around.”
Simon reached back and patted the dog. “You’ve earned a romp.”
She pulled off the road and into a makeshift dirt parking lot. After letting Buddy out, she grabbed a blanket from the back and led the way to a meadow.
The sun was warm, the grassy area dotted with small flowers. The hum of insects mingled with birdsongs and the soft breeze. It was a perfect kind of morning in a perfect kind of place. She spread out the blanket and motioned for Simon to sit.
“Tell me about Freddie,” she said when he settled. “How did he get hurt?”
“His father. He cut him. This wasn’t the first time.”
Montana stared at him. “I don’t understand.”
“Not all parents are like yours. Some have mental or emotional problems. Some are just cruel. Freddie’s father would tie him up and then cut him with a hunting knife. His back, his chest. This is the first time he went to work on his face.”
Her chest was tight and she found it difficult to breathe. Her eyes burned. Rather than give in, she looked past Simon to where Buddy chased a butterfly—for once having fun rather than worrying.
“Why wasn’t Freddie taken away from him before now?”
Simon shrugged. “The kid didn’t say how it happened and he slipped through the cracks.”
“What kind of parent does that?”
“The bad kind. It happens more than you would think.”
Her gaze shifted to his scars as an impossible thought formed. Had one of Simon’s parents been responsible for his burns?
“I can’t believe something like that would happen in Fool’s Gold,” she whispered, because she was too afraid to ask.
“It happens everywhere, but if it makes you feel better, Freddie and his father have only been in town a few months. The E.R. staff figured it out immediately and called social services. Freddie was taken away from his father that day.”
“I’m glad. I hope he’s locked up for a long time.”
“Me, too.”
“I guess you see a lot of awful things.”
“How the wounds happened is sometimes worse than the injury itself.”
“Can you ever forget it? Does the reality haunt you?”
“I’m used to it.”
She was sure that someone in his position would have to find a way to disconnect. To compartmentalize. Still, when he was alone, there must be ghosts.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this.” He sipped his latte, then looked at her over the lid. “You don’t need to know.”
Simon should have looked out of place in his suit slacks and shirt and tie. Instead he was as relaxed as he’d ever appeared. The only place she’d seen him completely comfortable before was the hospital.
“I’m not as innocent as you think,” she told him.
He smiled. “Sure you are. You’re the kind of girl who wants to fall in love.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“No.”
Meaning not him. “You’ve never been in love?”
“Not even once.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Why? I’m content.”
“Don’t you want to be happy?”
“Happiness is elusive. My work is enough.”
She knew he was wrong, but didn’t think there was any point in telling him that.
“Why aren’t
She took a moment to adjust from interviewer to interviewee. “No one has ever asked. I’ve had a couple of serious boyfriends, but they both left. They weren’t in love with me. I wasn’t…” She shrugged. “I wasn’t enough for them. One cheated and one just broke it off. The last one kept saying I would be ‘perfect’ if I changed my clothing style, or hair cut, or makeup. It was starting to seem like a never ending list of how I could be better.”
She did her best to speak the words as if the truth didn’t hurt her.
“They were fools.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not being polite, Montana. You are the kind of woman men dream about having.”
His statement left her breathless.
“Even you?” she asked before she could stop herself.
“Especially me.” His gray-green eyes darkened. “If I was looking for something permanent.”
“Right.”
“And you’re the kind of woman who is looking for forever.”
She didn’t want to agree, but couldn’t seem to keep herself from nodding.
“I go to Peru in a few weeks. Then on to somewhere else.” He looked at his coffee, then at her. “I could come back, to visit.”
“But not to stay.”
“No,” he said with finality. “Not to stay.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MONTANA DIDN’T USUALLY attend city council meetings. Her job had never been political. Before working for Max, she’d been a part-time librarian. But Mayor Marsha had asked, so here she was.
The agenda was much as she had expected. Information about road construction—in this case a project funded by the state. A few permit issues. An update on the Summer Festival, only two days away.
Gladys, the city treasurer, turned to Mayor Marsha. “I assume Montana is here to talk about the Dr. Bradley issue.”
“She is.” The mayor smiled at Montana. “How is our project going?”
Montana realized she shouldn’t have been surprised by the shift in topic. If she’d thought about it for even a second, she would have known why she’d been asked to attend. Unfortunately, she went completely blank.
“I, ah, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“Is he enjoying Fool’s Gold?” Marsha asked.
“Yes. Everyone has been very welcoming and I think he appreciates that. He’s not much of a joiner, though. I haven’t found that he has any hobbies.”
“He went golfing with Josh and Ethan,” another council member said. “Raoul Moreno joined them for the last nine holes.”
“Do you think he would be impressed by sports celebrities?” Marsha asked earnestly. “Should I suggest Josh and Raoul spend more time with him?”
Montana felt everyone staring at her. She did her best not to squirm. “Not really. He’s not that kind of man. He’s quiet and thoughtful. He only seems comfortable opening up to his patients.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve had sex yet?” Gladys asked.
Heat flared on Montana’s cheeks.
“That is not our business,” Marsha announced firmly. “I asked Montana to be his friend, to show him around town and talk about the benefits of living here. She’s not expected to give her, ahem, all for the sake of the town.”
