Shea Callahan tossed a battered duffel bag and backpack into the back of the rental van her soccer mom friend Becky had rented and winced. A girl’s weekend in the mountains should be a welcome retreat, but her mind wouldn’t stop straying to how the folks of Misty Hollow would react to their new sheriff being a woman. She unzipped the bag, checked her handgun, then zipped the bag back up and closed the back of the van. Would the residents of Misty Hollow think she could handle the rash of crime that had plagued the town the last few years?
The weight of the badge in her jacket pocket felt heavier than it should. She’d spent the last three years as a deputy in a county where the good ole boys made it clear that women belonged at home, not wearing a uniform. Then a detective before that. The snide comments, the deliberate exclusion from important cases, the way they’d talk over her during briefings—all of it had worn her down. Misty Hollow represented a fresh start, a chance to prove herself without the baggage of preconceived notions.
“That’s the last of it.” Becky grinned and opened the driver’s side door. “You sure you don’t want to drive?”
“I’ll take the next shift.” She glanced at the mound of luggage. Way too much for a simple weekend away. Emma alone had brought three suitcases, claiming she needed options for every possible weather scenario and social situation they might encounter.
“Got your inhaler?”
Shea frowned. “Yes, Mom.” The asthma had been a constant companion since childhood, triggered by stress and high altitudes. Not exactly ideal traits for someone about to become sheriff of a mountain town. She’d learned to manage it, always keeping her rescue inhaler close and her maintenance medication routine strict.
“Sorry. It’s a habit.” Becky grinned. “I can’t help myself. I’ve been mothering you all since we were eighteen.”
“I’m so glad we managed to do this.” Emma, the cheerleader of the group, slid into the backseat. “The ten of us have talked about this since college. It’s about time, don’t you think?” Her perfectly styled blonde hair bounced as she settled in, already pulling out her phone to document the beginning of their adventure.
Tessa, expensive braids swinging, climbed in next. “I have to admit to being a bit nervous to stay on Misty Mountain. Too many things have happened up there.” She glanced back at Shea. “You sure you want to work in that town?” Her voice carried the concern of someone who’d grown up hearing stories about the strange happenings in small mountain communities.
“I’m sure.” After the way good ole Southern boys treated a woman deputy, a small, secluded town sounded perfect. Hopefully, she could prove her worth without prejudice. She tied her long, dark hair into a messy bun, then climbed into the front passenger seat since she never failed to get car sick in the back. She felt her pocket to make sure she hadn’t forgotten her inhaler, then clicked her seatbelt into place.
The familiar ritual of checking for her medication had become second nature over the years. Her father, a retired cop himself, had always told her that preparation was the key to survival in law enforcement. “Know your weaknesses,” he’d said, “and make sure they never become liabilities.” The asthma was manageable as long as she stayed vigilant.
“Yay!” Becky started the engine. “This weekend is going to be great.”
Despite wishing she could spend the next few days preparing for her new job, Shea smiled. She loved these women and would do her best to focus on having a good time with them. They’d been her anchor through college, the sisters she’d never had growing up as an only child in a military household that moved every few years.
“Shea, Tessa, Becky, Lauren, Melanie, Annie, Deborah, Kara, Rachel, and me,” Emma counted. “The terrific ten set loose upon the world.”
“I think that happened at graduation.” Deborah, the serious one, stared at her phone. “Will we have service on that mountain?” As a financial advisor, she couldn’t afford to be completely disconnected from her clients, even for a weekend.
Shea doubted it. “No idea. All I know is that we’ve rented a large cabin overlooking the valley.” The place had looked gorgeous online. Five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a hot tub on the deck. The price had seemed too good to be true, which should have been her first red flag.
“I think it’s going to storm most of the time.” Rachel tended to look on the dark side of things. She’d been the same way in college, always expecting the worst possible outcome in every situation. Somehow, her pessimism had served her well as a risk assessment specialist for an insurance company.
“No, it won’t.” Emma shook her head. “I won’t allow it to. This weekend is going to be perfect.” She’d already planned activities for every possible scenario—hiking if it was sunny, board games if it rained, and group meditation sessions regardless of weather.
If the growing excitement in the van as they neared Misty Hollow was any indication, the weekend would be just as they all hoped. A time to reminisce, reconnect, and maybe relive a little of their college days when the ten of them had been inseparable. Since graduation, most of their contact took place online. Text messages, social media likes, and the occasional video call had replaced the daily interactions they’d once shared.
Shea leaned her head back and closed her eyes, content to listen as the others chattered about marriage and babies. Neither of which she had anything to add. While her friends had settled into domestic life, she’d thrown herself into her career, determined to break through the barriers that kept women from advancing in law enforcement.
The conversation drifted to memories of their college days—late-night study sessions, spring break adventures, and the drama that had seemed so important at the time. Lauren reminisced about her disastrous relationship with a philosophy major who’d convinced her to dye her hair purple. Melanie laughed about the time they’d all gotten food poisoning from a sketchy taco truck but had still insisted on going to the homecoming dance.
