No Ordinary Sheriff

by Mary Sullivan

  Standing at the top of the hill, they looked out across the small valley where today bison crowded an area of the river. while wolves harried them, but there were too many of them, and none that were weak, or too young, or too old, or too vulnerable. Strength in numbers.

  The wolves eventually gave up after they spotted a lone male elk. They surrounded the full-grown animal. Rather than run, he stood his ground, kicking out with his deadly hooves when a wolf came too close.

  “They’ll play this game for hours,” Cash said.

  “Except that it isn’t a game. It’s about life and death, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. If the elk lets down his guard and they have the chance to attack him en masse, he’ll die. They’ll kill him and feast on him for days.”

  “So why doesn’t he run?”

  “Because he stands a better chance of surviving this way. If he runs, they can attack his flanks and dig their teeth in. What he’s saying when he stays to fight, when he stands still when surrounded, is that he’s stronger than they are. The wolves fall for it, even while they’re trying to find a way to attack.”

  “Is he stronger than them?”

  “No. He’s outnumbered, but he’ll fake them out. If he has enough stamina to last for a couple of hours, he’ll survive. The wolves will try to attack and he’ll kick out. The wolves know that one of those hooves can kill them.”

  “So, eventually the wolves will give up?”

  “Yep. They’ll go hunting for easier game.”

  For a while, they watched in silence until Shannon said, “It’s like a dance, isn’t it?”

  “Yep. A deadly one.”

  Cash wrapped his hand around one of hers. “That elk reminds me of you.”

  In the day’s sullen light, Cash’s eyes bordered on a dull gray blue. “How so?”

  “I’m imagining you in a biker bar with nothing but your bravado to protect you.”

  “Don’t, Cash. Don’t worry about me. I have my defenses. I can fight. I’ve trained in martial arts and kickboxing and even wrestling.”

  “I know. I read up on DEA training one day in the office.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I was worried about you.”

  “See? It’s extensive and thorough.”

  “Look!”

  The elk had given up and had started to run. One of the wolves leapt at his haunches and latched on with his teeth, slowing him down and giving the others a chance to latch on as well.

  Shannon looked away. She saw enough ugliness in her job.

  “Come on,” Cash said. “We don’t need to watch this. We both know how this story ends.”

  They walked farther along the top of the hill until the kill was no longer visible.

  At that point, Cash stopped and opened the jar containing his father’s ashes and checked the wind to make sure it was blowing from behind them.

  “Here goes, Dad,” he said. “You’re back in your favorite place.” His voice broke. He was saying goodbye when he’d only just gotten to know the man who’d fathered him. And it was a damn shame.

  Perhaps they could have had a relationship these past few years, one in which they appreciated each other for who they were, not for who they wanted them to be.

  He waited a minute, cleared his throat and then said, “Goodbye.”

  He tossed his father’s ashes out over the side of the hill. The breeze picked them up in a gray ribbon then dispersed them onto the land.

  Cash sighed. He didn’t reach out to Shannon no matter how badly he wanted to. He’d sensed that she couldn’t stand to be needed so he stood apart from her. She reached for him, wrapped her arms around him and he breathed out heavily. Yes. He put his head on her hair and she held him, offered comfort with her body.

  No words were needed.

  After a moment, he squeezed her so hard he might have been in danger of cracking a rib, but she was a strong girl and took it.

  When he let go, she asked, “When was the last time you took a holiday?”

  “Last year. Why?”

  “Can you take another day off?”

  She wanted to stay with him? Longer? “Yes.” Absolutely. He watched her steadily. “What do you want?”

  “There’s so much waiting for us back in Ordinary, the bikers, the drugs, the meth lab. A whole lot of ugliness.”

  “That’s what you see there. I see a great community polluted by a small handful of people.”

  “I know. I’m paid to deal with the worst of humanity. I’ve never told anyone else, but sometimes I get so tired of it, Cash. It can be soul-destroying. Even Janey doesn’t know that.”

  “It’s hard to hold on to your humanity.”

  “Yes.”

  He touched her hair, smoothed back a strand that had escaped her ponytail.

  She looked out across the pristine valley below them.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “About last night, and how you helped me to forget the ugliness of my job.”

  She turned to him. “I want to stay here one more day. With you. My boss was right. Vacations are necessary for cops. It keeps us human.”

  “And your vacation went south a few days after it started, didn’t it, when Tom overdosed?”

  She nodded. “Yes. Last night was magical. I need more.”

  Cash’s heart flipped over in his chest. She wanted more time with him. The way she looked out over the pristine beautiful valley below had him believing there were possibilities with her. She was falling in love with the country and, dare he hope, with him?

  “Let’s stay.” He wrapped his arm around her and squeezed. “Let’s drive farther into the park, really enjoy ourselves. Ever seen a geyser erupt?”

