Her Colton Lawman

by Carla Cassidy

  “In the winter in the woods?” Patrick asked. “Woods where we believe two fugitives have been hiding out? What in the hell is wrong with you?”

  “I can’t exactly take her to my parents’ house. They have stupid rules and don’t let me have girls there,” Ralph said sulkily.

  “And my parents don’t like Ralph so we can’t see each other at my house,” Melody said. “And we’re afraid to let anyone in town see us together so we’ve been meeting here.”

  “How old are you?” Flint asked, his blood still boiling with the fire of defeat.

  “Seventeen,” Melody sniffed.

  “Why aren’t you in school?”

  “We’re out for Thanksgiving holiday until Monday. Are you going to arrest us?” she asked fearfully.

  Flint turned his attention to Ralph. “Have you ever heard of statutory rape?”

  Ralph jumped to his feet once again. “Hey, it’s not like that,” he protested. “We aren’t having sex. I know the law and besides, I respect Melody too much to go there when she isn’t old enough.”

  “You respect her so much you’ve got her out in the woods in the cold for leftover turkey sandwiches,” Patrick said drily.

  “I’m going to be eighteen in two months,” Melody added as if any of them cared.

  “How about you two lovebirds pack it up and go home,” Flint said. “I’m in the mood to arrest somebody even if it’s for littering.”

  They watched as Ralph and Melody quickly packed up their things and then followed them to Ralph’s car. “Do you need a ride home?” Mike asked Melody.

  Melody nodded. “A girlfriend dropped me off here.”

  “I’ll take her home,” Ralph replied.

  “Dana, escort Ralph to Melody’s house and then see Ralph back to his parents’ house,” Flint instructed.

  It took only minutes for the four lawmen to be alone and start the trek back to where they’d parked the car. “I really thought this was it,” Patrick said with disgust as he holstered his gun.

  “I was so sure it would be Hank down in that ravine with Ralph,” Mike agreed.

  “Just another damn dead end,” Sam said, summing up the situation succinctly.

  Flint got into the passenger seat and stared out the window. It was rumored that by Monday or Tuesday Dr. Colleen Goodhue would finally arrive.

  If she was as good as her reputation, then within days or weeks she could discover a cure to the virus and the quarantine would be lifted.

  Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The sound of time running out filled Flint’s head.

  There was no question that Jimmy Johnson would take the Colton heirloom ring and run as far and as fast as he could away from Dead River. Flint would never get the precious ring back.

  Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

  If the quarantine was lifted, he wasn’t sure what Hank would do. He didn’t like the idea of a killer heading for new hunting grounds, and in all honesty he wasn’t sure Hank would immediately flee.

  He had unfinished business here. Flint wished he could figure out a motive for Hank to have attacked Gemma. Did he somehow believe that Gemma had seen something she shouldn’t have? Knew something she shouldn’t know?

  According to Gemma she’d never had any dealings with Hank and had no idea what he might have against her. The only possibly feasible motive Flint could come up with was that Hank had attacked her in an effort to have Flint call off the dogs.

  Definitely Nina was a dangerous loose end for Hank. If the quarantine was lifted would he run or would he stick around to make sure that he took care of the eyewitness to Jolene Tate’s murder?

  Even if he did head out of town, there was nothing to keep him from coming back in a week or a month or even a year to make sure that Nina could never testify against him.

  If the quarantine was lifted before Flint got Bittard behind bars, then Nina would have to be afraid and look over her shoulders for the rest of her life.

  Tick-tock.

  * * *

  It was Monday afternoon and the diner was empty, as it had been for much of the holiday weekend. The few people who came in were the most loyal of her customers, and although on Friday and Saturday the talk had been of the debacle of the Thanksgiving Day celebration, she was grateful that by Sunday it seemed to be old news.

  She’d sent home Molly an hour ago when the lunch rush had been anemic at best, and now she sat next to Grace at the counter, sharing small talk to pass the time until Billy would arrive after school.

  “I feel so bad for Flint,” Nina said as she ran a finger around the rim of the teacup in front of her. “He’s so discouraged, and I wish there was something I could do to help him.”

  “I’m sure you help just by being there in the evenings for him,” Grace replied. “At least you have your mojo back.”

  “My mojo?”

  “Your sunshine, your smile, your general optimism about life,” Grace replied. “I was afraid you’d lose it after Thanksgiving.”

  “I’m not sure anything can steal that away from me forever at this point in my life. I made a conscious decision a long time ago that it was much easier to be positive than negative.”

  “And I’m sure that’s part of why Flint is in love with you,” Grace replied.

  “Don’t say that,” Nina protested.

  “But you know it’s the truth.”

  “No, he’s not in love with me. He’s in love with the idea of me, of the life we’ve shared for almost a month. He’s in love with somebody sitting across the table from him in the mornings and talking with him in the evenings.”

  Grace shook her head firmly. “You’re wrong, Nina. It’s you. He’s definitely in love with you.”

  Nina’s heart squeezed tight. She didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to believe it. She didn’t want to feel the truth in her heart and soul.

