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Eventually, I cleared my throat, stepping back. "I should get these systems online, check the feeds."
"Right," Tyler agreed, his voice returning to its normal timbre. "I’ll help."
We walked back to the house, the screens of our newly installed security system flickering to life, feeling a sense of accomplishment. We had fortified the ranch, but something between us had shifted, too, subtly altering the fabric of our interaction. It was new, uncertain, and undeniably exciting.
As Tyler said goodnight and headed home, the last light of day fading into twilight, I stood on the porch watching him go. The ranch felt safer and more secure now. And as I turned to go inside, I felt that, in more ways than one, today had changed something important.
The evening had settled over Silver Creek with a tranquil calm, the kind that made you want to sit on the porch and listen to the world wind down. But after a day spent securing the ranch with Tyler, my stomach was growling louder than the crickets chirping outside, and I realized I was too tired to even think about cooking.
Resigned to my hunger, I decided to head to Rosie’s Diner for some takeout. The thought of their classic burger and fries was enough motivation to get me back into the truck and driving into town. The neon sign of the diner was a beacon.
As I approached the entrance, I was surprised to see Detective Danny Lopes standing outside, his back against the wall near the door, seemingly lost in thought. He looked up at my footsteps, his expression unreadable in the fading light.
“Evening, Detective Lopes,” I said, keeping my tone neutral but friendly.
“Ms. Kent,” he nodded, his stance relaxing slightly. “Didn’t expect to see you out here this late.”
“I could say the same,” I replied, managing a small smile. “Just here to grab some dinner. Long day at the ranch.”
“Yeah, I heard about the break-ins. Rough deal,” Danny commented, pushing off from the wall. His tone was surprisingly sympathetic, a departure from our usual terse exchanges.
“Thanks, it’s been a bit of a challenge,” I admitted, pausing by the door, unsure whether to go in or continue the conversation. The air between us felt charged, different somehow.
“You got things secured then?” Danny asked.
“Yeah, installed some new security cameras today. Hopefully, that will deter any more incidents,” I said, watching his reaction closely.
“That’s good to hear. Security’s important,” he acknowledged, then added, “Especially out here.”
There was an awkward pause, where neither of us seemed sure how to navigate this unexpected civil discourse. I shifted on my feet, feeling the cool air brush against my skin.
“Detective Lopes—Danny,” I started, correcting myself and using his first name for the first time. It felt strangely personal. “I know things have been... tense between us. But I appreciate this, talking like normal people.”
Danny looked slightly taken aback by the use of his first name, but he recovered quickly. “Yeah, I guess we’ve both had our reasons,” he conceded, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Look, Heather, I know I’ve been hard on you, coming into town and all. It’s my job to be suspicious, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be civil.”
The admission took me by surprise. His words hinted at a thaw in our icy interactions, a possibility of something less antagonistic. “Thanks, Danny. I get it. You have to follow your leads. Just know I’m here to make this place better, not cause trouble.”
He nodded, and there was a brief moment where his guard seemed to drop, revealing a glimpse of the person behind the badge. “I can respect that. And, uh, maybe I need to keep an open mind.”
“Maybe we both do,” I agreed, smiling tentatively.
“Maybe,” he echoed, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Encouraged by our exchange, I pushed open the door to the diner. “Well, I better get that dinner before they close. Goodnight, Danny.”
“Goodnight, Heather,” he replied, and I stepped inside, feeling an unexpected lightness in my step.
Inside, the warmth of the diner enveloped me, and I placed my order, still pondering the brief interaction. It was nothing groundbreaking, but talking to Danny without the usual tension felt like a small victory, a sign that perhaps things in Silver Creek might not be as set in stone as I had feared.
With my takeout bag in hand, I left the diner, casting a glance over my shoulder to see Danny still standing outside, now looking at his phone. The night air felt a bit warmer as I walked back to my truck.
As I drove back to the ranch, the conversation replayed in my mind. It wasn’t an apology or a resolution, but it was a start. And right now, any progress was worth noting. Maybe Silver Creek was full of surprises, and maybe, just maybe, I was starting to find my place within them.
Chapter Thirteen
Danny
The drive home from Rosie's Diner was quieter than usual, the streets of Silver Creek nearly deserted as the town settled in for the night. My mind, however, was anything but quiet. The encounter with Heather had stirred up more than just civil conversation; it ignited a reconsideration of my stance towards her and the whole situation at Horseshoe Lake Ranch.
