Page 24 of Midnight Ride

“A bit. It’s keeping me awake.”

I laid down on top of the covers and stroked her long, dark hair until she dozed off.

When it got light, I left Tammy sleeping and went back to my own room and got dressed for the barn. Virge opened his eyes when he heard me stirring around.

“Where were you? I woke up once and you weren’t in your bed.”

“I slept on Tammy’s bed. She couldn’t sleep.”

“Was she crying?”

“Nope. She didn’t cry, but she was in a lot of pain. I could tell.”

“We’ve got that fucker in our jail and Travis ain’t gonna be happy with him hurtin Tammy.”

“That’s a fact, bro. Dad won’t be giving that guy much room.”

“Ya think?” Virge chuckled.

“I’m going to the barn to start the chores.”

Virge threw back his covers. “I’m coming.”

Tammy was dressed and in the kitchen when me and Virge came in from the barn. I poured myself a mug of coffee and listened to Travis telling her she couldn’t go to work, and she couldn’t cook breakfast.

“Sit down at the table, Tammy, and I’ll make the boys some eggs. You ain’t going to the station today and that’s final. I want you to stay here and rest. The more you move around, the more your arm wants to bleed and I ain’t having any of it. I’ll leave Max here with you for company.”

“I’m okay, Daddy. Honest. It’s only my arm.”

“Don’t argue, Tam. You ain’t working and that’s the last time I’m saying it.”

“Okay. I’ll take a lazy day and read one of Harlan’s books.”

“Attagirl.”

I winked at her, and she smiled.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

We came in the back way through the sally port, and I figured Molly had already given the prisoner his breakfast. She checked every morning first thing to see if we’d sneaked anybody in from the roadhouse. That’s where a lot of our customers came from after hours.

Sarge charged down the hall to the squad room and ran straight to Molly. “Only Sarge is working today?” Molly opened the bottom drawer of her desk and got a biscuit for him out of the box.

“I left Max at home with Tammy,” said Travis. “She had a little accident at the Run last night and ended up with a few stitches.”

“How did that happen?”

“The guy in the run was waving a knife around on the dance floor and he nicked the back of Tammy’s arm.”

Molly made a face. “How many stitches, Travis? Tell me the truth.”

“Too many to tell you, Molly.” He turned to me. “Harlan, you and Virge get that guy out of his cell and book him while I dictate the report to Molly of how it went down.”

Me and Virge unlocked the run and brought the guy out to book him and that’s when Savanna came running in the front door of the station.

Travis was in the middle of his report when Savanna ran right up to him and poked him in the chest—real mad like.

“Jack called and told me Tammy got hurt last night. When were you going to call and let me know, Travis? When?”

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