Page 25 of Big Daddy Sheriff

“Don’t you see how fat I am?” she said with a little laugh. “Obviously, I can handle quite a bit.”

He cleared his throat. She looked up at him to see he didn’t find the comment funny at all. In fact, he looked downright angry.

“You say something like that again, young lady, and I might just take this belt off, bend you over the counter, and thrash your little bottom until you can’t sit for a day. You’re in my house. That sort of talk isn’t permitted. Now, I’ve warned you before. Next time, there won’t be a warning. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry.”

Oh crap! What did you just say, Alyssa?

She thought of correcting her mistake. She hadn’t meant to call him Daddy. It just seemed appropriate. But he wasn’therDaddy, even if he was acting like it right now. She didn’t draw any more attention to it, though. She was just eager to move on.

“It’s not me you need to apologize to. It’s yourself. You’re tearing away at your self-esteem. Little girl, you are gorgeous. You need to realize that. It’s not healthy to go around badmouthing yourself.” He smiled and reached across the counter, laying his hand atop hers. “It’s done and over with now. No sense in dwelling on it. Be a good girl and eat your breakfast. As much as you want.”

She wanted that moment to last forever—their eyes locked, his hand on hers.

She smiled back, nodded, and turned her attention to her pancakes. They chatted as they ate. Ten minutes later, when they were both finishing, a knock at the door interrupted the conversation.

“Is everything okay?” Alyssa asked, startled.

“I’m sure it is,” he said. “Folks drop by here. They probably tried calling my cell and I just didn’t hear it.” He sighed, shaking his head as he walked toward the door. “I sure hope it’s not Don again. I swear, that man needs to just lay off the ‘shine one damn week.”

When he opened the front door, he saw Little Belinda on the porch.

She looked terrified.

She took her pacifier from her mouth and said, “Marshal Quinn! Come quick! Someone is creeping around my Daddy’s shop!”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Come inside,” Quinn said, ushering the Little in. “Tell me what’s going on, honey.”

“But Janie and Mindy are out there,” Belinda said. “They’re watching to see if the mean man is still around.”

Quinn hurried outside and looked to see the other women crouching behind the tree in his front yard. In a quiet yet forceful tone he said, “Girls, come on. Inside. Now.”

They obeyed.

Once they were inside and the door was shut, he asked, “What’s this all about?”

Alyssa was off the stool now, standing close to Quinn, afraid of what she might hear.

“My Daddy went to go get some parts,” Belinda explained. “He said I could stay here and play with my friends. So, we were on our way here to ask if Alyssa wanted to play. I want to show her how high I can swing. Last week, I went so high that I?—”

“Honey, what about the bad men?” Quinn interrupted.

“Oh. Right. Sorry. Anyway, before we could get here, we saw two men leave the café. One got in a car while the other walked to my Daddy’s shop. He tried to go in, but when it was locked, hestarted walking around the building. He looked in the windows and stuff. He looked like he was getting really impatient.”

Quinn nodded. “You did the right thing by coming here. But how do you know he’s bad?”

“Oh. Well, he just kind of looks bad. I’m not trying to judge.” She spread her hands. “And he started saying really bad words when he realized the garage was closed. Like words my Daddy would wash my mouth out if I ever said them!”

Quinn smiled as he listened. “They’re more than likely just passing through town and having a little car trouble. Probably eager to get back on the road so they want the garage to open. Still, I’ll go introduce myself and see if I can help.”

His calm demeanor seemed to rub off on the women. It didn’t last long, though. They all looked scared as he clipped his holstered gun to his belt and pinned on the badge he grabbed from the kitchen counter.

“Do you need that gun because they’re bad?” Mindy asked, her voice trembling a little.

He shook his head. “Honey, every law enforcement officer goes out on the job armed. It’s better to be safe than sorry. You girls just stay inside here. Lock the door and don’t come out until I say so.” He kept his voice measured. He didn’t want to alarm them, but they did need to listen and obey. “I’ll be back soon. Y’all color or something. Have fun.”

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