Harte's Peak

Vera Carrington shifted gears and ramped up her speed, grateful for the car’s get up and go. Fortunately, the roads had already been cleared from last night’s snowfall. She had assigned herself the early shift at her café, but the darkness of the January morning had done nothing to wake her.
Her regular customers at The Bean expected the doors to open at six. She had about an hour’s worth of preparations she’d have to accomplish in about fifteen minutes.
Times were tough in their resort town, now. Fewer tourists and vacationers were making the trek to the California Sierra mountain town.
The wail of a siren split the air and in her rearview mirror, the police lights flashed.
Not again. The third speeding ticket she’d have to talk her way out of in as many months? This was the last thing she needed. Especially now. She was already two months behind on her home’s mortgage payment and still had no idea what to do.
She couldn’t afford this ticket. Maybe she could talk her way out of it just one more time. After that, she’d start paying better attention to the speedometer.
She pulled over near a six foot high snow embankment and watched in the rear-view mirror as Ryan Colton climbed out of the cruiser. She sighed. Ryan was different since he’d caught religion and become a regular at Jack and Maggie’s church. Talking her way out of this one wouldn’t be easy.
“Hi there, Ryan.” Vera hit the button and let some of the cold morning air seep through the now opened window.
A pang of guilt stabbed her. The right thing to do would be to take her punishment. She could hear Maggie’s voice echoing in the recesses of her mind. “You’re my best friend, but I’m married to the sheriff now. Behave yourself.”
“Hey, Vera. Do you have any idea how fast you were going?” Ryan had his flashlight out but avoided shining it in her eyes.
“I’m sorry about that. Hit the snooze too many times. I overslept.”
He took out his ticket pad, expertly balancing his flashlight. “I know what that’s like.”
“I’m not a morning person and I would assign the shift to Annie, but I can’t afford the payroll right now.” Maybe with his newfound religion, Ryan might have a little compassion for a hard working girl. “Especially with Maggie on maternity leave. You know, Jack’s wife?”
“You wouldn’t be trying to talk me out of writing this ticket, would you?” He was clean cut now, having shaved off his beard a few months ago, though it didn’t take away from his rugged good looks. He’d always been difficult to ignore and now he was so darned nice.
“Who, me?” Vera tossed her hair back and hoped she wasn’t too obvious. Ryan was not as gullible as the younger officers.
“Because I do recall the last time I let you go I reminded you it would be the last time.” He flashed that disarming and cocky grin.
Stop it; stop smiling at me like that. “I do remember that.” She tried not to melt under his penetrating stare. His expressive brown eyes had a way of untangling her frayed nerves.
“I would let it go, but Jack had a talk with us. He says you’ve got to learn your lesson.”
“I have a reputation, I see.” Vera tapped her red fingernail on the steering wheel.
“For speeding. Yes, you do.”
Vera stepped out of the car hoping she might have a better effect, get him to step back, and take a look.
He stood his ground.
She considered flirting with him. Not only would it be effective, but it might also be fun. Then she heard Maggie’s voice in her head again. Great. Might as well get this over with now. She might still make it to The Bean on time. “Just give me the ticket.” She dug in her purse and handed him her driver’s license. The wind whistled as it whipped through the trees and she shivered under her parka.

****

Ryan Colton stared at Vera as she stood inches from him. She’d thrown the door open and got out as if she expected him to take a step back. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Thin and leggy, Vera was tall for a woman, but still a few inches shorter than him. Her dark blue eyes and pale blonde hair drove men to distraction.
Unfortunately, he was no exception. “Now you want a ticket?” He took her license. Being this close to Vera addled his brain. He couldn’t have heard right.
“Yeah, and I’d appreciate it if it’s sometime this year.” Vera put her hands on her hips.
He could smell the mint of her toothpaste. He was about to reconsider because everyone deserved one more chance and she looked so soft and beautiful this frigid morning. Now she insisted he cite her. Well, he wasn’t about to disappoint her. He copied the information from her license, checked off her charge, put her speed in the blank provided, and signed the ticket. “Here you go.” He tore off the sheet with no small amount of pleasure and held it out with her license. “You have a nice day.”
Vera narrowed her eyes and ripped the paper out of his hand. “I’m going to try.” She got back in her car and