Page 71 of Unnatural
They returned to the warm cottage and took off their boots by the door. Sam turned to her to say something when they heard the sound of a car pulling up in front of the cottage. Autumn’s heart jumped, and she rushed across the room to the front door, Sam right behind her.Please be Bill.But he’d just brought groceries a few days before.Who else?
She peeked out the window, breath rushing from her lips. “It’s Sheriff Monroe,” she said to Sam. “I know him. He’s a good man. He’d never hurt either of us.”
Sam was tense but didn’t attempt to stop her as she pulled the door open.
“Autumn,” the sheriff said. “What the hell is going on?”
Chapter Thirty-One
Sam’s arm shot out, and he stepped between Autumn and the older man in the sheriff’s uniform.
“It’s okay, Sam,” Autumn said, ducking from beneath his arm. “I know him.”
The sheriff shut the front door and walked toward them, glancing at the makeshift hospital bed near the window, his eyes lingering on the table covered by medical supplies. “I knew something was up when I kindly offered to drive out here and check the pipes Bill mentioned were making strange noises a few months ago and he nearly shit a brick falling all over himself saying he’d already done it. That man’s a terrible liar. And wouldn’t know a water pipe from a pipe cleaner. Then Peggy Lou at the secondhand store mentioned Bill came in last week and picked up a few pairs of pants in a size that definitely wasn’t his.” He looked Sam up and down, clearly assessing his size and coming to the correct conclusion.
“Damn Peggy Lou and her mouth,” Autumn murmured.
The sheriff eyed Sam. “This is the sick aunt, I presume?”
Autumn let out a nervous tinkling laugh, glancing upat Sam and then back to the sheriff. “Well, see, it’s sort of a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
Sam took a step closer to Autumn, quickly considering his options. He’d already sized the sheriff up, judged his weight and his strength. He could take this man, gun or not. He could outrun him too. But then he’d have to leave Autumn behind. His mind raced. His options were poor.
The program had drummed into them that the lack of connections was important for survival, and now Sam knew exactly why. If youcared, your options became fewer. And they also became confusing. They made you question thewhy.
Of course, he’d already learned that lesson once in Macau, but this wasAutumn, so the lesson hit even closer to home.
Before he could make a move, the sheriff put his hand up. “Take it down a notch, big fellow. I’m going to assume you’re a decent sort if Autumn approves of you.” He looked at her. “I oughta wring your neck. Oh, step back. It’s a figure of speech,” he said to Sam, who relaxed his stance and swallowed back the growl that was rising in his throat. He hadn’t even realized he’d moved.
Autumn took a deep breath, looking between the sheriff and Sam. “Do you…er…”
“Yeah, I recognize him,” the sheriff said, scratching his cheek and again giving Sam the once-over. “Damn if you aren’t exactly what she said you were.”
Sam’s eyebrows shot up. Autumn haddescribedhim to this man?
“He’s not awhat, Sheriff. He’s ahe.”
“I can see that.”
“I’m also gonna assume he’s the unknown Good Samaritan from the news out of New York City, and you’re the possible witness.”
Autumn gaped at him for a minute. “How’d you piece that together?”
“It occurred the day before you supposedly up and left your beloved patients without a mere check-in, racing out of town to care for the old cantankerous bitch you referred to as Satan’s bride when she visited town six years ago. Didn’t exactly add up.”
Autumn shifted on her feet. “Oh.”
The sheriff’s gaze landed on Sam again, continuing to size him up, and strangely, Sam didn’t feel judged harshly under the scrutiny. The sheriff looked more thoughtful than anything.
“You’re not going to turn us in, are you?” Autumn asked quietly.
He thinned his lips. “You’re putting me in a predicament here, Autumn Clancy.”
“I tried not to.Billtried not to.”
The man sighed. “Yeah. I know. I know.” He turned his scrutiny on Autumn. “You had to go and betireless, didn’t you?”
