Page 124 of Daybreak

His “on alert” shield went up.

“Help yourself, Gunner. Milly at the refreshment table will bring your drink and dessert. Just tell her what you want.”

Following orders, Gunner put a sandwich and a bag of chips on a paper plate, chose an apple hand pie and sweet iced tea, and took the last vacant chair, which happened to be between Mayor Belker and Dale. They all seemed to be talking among themselves in a normal manner, but Gunner knew all eyes were on him, and he was even more suspicious of why he’d been invited.

When a decent amount of time had passed that had given everyone a chance to finish their meal, Dale Curry stood and raised a hand to get their attention.

“Everyone…a little silence please.” He smiled and glanced down at Gunner. “You have to be wondering why you’re here, and what we want, but I’ll tell you right now, it’s not money.”

Everyone laughed, including Gunner. “That’s good, because I don’t have any cash on me. The church doesn’t take credit cards, and I was afraid someone was going to suggest I wash dishes. Also, I was a detective too long not to know something was up, so spit it out. What, exactly, do you want to ask?”

“We need law in this town. We want to know if you’d consider being the first officer of the law in Crossroads, Texas. Our first chief of police. God knows you have the résumé for it. We have a donated location for a small police office. We have people willing to build a jail at the back of it. We will advertise for deputies and dispatchers. We’re not sure how much we can pay them just yet, but we’re all willing to pitch in. We all know why you came back…you and Holly…for your families. You are both already making a difference in this town. There are seven new residents since the apartment building opened, and one of the renters is planning to open a small business in town. We need law, but we don’t want just anyone. We want you.”

Gunner sat there, letting the request sink in, and at the same time, realizing that this was what had been missing. He had all he could ever want at his fingertips except purpose.

He stood. “I am honored. Beyond words. But I need to talk to my wife and my dad first.”

“Oh, Jacob knows. He’s one of us…a business owner. He said he’s just happy you moved home. What you decide to do after you got here was totally up to you and fine with him,” Dale said.

Gunner resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “I don’t suppose you took it upon yourselves to also ask my wife?”

“No, lord no. You go home and talk it out, and whatever you decide to do, we will accept and understand.”

Gunner nodded. “I’ll be in touch, one way or another. Thank you for asking, and thanks for the lunch.”

He walked out to silence, but the chatter that rose behind him as he headed for the door was obvious. They didn’t want to give up without a fight, and Holly was going to be the one with the decision. He was giving her the last word. He drove home in silence, then went into the house and down the hall to her office.

She’d heard his footsteps and was smiling as he entered. “Sit and talk to me. What did they feed you, and what on earth did they want?”

“As you predicted, chicken salad sandwiches with chopped-up grapes in it. It’s not something I care to revisit. Salt and vinegar chips and an apple hand pie. And they asked me if I would take the job as the first law officer in Crossroads. If I would be their police chief.”

Holly eyes widened. “Oh, my lord! Oh, Gunner! What did you say?”

“That I first had to talk to my wife.”

She walked into his waiting arms. “My dearest rooster… You will never need my permission to follow your heart. If you want it, then do it. I’ve already glued you back together enough times to know the drill. I believe you told me once I’d make a good cop’s wife, and I have known from the get-go that is what you are. You’re one of those people who will always run into the fire. I love you. Follow your heart and make us proud.”

The last knot in his gut was just unwound. “Lord, woman, how I love you,” he said and held her without talking, without moving—until his phone rang.

“And still they persist.” He picked it up to answer, then glanced at the number. It was his dad, and he knew why he was calling. “Hey, Dad.”

“You can’t haul beer kegs around for the rest of your life. No pressure, but what’s the verdict?” Jacob said.

“Just call me Chief,” Gunner said. “And since you’re all in cahoots, you have my permission to tell them. Assure them that I will, of course, donate to the project, but my job is pro bono. This police chief does not receive paychecks.”

Jacob let out a whoop and disconnected.

Gunner sighed. “In about two minutes or less, this phone is going to start ringing. If you want peace, darlin’, you’ll need to keep your door shut for a while.”

“Heard,” she said. His phone was already ringing when she went to shut the door. He’d called it.

Epilogue

Six months later, the American flag and the Texas State flag were flying from the flagpoles outside of the new police station with three jail cells in the back, waiting for baptism.

There were two dispatchers ready to go to work and three uniformed deputies standing at attention as Mayor Belker swore in Gunner Kingston as the town’s first chief of police.

Asher had flown in on his private helicopter to witness the event and brought Dylan with him. Both Jacob and Pearl and Garrett and Trudy Dillon were on hand as the proud parents. Sheriff Reddick was on-site, along with the people of the town, to witness the auspicious event.

As his wife, Holly was standing beside Gunner, and when it came time to pin on the badge, the mayor handed it to her.

“Mrs. Kingston, will you do the honors?” he asked.

Holly took the badge, stepped directly in front of him, and pinned the badge to the shirt pocket of his uniform. She caught a glint in Gunner’s eyes, but he never broke rank, keeping his head up and eyes forward as she stepped back in place.

Then the mayor turned to face the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, Chief Gunner Kingston is in the house.”

The crowd roared and cheered.

The families gathered around them as Gunner and Holly waved.

The day was still and perfect. No wind, no clouds, just West Texas holding its breath for whatever came next.

The gun and holster around the police chief’s waist, and the weight of the badge pulling against his shirt, were visual notices of his public identity.

Gunner Kingston would always be a cop to the world, but in the life that mattered most, he was just the man who belonged to Holly.