Misty Hollow’s former sheriff, a man named Westbrook, had congratulated Shea on the fact no one ran against her. Why was that? No one knew her there from Adam. She’d contacted Westbrook upon hearing of his retirement, sent in some letters of recommendation, gave a speech, and the next thing she knew, she wore a star on her chest.
The whole process had been surprisingly smooth, almost suspiciously so. In her experience, sheriff positions were highly competitive, especially in small towns where everyone knew everyone else’s business. The fact that she’d essentially waltzed into the job with minimal opposition made her wonder what she was walking into.
If she were honest with herself, the whole situation left her apprehensive. Plus, a couple of the deputies had left when Westbrook retired which meant Shea also had to find replacements. One more reason she needed to be at work and not on the top of a mountain. The department would be severely understaffed when she started, and she’d be working with people who might resent having an outsider—and a woman—as their new boss.
“I can hear your brain from here,” Becky said. “You aren’t supposed to report to the office until Monday. Enjoy the next three days, okay?”
She cracked one eye open. “I’m trying.” The truth was, she’d never been good at turning off her analytical mind. Even in college, she’d been the one who studied while her friends partied, who worried about finals while others assumed everything would work out.
“You always were the serious one.” Becky patted Shea’s leg. “You really need to learn to relax.”
“I was relaxing until you started talking.” Shea grinned to take the sting out of her words. The banter felt good, familiar. These women knew her better than anyone, had seen her at her worst and still loved her anyway.
Her friend giggled. “Maybe you’ll find a man in Misty Hollow. One that can handle your moodiness.”
“Ha, ha.” Shea didn’t have time for romance. Her career took up too much of her time and that’s the way she preferred her life to be. Men only complicated things. She’d learned that lesson the hard way with her last relationship, when her ex-boyfriend had made it clear that he expected her to choose between him and her job. The choice had been easy, but it had still hurt.
The van wound through increasingly narrow mountain roads, the scenery growing more dramatic with each mile. Pine trees stretched toward the sky, their branches creating a canopy that filtered the afternoon sunlight into dancing patterns on the asphalt. The air grew thinner, and Shea felt the familiar tightness in her chest that meant her body was adjusting to the altitude.
“I’m going to stop here to get gas.” Becky turned in front of a small, one pump gas station. “We’re headed up the mountain from here.”
The station looked like something from a bygone era—weathered wood siding, a hand-painted sign, and a single ancient pump that probably hadn’t been updated since the 1980s. A few pickup trucks were parked off to the side, their occupants nowhere to be seen.
“I didn’t see the town.” Annie peered out the window, her voice tinged with disappointment. She’d been hoping to do some antiquing, convinced that small mountain towns were treasure troves of vintage finds.
“We’re on the opposite side of Misty Mountain,” Shea explained. “Going through the town would’ve added time to our drive.” She shoved her door open. “I’ll take care of the gas since you’ve driven the whole way.”
“You don’t have to do that, but thanks.” Becky smiled, already stretching her arms above her head to work out the kinks from the long drive.
Shea exited the van and filled the tank, her law enforcement training automatically cataloging details about their surroundings. The isolation of the location, the lack of visible security cameras, the fact that they hadn’t seen another vehicle for the last twenty minutes. Old habits died hard, and she’d learned to trust her instincts about potentially dangerous situations.
She started to pay with her card and noticed the sign that said to pay inside. Great. She’d get caught up into a conversation with a most likely bored employee who’d want to know their entire life story.
The aroma of fried chicken and hot pizza greeted her as she pushed open the door. The interior was dimly lit, with narrow aisles crammed full of snacks, drinks, and basic supplies. A small deli counter occupied one corner, where the promised fried chicken sat under heat lamps. She pasted on a smile and approached the counter. “I’m here to pay for the gas.”
The middle-aged man in denim overalls peered around her, his eyes scanning the van and its occupants with obvious curiosity. “Where y’all headed?” His accent was thick, the words drawled out in the way of people who’d never lived anywhere but these mountains.
Shea slapped forty dollars on the counter. “We’ve rented a cabin on Eagle’s Bluff.” She kept her voice neutral, professional. Something about the man’s intense scrutiny made her uncomfortable, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly why.
His eyebrows rose, and for a moment, something that looked like concern flickered across his weathered features. “Folks don’t go up that way much. Haven’t in a long time.”
“Why not? The photos looked gorgeous.” The rental listing had been full of pristine images—sweeping valley views, pristine forest surroundings, and a deck that seemed to float above the treetops.
“Oh, it’s pretty enough.” He rang up the gas and handed her change, his movements deliberate and slow. “Real pretty. That’s not the problem.”
Shea waited for him to say more. For several seconds, they stood and stared at each other, the silence stretching uncomfortably between them. The only sounds were the hum of the refrigerated cases and the distant murmur of voices from somewhere in the back of the store.
“You gals be careful up there,” he finally said, his voice carrying a weight that seemed disproportionate to the simple words.
“Wild animals?” Shea asked, though she suspected that wasn’t what he was worried about. “Something like that.”
- Publisher : Winged Publications
- Publication date : September 28, 2024
- Language : English
- Print length : 220 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1965352235
- ISBN-13 : 978-1965352236