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  Rhodes

  Rogue County Rangers – Book 2

  Lisa Lovell

  Copyright © 2020 Lisa Lovell

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without express written permission from the author/publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Ellie

  “Right here.” I press my finger against a map of Rose Haven County. “That’s where I want to put my clinic.”

  Mayor Robert Galavant lets out a very specific sigh. It’s a sigh I’ve heard many times before. I know exactly what words are about to come out of his mouth.

  “Ellie, this is very ambitions.”

  “Maybe too ambitions,” I finish before he can say it.

  He presses his lips together and narrows his eyes. He wants to laugh but doesn’t.

  “I’m not asking you to do anything but sign some papers,” I tell him. “I’ll handle all of the logistics. I’ll find a construction crew. I’ll make sure everything is in ship shape. You won’t have to do a thing except smile.”

  “Smile?” He frowns. “For what?”

  “The press conferences,” I say. “I’ll take point but you should still attend them.”

  “Look,” he sighs. “You’re the assistant Mayor which is basically an assistant to the Mayor.”

  “That’s not actually true,” I say. “That’s just how you think of me.”

  “It’s Rose Haven,” he chuckles. “If I had more for you to do, you’d know I let you do it. You’re capable as all hell. Why aren’t you over in D.C or something?”

  “Because this is my home!” I laugh. “No one in D.C cares about this place so why would I go there?”

  “Because you’re wasting your talent on small-town politics,” the Mayor chuckles.

  “That’s why I’m trying to create opportunities.” I point to the map again. “Starting with a clinic.”

  Mayor Galavant leans forward and examines the plot of land I’m pointing to.

  “That’s pretty far out of town,” he says. “Kind of inconvenient, don’t you think?”

  “Don’t you think it’s inconvenient for the ranchers who have to drive over an hour to get to the hospital?” I counter.

  “Fair point,” he nods. “So, the clinic will mostly benefit the ranchers?”

  “Mostly,” I agree.

  “Why not make it a fully-fledged hospital, then? Why a clinic?”

  “Think about it,” I say. “Ranchers work outside all day with their hands. Most of the injuries they have to deal with don’t require hospitalization. They need a place to go where they can get quick, affordable service so they can get back to work as soon as possible. Clinics are good for that.”

  “Getting materials out there is going to be a pain in the ass,” Mayor Galavant says.

  “Yeah, but getting materials anywhere in Rose Haven is a pain in the ass,” I counter. “We have nothing local. Everything has to be brought in from another town.”

  “We have a plan for that,” Mayor Galavant says.

  “A plan that hasn’t been mobilized since you concocted it ten years ago,” I say.

  Mayor Galavant laughs heartily.

  “People have jobs. People have healthcare. People have roofs over their heads and food on their tables. As long as they have that, I’m doing a good job.”

  “I’m not going to disagree with you,” I say. “There’s a reason you haven’t been elected out of office.”

  “That reason is because no one runs against me but I appreciate you trying to flatter me,” he smirks.

  “No one wants to run against you because you check all of the boxes. No one has anything bad to say about how you govern our town,” I continue.

  “There’s a but coming. I can sense it.”

  I’ve been working for Mayor Galavant for three years now. He knows me as well as I know him.

  “But, don’t you want to go above and beyond?” I ask. “Everyone’s needs are met. Don’t you want to exceed their needs?”

  “Running this town is a balancing act,” he says. “Local business generates as much as it needs to. Taxes generate as much as they need to. We’re basically playing hot potato with the town’s money. Going above and beyond requires money we can’t just pull out of thin air.”

  “That’s why we start with a state-funded clinic,” I press. “I have a whole plan. Trust me.”

  “Look, if you can get all of the permits squared away for the land, then we can talk about it more. Until then, just take things one step at a time. Don’t try to get across the canyon before the bridge is built, you know?”

  “I’ve already filed everything” I grin. “I already have the state’s permission to build a clinic with their funding. I’m waiting to see if the land I want is available for development.”

  “You were only asking my permission as a courtesy, weren’t you?”

  “Yup,” I laugh. “I don’t want you to feel left out. I’m going to go check on that application.”

  “That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” a voice says from the doorway. I turn away from Mayor Galavant to see one of the town’s Rangers leaning against the doorframe.

  “Rhodes.” I try not to sound annoyed. Rhodes is one of the top Rangers in Rose Haven but he is an absolute thorn in my side.

  “Ellie,” he nods.

  “It’s Ms. Callaghan,” I correct.

  “You can call me by my first name but I can’t call you by yours?”

  “Your first name is a last name. What do you have there?” I nod to the papers in his hands.

  “Your application to acquire the land at the mouth of the valley,” he says.

  “What are you doing with that?” Rhodes has nothing to do with property acquisition and development. He mostly drives around taking beer from teenagers and curbing Gary Wiseman’s vigilante tendencies.