  “Last night.” Shannon giggled. “A really big one.”

  “Are you serious? Did you just make a really lame dirty joke?” He poked her in the ribs.

  She doubled over, still giggling.

  “I meant Old Faithful,” Cash said, laughing, too. “Seriously, girl.”

  “Okay. Seriously. Let’s do it.” She ran back to the cabin and he followed her.

  Inside, while packing, she said, “I can’t remember the last time I felt so free.”

  She was glowing and that said a lot, made him believe that the impossible might come true.

  While Cash checked out, Shannon loaded the truck.

  They stopped for a quick lunch and then drove on until they reached the Old Faithful Inn where they booked a room. The only thing available at the last minute, even at this time of year, was a room in the Old House with a queen-size bed, a sink and a shared washroom and private shower facilities down the hall.

  That bed called to him. Cash wanted to be in it now, inside of Shannon, with her body flushed and warm against his.

  But Old Faithful beckoned.

  They followed a broad walkway away from the semi-circle of buildings surrounding Old Faithful to wait for it to erupt. They waited only twenty minutes before water spurted more than a hundred feet into the air.

  Cash watched Shannon to see her reaction. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

  When it ended a minute later, she jumped up and down and clapped her hands.

  He wrapped his arms around her from behind.

  “What did you think of that, city girl?”

  She leaned back against him. “It was amazing. I didn’t know it would be so loud.”

  “The water’s under a lot of pressure.”

  He was under a lot of pressure. Feelings bubbled and burbled inside with a need to explode out of him, but he knew better than to voice them now. It was too early, and she was a skittish mare.

  He was already head over heels for her.

  Was she fall
ing in love with the country?

  Was she falling in love with him?

  She’d asked to stay another day, another night, with him. That had to mean something.

  He needed to know for sure before he said anything.

  The crowd cleared out and they were able to get a seat to wait for the next eruption. This time they waited nearly an hour.

  The next eruption was long and high, which meant they would probably have to wait another couple of hours for the next one.

  “What did you think of that one?”

  “It’s amazing. Loud and powerful. I’ve never been so impressed by nature.”

  She kissed him. “Thank you for showing this to me.”

  Cash laughed. “I didn’t do anything. Nature put on the show. All I did was drive us here.”

  He took her hand. “The next one won’t be for a long time.” He rested his forehead on hers and whispered, “I need to be alone with you.”

  They had an early dinner and went to their room where they undressed at the speed of light.

  Under the covers, Cash pulled her to him, overwhelmed by feelings he’d never thought he would experience. How long had he known her? A week and a half? Two?

  “How did this happen so quickly?”

  “I don’t know,” Shannon whispered, “but let’s enjoy it while it lasts.”

  While it lasts?

  “But—”

  She didn’t let him finish. She kissed him hard. He kissed her back just as hard, and entered her the same way.

  They came together, powerfully.

  Cash got out of bed after midnight and looked outside. “The sky cleared up. There are stars. A moon.”

  “I know.” Shannon giggled. “I can see it from here.”

  He turned around. She was staring at his bare butt. “Not that one. Get dressed. Warmly.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I want you to see something out of this world.”

  Dressed in multiple layers, they left the inn and took the path to the seating around Old Faithful. They were alone. No one else wanted to brave these temperatures.

  He was happy about that. “We’ll have our own private show.”

  “It must be close to freezing out here,” she grumbled.

  Cash wrapped his arms around her. “It’ll be worth it. You’ll see.”

  And it was.

  “Spectacular,” she breathed. They watched it once, in the ghostly light of a pale moon.

  “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” Shannon turned her face up to the stars.

  He couldn’t pull his eyes away from her.

  “That’s my way of thanking you for coming here with me. It wasn’t an easy decision for you, was it?”

  “No,” she said. “It wasn’t. I’m tired of people leaning on me. Of men asking too much and not giving enough back.”

  He took her hand and led her back to the inn.

  “You give so much, Cash. You never stop giving. It almost makes me feel guilty.”

  “Don’t.”

  Once in their room, he undressed her.

  “What are you doing?” She laughed. “I can undress myself. I’m used to doing for myself.”

  “I know, but I like undressing you.” Cash made suggestive Groucho Marx wiggles with his eyebrows.

  They tumbled into bed. He fell asleep wrapped around Shannon and woke deliciously tangled with her in the morning.

  “We have to go,” he said, waking Shannon with kisses along her neck.

  “Back to the real world?” she murmured.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  When they were an hour outside of Ordinary, he turned to her.

  “You’ve been quiet for a long time. What’s wrong?”

  “I’m just thinking about what’s waiting for us in the real world.”

  “Yeah,” he said, sobering.

  “Cash, I’ve never had such a good, relaxing time in my life. You are someone really special.”

  “Was there an implied ‘but’ at the end of that sentence?”

