Page 48 of River Wild

“A little unorthodox, but we got it done,” Tick said as he unlocked the door. “Let’s go see to Angie.”

Stuart slouched in his chair as the two filed out. He could hear Angie screaming at the top of her lungs that she was going to sue for false arrest.

“Jay wasn’t arrested,” Tick was saying. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

The sheriff closed his eyes. He’d been so sure it was Erickson, so sure that once he got him in here, saw the injuries he’d been expecting, he’d have the man before he could come for Bailey again.

Instead, he was no closer to finding him.

“Sheriff, we’ve got trouble out front,” came over his radio. “There’s an altercation on the lawn.”

He rose to his feet and rushed out of his office. “What the hell?” he said as he went past the dispatcher.

“Want me to call for backup?” she called out to him.

He could hear Angie screaming obscenities. “No, I’ll take care of it.” But as he pushed outside, he saw Angie going for someone’s throat. He caught a flash of dark, curly hair. Bailey?

Stuart rushed forward and pulled Angie off as she clawed and kicked and screamed. Fortunately, Deputy Dodson drove up, jumped out and came running. “Restrain her until I can find out what’s going on,” he ordered as he handed the woman over.

Dodson, being Dodson, threw the still-fighting Angie Erickson to the ground and cuffed her behind her back. Jay started yelling, and Stuart had to step between him and Dodson.

“Everyone settle down or I’m going to arrest all of you,” the sheriff ordered.

Jay looked like he was up for a fight, but Tick restrained him. Angie was still screaming, clearly furious. Stuart looked to Bailey. She shook her head. Of course she wouldn’t want to press charges. He sighed and said, “I’ll speak to you in my office.”

As she walked past and into the sheriff’s department, Angie yelled, “I’m going to kill you! You hear me?”

Stuart turned to Erickson. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but if you can get your wife to calm down, I just need to know what this was about. If you can’t—”

“She didn’t do anything,” Erickson said. “Why don’t you ask Bailey McKenna?”

“I plan to,” the sheriff said, and turned to Deputy Dodson. “Angie, if you settle down I’ll have my deputy uncuff you. Or we can arrest you for assault.”

She swore, then mumbled obscenities under her breath as Dodson took off the cuffs. Jay helped her to her feet, and Tick stepped in front of her to keep her from going after Stuart and getting arrested.

“Now, what was that about?” the sheriff asked.

“Your...girlfriend butting into other people’s business, that’s what,” Angie snapped. “I don’t know who she thinks she is, but carrying tales about me and my family will get her killed.”

“Let’s not make death threats in front of the sheriff,” Tick said. “Jay, why don’t you take your wife home.”

“I’m going to sue,” Angie cried as Jay and Tick led her to his pickup.

Seeing that Dodson had everything under control, Stuart went back inside to his office, where he found Bailey waiting for him. She was disheveled, a new scratch on her cheek, a grass stain on one knee of her jeans, and her shirt sleeve torn and hanging down.

“Does everyone want to kill you?” he asked from the doorway.

“Not yet, but soon,” she said as she wiped her nose with the back of her hand and smeared the fresh blood on her jeans.

Stuart stared at her, realizing that he couldn’t love her more than he did right at this moment. “I’m afraid to ask.”

She nodded. “Maybe we could talk about it back at your place? I made some pretty good spaghetti sauce last night, and I’m starved. After that?” She held his gaze. “I’ll tell you. I’m just afraid that when I do, you’ll resign and leave town.”

Great, he thought. “It’s that bad?”

Bailey nodded, then shrugged, her eyes shining with tears. He saw her swallow and turn away.

“Are you sure you don’t want to press charges. The woman assaulted you.” She shok her head. “Okay, then. See you at home, then,” he said to her retreating back, wondering if she’d show up.

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