Read Online Run Wild With Me by Sandra Chastain - Free Book Online

you’re in big trouble.”
    “How dare you tell Ed that we have a date tonight!” Andrea shook her head from side to side, furious with Sam and alarmed at what she’d just said to Ed. “There’s no man in my life. But there’s nothing wrong with Ed Pinyon. He’s simply an old friend.”
    “I don’t believe that’s what the tycoon thinks.”
    “It doesn’t matter what you believe. I have one more little duty to perform, Sam Farley, and you’d better not open your mouth if you treasure your freedom.”
    When Andrea stopped at the state-patrol headquarters, Sam apparently decided that discretion was the better part of valor. He covered his face with his cap and slid back down in the seat while she went inside and requested a confidential police report on her passenger from Lewis Hayslip, the sergeant on duty.
    “Last address?” Lewis asked.
    Andrea took a wild guess and said, “Texas.” According to the will she’d picked up, the property had been left to Millie Lynn Hines, only child of Mamie and Jed Hines. There was no mention of Sam Farley.
    By the time she got back to the car, two of thesecretaries were standing at the window talking to Sam. Wonderful! With more than a little abruptness, Andrea nodded at the women, slid into the police car, and squealed the wheels as she backed up and drove rapidly out of town.
    Sam bit back a smile, but he didn’t open his mouth. Being in demand by the women in Meredith County was something he could deal with. Getting the statuesque chief of police to be the one to demand him was becoming an interesting challenge. Jail might even be worth it.
    Back at Mamie’s place, Andrea stopped the car and let the motor run as he slowly got out.
    “Would you care to come in for a refreshing drink of that cold well water you mentioned earlier?”
    “Nope. Got to get back to town.” Andrea made a quick decision and hoped it was a good one. “Sam,” she added with concern in her voice, “I’m sorry about the taxes. I wish there was something I could do.”
    “There is, Chief. You could take me to lunch.”
    “Not today, Sam. You could always go down and eat with Louise. Her biscuits are wonderful.”
    “But darlin’, Louise Roberts just doesn’t fill out a police uniform like you do.”
    Andrea left him whistling a show tune as he started up the drive.
    Halfway back to town she realized that she was humming the same song.
    “What took you so long?” Buck asked. “It’s lunchtime.”
    “I ran into Ed, who isn’t too happy about my taking over your job. He doesn’t think it’s
proper
.”
    “You’re sure it’s Ed that’s got you acting uppity, and not Sam Farley?”
    “I’m sure,” she replied firmly.
    “And?” Buck’s expression was far too innocent. “How is the stranger in our midst this morning?”
    “Fine enough to tell Ed Pinyon that I have a date with him tonight, instead of Ed.”
    Buck’s cast came down with a crash. “What?”
    “I picked Sam up on the highway, hitchhiking over to the courthouse to talk to the tax commissioner.”
    “You don’t mean he’s considering making a claim?”
    “I don’t know, Buck. All I can tell you is that he seems to be trying to settle in. And I don’t know what I think about that. Here’s the copy of Mamie’s will.”
    Andrea handed Buck the copy of the will and walked through the connecting door to the city-hall office to escape his questions. She was still angry with Buck for assuming that she belonged with Ed.
    Two water-payment envelopes had been slipped through the pay slot in the outside door. Andrea turned her ledger to the proper page and posted the payments.
    “The boy’s got a claim all right,” Buck called from the other room. “An out-of-date driver’s license and a birth certificate. Seems to be in order. Lists his father as a Granger Farley, place of birth unknown. That name sounds familiar.”
    Andrea turned out the light and walked back into Buck’s office. “I don’t think we