by CJ Murphy
“Brandi, call me Chance. We’re not big on formality and titles around here. I’m starving. What are we eating?”
Maggie called from the kitchen, as Jax caught Dee making a face. “Beer-can chicken, green beans, roasted red potatoes, and a salad. Kendra, can you and Brandi set the table, please?”
Dee shuddered. “I’m going to start clucking any day now. Every night, chicken, fish, or turkey. Beef, my kingdom for a burger!” Dee held her fist into the air.
“Keep it up, smartass, and you’ll be testing out how comfortable that couch is beyond a cat nap.” Maggie walked to the dining room and put the side dishes out. “Chance, will you get the chicken out of the oven?”
“Sure thing, Mom. By the way, I love your beer-can chicken.” Chance squeezed Dee’s shoulder.
“Traitor!” Dee flinched when Maggie came by and flicked her ear.
“I’ll traitor you. Bring the pitcher of tea to the table. Good Lord, trying to keep you alive is going to send me to an early grave.” Maggie kissed Dee sweetly.
Jax hoped she was watching a living example of what she and Chance would be like after decades together. Jax knew the story, how they’d met in high school and never looked back. They’d started a life together when it wasn’t easy or safe. Somehow, they’d raised two daughters and cared for more than one foster child over the years. She envied Chance and Kendra. They weren’t Maggie or Dee’s natural born children, yet they’d grown up in a home that accepted them exactly as they were. She, on the other hand, had been born to a woman who seemed to despise her for all the choices she’d made. How grateful she was to be part of this family.
Dinner was two hours of stories and laughter. Kendra blushed bright red with every embarrassing or brag-worthy story the family told. Chance expounded on how her sister had become known as Bullseye for both her archery and basketball skills. Several discussions centered around the Christmas wedding they were planning. When they were talked out, dessert was devoured. The house rule was that clean up fell to hands that hadn’t prepared the meal. Jax stood at the sink washing pans, while Chance dried. “So, how did the interview go?”
“Khodi will start working for us right away. He’s burning vacation time from his other department, which will make for an easy transition. We’re going to have him do some ride-alongs during the festival. By the way, what are your plans?” Chance dried a plate and put it in a cabinet.
“Uncle Marty and Lindsey are going to help with the free clinic over in the Shop ‘n Save parking lot. We’ve rented a tent and plan to do basic checkups and free shots. Maybe I’ll ask Brandi if she wants to help since she’ll be here with Kendra.” Jax scrubbed at a stubborn bit of burnt-on food in the chicken pan.
“That young lady is going to fit in here really well. She’s got Maggie and Dee eating out of her hand. The only girl I ever brought home who made them act like that was you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. Otherwise, how was your day?”
“Good, other than running into Faith when I got fuel.” Chance put down the red-and-white checkered dish towel and turned to Jax. “She’s planning on coming to Daniel’s graduation.”
“Ah.”
Chance put another dish away. “Yeah. Anyway, we’ll see if she keeps her word about not causing a scene. On another front, I want to schedule an appointment with you to do an exam on Echo, Khodi’s dog. The health records are all in order. I’d like him to have a baseline with you.”
“That’s a good idea. How about we see if Khodi’s free on Monday?” Jax let the water out of the sink and rinsed the dishrag before wringing it out and laying it over the center divider to dry.
“I’ll check with him tomorrow. So, how can I help you set up for the clinic?” Chance put the drying rag over the handle of the stove and leaned on the counter.
“If you can set up the tent and tables, that would be great. Lindsey and Meg are going to be there to help so that Uncle Marty doesn’t have to do much. With Brandi there, we’ll be able to get people in and out quickly.”
Jax walked over and wrapped her arms around Chance’s neck. Their lips met with slow, luxurious heat. She’d been on simmer from the moment Chance walked in the house. The mere sight of her had Jax’s center in a constant clench. What she felt for Chance was a tangible thing she needed to put her hands on.
“Ew, mushiness.” Kendra walked by them with two empty glasses that she filled from the tea pitcher in the refrigerator.
