by Iris Abbott
“Oh you….” She wanted to come back with a snappy comment, but the first bell rang and several students began spilling into her classroom. She was relieved to see Cole fade into the background and take a seat in the back of the classroom out of everyone’s way. Besides knowing Cole was there made her feel safe. That was a fleeting feeling at best, and Faith was anxious to hold onto it for as long as she could.
Jasmine came in with Joyce Montgomery by her side. Joyce was carrying the baby in a portable bassinet. She looked every inch the fantastic mom Faith knew she must have been when the Montgomery sisters had been growing up.
Faith rushed over to greet them both. She gave Joyce a hug and Jasmine a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Jasmine I’m glad to see you this morning. Why don’t you put that bag into your cubbyhole while I talk to Mrs. Montgomery?”
Jasmine gave a sad little nod to both ladies and scampered off to do her teacher’s bidding.
Faith fussed over the sleepy infant for just a couple of seconds. She became more serious when she felt heat at her back and knew without turning that Cole had joined them. “First I want to thank you Joyce for being there for Jasmine. She and the baby are lucky to have you.”
“The whole matter is very unpleasant to say the least, but I’m glad I’m able to provide a stable and loving environment for them until Deputy Owens is settled and his wife Susan is on the road to recovery.” She shook her head. “Those two have a long hard road in front of them. And that poor child Jasmine,” Joyce let out a longsuffering and heartfelt sigh. “Her mother’s dead and her father is either dead too or worse the murderer who took her mother’s life.” She put a hand on her heart and shook her head. “I just can’t imagine…”
“Hello Joyce,” Cole spoke up when the Montgomery family matriarch seemed to be at a loss for words. “I want to thank you again for stepping up to take in the children until the Owens’ are capable of taking care of them. I talked to the family lawyer and he is in possession of a legal document that names Maggie and Robert Owens as the legal guardians for Jasmine if anything were to ever happen to Jasmine’s parents.”
“That’s a relief,” both Joyce and Faith spoke at the same time. It was always easiest on the children left behind when custody issues could be settled without the state’s interference or a long drawn out court case.
“Indeed,” agreed Cole. “Joyce, there’s no indication that Tome will come looking for Jasmine, but I want to make sure you’re being cautious. Don’t open the door to strangers and if you need anything, anything at all call me or the sheriff’s department right away.”
Joyce patted his hand. “I sure will Cole. Don’t you worry about me or those precious children.” She nodded her head toward Faith, “now this one on the other hand,” she got a gleam in her eyes. “Caroline told Abigail who of course told me everything that happened this past weekend. You just make sure our Faith here is well taken care of. The Montgomery family has adopted Faith just as we did Caroline. And we don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”
The baby let out a plaintive cry. “Oh my, I guess I better get this one home. Cole, it was nice to see you again. Faith I’ll see you this afternoon when I pick up Jasmine.” Joyce quickly disappeared softly cooing to the baby as she went.
Cole let out a belly laugh that caused several children to glance his way.
Faith glared at him. “The bell to signify the start of class is getting ready to ring.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And you are still here disrupting my class, which you promised not to do.”
“I’d say you’ve got bigger problems than me and your class,” he told her with a wicked grin. “Joyce Montgomery is a known matchmaker, just ask Annabel and Jonathan. The last time I saw that particular gleam in her eyes was when Jonathan Chambers came back to town after a four year absence.” He winked. “Better fasten your seatbelt Ms. Riley. I think the two of us are going to be in for one heck of a ride.”
Faith stared at him for a second until she heard several young voices call her name. She abruptly turned on her heel and left Cole standing alone in the middle of the classroom.
Faith took a deep calming breath as she walked to her desk. She took in the smiling happy faces of the majority of her students and forced herself to return a smile. “Welcome back,” she greeted the twenty students who were all looking at her now. “I hope everyone had a nice weekend.” She remembered Jasmine sitting two rows back and rushed through her greeting to give directions for the start of the day.
She decided to begin the day with a story before moving on to an art project before lunch. She turned on the projector and connected it to her laptop so that the eBook on her laptop would be displayed on the screen behind her. She instructed the children to move to the large braided rug in back of the classroom. She watched as they moved one row at a time to the corner where her rocking chair sat in front of a nice thick and comfortable rug. When all the children were settled she sat in the rocking chair and woke up her sleeping laptop. She opened the eReader application that contained her digital books and found the children’s picture book she planned to read to the students. It was one of Annabel’s books and Faith made a mental note to invite the children’s author and wildlife photographer to come in for show and tell one day soon.
One of the boys seated at the back of the rug raised his hand before Faith could start reading.
“Yes, Jimmy,” she questioned.
“Ms. Riley why’s the sheriff here?”
“Well Jimmy, Sheriff Duncan is so excited about his job he couldn’t wait another day to talk to all of you about it. So when we are finished with story time, we’re all going to listen to the sheriff talk about his job.”
“Sort of like show and tell,” the little boy wanted to know.
“Exactly like show and tell,” Faith agreed. She saw Cole swallow hard and knew she’d finally scored a point of her own against the fast talking lawman. She actually rubbed her hands together in glee. This was going to be good, but first she needed to get through story hour.
