When Mike returned, he set a plate of pulled pork in front of her before sitting next to her on the bench and placing his own plate on the table. The plate was filled not only with BBQ meat but cornbread, pinto beans, and coleslaw.
From his jacket pockets he produced napkins, plastic utensils, and two cans of Coke. He popped the tab on one Coke and set it in front of her before opening his own.
The BBQ was delicious and she loved the buttered cornbread. She watched people around them in between eating and talking with Mike.
Like it had been throughout the day, people would stop and tell Mike hello and good luck with the election. He was always friendly with a genuine smile. A couple of times people had attempted to get started on a political topic, but Mike had gracefully managed to get out of the conversation.
“So do you kiss babies, too?” she asked in a teasing tone after Mike shook a man’s hand before the man continued on with a woman toward the barn.
Mike grinned. “Only beautiful women named Anna.”
Her whole body tingled. “Is that right?”
He gave a solemn nod before giving her a quick kiss. “Absolutely,” he said when he drew away.
When they finished eating their meal, Mike took their plates, napkins, plastic utensils, and Coke cans to a garbage can. He brought back a plate of goodies for them to share from a table filled with cakes, cookies, brownies, pies, apple bars, and other treats. By the time Anna had eaten a piece of apple pie, she was stuffed.
She held up her hand when he offered her a brownie. “Nooo. I’m so full,” she said with a shake of her head.
After Mike had tossed the dessert plate, he placed his fingers at the base of her spine and guided her into the barn. The band was good, the music loud. It wasn’t long until Mike had her on the dance floor, teaching her how to two-step and country waltz as well as swing dance. She and Mike chose not to participate in a couple of line dances but she enjoyed watching them.
It wasn’t long before she was breathless from laughing and dancing, and a light sheen of perspiration was on her skin. Just as she was going to beg off another dance, a slow song started.
He swept her into his arms and held her close as they moved around the dance floor. He was so much taller than her that she had to tilt her head to look up at him. Their eyes met and held, and he lowered his face to hers and gave her a soft kiss that made her even more breathless than she already was.
She was so close to him that she felt his phone vibrate against her and she drew away from the kiss.
“I wish I could ignore that,” he said with a frown.
“I understand.” She gave him a smile. “Go ahead.”
He pulled the phone out of the holster on his belt, checked the screen, then read a text message. “Damn,” he said. He looked at her. “I’ve got to get to a scene. I’ll drop you off on my way.” He squeezed her shoulders. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“Don’t be.” She gave him a smile and added, “Let’s go.”
Chapter 8
The day had been amazing. Anna smiled as she sat in her seat in the SUV after Mike had helped her into the vehicle. She waited for him to go around it to the driver’s side. When he opened the door, she saw that he was taking his cell phone out of its holster. When he climbed in, he was already talking.
“Hey, John.” Mike started the SUV. “Just got notified that a group of ten to fifteen undocumented aliens have been located, along with over a hundred pounds of marijuana.”
Anna’s skin went cold as Mike continued, “On my way to the scene after I make a quick stop. Called to let you know that one of the illegals mentioned Jesus Perez.” Mike listened before he said, “I’ll keep you posted.”
Feeling stiff and frozen, Anna didn’t move, but her heart thundered against her breastbone.
Mike signed off with John before sliding the phone back into the belt holster. He put the SUV in reverse and gave Anna an apologetic look before looking in his mirrors and backing up the vehicle. “Not exactly the way I wanted to end the night,” he said.
She forced a smile. “It was a wonderful day.”
He glanced at her and smiled. “It was.”
The trip back was quieter than the drive from Prescott had been. Mike seemed lost in thought and Anna felt sick in her belly. The reason they were returning to Prescott hit too close to home.
When they reached her home and parked, he once again went to her side of the vehicle and helped her out of the SUV. After they gathered the alligator, her pumpkin, and a crate of apples, he walked her up the stairs to her door. She opened it and saw that no one was in the living room. She told him to set the apples and pumpkin just inside the door on the floor and she put down the alligator. She’d take care of it all later.
They stepped back onto the porch and he cupped her face in his hands and gave her a soft kiss. “Let’s continue where we left off later. I’ll call you Monday morning.”
She nodded. “Talk with you then.”
He gave her a quick kiss then waited for her to go into her house. She paused. “Thank you again for today,” she said.
“My pleasure.” He touched the brim of his hat and turned away to jog down the steps.
She closed the door and locked it behind her. Chilled through to the bone, she rested her forehead against the door and closed her eyes. What was she doing? It could have been her aunt and uncle who’d been discovered.
Was there any way to get out from under the dark cloud of Chad’s blackmail? It wasn’t right. How could he do this to her and her family?
Easy. He was a bastard who cared for nothing but himself and obviously had no scruples when it came to an ethical way to run a campaign.
A deep shuddering breath went through her and she picked up the alligator and hugged it tight. She had to talk to Chad, had to make him see that this was a bad idea.
Not only because of the danger to her family, but the danger to her heart and Mike’s as well.
* * * * *
Mike’s thoughts slid from the scene he was approaching to Anna. It had been clear she was enjoying herself but hadn’t minded when they had to leave early. But something had changed. It had been barely noticeable, but he was naturally perceptive as well as being trained to notice emotional changes. Anna’s emotions had definitely shifted.
When he arrived at the scene, red and blue lights flashed from sheriff’s department and Customs and Border Patrol vehicles. A group of men and women sat on the ground against a fence in front of a house with cracked and peeling white paint and a porch that barely looked safe enough to step on. Lights blazed from within the house as sheriff’s department deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents went in and out through the front door.