  “I happened to see your application when I was in Sandra’s office.”

  “She still won’t give you the time of day, hmm?”

  Rhodes has a reputation. He’s as handsome as the devil and twice as smooth. Luckily, I’m immune to his charms.

  “She’ll come around,” he shrugs. “I thought I’d tell you in person that your application has been denied.”

  “Excuse me?” I stammer. “Why?”

  “It’s confidential.” The corner of his mouth curves up into a sly smirk. Before I can press him for more information, he tips his hat. “Good day, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Callaghan.”

  He turns on the heel of his boot and strides away.

  Chapter Two

  Rhodes

  Three. Two. One.

  “Rhodes, you get back here this instant!”

  Right on queue. I hide my smile as I turn to face a fuming Ellie. She looks pretty all the time, but she’s especially pretty when she’s angry. I go out of my way to press her buttons just to see her eyes light up with rage.

  Is that childish of me? Probably. But at least I take the verbal
lashing I get afterward with grace.

  “How can I help you?” I ask, clasping my hands in front of my belt.

  “What the hell, Rhodes?” She asks. Her hazel eyes blaze like they’re lit from within. “There’s no reason why I can’t turn that land into a clinic.”

  “There is,” I say. “But it’s confidential.”

  “I’m the assistant Mayor!” She cries.

  “Yes, and you’re a fine one at that,” I say. Her scowl deepens. “But you’re not essential to our current investigation so you don’t get to know all of the juicy secrets.”

  “What investigation?” She scoffs. “Did some kids tag some boulders?”

  “That’s confidential.”

  “You’re doing this to spite me. Just admit it,” she snaps.

  “Why would I do that?” I tip my head to one side.

  “Because you have so little in your life that you have nothing better to do,” she snaps.

  Damn. I must’ve really pissed her off. I don’t even know what she wants the land for. Apparently, she thinks it’s important. Then again, she treats everything like a life or death situation. When our annual Pumpkin Patch Festival ran out of folding tables, I thought she was going to call up the National Guard.

  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been on the other end of the phone line while she rambles on about something no one gives a damn about in the first place. If I can piss her off a little in return, I’m happy to do so. It brings me joy.

  “I bet there’s nothing going on,” she sneers. “You made up a phony investigation just so I’d have to work twice as hard to get my application approved.”

  “You overestimate how much thought I put into things,” I laugh.

  “Yeah, that plan sounds a little complex for you.”

  “In all seriousness, there is an investigation going on. You can’t have that plot.”

  She folds her arms across her chest and fixes me with a glare that probably intimidates most people. Too bad I’m not most people.

  I’ve stared down the barrel of a gun more times than anyone should ever have to. It’s going to take more than a sassy woman with an ego to make me flinch.

  “I need that plot.”

  “You can find another one,” I shrug.

  “No, I can’t,” she insists. “That’s the only plot that suits my needs. There isn’t another option.”

  “I see.” I nod and furrow my brow. “I might have a suggestion.”

  The fire in her eyes dims, but only by a fraction.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah.” I rub my chin. “You could learn to be flexible and find a new plot for your Cows with Hurt Feelings Society, or whatever it is you want to build.”

  “It’s going to be a state-funded clinic, you asshole,” she huffs. “Ranchers shouldn’t have to drive so far to get a basic treatment at the hospital.”

  Oh, shit. Yeah, that’s actually a pretty damn good use of that land. Unfortunately, she still can’t have it.

  “I don’t know what you want me to tell you,” I shrug. “You can’t have the plot.”

  “We’ll see about that,” she snaps.

  As she turns to walk away, I can’t drag my gaze away from her incredible figure. I’ve always had a thing for curvy girls and Ellie has some damn fine curves.

  “You look good in black, by the way,” I call after her.

  “Excuse me?” She whirls around.

  “Black looks good on you,” I repeat. “Though navy would look better. Blue always looks good on redheads.”

  Without looking away from me, she grabs a stapler from the desk beside her. The occupant of that desk stares at her, confused.

  “I will throw this at you, Rhodes. I swear to God.”

  I’m already walking away when I call over my shoulder, “you know I like it rough, baby.”

  Everyone in the office turns to look at Ellie. I can only assume smoke is coming out of her ears. She loves her professional image more than she loves her mother, so I assume. Just before I leave the building, I hear her frustrated groan. The sound brings a smile to my face.

  Chapter Three

  Ellie

  My blood is still racing hours later as I drive home. Who the hell does Rhodes think he is? Why does he get so much enjoyment from making my day-to-day a living hell?

  I should’ve thrown that stapler at him. I probably wouldn’t have hit him. My aim isn’t that strong. But it would’ve made me feel so much better and that’s what important, right? The way he saunters around like he’s the best thing since frozen garlic bread. It would be easier to stomach his arrogance if he wasn’t so damn hot. I hate the bastard but I’ll give credit where credit is due.

