Free A Soldier's Journey by PATRICIA POTTER Page A

replied.
    â€œGood.”
    â€œBut there was nothing about American Indians and gold mines and Scottish traders.”
    â€œI have to admit we have a lot of work to do on the museum, but you’ll find bits and pieces of the history. Some exaggerated, some not. Gold was found in the mountains around us, but no one found the amounts discovered farther north. As for the natives, the Utes lived in this area until they were moved west and were mortal enemies of the Apaches, who wandered this way occasionally.”
    â€œAnd the trader? Angus. I didn’t see much about him.”
    â€œYou’ll find it as you delve into it.”
    â€œThe journals you mentioned? Am I going into a minefield?” Andy asked.
    Eve looked startled, then she smiled. “You’re direct. I like that.” She took a sip from her glass. “A little history will probably help,” she said. “I was city clerk before running for mayor. The former mayor did very little to nothing, which made Al Monroe happy.
    â€œAfter my husband died,” she continued, “I was at a loss. The mayor decided not to run again, but I’d really been doing his job. My father-in-law urged me to run and, on a dare, I did. No one was more surprised than me when I defeated Al’s chosen candidate. We were at loggerheads for the next three years. He made it nearly impossible for any businesses to move here while I watched all the young people leave town.”
    Interest stirred in Andy. “I saw in the local newspaper he’d resigned from the council?”
    â€œHis nephew, Sam, was on the police force. He wanted to be chief, and I was opposed to it. So Sam decided to make a name for himself. He committed some petty burglaries and tried to frame Josh, the newcomer to Covenant Falls.”
    Andy was feeling more at ease as Eve talked. She didn’t seem to be holding anything back.
    â€œWhen Josh first arrived, he was in pretty bad shape. He was rude to everyone and stayed to himself. He was the perfect foil.”
    â€œObviously not,” Andy said wryly, “since you married him, you’re still mayor and the ex-commissioner is nursing his wounds.”
    Eve grinned at her. “Obviously not,” she agreed. “But that wasn’t the worst of it. Sam kidnapped my son. Josh and his dog, Amos, found him.”
    â€œWhere is the nephew now?”
    â€œIn jail. He pleaded guilty and received a short sentence, but Al felt he had to resign from the commission. He apologized, which I think was very difficult for him to do, and retreated from everything but his business. He owns the real estate and insurance companies, along with an interest in the bank, which has a branch in his offices.”
    â€œAnd he harbors bad feelings toward you?”
    â€œAgainst the whole town, I think. It elected me mayor twice, and he feels it was a repudiation of him. It wasn’t. They’re just scared the town is dying.”
    â€œAnd you’re sending me into the lion’s den?”
    â€œNothing as dramatic as that. Thing is, I like him. He’s had a lot of tragedies. His wife couldn’t have children and she’s been ill. She pretty much dropped out of everything. His only other family was a sister, but she and her husband died in a car crash. Al raised their boy, Sam. Spoiled him. The whole kidnapping thing destroyed him.”
    Sympathy surged through Andy. She knew loss all too well.
    And she suddenly realized why Eve had asked her to write the history. “Were you going to ask me to do this before you met me?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou think Al Monroe and I would be good for each other?”
    Eve sighed. “You’re too perceptive. I won’t lie to you. I had that thought. Not romantically, of course. He’s happily married. But he needs something...”
    â€œYou baited me neatly.” Andy couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. She’d liked Eve,