Jax snuggled into Chance’s side and grinned. “Oh, and that wasn’t mushiness I saw a few minutes ago with you and Brandi sitting on the front porch swing?”
Kendra turned quickly on her heel. “As you were.”
One more private kiss, and they walked out to join everyone on the patio to watch the sunset.
Chapter Eleven
SATURDAY MORNING, CHANCE AND Jax took their early morning run out at the Canaan Valley State Park. She called into Tucker Comm to let dispatch know they were clear of T3. With Zeus tucked in the back, they drove home. The rental houses along the way were packed with out-of-state vehicles from as far away as Florida.
“How many runners are they expecting today?” Jax drank deeply from her water bottle.
“According to Dee, they’ve had over five hundred preregister. They’ll have more sign up this morning. It seems like it gets bigger every year.” Chance drove along the Appalachian Highway thinking about the logistics of the 2K walk/5K run for charity. The event helped fund many grant projects throughout the county. “I predict this weather will bring out a record crowd. I never worry about the runners causing problems. It’s the others that come to prey on the tourists attending the festival. Last year, we confiscated everything from methamphetamines to heroin. Every year it gets worse.”
“This will be Uncle Marty’s first big outing since the incident earlier this summer. I’ve told him he could go home any time if he’s feeling overwhelmed. I don’t want him to get too tired out.”
“That guy is tough. If you think he’s going to let you outlast him, you’re crazy.” Chance threaded her fingers through Jax’s. “He’ll be fine. Let him do whatever he wants to, or he’ll get pissed that you’re babying him.”
Jax sighed deeply. “I know you’re right. I can’t help worrying about him.”
“Have you talked to your parents lately?”
“With Dad a few times. I send Mom’s calls to voice mail and screen them. She hasn’t said anything I’ve felt required a return call. Blah, blah, blah, bad choices, blah, blah, blah. Someday she’ll give up calling. As far as I’m concerned, that day can’t come too soon.”
Chance wished she had a way to bridge the divide. Every time she tried; she disliked the woman even more for the way she belittled Jax. The woman beside her was intelligent, beautiful, and had a heart bigger than the Blackwater Canyon. “When we get home, you shower. I’ll throw together breakfast sandwiches for us, then I’ll shower while you gather your things.”
“I say we shower together to conserve water.”
“Our showers are twice as long that way and will take three times as long when I decide to devour you. We have to be out the door in less than two hours to get that clinic set up for you.”
“Must you be so practical?”
Chance pulled into their driveway and shut the vehicle off. “I promise, later tonight, I’ll be as impractical as you’d like.”
“Deal.”
***
Two hours later, Chance set up the last table inside the tent and looked around for the equipment box to move into place. Lindsey set up instruments, while explaining to Brandi how to fill out the intake forms and where the rabies tags were. Kendra carried in the last cooler of medications and placed them in a secure area.
Marty Hendricks yawned as he filled a green cup with coffee from an ancient thermos.
“You going to make it Marty?” Chance teased him. “You slip up and grab decaf this morning?”
“Wouldn’t drink that garbage. What�
�s the damn point?” Marty grumbled. “You working the run from this side of town or the other?”
“I’m handling this side near you guys. Taylor will have the other. I’m supposed to meet the race administrators at the fire hall in about ten minutes. The race starts at eleven.”
“Well, try to keep it to a low roar today. We’ll hold down the fort here,” Marty said, as he took another drink.
“Will do. Need to find Jax for a minute. See you later.” Chance walked to the other end of the tent and put a hip on one corner of the table Jax was setting up.
“Hiring out as a paperweight, Sheriff?”
“Are you saying I’m getting fat?” Chance grinned and raised an eyebrow.
“Smartass. You headed out?”
“Yeah, need to get command established and put officers in place at the different intersections for when we shut everything down. I’ll call you later to check in. Will you be able to get something to eat?”
Jax waved to a cooler sitting beside her black bag. “Gifts from Maggie that Kendra and Brandi brought with them. We’re good here.” She reached into the cooler and produced a small thermal bag. “She didn’t forget you either. Be careful, I love you.” She leaned up and kissed Chance.
