Not exactly, Ford thought. There’d been another man with Liam Sawyer, another witness, who had also been discredited. And that article had been years ago. “I need to talk to you,” he said to Rozalyn as he got to his feet.

  She shot him a when-hell-freezes-over look.

  “Maybe it was another Ford Lancaster,” Emily suggested.

  “How many Ford Lancasters do you think there are?” Rozalyn demanded.

  A maid appeared in the doorway behind Rozalyn. “Excuse me. There’s someone here to see you.”

  No one seemed to hear her.

  “Wasn’t that article years ago?” Drew asked.

  “Yes,” Emily chimed in. “Who would even remember, let alone care—”

  “I remember and I care,” Rozalyn shot back. “So does my father. Do you know the man you married at all? Or what matters to him? Do you have any idea what that article did to him?”

  “I’m sure Mother didn’t know Mr. Lancaster wrote the article when she offered him the guest house,” Drew said.

  “Of course not,” Emily said. “I would never do anything to hurt Liam. Or you, Rozalyn, dear. He told me he was a friend of Liam’s, and since there was no place in town to stay…”

  “Excuse me. There is someone here to see you,” the maid repeated.

  “Ilsa, can’t you see we’re about to have dinner?” Emily snapped. “Tell whoever it is to come back some other time and close the doors behind you.” She shot Rozalyn a look as if to say now everyone in town will be talking about your behavior.

  “It’s the sheriff. He wants to speak to Rozalyn,” Ilse persisted.

  “Rozalyn? Why would the sheriff want to talk to her?” Emily said as if it was the prince at the door with a glass slipper. “Oh Rozalyn, you didn’t already involve the sheriff in our affairs, did you?”

  “What do you want me to tell the sheriff?” the maid asked nervously. “Should I tell him to come back?”

  “No, Rozalyn and I will both see him,” Ford said. The maid turned tail and disappeared down the hall. “If you will excuse me,” he said to Emily and the others. “I apologize, Emily, but Rozalyn and I really do need to talk to the sheriff.”

  Ford took Roz’s arm and practically dragged her out into the hallway, closing the French doors firmly behind them.

  “We have to talk,” he whispered. “I had no idea Liam had a daughter. But now that I do… I’m here because I think your father is in trouble.” He held up a hand to ward off her questions. “I will explain later. Right now we need to see the sheriff. I assume you called him about earlier and that’s why he’s here?”

  She jerked free, but he could see her anger deflating at his words. “My father’s in trouble?”

  “Possibly. Look, you called the sheriff about what you thought you saw at the falls, right? Let’s get this over with, then you can tell me what you think of me at length,” he said reasonably. “And I’ll tell you everything I know about your father.”

  She obviously didn’t feel like being reasonable. “I want to know why my father is in trouble and what that has to do with you and I want to know now,” she said, keeping her voice down.

  He groaned. “There isn’t time now.” He looked past her to where the sheriff was standing and watching them, then lowered his head and said quietly, “If you say anything to the sheriff, I’ll deny it and you will never know why I’m here.”

  Her eyes flared with anger.

  “Let’s tell the sheriff what you saw,” he added, loud enough that the officer of the law could hear.

  Her body trembled with obvious rage as he took her arm and drew her toward the front door and the sheriff.

  “Mitch,” she said when she saw the uniformed man at the door. She broke free of Ford’s grasp and rushed toward the sheriff.

  Mitch? She knew him? Of course she might. She must have lived here until her mother had died. Sure. The conversation he’d overheard in the garden was starting to make sense. So was her relationship with the people in the dining room.

  Ford met the sheriff’s interested gaze, and felt his insides tighten. The sheriff had come for more than just a statement from Rozalyn about a possible suicide at Lost Creek Falls. Ford stood back, watching the sheriff’s face and Rozalyn’s body language. She hugged the cop and they exchanged a few pleasantries, then Ford heard the words he’d been dreading.

  “A fall? Is Dad all right?”

  The sheriff had taken off his hat. “He’s in a coma, Roz.”

