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Redemption was a beautiful place, idyllic some would say, with neat green lawns and clean fresh air.
    There was even a story that healing flowed in Redemption River—or some such nonsense as that.
    Sloan gave a short, mirthless laugh.
    It was a story, nothing more, meant to attract tourists.
    According to his aunt and his mother, Redemption was a town of good and caring people. He’d spent his whole life wondering where they were.
    Thinking about the river gave him the urge to ride out to the bridge. The gardening center wouldn’t deliver until tomorrow anyway, and he sure wasn’t doing anything else. The longer he could avoid Annie and the curious buzz she created in his veins, the better.
    He circled around Town Square, catching a glimpse of Tooney Carter, who raised a hand in greeting. Sloan nodded. He and Tooney had fished together as boys and gotten into more than their share of trouble along the way. Maybe he’dstop in sometime and catch up with his old friend. Funny that he’d want to.
    Feeling positive about the day’s work and the fact that he hadn’t heard one cruel remark about his family, he gunned the engine and headed north toward the river bridge. With the wind in his face and the powerful Harley rumbling beneath him, Sloan felt free.
    He’d begun humming “Born to Be Wild” when a siren ripped the peaceful atmosphere behind him.
    Sloan glanced in his side mirror and groaned.
    Chief Dooley Crawford had spotted him.
    So much for his one good day in Redemption.

Chapter Four
    A nnie rubbed at the headache starting between her eyebrows. “Okay, Mom, I’ll talk to him again. But you know how Daddy is about his diet. He’s never listened to me before.”
    Her dad had suffered with ulcers for years, but getting him to lay off coffee and fried foods was like asking him to cut off a limb. Her mother assumed because Annie was a registered nurse, her father would abide by her advice. The day Dooley Crawford listened to his daughter’s advice or even his doctor’s would be one for the record books.
    “When he retires from the police force and can spend all the time he wants out at the farm with his cows and tractor and fishing ponds, he’ll get better. He’s under too much stress.”
    “You’re right about that, honey,” her mother said. “He’s been especially agitated the last couple of weeks. The mayor wants to cut the police budget again.”
    Annie twisted her finger through the old-fashioned stretchy telephone cord. Lydia hadn’t updated in years. “Has he said anything about Sloan Hawkins?”
    She knew for a fact her father had given Sloan several speeding tickets. Which Sloan probably deserved.
    “He’s worried about you, Annie, as always.”
    Annie vacillated between exasperation and love. No wonder Dad’s ulcer was acting up. “That was a long time ago, Mom. Dad needs to let it go. Sloan is here for Lydia.”
    “So he says.”
    “He is. He’s really good to her. Right now, he’s out back working in the flowers, determined to restore the Wedding Garden to its former grandeur because he knows how important it is to Lydia. You should see the truckloads of supplies he’s bought and how hard he works.”
    She’d resisted staring out the windows, but every time he came inside for a glass of water or to take a break, she’d noticed.
    Oh, yes, she noticed Sloan Hawkins.
    “You sound as if you’ve forgiven him.”
    The unstated question gave her pause. Had she? “Time heals all wounds.”
    “What about Justin?”
    Annie froze. “What about him?”
    “Well, honey, now don’t get upset, but I always wondered.”
    A lot of people did. “Leave Justin out of this, Mother. The subject is Daddy and his ulcer. He can relieve some of his stress by forgetting about things that happened years ago.”
    “He’s still protective of you. Always was when it came to boys.”
    No, not all boys. Just Sloan. “Tell him I’m over the past and he should be, too.”
    “Okay, honey. I hear that