“Now let’s learn all about SAMMY THE SEA OTTER shall we.” She waited for the children to turn their attention to the large screen behind her and then she started reading to them about sea otters.
Cole listened to the melodic rhythm of her voice. It was animated and soothing at the same time. He glanced around the rug and all the students were either looking at her or the photos on the screen. All of the students seemed engrossed in the story, even Jasmine.
His gaze left Faith and her students and wandered around the rest of the classroom. The room was open and it was well organized. It was free of unnecessary clutter that might cause little feet to trip and fall. Students’ artwork decorated the walls along with posters and a couple of bulletin boards decorated with bright primary colors like red, yellow, and green. The room was welcoming and cozy just like Faith’s personality. He’d only seen her in action for a few minutes, but he’d seen enough. He knew she was a well-loved teacher and good at the job too.
Mason Blake hadn’t been doing her any favors by offering her a job with the county’s school system. She was an asset and Cole was betting she’d get the county’s teacher of the year award sometime in the next ten years. If she stayed here that long. Cole’s heart skipped a beat at just the thought of her leaving. Faith’s voice drifted to him and he reminded himself that he was supposed to be keeping an eye on her not daydreaming. He snapped to attention and his eyes continued their watchful gaze around the room.
****
“And that,” Cole said with a flourish, “is a day in the life of a sheriff!”
The students all broke into applause and then several little hands shot into the air.”
Faith was impressed with the enthusiasm of Cole’s narration. It had been catching and he’d easily drawn in the children and managed to hold their attention throughout his presentation. “Okay, one question at the time,” she reminded the students. “Let’s start in the front and work our way back
.”
Jimmy eagerly waved his hand back and forth trying to get both the sheriff and Ms. Riley’s attention.
Faith had to suppress a laugh. “Let’s start with Jimmy shall we?”
“I want to know if I can touch your gun, Sheriff Duncan.”
Faith’s eyes grew wide. She jumped in before Cole could give an answer one way or the other. “Jimmy, it’s may I touch your gun,” she automatically corrected. “And the answer is absolutely not!”
Her pronouncement was met by a lot of groans from the male students, but Faith stiffened her already very erect spine and held her ground. “We must move on boys and girls. It’s almost lunchtime and I thought we would invite Sheriff Duncan to join us.”
The room erupted into cheers, and Faith satisfied that the students were distracted from thoughts of handling the sheriff’s gun called on the next student to ask a question.
It went on this way for thirty minutes until Faith called time. She instructed the students to form an orderly line and then led them to the cafeteria. She didn’t have lunch duty today, so she found a deserted table near the back of the room and sat down facing the throng of students milling around the large rectangular room. She dug through her purse until she fished out the apple she’d put there that morning. She wiped off the pale red piece of fruit and then took a delicate bite. Juice trickled down her chin and she hoped no one was watching. She delicately dabbed at her chin with a napkin to soak up the juice from the succulent apple.
She felt more than she heard the heavy footsteps approaching her table and knew she hadn’t succeeded in losing Cole. She saw a plastic food tray land on the table then she looked up into Cole’s amused brown eyes. She could have sworn those eyes darkened while she was looking at them and she felt her own heart beat faster and heard her breath catch. He had definitely seen her take a bite out of that apple.
Cole pulled out the metal chair across from Faith and sat down. “I think the same lunch ladies that worked here when I was a kid still work here,” he winked. “At least this time they didn’t call me out for cutting in line.” He thumped the badge displayed on his hip. “Being sheriff has lots of advantages and I guess I just discovered two more.”
Faith’s eyebrows rose, “really and what might those two things be,” she couldn’t resist asking.
“I got to cut in line without anyone hassling me, and I get to have lunch with the most beautiful lady at the school.”
Faith couldn’t help it. The shield around her heart that had already been weakened cracked even more. She took another bite of the apple. Once again Cole had left her speechless.
Cole was not above taking advantage. “I think we should go on a proper date. How about tonight, is it too soon?”
“I don’t know, Cole. We both have a lot on our plates right now and I don’t want to be a distraction that might interfere in your investigation.”
“Even the sheriff is allowed to have a private life, Faith. We have known each other ever since you moved to town, and we travel in the same circles, share the same friends. I’m not going to start avoiding you now just because my personal and professional lives have crossed paths. I have wanted to ask you out for a while now, it just didn’t happen,” he shrugged.
“Why now,” she narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t another tactic to keep me under police protection is it?”
“Not at all,” Cole was quick to reassure her. “The time we’ve spent together the past few days has just confirmed the deep attraction I feel for you. I want to expand on that attraction and spend more time with you, just the two of us,” he was quick to add. “I don’t count several dinner parties with at least ten other guests, a murder scene, or dinner with Caroline and Kyle Wakefield as true dates. I want to wine and dine you, just the two of us.”
“I’d love to,” Faith answered real fast before she had a chance to talk herself out of accepting Cole’s invitation.
