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Bakery.
    Peyton exhaled. “Who was that?”
    “Nessa Linden.” Darius observed Nessa’s stiff gait as she left the store. “She’s served two terms on the town council. I didn’t think she wanted to be mayor, though.”
    “She didn’t.” Simon shoved his hands into the front pockets of his cowboy costume.
    Darius faced his father, who stood on Peyton’s other side. “How do you know?”
    Simon’s gaze drifted away. “She told me when I considered running for office.”
    Darius wasn’t certain he bought that. Perhaps he’d press his father for more later. He turned to Doreen. “What happened between you and Nessa?”
    “I don’t know.” Doreen’s eyes remained on the front doors as though she could still see Nessa. “We’ve never been friends, but she’s never been so confrontational toward me, either.”
    “She seemed to have it in for you.” Simon shifted his stance.
    Something in his father’s voice put Darius on alert.
    “And what did she mean that everything’s always been handed to me?” Doreen sounded more curious than offended.
    Peyton touched Doreen’s forearm in a brief but sympathetic gesture. “Sometimes people make accusations that are unfounded and unjust.”
    “Like claiming someone’s a player when he’s not.” Darius gave Peyton an innocent look, watching as a blush rose into her cheeks.
    Peyton looked away from him and continued. “I wouldn’t spend any time worrying about it.”
    Doreen shook her head. “I need to fix this. When I’m mayor, I’ll have to work with Nessa and the other council members to get projects done.”
    “CeCe’s council president.” Darius straightened his fedora. “She’ll keep Nessa from turning the council’s work into Nessa’s personal agenda.”
    Simon shrugged. “Nessa’s off her rocker. I’d ignore her.”
    Darius faced his father, searching eyes that were so much like his own. “What do you know?”
    Simon pressed a finger to his own chest. “Me? What do you mean?”
    Darius gave Simon a hard look. “Either she told you something or you’ve heard something that would explain Nessa’s behavior toward Doreen.”
    Doreen’s wide-eyed gaze swung between Darius and his father. “Simon, is this true? Do you know something?”
    Simon’s expression grew haunted. “I don’t know anything.”
    Darius set his jaw. “Yes, you do.”
    Simon raised his arms in surrender. “I agreed not to say anything.”
    Darius pressed harder. “Dad . . .”
    Still Simon hesitated. His troubled gaze moved from Darius to Peyton, lingering on Doreen before returning to his son. “Nessa came to me last summer.” He sighed. “It was her idea that I run for mayor against Doreen.”

CHAPTER 4
    Simon Knight wasn’t above lying. Darius knew that. But as far-fetched as his father’s claim sounded, Darius believed he was telling the truth.
    Still, Darius pinned Simon with a skeptical stare. “Why would Nessa ask you to run for mayor of Trinity Falls?”
    “She thought I’d do a good job.” Simon seemed to believe his own words. “She said I was a strong candidate to challenge Doreen in the election.”
    Darius shook his head. “Nessa may have told you that, but those can’t be the real reasons she wanted you in the campaign.” In his peripheral vision, he caught Peyton’s surprised expression. “What is it?”
    Peyton’s gaze slid from Simon back to Darius. “I’m just surprised at how blunt you are.”
    Darius frowned. “What do you mean?”
    “Never mind.” Peyton shook her head. “Why else would Nessa encourage your father to run for mayor if she didn’t think he was qualified?”
    “That’s what we’re trying to understand.” Doreen studied Simon as though trying to determine what Nessa saw in him. “Simon doesn’t get involved in civic issues. Everyone who knows him knows that. No offense, Simon, but it’s the truth.”
    “None taken.” Simon threw back his shoulders. “But, if everyone in town believes that, why