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demand why he was doing this.
    But she knew. It was because of Josslyn. Gabe and Joss had repaired the rift in their relationship. It wasn’t as if she could fault Josslyn for that, but Joss was her best friend. She could have given a warning, even mentioned it casually.
Say, you know the man who refused to marry you when you asked him to? The one who wasn’t man enough to say no to your face? Well, he’s moving to town. Just wanted you to know.
    Aumaleigh shook her head. Come to think of it, no wonder Josslyn hadn’t said anything. There was no good way to bring that up either. None at all.
    Well, it is what it is.
She climbed into her buggy, set her bag on the floor and gathered the reins. As she steered Buttons down the road, her anger began to grow. Why had Gabriel come here after all this time? Did he
have
to move next door, of all the places in the world?
    She was in a good mood to turn her buggy around, drive up to his house, bang on the door and give him a piece of her mind. He’d been the one who wanted to leave her behind back then. Why was he hanging around now?
    She ground her teeth together. There ought to be a law. Former fiancés needed to keep their distance. He’d wanted another life, and he’d gotten it. Why did she have to be reminded of the mistakes she’d made?
    Because that’s what this was going to do to her. Every time she ran into him, spotted him down the street or across a store, she was going to be reminded of the biggest failure of her life.
    If only she could borrow Magnolia’s snake stick and chase him out of town with it. That would show him. The image of her chasing Gabriel down the road made her laugh out loud.
    “Losing your mind?” a friendly voice called out. “Laughing for no reason is one of the first signs.”
    “Oh, I have a good reason,” Aumaleigh assured Sheriff Milo Gray who’d pulled his paint gelding onto the side of the road, giving her plenty of room to pass.
    That’s when she noticed she was exactly in the middle of the road. She’d been too angry to see anything, much less a lawman coming her way.
    “I’m guessing our new town resident is to blame.” He seemed understanding, which was a good trait in a sheriff and in her future nephew-in-law. “I’ve heard all about it from Iris. Don’t you worry, we’re on your side.”
    Heard all about it?
Did that mean everybody knew? And had thoroughly discussed it, all the while leaving her in the dark?
Ooh, now she was mad again.
    The subject of Gabriel Daniels sure struck a nerve. Best to take a deep breath, get rid of this anger and go back to her normal, non-angry way of handling things. “What are you doing out and about today? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the wedding? You’re supposed to be Iris’s date.”
    “True, I can’t deny that, but I’ve decided to work today.” The amiable smile died on his handsome, chiseled face. He was pure lawman, forged steel and integrity. “I’ve got all my deputies on duty today. We’re going to make sure this town stays safe from our neighborhood vandals.”
    “That glint in your eye tells me you have a good idea who it is.”
    “I’m pleading the fifth on that. Have a good time at the wedding and save a piece of cake for me.”
    “I’ll try, but maybe you should swing by the reception just in case.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” With a chin jut of farewell, Milo rode off, a man sure of his purpose.
    Aumaleigh urged her mare a few more feet to park in front of the bakery. She’d slip inside and grab the wedding cake, boxed and ready for the reception. She didn’t notice a man ease around the corner of the building and into the shadows.
    Determined not to fall victim to any more bouts of anger at Gabriel, she hummed to herself while she left Buttons at the hitching post and let herself into the bakery.

Chapter Four

     
    Junior Klemp had a bad feeling. He clutched the crock that once had held a very tasty stew the oldest McPhee sister had given