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Authors: Tamra Baumann
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open for her. “Need I remind you this is a free country? Or does our great nation’s Constitution not apply to Anderson Butte?”
Casey huffed past him and started down a long hall. “Maybe you should go debate that issue with my father.” She held out a hand. “The mayor’s office is right down there.”
“Maybe another time.” Like when hell freezes over.
“Or, you can come with me to my brother’s office and we’ll get you on your way.”
“Option B sounds safer.” But he wasn’t going anywhere. Unless it was in a body bag. Which might be a real possibility with this crowd.
Casey led the way. The sheriff was on the phone when they entered his office. He motioned them inside as he listened to someone who was shouting at him loud enough to hear across the room; Josh couldn’t make out many of the words, but “Granger” and “ass” came through loud and clear. After a few moments the sheriff said, “Gotta go, Dad.”
He hung up the phone and pulled a piece of paper from a file. “The bill for your trespassing charge.”
Josh accepted the paper, although he’d never been arrested or charged with trespassing.
The fine was ten thousand dollars. Before he could protest, the sheriff pushed another slip of paper across the desk. “The trespassing fine along with the hotel, medical, and parking violation adds up to sixteen thousand dollars. You can transfer the funds directly to Megan’s account by close of business today, or you can get in your truck and never come back. Your choice.”
He picked up the little slip of paper with Megan’s bank account number on it and couldn’t help his grin. “Not bad. This move may have actually worked if I thought all that money was going to your corrupt little town coffers rather than to Meg.” Josh grabbed his cell from his pocket and called up his online banking app. “But instead you’ve solved a problem for me. Now I know how to give Megan the funds I owe her. And, Casey, let’s go ahead and make this an even twenty thousand. I may need to stay at the hotel three or four more days until I find a permanent place to live.” He hit the “Transfer” button and then flipped thescreen around for them to see. “You can call and verify the funds if you like.” He stood, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, then picked up all his receipts. “I’m looking forward to settling in. See you around, neighbors .”
The stunned looks on their faces almost made up for being shot.
Meg stopped scrubbing at the sound of a boat approaching. Zeke, as promised and right on time. After spending most of the day cleaning the old house, she’d hardly made a dent.
She tossed her brush in the sudsy water bucket, then stood and stretched out her weary back. Then she made her way down to the rickety dock. Zeke had offered to help her decide what needed to be done first. There was plenty to choose from. Hopefully that bank loan she’d applied for online from her bank in Denver—a bank not under her father’s thumb like the one in town—would come through soon.
After grabbing the rope Zeke threw out, she tied off his boat, hoping the cleats would hold. “Hey there. Careful, the wood is rotting in a few places.”
Zeke hopped out with the grace of a man half his age. “You missed all the fun in town today with that man of yours.”
“He’s not my—is he still there?”
Zeke chuckled. “Yep.”
Josh was tenacious when he wanted something. “Haley’s still with Grandma though, right?”
“She is. Doubt that boy be dumb enough to step foot on Ruth’s land again without permission.”
She counted on that. “Okay, so let me give you the grand tour.” As they walked toward the big two-story log cabin, she gave him the executive summary. “As you saw, the dock’s crap and needs tobe replaced, but that’s something I can do myself. I need to move some walls and make suites. The roof’s questionable, the plumbing moans a bit, I need to add three new
Casey huffed past him and started down a long hall. “Maybe you should go debate that issue with my father.” She held out a hand. “The mayor’s office is right down there.”
“Maybe another time.” Like when hell freezes over.
“Or, you can come with me to my brother’s office and we’ll get you on your way.”
“Option B sounds safer.” But he wasn’t going anywhere. Unless it was in a body bag. Which might be a real possibility with this crowd.
Casey led the way. The sheriff was on the phone when they entered his office. He motioned them inside as he listened to someone who was shouting at him loud enough to hear across the room; Josh couldn’t make out many of the words, but “Granger” and “ass” came through loud and clear. After a few moments the sheriff said, “Gotta go, Dad.”
He hung up the phone and pulled a piece of paper from a file. “The bill for your trespassing charge.”
Josh accepted the paper, although he’d never been arrested or charged with trespassing.
The fine was ten thousand dollars. Before he could protest, the sheriff pushed another slip of paper across the desk. “The trespassing fine along with the hotel, medical, and parking violation adds up to sixteen thousand dollars. You can transfer the funds directly to Megan’s account by close of business today, or you can get in your truck and never come back. Your choice.”
He picked up the little slip of paper with Megan’s bank account number on it and couldn’t help his grin. “Not bad. This move may have actually worked if I thought all that money was going to your corrupt little town coffers rather than to Meg.” Josh grabbed his cell from his pocket and called up his online banking app. “But instead you’ve solved a problem for me. Now I know how to give Megan the funds I owe her. And, Casey, let’s go ahead and make this an even twenty thousand. I may need to stay at the hotel three or four more days until I find a permanent place to live.” He hit the “Transfer” button and then flipped thescreen around for them to see. “You can call and verify the funds if you like.” He stood, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, then picked up all his receipts. “I’m looking forward to settling in. See you around, neighbors .”
The stunned looks on their faces almost made up for being shot.
Meg stopped scrubbing at the sound of a boat approaching. Zeke, as promised and right on time. After spending most of the day cleaning the old house, she’d hardly made a dent.
She tossed her brush in the sudsy water bucket, then stood and stretched out her weary back. Then she made her way down to the rickety dock. Zeke had offered to help her decide what needed to be done first. There was plenty to choose from. Hopefully that bank loan she’d applied for online from her bank in Denver—a bank not under her father’s thumb like the one in town—would come through soon.
After grabbing the rope Zeke threw out, she tied off his boat, hoping the cleats would hold. “Hey there. Careful, the wood is rotting in a few places.”
Zeke hopped out with the grace of a man half his age. “You missed all the fun in town today with that man of yours.”
“He’s not my—is he still there?”
Zeke chuckled. “Yep.”
Josh was tenacious when he wanted something. “Haley’s still with Grandma though, right?”
“She is. Doubt that boy be dumb enough to step foot on Ruth’s land again without permission.”
She counted on that. “Okay, so let me give you the grand tour.” As they walked toward the big two-story log cabin, she gave him the executive summary. “As you saw, the dock’s crap and needs tobe replaced, but that’s something I can do myself. I need to move some walls and make suites. The roof’s questionable, the plumbing moans a bit, I need to add three new
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