Chapter 3: Small Town Scandals

There was no way out of this marriage.

I’d been away from Maple Heights so long, I didn’t know what kind of girl she was, so I sent my guys to check her out.

In small towns, word travels faster than the mail, and my old army buddies were more than happy to dig around. But when they came back, they hesitated. "Colonel, this girl... she..."

"Spit it out."

"Her name’s Natalie Carter. She’s been turned down by a few boys, never made the cheer squad, can’t play piano, doesn’t paint, can’t sew—just works with her dad in the garage."

Their voices were hushed, like they were worried someone might overhear through the thin walls. In a place like Maple Heights, not fitting the usual mold of demure, church-going daughters was enough to get you talked about.

"If she’s so unworthy, why would anyone want to marry her?"

"Because her family’s loaded."

At that, I laughed.

A short, dry laugh, the kind that comes when you see the joke’s on you. My sergeant scratched his head, looking nervous. "Colonel, you’re not even thinking of breaking off the engagement, but you can still laugh?"

I coughed a few times. "It’s not that the girl’s bad, it’s that people are just greedy."

They want money, power, fame, and fortune—all at once.

In small-town America, old money and new money mix like oil and water, and everyone wants their share of the pie. So be it. I figure she’s probably tough enough to handle it.

After I’m gone, she can live her life in peace.

If she wants to get away from all this, I’ll leave her the whole house—let her enjoy the rest of her days.

I won’t owe her a thing.

The old place was paid off long ago. Let her fill it with laughter or silence, whatever she needs.