Page 42 of Caught By A Cowboy

“That’s right.” Maddison has no idea about how dangerous this woman could be for us. I’ve been keeping an eye on her since she arrived a few weeks ago and although she seems to be keeping a low profile, I can’t get complacent.

“I was just checking in. I heard you had a little bar brawl happen here, last night.” She looks around the place before her eyes settle back on Sawyer.

“Nothin’ out of the ordinary, just some passers-through who needed a little lesson on respect.” He shrugs as if it ain’t a big deal.

“Yeah, well, it appears one of those men you tossed out here ended up in the intensive care unit. Got jumped once he made it back to the city,” she informs him.

“Ain’t my responsibility once they’re outta my bar, Sheriff.” Sawyer shrugs again.

“And where were you between 2:30 am and 4 am, this morning?” she asks, taking out her notepad and waiting for his response.

“Me? I was here, drowning my sorrows and listening to Dolly on the jukebox.” He sniggers at me.

“This isn’t a joke, Mr Anderson, this guy was seriously hurt. Both his legs were broken, he’s got a concussion, and a collapsed lung.”

“Then I’d say whoever got him, got him good.” Sawyer remains calm.

“I’ll ask you that question again, where were you?” She narrows her eyes on him.

“I can tell you exactly where I was.” Sawyer stands up and steps into the sheriff's space then leans down so his lips almost touch against her ear. “I had my face buried between Beth Delaney’s thighs.” His words come out slowly and make it impossible for her not to blush. “I’m sure she, and her roommate, can confirm that.” He takes a step back and smiles like a smug son of a bitch.

“Herandher roommate?” Sheriff Hale clears her throat.

“She was in the next room, she’d have heard how much Beth was enjoying it.” He grins as the irritation spreads across our new Sheriff's face.

“And what about you?” She turns her attention to me, and I stare back at her confused.

“He was with me,” Maddison blurts out, far too defensively, her hand squeezing mine so tight it almost hurts.

“Is that correct, Mr Sullivan?” Riley Hale looks at me blankly.

“It’s correct.” I slide my arm around Maddison’s shoulder.

“May I?” Riley goes to take the sonogram picture from my hand, and I hold onto it protectively. She smiles as if she ain’t trying to fuck with my head and when I have no choice but to release it. She studies it for a few seconds before handing it back.

“Congratulations.” She smiles at us both, then turns on her heels and heads back out the door. Maddison releases the breath she’s been holding on to and when I try to comfort her she shoves me away.

“I’ll be at the store.” She rushes toward the door and I immediately chase after her. She isn’t heading for the store at all when I get outside, she’s got herself back inside the truck. Her eyes are filling up with tears and she looks like she’s having a panic attack, so I move much faster.

“Baby, you need to calm down.” I get into the driver's seat and slam the door. “Place your palms flat on the console and breathe.” I remind her how it’s done by breathing in through my nose and checking around us in case anyone can see the state she’s in.

“Listen to me, you did not have to lie for me back there,” I tell her, as she tries to catch her breath and closes her eyes.

“Of course, I fucking did. You weren't home.” When she opens them back up she looks scared and real disappointed in me.

“Did you…Did you hurt that man?” She stares right through me, and I got no idea what to say.

“Yeah,” I admit, clenching my fists and feeling furious at myself. Now is not the time for her to be learning about this, she’s not supposed to have anything to worry about.

“Devon Lacey is a rustler.”

“I don’t care what he is, you broke his legs!” she whispers-yells at me.

“He stole some cattle from me a few months ago, but he’s been on our radar since way before then.”

“Under whose radar, exactly?” She looks confused as hell and I hate the territory we’re heading into with this conversation.

“Maddison, I can’t tell you everything, just rest assured that there are reasons for what I do.”

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