He gave her the look parents give children when they do something foolish and expected. “I’ll just poke around, anyway. Never can tell.”

When he’d gone out, Maggie flopped down on the sofa and lapsed into silence. As if he had nothing better to do, Cliff wandered to the clock on the mantel and began to wind it. Killer came out from under the sofa and began to dance around his legs. The tension in the room was palpable. Maggie had almost given up wondering if it would ever be resolved.

Why would anyone break into an old trunk that had been neglected for years? Why had Cliff been in on the discovery, just as he’d been in on the discovery in the gully? What had caused her to fall in love with him, and would this need between them fade, as flash fires had a habit of doing? If she could understand any of it, perhaps the rest would fall into place and she’d know what move to make.

“There doesn’t seem to be any forced entry,” Stan said as he came back into the room. “I’ll go into town, file a formal report and get to work on this, but—” He shook his head at Maggie. “I can’t promise anything. I’d suggest you keep your doors locked and give some more thought to those dead bolts.”

“I’ll be staying here for the next few days,” Cliff announced, throwing Stan and Maggie into surprised silence. He continued as if he hadn’t noticed the reaction his statement caused. “Maggie won’t be alone, though it would seem that whatever was wanted in the house was taken.”

“Yeah.” Stan scratched his nose, almost concealing a grin. “I’d better get back. I’ll just let myself out.”

Maggie didn’t rouse herself to say goodbye but stared at Cliff until the front door shut. “Just what do you mean, you’ll be staying here?”

“We’ll have to do some grocery shopping first. I can’t live off what you keep in that kitchen.”

“Nobody asked you to live off it,” she said, springing to her feet. “And nobody asked you to stay here. I don’t understand why I have to keep reminding you whose house and land this is.”

“Neither do I.”

“You told him,” she continued. “You just as good as announced to the town in general that you and I—”

“Are exactly what we are,” Cliff finished easily. “You’d better get some shoes on, if we’re going to town.”

“I’m not going to town, and you’re not staying here.”

He moved so quickly she was caught completely off guard. His hands closed over both her arms. “I’m not letting you stay here alone until we know exactly what’s going on.”

“I’ve told you before I can take care of myself.”