Page 5 of Surly Sheriff
Eyes mere slits, he held her stare. “You cause the accident?”
She took a step back at the venom in his voice and spread her arms out to the side. “No,” she exclaimed. “God, no. But I drove behind his truck for a while. He was going slow, barely forty, so when a gap opened, I sped up and moved across to pass. That’s when he swerved in front of me.” Movement caught her eye, and she turned to watch the EMTs carry a backboard with the injured man up the incline. “How is he?” she asked again.
“Dead.”
Her gaze shot back to Beau at his abrupt delivery of the news. Her first thought was that he was messing with her, but she read the truth in his hard stare. “I should’ve tried to reach him.” Her throat tightened. “Help him.” The wind kicked up and blew a lock of hair across her face. She tugged it behind her ear with an impatient move. “But there was no way—”
“As much as I never want to see you again,” Beau interrupted, giving her another scathing once-over, “you’re the only witness to a fatal accident, and you need to hang around town for a day or two.” He pivoted and bellowed, “Jacobs.”
The young deputy, standing beside a trio of rescue personnel, trudged closer. “Sheriff?”
“Take the witness’s details,” he ordered. “She’ll be in town for a while,” he added, striding away.
Rae pursed her lips, all hope of a civilized reunion obliterated by his abrupt dismissal. What if he transferred that animosity to Jack and rejected his son out of hand? The very last thing—
“Ma’am?”
She blinked and focused on the deputy. He shifted from one foot to the other, holding up his notepad. She rattled off thepertinent information, and he left without further engagement, taking a cue from his boss’s animosity.
Exhaling a shaky breath, she turned and walked back to Jack and Xena. The ambulance drove past at a sedate pace, its siren silent.
There was no need for a rush.
The blue sheriff’s office vehicle followed moments later, Beau behind the wheel.
He never looked her way.
Deep sorrow filled her soul.
For the loss of the kind farmer as well as the hostility from Beau.
What did you expect, Rae? You walked out on him without an explanation or goodbye.
2
The hitchhiker
Six years ago …
It was a great day to be alive. The sunshine warmed her body, the wind teased wisps of hair from her stubby ponytail, the haunting music playing on the stereo sang to her soul, and the passing scenery captivated her mind.
And calmed her spirit.
Driving below the speed limit afforded her the chance to take in the rolling hills, the neat farms with their quintessential red barns, and the occasional glimmer of water from the winding Platte River. It had rained overnight, lending an extra clarity to the surroundings, and the cloudless azure sky formed a startling backdrop to the endless rows of yellow corn.
Rae inhaled deeply, catching the subtle scent of damp earth in the clean air. She smiled, and before she could catch herself, a laugh escaped.
Who’d have thought that Nebraska,Nebraska, would do it for her?
So yeah, it was agreatday to be alive.
The signpost, Clearbrook, ten miles, caught her attention.
That’s when she spotted the man in brown and green camouflage pants and matching cap. Weighed down with bags, he turned and started walking backwards as she approached.
He extended his arm.
But she knew better than to stop and pick up a hitchhiker. Even in the picture-perfect setting. Just because he wore army fatigues did not make him a soldier. She herself owned a pair purchased from Goodwill.