  “No. I’ve never met a man like you.” She rested her hand on his thigh. “Yellowstone was a dream. I wish we could have stayed there longer.”

  He covered her slim fingers with his and held on. “Me, too.”

  Cash drove into the Wright’s front yard, almost spookily afraid to let Shannon go.

  He should have kept her in Yellowstone, should have kept her naked and in bed with him, because she was right. Yellowstone and that interlude were not the real world and he had no idea where they were going next with this affair.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LATE ON FRIDAY afternoon, with the clouds low and looking like snow, Shannon drove up the lane of the bikers’ farm. She felt the chill of winter settle into the world around her.

  She shook her head to clear thoughts of Cash out. Yellowstone and those two days with him had been the trip of a lifetime. When she’d told him she’d never met anyone like him, she’d meant it. She just didn’t know what to do with that. He left her off-kilter.

  He had a career in Ordinary. She had a career with the DEA. She couldn’t possibly work from a town this small. She needed to be in a city, in a DEA hub office.

  She’d thought she’d been really dedicated to her work with the DEA, to getting the scumbags who hooked teenagers on drugs off the streets but since Tom’s overdose, she’d become even more driven.

  She wanted everyone, every single person who made, sold, promoted, pushed, or dealt with drugs in any way brought down, taken off the streets and thrown into a jail cell. And she personally wanted to drop the key down a sewer so these people could never hurt another person with their evil.

  How could she live in Ordinary and do what needed to be done, what she had to do to fulfill her role in life?

  She would feel like she was withering away, wasting her potential and her skills.

  She couldn’t do that.

  Maybe she and Cash could work out some kind of system of seeing each other regularly if she stayed in Montana…but she knew she wouldn’t.

  She wanted to work at the Domestic Field Division in Denver. She excelled at her job. She brought bad guys to justice all the time. She couldn’t waste her hard-earned talents.

  Shannon forced her mind back to the job at hand. Concentrate, girl. Thoughts of loved ones will only get you killed.

  Cole had come home early and called to ask if she still wanted to come out to the bikers’ farm for an interview.

  She’d jumped at the chance.

  Now here she was, pulling up in front of a large ramshackle farmhouse.

  When she parked her car, she snapped to attention, noting every detail around her.

  She’d already driven around the county roads nearby, made sure to note exactly where she was and what her escape route would be.

  She hadn’t met this Cole. He could be an okay guy. He could be a troublemaker. She was ready for any eventuality.

  The land was littered with RVs. RVs? For bikers? The world was a changing place.

  RVs were perfect for cooking meth, though. The process tended to build up toxicity in a home, so cooks kept it separate from their living area.

  The place was eerily quiet. Where was everyone?

  Dressed in her unsexy journalist’s clothes, she knocked on the front door.

  Rogers answered it.

  “Hi,” she said. “I’m here to see Cole.”

  “Cole had to step out for a minute. He’ll be back soon. Come on in.”

  She stepped inside. The living room looked like…a normal living room, with a few newspapers and a couple of jackets littering the chairs, but it wasn’t the pigsty she’d expected. It smelled better than Tom’
s apartment had. There was no garbage scenting the air.

  She chronicled every detail.

  “Where is everyone? I thought there’d be a lot of people here.”

  “They’re all at the rally in Wyoming.”

  “They’re still there?”

  The farm had been sitting empty all this time. She could have come out and snooped during the past week. But illegally.

  She would have known whether or not the lab was here, at least. But if it was, she would have screwed her chances of getting warrants, arrests and of making them stick. She might have learned she was wasting her time and could have started looking elsewhere.

  But, she’d had a fabulous vacation with Cash and that had been worth the delay.

  She’d been invited here today. So, no warrants necessary. Anything she saw she would be allowed to act on.

  If this rally was so important and Cole was head of this branch, why had he come back early just to allow her to interview him?

  The entire scene reeked of risk.

  She needed to get out of here.

  She stepped back toward the door, but Rogers took her hand and said, “C’mere.”

  “You didn’t go to the rally?”

  “Someone had to stay to watch the place.”

  “When did Cole get back?”

  “What?”

  “Cole. When did he come back”?”

  “This morning.”

  “This morning? He drove through the night?”

  “Huh? Yeah. Sure.”

  Suspicion ran fingers up her spine.

  She tugged her hand, testing his strength. He didn’t let go—and he was very strong.

  She shouldn’t fight him. That might excite him. She had to use her wits.

  He led her to a bedroom at the back of the house and closed the door behind them. Okay, this wasn’t right.

  Thinking fast, she said, “Wait,” but before she realized what he had in mind, he backed her against the door and had his tongue down her throat.

  She let him kiss her for a minute and then forced him back.

  “Hey,” she said, sounding more stern and confident than she felt. “That’s not why I’m here.”

  Rogers grinned. “Yeah, it is.”