  “We have to get him flown out to Eugene, to the hospital there—”

  The sheriff was shaking his head. “His condition is such that the doc says he can’t be moved right now.”

  “I’m going to the hospital to see him,” she said, pushing past Ford as he joined them. She ran up the stairs, no doubt to get her purse and car keys.

  Ford found himself under the sheriff’s intense scrutiny.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met,” the lawman said.

  “No, I’m Ford Lancaster.” From the sheriff’s negative reaction it was obvious Ford’s reputation had preceded him.

  The sheriff started to ask him something, but behind them, the dining room doors burst open. Ford was surprised it had taken Emily this long.

  “What’s going on?” she demanded.

  As the sheriff filled her in, she burst into tears and called for Drew. Suzanne finally came out seeming more irritated than anything else. “Liam’s been hurt,” Emily cried. “Drew, will you drive me to the hospital?”

  “Of course, Mother,” he said.

  “I just need to change,” she said looking down at her shoes. Ford would guess she didn’t want to get them wet.

  “I’ll stay here, Mother,” Suzanne said. “In case anyone calls.”

  Why would anyone call? Ford wondered. Suzanne still held her wineglass. She drained it and turned back to the dining room. A look passed between Suzanne and Emily before a tearful Emily ascended the stairs with Drew following after her.

  Ford noticed that Emily hadn’t asked about Liam’s accident. “Where was he found?” he asked as the others left him and the sheriff alone.

  “Up Maple Creek. When did you get to town?”

  “Rozalyn followed me in from Oakridge.”

  “Then you saw the jumper at Lost Creek Falls?” The sheriff sounded surprised.

  Ford shook his head. “I’m not sure there was a jumper. I think she might have…imagined it. She’s been pretty upset about her father—and with good reason it seems. Who found him?”

  “Some Bigfoot hunters. They dropped him at the hospital.” The sheriff glanced up the stairs as Rozalyn hurried down.

  Ford reached for the keys dangling from her fingers. “I’m driving you.”

  “I’d like to have a few words with you at the hospital,” the sheriff was saying to Ford.

  “No problem.” He took the keys from Rozalyn before she could protest. The sheriff raised a brow, probably expecting Rozalyn to put up a fight. “We’ll see you at the hospital, Sheriff,” Ford said.

  Roz let Ford open the passenger side door of her SUV for her, then watched him hurry around to slide behind the wheel.

  She leaned back against the seat, fighting panic, as she gave him the four-block directions to the Timber Falls hospital. Her father was in a coma. Mitch said he’d fallen from a cliff up Maple Creek Road and had been found by some Bigfoot hunters. Hadn’t she known something had happened to him? If only she’d come sooner. If only—

  Her gaze swung to Ford, suddenly remembering what he had said. “What did you mean when you told me my father was in trouble?” she asked as they neared the hospital.

  He shot her a look, then turned back to his driving. “Let’s just go to the hospital and find out what we can for now, all right?”

  “No,” she said, sitting up a little straighter. “You said it was the reason you were here. Did you mean Timber Falls? Or the house?”

  “There isn’t time to get into this right now. I’ll tell you everything,” he said, meeting her gaze. “After you see your father.”

  Ford swung the SUV into the hospital emergency entrance. Roz closed her eyes tightly for a moment, trying to hold it together. She had to be strong—for her father. She’d deal with Ford later.

  Before he had the car parked, she was out and running toward the emergency room door. He caught up with her in time to open the door for her.

  She rushed into the small hospital entry with him right behind her. The nurse’s station was empty.

  Her heart dropped. What if her father had gotten worse? What if—

  She could make out a steady beep coming from down the dim hallway. She rushed toward the sound, the hurried footfalls of her and Ford echoing on the linoleum floor, as she prayed her father was alive even if still in a coma.

  At the open doorway, Roz had a passing impression of a nurse and a doctor, both dressed in white beside a hospital bed. The nurse was round and rosy-cheeked with a halo of white hair. The doctor was blond, late forties, nice-looking.

  Roz looked past both to the bandaged man lying in the bed, monitors making soft bleating noises, a respirator breathing in and out, in and out.

