Page 32 of Stormy Ride

One thing Julie told me that surprised the hell out of me was the fact that I held the mortgage on the Coyote Creek Inn. It seemed Olivia was two months behind on her payments and Julie asked if I wanted to speak to her in person about it. I told her to handle it for me. I didn’t even want to think about talking to Olivia about her financial situation. That was a job for Superman from the bank.

Harrison County Office. Cut Bank.

While in Cut Bank I was too close to the county office not to drop in and make an inquiry. Standing at the reception counter, I was at a loss what to ask for.

“Help you, Sheriff Frost?”

Everybody in the county knew who I was even if I didn’t know them.

“I think I need to speak to somebody in child services—more like juvie detention or juvies being paroled—something like that.”

“Second floor, Sheriff Frost.” The girl pointed and I got going.

“Thanks.” I climbed a flight of stairs and started over at the next reception desk, knowing I had limited time to pursue this. I explained again.

“I’ll let you speak to Gloria Grafton,” said the girl standing in front of me. “She’s probably the person who can help you, Sheriff.” I followed the girl down the corridor. She opened the door of Ms. Grafton’s office, and I stepped in and introduced myself.

Gloria Grafton was an older lady in her fifties with a kind face and soft curly brown hair. She appeared to be a person who’d be great dealing with kids.

“Please sit down, Sheriff Frost, and tell me why you’re here.”

“I’m ready to take on a foster boy. Leaning towards a juvie with no family and nowhere to go when the system cuts him loose. I need a young person to help me when Sheriff Johnson comes home to my ranch tomorrow. I’d give the boy a good solid home and at the same time, he could help Billy when I wasn’t there. Billy won’t be able to walk on his own for a time yet. Does that sound crazy?”

“A little odd, but not completely crazy. You’re referring to our current sheriff, Billy Johnson?”

“Yes. We live together and while I’m filling in for him—until he can walk again—I’d like somebody to be there at the ranch.”

“Makes sense, but you could hire a nurse.”

“Billy doesn’t want a nurse. He’d be mortified to think he needed one.”

Gloria smiled. “A macho thing.”

I shrugged. “I’d be pleased to take a boy who’s hard to place—a kid from detention who’s been in trouble. Billy and I might be able to give a kid like that a place to live, a job and a better path to follow. That’s what I’m thinking—what we’re both thinking.”

“A boy being released from juvenile detention will be much easier for me to place with you, Sheriff. Homes for boys who have been in detention are difficult to come by. Let me make some calls and I’ll talk to the right people at the detention facility. Boys come up for probation every week, and lots of times when they turn sixteen, they just end up on the streets.”

“That’s what I’m hoping to avoid—at least for one kid. It if works out, I may consider taking another. And not just until they turn sixteen. Permanent home, Ms. Grafton. This is not a whim.” I handed her my card. “Call me when you want me to come get him.”

“Are you sure you can handle a problem boy, Sheriff?”

“Between me and Billy, we should be able to handle one wild kid.”

Gloria laughed. “You may have to drive to the detention center in Great Falls to complete the paperwork.”

“That’s no problem. I’m kind of looking forward to taking this on. I have a girl already—Tammy. She’s sixteen and living with her step-mom now, but becoming her guardian and keeping her out of the system was a fantastic experience for me.”

“Good for you, Sheriff. We need a lot more people like you to help out.”

Feeling pretty good about my meeting with Gloria Grafton, I left the county office and headed back to Coyote Creek. My cell rang on the passenger seat, and I could see it was Billy.

“Hey, Travis. My dad is bringing me to the ranch tomorrow. Don’t worry if you’re not there. I have my key.”

“Great. Just left the county office and got our request for a kid underway. When he’s ready to be cut loose from the detention center, we may have to go to Great Falls to pick him up.”

“Wow, how soon are we getting him?”

“Gloria Grafton, the lady in charge of kids, is checking today. She says kids are released on probation from the detention center all the time. We might not have to wait long.”

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