Page 10 of Stormy Ride

“Call me after you talk. I want to hear about your meeting.”

“Yep.”

County Building. Cut Bank.

Walking into the county building for the first time, I had no clue where I was going. A quick stop at the reception desk helped me out and I was directed to the elevators and sent to the second floor.

Along the second-floor corridor, the offices were all outfitted with little brass plaques, and I found Supervisor Gibson’s office easily.

Gibson welcomed me into his office with a wide smile. He shook my hand and pointed to the chair in front of his desk. “Wonderful to see you, Sheriff Frost. I’m so pleased you were able to come from Texas to help Billy out. He’s such a dedicated lawman.”

“He tries hard,” I said. “I told Billy I’d come and talk to you, but I don’t believe I’ve agreed to anything yet.”

“No, you haven’t, but you are here now, and we’re talking and I'm taking that as a positive step.”

Gibson was a few years older than me. Late forties and he looked fit and well-tanned from the outdoors.

“How about this? You carry the sheriff’s phone while Billy is laid up and the county will pay you full sheriff’s salary. When Billy comes back on the job, you can stay as a deputy or go—your choice.”

“I talked to Billy’s doctor today and he couldn’t give me a clear picture of how long Billy might be unable to work. What if he’s going to be off longer than I can stay here in Montana?”

“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it, Travis. Not all prognoses are accurate.”

I sighed, knowing all along I would give in for Billy.

“Okay, Mister Gibson. I’ll take the station for now but I’m only doing it for Billy. That’s the only reason.”

“Of course. You trained him and you made him into a mold of yourself, Sheriff Frost. All the members of county council realize that, and the entire county is grateful for your previous service.”

He pulled a bible out of his desk drawer and pushed it across the desk. “Raise your right hand.”

Coyote Creek Needs and Feeds.

Parking in front of the feed store made me miss Outlaw more than ever. Maybe I would have to have him trucked up here in order to hang onto my sanity. It would be lonely living at the ranch all alone. No horse to ride, and no Billy or Tammy. Something to consider.

I walked through the store, passing by the rows and rows of ranch-related merchandise, and headed for the back hallway and Savanna’s office.

I tapped twice on her door and didn’t wait for her to invite me in. “Hey, you working or dogging it, girl?”

“Travis,” Savanna squealed and ran towards the door to hug me. She kissed me on the mouth, and she tasted good. I was missing Annie real bad and had to keep it between the lines. Hard to do around a gorgeous woman like Savanna Larson.

Long auburn hair, a beautiful face and a body men would fight over. She had the whole package.

“Jack told me you might be around today. You got in late last night?”

“Real late. White-line fever. Jack was locking the front door of the roadhouse when I got there. You and him doing okay?”

She shrugged. “He still has that jealous thing going on, and he asks me too many questions.Where have you been? Who did you see?What took you so long?I hate that suspicious side of him, and when I call him on it, he thinks I’m trying to cover something up and on and on it goes. I don’t know how long I’ll put up with it this time.”

“I’m sad to hear that.”

Savanna shrugged. “Just the way he is, and I knew it before I went back for the second try. My bad.”

“Look how many times Annie took me back. Jeeze, the woman has patience.” I laughed.

“Have you seen Billy?”

“Yep. I spent time with him at the hospital and that’s not a good picture there. I talked to his doctor this morning and he didn’t sugar-coat the prognosis. Billy did a helluva number on his leg and he has a long way to go to make a comeback.”

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