  Her throat constricted at the sight of her father. He looked as white as the sheets and so incredibly frail but he was still alive! Thank God.

  “How is he?” Roz asked, rushing into the room.

  “No change, but he’s holding his own,” the nurse said. She smiled when she saw Roz as if she knew her. “I’m so glad you’re here and I know your father is, too.” Her eyes twinkled. “He knows you’ve come to see him, don’t worry about that.”

  “Thank you,” Roz said. “I’m—”

  “Rozalyn,” she said and smiled more broadly. “You look just like your mother. I’m Kate Clark. I know you don’t remember me, but I was at your birth. Don’t worry about your father. He’s in good hands. I’ll be here all night.”

  “I won’t, knowing you’re taking care of him,” Roz said.

  “This is Dr. Harris,” the nurse said.

  The doctor had been looking at her father’s chart. He looked up and frowned. “Who are you?” He sounded irritated.

  “I’m his daughter, Rozalyn,” she said looking down at her dad. She fought back tears as she whispered, “I’m here, Dad,” and squeezed his hand. No response. She glanced up, expecting to see Ford in the doorway. But he was gone. “He’s in a coma?”

  The doctor nodded. “That’s typical with this kind of head injury.”

  “The sheriff said he fell?” Roz asked.

  “Probably slipped. Didn’t fall far, I would guess, but struck his head on something,” the doctor said.

  “Who brought him in?” Roz looked at the nurse, who shook her head, then the doctor.

  “They didn’t leave names,” he said. “Just out-of-towners up here looking for Bigfoot. Your father really needs his rest—” Dr. Harris broke off when he saw Ford reappear in the doorway again. The doctor put down the clipboard and started to leave the room. “Please keep your visit short.”

  He had reached the doorway when Emily and Drew rushed past Ford and into the room.

  “Oh, no!” Emily cried, stopping in the center of the room to cover her face. “How bad is it, Dr. Harris?”

  “I’m optimistic and you should be, too, Mrs. Sawyer. He’s a strong, stubborn man. He won’t give up easily,” the doctor said. “I was going to call you with the news but the sheriff insisted on doing it.”

  “Yes,” Emily said and glanced at Roz. “I guess he wanted to tell Liam’s daughter first.”

  Rozalyn hardly noticed the bitterness in the woman’s tone. She was too surprised that Emily seemed to know the doctor. But the new Mrs. Sawyer had been in town for over a month. Emily probably knew everyone in Timber Falls by now.

  “Oh, Drew,” Emily said as he moved to put his arm around her shoulders.

  Roz looked up at Ford who was still in the doorway. He motioned for her. “I’ll give you a moment alone with Liam,” she said as she squeezed her dad’s hand, then laid it gently back on the bed beside him and left the room, surprised to find both Mitch and Ford waiting for her out in the hall. She could feel the tension between them, and could only guess what had been going on.

  Ford closed the hospital room door but watched through the window as Mitch said, “Lancaster here feels your father needs protection.”

  Her gaze leaped to Ford. He didn’t seem to notice. He was watching the group in the hospital room, looking worried, his jaw tight. He’d said her father was in trouble before Mitch told her Liam was in the hospital. It was almost as if Ford had been expecting this to happen. Why was that? She remembered his promise to tell her everything as soon as they left here.

  She stared at Ford, reminding herself of all the reasons she shouldn’t trust the man. And yet something in his worried expression—

  “I think that’s a good idea, Mitch,” she said, making the decision not only to keep quiet about what Ford had told her—but to trust that he had his reasons for wanting her father protected.

  Mitch was staring at her in obvious surprise. “Why?”

  “Is there someone I can hire to stay with him, not let him out of sight even for a moment?” Ford asked, finally looking at the sheriff. “Is there someone in town who would be reliable and willing to take the job? Someone you trust?”

  But Mitch was still looking at Roz. “You think your father is in danger?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I can’t explain it, but I do, Mitch.”

  He let out a long sigh and looked at Ford. “I know someone. My brother, Jesse Tanner. No one will get past Jesse to Liam. But I need to know why you feel Liam needs that kind of protection.”