  “Even if it is true, sooner or later I’ll be out of Flint’s house and hopefully, he’ll be able to find that special woman he’s looking for who wants marriage and a family. But that woman is never going to be me,” Nina said.

  “That’s too bad because you two are pretty terrific together,” Grace replied.

  They were good together, Nina thought, but they’d been living a pretend life under extraordinary circumstances. It had been a matter of chemistry and close proximity, but that didn’t make her Flint’s special woman.

  Grace took a sip of her tea and then gave Nina a little secretive smile. “I got a phone call yesterday from Officer...Patrick Carter. He asked me out on a date.”

  Nina gave her a playful slap on the shoulder. “And you’re just now telling me this?”

  “I’ve been kind of savoring it all day. He asked me out to dinner on Friday night.”

  “And, of course, you agreed,” Nina said.

  “I told him yes as long as I can find a babysitter for Billy that night.”

  “I’ll babysit Billy. Bring him over to Flint’s and we’ll show him a good time,” Nina offered immediately. “We’ll have a homemade pizza night and it will be good for all of us.”

  “Are you sure Flint wouldn’t mind?” Grace asked tentatively.

  “Flint would probably welcome the distraction. Besides, he adores Billy almost as much as I do, and personally I’d be thrilled to see you with Patrick.”

  Grace laughed. “It’s just a first date, not a lifetime commitment.”

  “Trust me, I have a good feeling about this,” Nina replied and took a sip of her tea. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a spring wedding.”

  Grace laughed again. “You’re too much. Besides, I refuse to get married in a town under quarantine.”

  “From everything I’m hearing, the CDC specialist is due to arrive sometime tomorrow, and there will be no more postponements of her arri
val.”

  “That’s good. We need her here as soon as possible. How’s Flint’s grandmother doing?”

  Nina frowned. “Not well. Flint thinks it’s just her sheer willpower alone that’s keeping her alive. I just hope Dr. Goodhue gets some answers in time to save her.” Nina’s heart squeezed as she thought about Flint having to endure the pain of losing the woman who raised him.

  By the time Nina had lost her mother to her father’s hands, there had been little grief left inside her, only a weary resignation that what she’d always believed and feared would happen had finally happened.

  A couple came through the door, and as Grace got up to take care of them, Nina remained on her stool and sipped her tea, her thoughts on Flint and the weekend that had just passed.

  They had almost made love again. Saturday night. It had been a moment of suppressed desire that had begun with a simple kiss and had nearly spiraled out of control.

  Although she had desperately wanted to make love to him again, that was exactly why she had stopped things before they went too far.

  She was determined that at the end of her protective custody she would give him exactly what he needed from her, and that was her walking out of his life.

  There was no question that it would be difficult, but she knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do. She had to walk away from him so he’d have room in his life to find the right woman, the one who could fulfill all the dreams he had for himself for the future.

  Having served the couple their drinks and turned in their food order, Grace returned to the stool next to Nina and checked her wristwatch. “Another ten minutes or so and our little munchkin will be arriving.”

  “Maybe I’ll surprise him today and already have his treat on his table waiting for him.” Nina jumped down from her stool. “I’ve got a couple of big fat brownies for him today.”

  Nina headed behind the counter where several of her daily desserts were kept. While she plated the brownies and poured a glass of milk, Grace disappeared to the kitchen to pick up her order for the couple.

  Nina put the goodies on Billy’s table and then returned to the counter to wait for his arrival. She knew Flint wouldn’t mind having Billy as a little houseguest for a while on Friday night. In fact, it would probably be good for him.

  She mentally began to put together a grocery list for the best, most fun homemade pizzas ever made. She knew it was going to take a lot more than making pizzas to keep an energetic kid like Billy occupied.

  They couldn’t plan anything outside. Not only had the nights gotten too cold, but Flint would never allow her to spend any time outside in the open where she’d be a target for Hank.

  Maybe she could come up with some sort of treasure hunt inside the house, with clues to discern and tricks to perform in order to win the prize.

  She smiled. Yes, she liked the idea, and she’d insist that Flint participate. She’d have big-guy clues and little-guy clues and two prizes to be won.

  “You look like a cat who just swallowed a canary,” Grace said as she resumed her seat next to Nina.

  “I’m just planning out my big date with my little man on Friday night and hoping that you and Patrick have as much fun as we’re planning.”

  “I have to confess, I’m a little bit nervous. I mean, I haven’t been on a date in years.”

  Nina smiled and patted her hand. “You’ll be fine. Just be your wonderful self, and he won’t stand a chance against your charms.”

  “We talked on the phone for almost an hour, and the more I found out about him the more I liked him,” Grace confessed.

  “Like I said, he will be overwhelmed by your sexy, gracious charms.”

  “Speaking of charms, I wonder where my little charmer is,” Grace said as she checked her watch. “He should have walked through that door already.”

  “Calm down. He’s only like two minutes late. He might just be walking a little slower today, taking the time to smell the roses.”

  “Roses in Wyoming at the end of November?” Grace replied drily. She scooted off the stool as the man at her table indicated they were ready for their check.

