Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“Damn Peggy Lou and her mouth,” Autumn murmured.
The sheriff eyed Sam. “This is the sick aunt, I presume?”
Autumn let out a nervous tinkling laugh, glancing up at Sam and then back to the sheriff. “Well, see, it’s sort of a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
Sam took a step closer to Autumn, quickly considering his options. He’d already sized the sheriff up, judged his weight and his strength. He could take this man, gun or not. He could outrun him too. But then he’d have to leave Autumn behind. His mind raced. His options were poor.
The program had drummed into them that the lack of connections was important for survival, and now Sam knew exactly why. If you cared, your options became fewer. And they also became confusing. They made you question the why.
Of course, he’d already learned that lesson once in Macau, but this was Autumn, so the lesson hit even closer to home.
Before he could make a move, the sheriff put his hand up. “Take it down a notch, big fellow. I’m going to assume you’re a decent sort if Autumn approves of you.” He looked at her. “I oughta wring your neck. Oh, step back. It’s a figure of speech,” he said to Sam, who relaxed his stance and swallowed back the growl that was rising in his throat. He hadn’t even realized he’d moved.
Autumn took a deep breath, looking between the sheriff and Sam. “Do you…er…”
“Yeah, I recognize him,” the sheriff said, scratching his cheek and again giving Sam the once-over. “Damn if you aren’t exactly what she said you were.”
Sam’s eyebrows shot up. Autumn had described him to this man?
“He’s not a what, Sheriff. He’s a he.”
“I can see that.”
“I’m also gonna assume he’s the unknown Good Samaritan from the news out of New York City, and you’re the possible witness.”
Autumn gaped at him for a minute. “How’d you piece that together?”
“It occurred the day before you supposedly up and left your beloved patients without a mere check-in, racing out of town to care for the old cantankerous bitch you referred to as Satan’s bride when she visited town six years ago. Didn’t exactly add up.”
Autumn shifted on her feet. “Oh.”
The sheriff’s gaze landed on Sam again, continuing to size him up, and strangely, Sam didn’t feel judged harshly under the scrutiny. The sheriff looked more thoughtful than anything.
“You’re not going to turn us in, are you?” Autumn asked quietly.
He thinned his lips. “You’re putting me in a predicament here, Autumn Clancy.”
“I tried not to. Bill tried not to.”
The man sighed. “Yeah. I know. I know.” He turned his scrutiny on Autumn. “You had to go and be tireless, didn’t you?”
“In my search for answers?” She nodded. “Yes. I had to be tireless. I don’t know another way to be.”
“Don’t I know it.” He sighed yet again. “And that tireless search led you to him. You do know I mostly thought you were suffering from some delusion.”
Autumn smiled, and it was soft, like a feather, the way she sometimes smiled at him. “Mostly.”
The sheriff walked to the couch and sat down. “I’m going to need to hear all the details. And while I do, I’m going to need a drink. If I remember correctly, there’s some whiskey in the lower right cabinet there,” he said, pointing into the kitchen.
“It’s still morning. And you’re on duty,” Autumn said, but then she grinned, and Sam could see that her shoulders had relaxed.
“Yeah,” the sheriff said. “I’m bending a lot of rules today.”
***
The sheriff listened as Autumn told the story of the day the shooting had happened. He didn’t say a word, just nodded and sipped his coffee with a splash of whiskey. When she was done, his mug was empty, and he looked both troubled and resigned.
“You do realize that I could lose my position if it’s found out I helped harbor a criminal.”
“He’s not a criminal. And neither am I.”
“You’re both wanted for questioning.”
Autumn’s eyes slid to Sam. “I know. But there’s something bigger going on here. We don’t know exactly what, but we need time to find out. Sam might be in danger if he’s taken into custody.”
“What kind of danger?”
“I was in a program at the hospital. Those people will want me back.” Which wasn’t exactly true. After all, they’d dismissed him. But they definitely wanted him dead.
“That’s a pretty cryptic answer, Sam.”
“I’m sorry. It’s the only one I can give right now.”
The sheriff studied him for another moment. “You sure do have quite a few scars, Sam. Did you serve?”
“Yes.” He had served, just not in the way the sheriff meant.
“I’m asking you to trust us,” Autumn said.
“Us, huh?” The sheriff glanced away. “I was never here,” he said. “Wash the mug. Put it away. After I drive off, make sure you brush away my tire tracks.”