That familiar warmth had started in the pit of her stomach at the sound of his husky voice and she felt like her whole body was going to melt from the heat of his sensual gaze. She used her right hand to unconsciously fan herself, but stopped when Cole chuckled and she realized what she was doing.
“A date it is then,” he confirmed. “I’ll pick you up from the Wakefield house at six o’clock.” He stood and picked up the tray of half eaten food. “I want to walk around and check out the rest of the school while you and Jasmine are both here in the cafeteria. I’m fairly certain nothing will happen to either of you in front of over a hundred witnesses.”
Faith watched him leave and then finished her apple. She could hardly wait for tonight, but for now she needed to get her mind back on work.
SEVEN
Faith’s hands gripped the steering wheel as tight as she could. She anxiously glanced in her rearview mirror for about the twentieth time. The large white pickup truck was getting closer. She should have left the elementary school and gone straight back to Caroline’s house. The problem was she had left her house in such a hurry, she hadn’t packed anything suitable for a date.
She had her heart set on a flirty sundress with light cardigan and her favorite pair of strappy sandals. She’d wanted to make the effort to look her best for her upcoming date with Cole. For that reason she’d made a side trip to her rental house to pick up the outfit and now she was certain she was being followed.
When the truck had followed her out of the neighborhood, the blood had drained from Faith’s face and she began to audibly suck large gulps of air into her lungs. She had tried to laugh off her jumpy nerves and near panic attack. She told herself it was just a coincidence and overactive imagination on her part. Then she fought to slow down her breathing.
The longer she drove however the more afraid she became. When she slowed her car hoping the truck would pass, it just slowed down and dropped further behind. When she sped up to try and lose the pickup truck, that driver drove faster too. The white truck continued to stay in her rearview mirror as the miles began to add up.
Faith had a bad feeling about this. She’d really been looking forward to her date with Cole and now she was shaking and it wasn’t in anticipation of her upcoming date. It was from fear. The turnoff that would take her to the lake and Caroline’s house was quickly approaching. First she had to cross over the short bridge spanning the creek. She slowed almost to a stop right before the narrow bridge hoping the truck would finally go around her. She didn’t want to lead the driver to Caroline’s door if he was up to no good.
The pickup sped up and she let out a small sigh of relief thinking that he was going to pass her. The sigh turned into a strangled scream, because the pickup instead of speeding by slowed down and rammed into the side of her car.
Faith tried to get a look at the driver, because if she made it out of this alive she wanted to be able to give Cole a description. She couldn’t do it. She was too scared to take her eyes off the road. Her little two door sporty compact was no match for the huge truck and her little car shot off the side of the road toward the gurgling water of the creek. She tried to maintain control, but the car lurched forward, bounced off the side of a sturdy oak tree, and rolled to a shuddering stop.
Faith moaned and rubbed the side of her head. Her fingers came away wet and sticky with blood. Thank goodness she was wearing a seatbelt, but that hadn’t stopped her head from banging against the steering wheel.
A car door slammed in the distance and Faith’s heart jumped into her throat. Oh God! Was the person that ran her off the road coming to finish the job? She was shaking so hard her teeth chattered. She needed to call for help, but her purse had been partially open. Now the purse was lying on the floorboard of the passenger side with its contents strewn throughout the car.
She finally spotted her phone on the floorboard near the door. She unbuckled her seatbelt and fumbled around until her fingers closed around the comforting piece of black plastic. She didn’t even think about calling 911. The only person on her mind was Cole, with t
rembling fingers she hit the speed dial button that would connect her with the one person she knew could make her feel safe.
****
Cole was feeling antsy. He hadn’t been this eager for a date since, well never. Faith had gotten under his skin early on and now she was quickly working her way into his heart. He was in such a hurry to see her again that he was already on his way to the Wakefield’s house even though he was going to be almost an hour early.
His mobile phone buzzed and he pushed the button on his hands free device to answer the incoming call. “Hello, Sheriff Duncan speaking.”
“C-Cole,” Faith’s strained voice whimpered into the phone.
Cole’s heart started thudding in his chest from the unmistakable fear in Faith’s voice.
“What’s wrong honey? Where are you?” Cole wasn’t that far from the Wakefield house. He hoped she was nearby. The need to be with her and protect her from harm clawed through him.
A strangled sob erupted from the phone and into his ear. The sound twisted his gut and his heart.
“I’m at the c-c-creek near Caroline’s house. A t-truck ran me off the road and my car rolled down the s-shallow embankment.” Faith let out another wretched sob. “Hurry Cole I heard a door slam. I think he’s coming to finish the job!”
“Hang on Faith! Press the car horn and don’t let off of it. Make as much noise as you can. It might distract him until I can get there. I’m on the way baby, hold on!”
Cole heard the shrill sound of a blasting horn through the phone. “Good girl, stay on the line with me Faith, no matter what, and if you see your attacker and recognize him give me a name.” Cole turned on his hazard lights and pressed the accelerator down as hard as he could until it touched the floor. Then he grabbed his radio and put a call in to the dispatcher at the sheriff’s office. He quickly explained what had happened and requested backup and an ambulance in case Faith was seriously injured.