  While Grace took care of the customers, Nina walked to the front door and poked her head out, looking down the sidewalk in the direction Billy would come from his bus stop at the next corner. There was no sign of him.

  “I’m sure he’ll be here anytime,” she said to Grace, whose forehead was creased with a worried frown.

  “If he isn’t here in the next five minutes, he’s so grounded,” Grace replied. “I’ve told him a million times not to dawdle on the way home from the bus stop. I’ve told him to come directly here.”

  “Maybe the bus is running late today for some reason or another,” Nina replied. “You can’t ground him for a late bus.”

  Grace grinned. “If you had it your way, I’d never ground him for anything.”

  “He’s just too cute to be grounded,” Nina replied with a smile.

  When another ten minutes had passed and there was still no sign of Billy, neither Grace nor Nina was smiling. Ten minutes usually was nothing more than a blink of time, but when waiting for a child to be safe and sound where he belonged, it felt like an eternity.

  Grace paced the floor, occasionally looking outside while Nina found herself scrubbing down the counter that was already immaculate.

  “Maybe I should call the school,” Grace finally said. “I suppose it’s possible he missed the bus or maybe there’s another reason why he isn’t here.”

  Charley stepped out of the kitchen, his features as grim as Nina had ever seen them. “I just got a phone call from a buddy. He said he heard a rumor that one of the school buses was hijacked by an armed man wearing a ski mask.”

  Nina sucked in her breath as Grace gasped and stumbled in alarm. Grace grabbed the back of a chair as Nina walked around the counter to stand next to her.

  “Did he know what bus?” Grace managed to ask. “Did he have a bus number?” Nina held her breath.

  “Bus three,” Charley replied.

  Grace groaned and fell into the chair, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Nina. “Heaven help me, that’s Billy’s bus.”

  Chapter 13

  Nina’s heart fell to the floor. “Did you get any more information?” she asked Charley, trying to tamp down her own frantic fear.

  “Just that apparently he was driving the bus west toward the woods,” Charley replied.

  “I’ve got to go,” Grace said frantically as she struggled to stand from the chair. “I’ve got to go find my son.”

  “Get your keys. I’ll drive you,” Nina replied.

  “But you can’t leave here without Flint,” she protested.

  “Flint will have his hands full. I’m going with you. We need to get Billy back safe and sound.” Nina knew she was taking a chance by leaving the diner, but it was a chance she would take for the little boy who owned so much of her heart.

  Grace grabbed her coat and keys and Nina pulled on the black coat that Flint had bought for her and then they ran for Grace’s car.

  Nina drove as Grace was too distraught. “Why would a man take a school bus? Why would he do something so heinous?”

  Nina didn’t reply. She didn’t have any answers and knew that Grace didn’t expect her to have any. But the same questions flew through her head.

  Was this some kind of desperate bid to get out of town? Was Hank Bittard the man who had taken the bus and hoped to use the children as hostages to get him a pass out of the quarantine?

  What about Alma, the bus driver? Was she all right or had he hurt or killed her? Alma had been a bus driver for years. Nina could only hope that the caring woman so devoted to the children hadn’t done something to sacrifice her own life.

  If it was Bittard, would he
be capable of hurting a child? As she thought of how he’d pulled the rope around Jolene’s neck, she fought off a shiver of terror. A man like that could hurt anyone.

  She ignored the speed limit, and she certainly wasn’t the only vehicle on the road speeding in the direction of the woods west of town.

  She pulled over to hug the side of the road as her rearview mirror showed her a patrol car, cherry light spinning and siren screaming, approaching from behind her.

  As the patrol car went by she saw Dana McGlowen behind the wheel. Hopefully, all the police in Dead River were responding to the call of children in trouble.

  “Billy is a smart kid,” she said to Grace, who was now silently weeping. “He won’t do anything to draw attention to himself. I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”

  Grace didn’t reply, and Nina wasn’t sure how much she believed her own words. It was impossible to know how a little boy would react under such terror. It was impossible to know for sure why this was happening.

  Only an evil person could commit such a crime. Only true evil could prey on innocent children. By the time they reached the edge of the woods, cars were parked helter-skelter along the side of the road.

  Several patrol cars were also parked, although she saw no officers in the near vicinity. Nina and Grace got out of the car, and in the distance was the sound of chaos.

  Male voices battled with female cries and children crying. “This way,” Nina said and grabbed Grace’s hand to pull her toward whatever action was happening.

  They hurried through the brush and piles of dead leaves, and a surge of optimism jumped through Nina as she saw the splash of the bright yellow of the bus against the dark browns of the woods.

  There was too big a crowd gathered for them to be able to get as close as they wanted. Officers Mike Harriman and Dana McGlowen were trying to control the crowd, while the children remained seated in the bus as they waved their hands out open windows and sobbed for their parents.

  Seated next to Mike on the ground was Alma Castor, the older woman who had been driving the bus for years. She held what appeared to be a handkerchief to a wound on the side of her head and blood had dried in a path from the injury down one cheek to her chin.