  “Let’s just say I have a bad feeling that his fall wasn’t an accident,” Ford said.

  Roz must have looked as shocked as Mitch.

  “You have any proof of that?” the sheriff asked.

  “Not yet,” Ford said. “But if you want to keep him alive, then I suggest you call your brother and get him up here. If you’re sure he can be trusted.”

  “I’d trust him with my life and Liam’s,” Mitch said.

  Ford looked to Roz, then nodded. “Call him.” He glanced back through the hospital room window as if he wasn’t moving an inch until Jesse Tanner arrived to take over.

  “Can I have a word with you?” Mitch asked Roz as he stepped down the hall, pulled out his cell and punched in a series of numbers. When the line answered, he said, “It’s me,” and briefly explained the situation. A few seconds later, he disconnected. “Jesse’s on his way. I’ve deputized him so there won’t be any question as to his authority for being here.”

  “Thanks, Mitch.”

  “Look, Roz, I don’t know what the deal is with you and Lancaster—”

  “There’s nothing between us. I just don’t want to take any chances with my dad, that’s all,” she said.

  He nodded, but she could tell he wasn’t buying it for a minute.

  “It just isn’t like him to fall off a cliff,” she said and shuddered at the thought of how long he’d lain there before he’d been found. She couldn’t bear the thought that he’d been in pain, worse that he may have been pushed, may have even seen his assailant.

  “No, it’s not like Liam, but accidents do happen,” Mitch said. “What’s odd is that I was up Maple Creek Road earlier tonight and I didn’t see his pickup and camper. Is it possible someone dropped him off at the trailhead?”

  That was odd. “I don’t know. His truck isn’t at the house. Emily said he took it when he left two weeks ago.”

  “I’m sure it will turn up,” Mitch assured her. “And don’t worry. Your dad’s going to pull through. You know how tough he is. Then he’ll tell us just what happened.”

  She nodded and smiled through her tears. She was counting on it, she thought as she looked down the hall at Ford standing outside her father’s hospital room. In the meantime, any answers were going to have to come from Ford Lancaster.

  She balked at the idea but still couldn’t wait until Jesse Tanner arrived so she could find out why the man who’d tried to destroy Liam in print years ago was now trying to save him.

  “How long have you been sheriff?” she asked Mitch, not wanting to go back down to her father’s room until Emily and Drew were finished.

  “Pretty much since Sheriff Hudson retired.”

  She knew the sheriff had retired shortly after her mother’s death. She tried not to think about that right now and looked into Mitch’s handsome face instead, then at his ring finger.

  He laughed. “No, Charity hasn’t lassoed me yet—but not for lack of trying.”

  When she and Charity used to play house, Charity was always married to Mitch Tanner while Roz’s pretend husband was not only nameless but also faceless.

  “Have you seen Charity?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Not for a while.”

  “I know she’d love to see you. She has breakfast every morning at Betty’s.”

  Roz nodded. “I’d love to see her, too.”

  Mitch pulled out a small notebook and pen. “Why don’t we go over what you saw at Lost Creek Falls while we’re waiting.”

  Roz hugged herself against the memory as she told him.

  “What made you think it was a woman?” he asked, taking notes.

  She shook her head. “All I really saw was the bright yellow raincoat but at one point I thought I saw long blond hair. It was too dark to make out much.” She hesitated. “And it happened so fast.”

  “Lancaster says he didn’t see anything.”

  She shook her head ruefully. “He thought I was going to jump and tried to save me. He almost killed me instead.”

  Mitch didn’t look pleased to hear this. “Where is he staying?”

  “Our guest house. Emily invited him. Says she didn’t know who he was, thought he was a friend of Liam’s.” Obviously Ford had led her to believe that.

  Mitch raised a brow. “What is Lancaster doing in town?”

  She shook her head, watching Ford. She wished she knew.

  The sheriff put his notebook away. “I’ll drive up to the falls and take a look tonight but doubt there is anything I can do until morning.” They both knew that at this point he would just be retrieving the body. She shuddered at the thought. If there really was a body to retrieve. And shuddered again.