sergeant tell folks Sheriff Hart was busy with the fire in the marina and wouldn’t be able to answer any of their questions.
The town hall meeting was still set for eight p.m., and in less than an hour Wes was supposed to give his speech and there was no way she was going to miss that.
After exiting the sheriff’s department she walked over to May’s coffee shop.
It usually closed by five, but she wasn’t surprised to find it packed.
She was probably staying open late due to all the extra activity in town.
“Coconut matcha?” May asked as she walked through the crowd collecting a few dirty mugs from tables.
“Uh ya, if you have the time. What’s going on?”
“Well I planned to stay open as sort of a staging ground for all of Sheriff Hart’s supporters, but then the fire happened at the marina and folks seem to just be hanging out until the town hall meeting.”
“I see. Any chance you have any food left?” Shelby asked just as a young couple got up from a table next to her.
“I’ll see what I’ve got. Take a seat if you can find one. Hey, are you back for good?”
Shelby just smiled, unsure what to say. Was she? Had she just decided today that she wanted to be back in Sandy Point full-time?”
She found a single seat along the shopfront windows, and a few moments later Miles walked by with several other men and they took up position at a table in the corner. They looked stressed out and she couldn’t help but overhear some of their conversation.
“If the town thinks Wes can’t control this arsonist, then they might be swayed to vote for Shepherd.”
Miles ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll be forced to run against Wes if people have lost confidence in him. We can’t risk Shepherd winning. He’ll run this town into the ground.”
May was back with a hot matcha and croissant with cheese. “Sorry, this was the best I could do.”
“It’s perfect. Are you expecting Wes here before the town hall?”
“I doubt it. I think he’s still down at the fire trying to collect any evidence. This is a real mess and smells like a setup to me.”
Shelby knew exactly what May was implying—someone was trying to discredit Wes, but she found it hard to believe her own brother could be behind this.
It was dangerous to be starting fires. Someone could get hurt.
They’d never really gotten along, but was he really capable of this?
Once she finished her matcha and had a small bite to eat she made her way to the city hall building where the town hall meeting was going to be held.
It was already crowded, and she was lucky to find one seat in the back behind a few older men complaining loudly about the recent fires.
“I never thought I would see the day where a townie could get beat by a snobby beach clubber,” one man said.
It was clear they didn’t recognize her and that was fine by her.
Before she could worry about it, her brother was walking up to the stage to sit in a few seats set aside for anyone running for sheriff.
Her parents were ushered in like royalty to sit along with dozens of their friends seated in the front.
And on the other side of the aisle, the Hart family sat in the front row with matching T-shirts that read: Hart for Sheriff.
As mayor, her father kicked off the event and it was unclear if Wes was even going to make the event.
“As you all know the bylaws for Sandy Point say anyone running for public office must announce their bid thirty days prior to the election. Today is the last night to do so in the race for sheriff, which is a five-year term with the option to run again indefinitely.” Her father’s voice boomed over the microphone through the large room, where the local city council held monthly meetings and heard the townsfolk speak about different issues impacting the town.
“Alright, without further ado, we’ll go ahead and announce this year’s candidates for sheriff. Each man previously filled out the requisite paperwork and will give you their pitch for why they believe they’ll make a great next Sheriff of Sandy Point.”
As of now only her brother Sam stood on the stage, while the crowd grumbled. Several people called out: “Where is Sheriff Hart?”
“He’s working that fire, and needs more time. We should wait.”
But then Sam started to speak.
“You know the real measure of a man is not if he can get the job, but if he can do the job. The one thing the sheriff of this town really needs to do is keep us all safe. Safe from criminals, hoodlums, and fires. But it would seem that it’s too big of a job for my alleged opponent, so much so that he couldn’t even be bothered to show up tonight.
In fact, I would argue that Deputy Sheriff Hart better think about a new line of work.
He hasn’t created a force of law enforcement officers that he can trust to manage any crisis long enough for him to even make his bid for sheriff. ”
Next the video screens, which had Shepherd for Sheriff on them, cut to a video of Wes.
He wasn’t dressed in uniform and was seen talking to Miles Banks.
In his unmistakable deep southern drawl Wes said, “I don’t know if I can commit to being sheriff of this town.
I never planned on staying here the rest of my life.
” Then it cut off and it was so quiet in the room you could have heard a pin drop in the crowded hall.
Sam grinned. “So I ask you all this, do you want someone who is playing at being the law, or someone really ready to be the law? When I’m elected sheriff, I will not only lead the men and women of the sheriff’s department but I will also let them lead.
We will expel all crime, and keep the people of Sandy Point safe from fires, criminals, and phony politicians. You have my word.”
Several people shouted, “Hear, hear.” And then her father had the mic again. “Is there anyone else who would like to officially declare their bid for sheriff?”
Wes was nowhere in sight and then Miles walked onto stage with a piece of paper in his hand.
He leaned down to the podium. “While I think Wes has likely been caught up in this latest crisis, I can’t in good conscience not throw my own name in, if it means we could get stuck with this corrupt, spoiled… ”
But before Miles could finish his sentence Wes walked on stage with several of his deputies, and Shelby felt a huge wave of relief wash over her. He was there and he looked pissed.
“Thank goodness,” Miles said and stepped away from the mic as Wes took his rightful place.
“I’m here to formally announce my commitment to run for Sheriff of Sandy Point,” Wes said, and the crowd boomed with whoops and applause. “Right after I read you your rights, Samuel Shepherd.”
“What?” her dad said, and Sam stood with his arms crossed over his chest defiantly.
“Nice try, Hart. You can’t just get rid of your competition by making a false arrest.”
“Oh, believe me this is a very real arrest. You see after I got an emergency warrant to search your truck, your home, and your family estate.”
Sam stiffened. “That’s not possible.”
Wes held up a large evidence bag with fire-starting logs, a gasoline can, and what looked like a lighter.
“Recognize these? I have to say I don’t think you’d make a very good sheriff if you didn’t know evidence of a crime can almost always be found still in a criminal’s possession. The less sophisticated criminals are always so cocky to think they can hide in plain sight.