  His cheekbones could cut diamonds. His eyes are so blue I’m convinced he’s wearing colored contacts. Somehow, he always has the exact right amount of stubble. He looks tough and rugged rather than sloppy and lazy. It’s infuriating.

  It’s hard to believe we went to the same high school. I barely remember him. He skipped school more often than he attended. I was too busy running several clubs and planning fundraisers. No one was more surprised than me when I saw him in the Ranger’s uniform.

  I can’t even say he’s bad at his job, because he’s not. Rose Haven barely has any crime but when something happens, Rhodes handles it.

  Yet, he gets under my skin like no other. He goes out of his way to get under my skin. No one believes me, but it’s true.

  What could he possibly be investigating on that plot of land? There’s nothing out there! An idea pops into my head. Before I can talk myself out of it, I pull a U-turn on the main street and head out of town.

  It takes an hour to get out to my plot of land. That’s right, my plot of land. I want this clinic and I don’t care what I have to do to make it happen. It’s the starting point of a plan so massive, this town won’t know what hit them. It’s critical and I absolutely cannot afford to compromise on it.

  The plot begins exactly twelve feet from the only road that leads in and out of town. It’s only a two-acre plot, but I can’t imagine needing more room than that.

  I slip out of my office heels and into my hiking boots. I always have a pair of boots in the car, as well as a change of clothes. I love to hike. It’s one of the only things that clears my head. My best ideas come to me when I’m on a hike. The idea for the clinic came to me when I was walking the ridge at the far end of this very property.

  Most of the land in Rose Haven is fairly flat, which is great for the ranchers. At the edge of this property, the land dips into a valley that goes all the way to the foothills of the mountains. It makes for a stunning walk.

  I step out of my car and survey the plot. Something isn’t right. There’s a trailer parked at the far edge of the property, near where the valley begins.

  Whose trailer is that? There’s no reason for anyone to be out here. Unless, the trailer serves as a base for Rhode’s mysterious, confidential investigation. Maybe I can get some answers there.

  I march across the plot and pound on the trailer door.

  “Rhodes, are you in there?” I shout. “Max? Luke?” If Rhodes is working a case, it’s safe to assume Max and Luke are involved, too. Thick as thieves, they are. They all trained together. Luke is a decent guy. We’ve only talked a handful of times. Our work doesn’t often intersect.

  The door swings open. A man with a sun withered face in a black t-shirt stands in front of me. I’ve never seen him before.

  “I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I thought this trailer belonged to people I know.”

  “It doesn’t,” he snarls. “Now get out of here.”

  “Is this trailer yours?” I ask.

  “I said get out of here.” He takes a step forward but I don’t move.

  “If it is, you can’t keep it here. There’s a trailer park a few miles up the road. I can give you directions if you like.”

  “What the fuck is going on out there?” Another voice, a young man, snaps from inside t
he trailer.

  “Some bitch is telling me to go to the trailer park.”

  Some bitch?

  “Excuse me,” I snap. “I’m assistant Mayor Ellie Callaghan. I’m being nice by giving you the opportunity to move your trailer. I can have it towed away instead. You’ll have to pay a fine to get it back, though. Do you like that idea better?”

  “Big mistake, sweetheart.” The man in the door reaches behind him and retrieves a gun from his waistband.

  “What the fuck?” I shriek and stumble backward.

  “I figured this would change your tune.”

  “Bring her in here,” the man inside demands.

  “Don’t you dare touch me,” I hiss.

  “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll make sure those words are your last.” For the second time today, Rhodes appears behind me. Before I can say anything, he yanks me behind him. “Say nothing,” he warns me. He’s already pulled his gun from his holster.

  “You ought to walk away, officer,” the man with the gun says. “I’m being nice by giving you the opportunity to walk away alive.” He sneers at me as he turns my words against me.

  “We’ll go,” Rhodes agrees. “But keep in mind, I have men on the ridge. If you fire even one shot, you’ll be so filled with holes you’ll look like swiss cheese.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “If you say so.” Rhodes motions for me to back up. I do as I’m told. “But I wouldn’t take my chances.”

  Rhodes backs up with me. The man never lowers his gun.

  The sun dips behind the ridge, casting the land in a deep blue shadow.

  “We can walk normally now,” Rhodes murmurs to me.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Between the distance and the coming darkness, he probably won’t hit us if he fires.”

  “Probably?” I repeat. “I don’t like that word on a normal day. I like it even less when it’s used to describe my chances of being fucking shot!”

  “Would you rather trust your gut on this one?” He snaps. “Mind you, last time you went with your gut you knocked on a drug dealer’s trailer so maybe you better just listen to me.”