Page 68 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
Nash grumbles like he might start issuing citations. “Out, all of you. I mean it.”
They shuffle out.
Molly brings up the rear, tossing me a wink over her shoulder. “Enjoy your muffin.”
Sheriff Nash waits until they’re out of sight, and the place is quiet again, with only the buzz of the old ceiling fan.
He doesn’t say anything, just opens the door.
“You’re not pressing charges?” I tuck my T-shirt into my jeans.
He shakes his head. “The guys you hit took off before I could get ‘em to press charges.”
I glance at him. “You ever actually press charges?”
He doesn’t look up and shrugs. “Sometimes. Depends.”
“On what? Your mood?”
He smirks. Just barely.
I step out slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. “I need a ride to the ranch.”
He grunts. “Don’t look at me.”
“Did you see what I just had to endure on your watch? They’re gonna be waiting out there to hijack me. Then you’ll have a kidnapping.”
He stares at me hard before he finally agrees.
“Good. I have a treehouse callin’ my name.”
After the night I’ve had, taking an axe to some trunks sounds like good therapy.
The sheriff rolls onto the empty back road, sunlight breaking through the trees. I’m slumped in the seat, trying to navigate a headache.
Then the crackle of the radio breaks the silence. “Son, I mean, Sheriff?” Nash’s mom’s voice fills the cab.
Nash grunts, eyes flicking to the radio.
“Need you back in town,” his mother says. “Got Mrs. Graves on the phone. Apparently, she set up a pit trap for what she thought was a robber.”
I shake my head, leaning my elbow on the door and rubbing my eyes. Mrs. Graves is a handful.
“And now there’s a man stuck in it who claims to be the mailman, not a thief.”
Nash curses.
“And he’s shouting his ankle is broken.”
“Shit.” Nash grabs the corded radio unit and holds it to his lips, pressing the side button firmly. “On my way.”
He pulls the car off onto the gravel shoulder.
“Get out.”
“The ranch is three miles down the road.” I point.
“Walk the rest.” He flips on his sirens, and my headache screams at me.