“I love you too. Okay, I’ve got to roll. If you need anything, call me. Let’s go, Zeus.”
***
Once at the fire hall, the wall of noise emanating from the race officials, craft booths, and auxiliary personnel was deafening. Chance found a quiet spot to call Taylor to determine her location. The roads would remain open until thirty minutes before race time. Anyone who needed to get to the other side of town, this was the time to do so.
“Taylor, are you at the bridge?”
“We’re in position. Carl and Randy are up near Fifth and Blackwater. Harley has troopers at Fairfax and Kent. Quade and a few of his crew are taking some of the side streets. I think we’re covered.”
“How’s Penny doing?”
“Cranky. She wanted to walk this with Becky and Kristi. She even called her doctor after I overruled her. He wants her to rest. I have her set up on the couch with snacks and whatever else she’ll need for the next few hours. Her partners in crime are going over to visit after they do the 2K walk.”
“She still cleared to come to work on Monday?”
“And chomping at the bit. I’ve got a few of our horses tethered in behind Shop ‘n Save, near Jax, so we can get to them if we need them later.”
Chance adjusted her hat and rubbed Zeus’ ears. “Good thinking. I’m going to stick to the Suburban for now, with Khodi joining me after the run.” She laughed. “He’s anxious and can’t wait to change into a uniform.”
“Daniel’s the same. I think they’re both going to fit in just fine. Okay, I’m in position. Are we using a tactical channel?”
“Yes, switch to encrypted Tac-1 for today. See you after the race.”
Chance drove out to the main road, where she and Zeus marked up with Tucker Comm that they were in position. She looked at her watch. In another twenty minutes, she’d shut down the roads until the majority of the participants had crossed the finish line. The walkers took the longest and often included children in strollers or participating with parents. The large event drew a significant crowd to the small, tourism-supported town. From her vantage point at the main road, she watched several individuals she had on her radar drive into town. Leland Kurst was among them, in the same vehicle she’d seen him with at the convenience store. They pulled into a parking area near the festival.
A cruiser pulled up alongside her with Sergeant Harley Kincaid at the wheel. “Sheriff, I see you claimed prime real estate for the race.”
“Being the boss has its perks. I figured Meg would be working this. I know you called in some troopers from surrounding counties. I left her and Lindsey with Jax earlier.”
“I thought about it, even talked to her to see if she wanted the overtime. Lindsey wanted her help at the clinic. They have wedding plans to work on if they get slow. The big day is less than a month away.” Harley adjusted her rearview mirror.
“Jax said Lindsey is as excited as a five-year-old in a Build-A-Bear.”
“Meg’s right behind her. They’ve been in love for a long time. You guys are coming to the wedding, right?”
Chance nodded. “It’s in the meadow at her parent’s farm, right? Then the reception at the big barn?”
“Yup. They wanted simple. Lindsey’s dad offered a big wedding or a piece of property on the farm and help with building their house. Always the practical ones, they chose a small wedding and reception.”
“They don’t seem like the big wedding type to me anyway. Heads up, I saw Leland pull into the lot over there.” Chance pointed off to her left.
Harley turned her head where Chance indicated. “Damn him. Let me know if he moves. Okay, headed to my spot. Tac-1, right?”
“That’s it. See you at the firehouse after the race.” Chance waved Harley off. She watched the traffic and wished she’d been able to convince the commissioners to let her install the license plate reader at the major intersection. With this many visitors in town, she knew drug dealers were selling out of vehicles and in dark corners. Illegal drugs were a growing problem that she currently had no solution for. She watched another one of the Kurst vehicles pull into the Sawmill restaurant. Ronny and Danny Kurst got out and looked around before locking the beat-up Ford truck and going inside.
“What are you guys up to?” Chance mumbled to herself. That many Kursts in town spelled trouble. No one in that family had a charitable bone in their body. She texted Jax to warn her and Lindsey.
Heads up, Leland Kurst is in town. I don’t have eyes on him so keep your wits about you.
She didn’t have time to run over to the clinic. It was time to shut the road down. Chance pulled her Suburban across the main road and put on all her emergency lights, before she and Zeus stepped out of the vehicle. She pulled her Stetson on and took up her post. The chatter on the radio let her know that everyone was in position. She could see the fire hall and all the participants milling around in the roadway warming up. She spotted Khodi with his K9, Echo. Khodi was standing in among others, all wearing T-shirts with Mountaintop Library written across the back.
“SD-2 to SD-1.”
Chance clicked her radio mic. “This is SD-1. Go ahead.”
“Heads up, camera crew headed your way.”
Chance turned to her left in time to see Mya Knotts headed directly for her. She was grateful for Taylor’s advance warning. She rested her hands on her gun belt and looked back at the crowd.
“Chance, I’m still waiting to talk to the source about your heroic rescue of those lost boys. I’ve made several requests for a sit-down interview with you, and I’m starting to get the feeling you’re avoiding me.”
Chance chuckled. “Ya think?”
“I have a job to do, Chance, just like you. There used to be a time when you didn’t mind a little one on one with me.” Mya flipped her hair and adjusted her camera bag on her shoulder. She sat the tripod beside her.
“You do realize you’re flirting with an engaged woman who has no interest in one on one time with you? If it’s not about business, we have nothing to talk about. I have a standing rule that I don’t talk about myself.”
“Fine. I just thought you’d like to know that I’m investigating the arrest of Deputy Brad Waters. If you don’t want to refute what his lawyer is saying, then I’ll come to my own conclusions. I’ve seen the arrest record. People are asking, and you might have kept it quiet, but it won’t stay that way.” Mya picked up her equipment. “Makes me think there’s something more to it. Rest assured, I’ll get my story, one way or the other.” She turned her back on Chance and continued away from her to the starting line.
I’m surprised it’s stayed under wraps this long. Chance took a deep breath, then pulled her cell phone out to call Taylor. She didn’t want any of this going across the airways, encrypted
or not. Taylor answered her phone.
“I assume hurricane Mya blew through?”
“She did. Thanks for the warning, by the way. She knows about Brad’s arrest. We need to formulate what we’re going to say. Talk to Penny; I don’t want Mya blindsiding her by shoving a mic in her face on the way to a doctor’s appointment. That’s it for now. Nothing more we can do until the festival is done. It looks like they are getting ready to start the race. We’ll talk later.”
“You got it, Chance.”
Down at the starting line, the runners were lined up. A man dressed in an Uncle Sam suit, complete with a red-and-white striped top hat, held up an air-horn can. At the sound of a loud blast, a sea of people ran away from the fire hall and up William Ave. Many of the serious runners touched their watches to start their lap time. There were teams dressed in colorful T-shirts, while others donned outrageous outfits befitting their team names. The Doggy Sodds team wore cat and dog ears on their heads. Chance saw the tails sewn on the bottom of their shirts as they ran past another group. Team Tiny Dancers wore tutus over their running clothes and carried a banner with them. This group moved a little slower, with all their young participants in tow. The Hospice Angels were wearing scrubs with angel wings protruding from the back and halos on their heads, while another mob was dressed from head to toe in bright pink for the team supporting breast cancer awareness. Every team was vying for donation money for their cause. Before Chance had become Sheriff, she’d run the event many times as part of the search and rescue team.
“SD-3, all units, runners are passing Fifth and Blackwater.”
Chance acknowledged Carl’s transmission and waited for one from the trooper at the next intersection. Once the mob was clear of William Ave and onto the back streets of the course, the westbound lane would be opened to relieve the traffic tie-up. This change would require more vigilance from officers to keep the participants safe. Several more reports came in with positions of the runners, including Randy, her final deputy on duty today and the man Daniel was riding with. Chance checked her watch. The fastest 5K times would normally be under seventeen minutes, the longest, over an hour. Fourteen minutes from the time the starting blast sounded, Taylor called in that the first of the runners were approaching the intersection of Second and William. Within seconds, they would make the final turn toward the finish line.