Mike parked his SUV and climbed out. He approached Sam Davies, a senior agent with the Border Patrol.
When Mike reached Davies, the agent greeted him with a nod. “Sheriff.”
Mike returned the greeting and gestured to the undocumented aliens, UDAs. “How many?”
“Twelve UDAs total. Eight men and four women,” Davies said. “We also seized about 70 kilos of marijuana.”
Mike watched the agents carrying out bundles. One hundred and fifty pounds was a good haul of marijuana. “I understand a tip came in.”
“Anonymous. Could have been a neighbor or someone associated with the coyotes who are smuggling in the UDAs, for all we know.” Davies nodded toward the men and women sitting on the ground along the fence. “From what we’ve gathered the coyotes have barely been giving them any food. They’re weak from hunger.”
“Any of the coyotes here when you raided the place?” Mike asked.
Davies shook his head. “All we found here were the UDAs and the marijuana.”
Mike blew out his breath. “Damn.”
A vehicle came to a hard stop, skidding in the gravel in front of the house. Davies and Mike looked to see a reporter and cameraman climbing out of a van with Channel 7 News on the side.
“Who the hell ca
lled the press?” Davies muttered.
Mike shook his head. How reporters managed to end up wherever Mike went was a mystery. Sometimes he wondered if there was a leak in his department. The news could put a negative or positive spin on the bust. One, the success in tracking down illegal aliens and an illegal substance. Or two, how human and drug trafficking was only getting worse, which this bust helped to prove.
The reporter, Paige Windhaven, approached Davies and Mike while the cameraman filmed the scene.
“Sheriff,” Paige said, microphone in hand. “What can you tell us about tonight’s bust?”
“I’m out of here,” Davies muttered so that only Mike could hear.
“Thanks,” Mike said dryly.
Fact was, as sheriff it was Mike’s job to be in the spotlight and handle reporters. Whether or not he pulled off a good interview with reporters depended on the situation.
He spoke several minutes with the reporter, giving her what he knew about this bust. He also gave a comment that gave his stance on human trafficking, something that was expected of him. It was his job to uphold the laws, and that was exactly what the sheriff’s department and the Border Patrol were doing.
As soon as he could, he excused himself and headed off to join his deputies. He mentally shook his head. His least favorite part of the job was the publicity, but it came with the territory.
When he reached his deputies, he spoke to Sergeant Reg Schmidt. “What have you found out about the connection to Jesus Perez?”
Schmidt was a harsh man and spoke in a hard tone. He gave a nod toward one of the UDAs sitting against the fence. “According to Luis there, the name Perez has been tossed around. Luis thinks Perez is the head honcho, but isn’t sure the bastard has actually ever been here.”
“Well, hell.” Mike looked at the house. “Any other names come up?”
“Yeah.” Schmidt nodded. “But none I’ve ever heard of before.” Schmidt gave him the names.
“Can’t say I’m familiar with them.” Mike rocked back on his boot heels. “Must be new to the area.”
“New delivery service,” Schmidt said.
Mike stayed at the scene until the last of the deputies and BP agents were leaving. The reporter and photographer had hung around for a while but eventually left.
When he was finally on his way home, he allowed his thoughts to turn back to Anna as he drove. It had been a hell of a good day—up until he’d had to go to the bust.
His gut told him that Anna Batista was a hell of a woman, and might just be the one he’d been waiting for. His gut was usually right on, and he was confident he was right about Anna.
She was so damned beautiful. She’d had a good sense of humor when he’d teased her, was intelligent, fun, and he enjoyed being around her. He’d never felt like this around any other woman.
It had been some time since he’d been in a relationship. Being a public figure and doing his job as sheriff hadn’t left a lot of time for a relationship or much of a private life. Everything he did was scrutinized.
He frowned as he thought about that. It was too soon to start thinking of long-term with Anna, but he still wondered how she would handle being in a relationship with a man in the spotlight, not to mention the fact he was a lawman.
With a shake of his head he pushed his thoughts away from the permanent and focused on the here and now. He’d take it one day at a time with Anna.
Chapter 9
In Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Anna stood with the choir, waiting as the priest conducted mass. She clenched her hymnal, tried to push distracting thoughts out of her mind, and concentrate on the mass.
It did no good. Her thoughts bounced from the amazing time she’d had yesterday at the pumpkin festival with Mike, to the moment he had to leave and the reason why, to Chad’s blackmail. She knew she should go to confession, but she was afraid of what the priest would say. What might he consider to be the right thing to do? What if he thought she should have her aunt and uncle turn themselves in?
A sick feeling bottomed out her stomach. What would she do if they were deported?
What about Josie and Pablo?
Jaci elbowed Anna in the side and she jumped. Everyone in the choir had raised their hymnal and Sister Gracie was standing in front of them, ready to lead them in a hymn. Anna raised her own hymnal and waited for the cue from the nun.
Anna was grateful for the reprieve from her thoughts. Her voice rose with the choir as they sang If Ye Love Me. She focused on singing each verse with her heart and soul.
As she sang, she glanced at the place where her family was sitting—and faltered in song. Chad Johnson was sitting beside her cousin, Josie.
Anna’s throat seemed to close off as Chad gave her a knowing look. He glanced at her family and then back to Anna and smiled.
Flames burned her cheeks as she forced herself to continue singing. She couldn’t look away from Chad as he smirked at her. Finally, she was able to tear her gaze from his and back to Sister Gracie’s as the last strains of the hymn faded. The sister turned to face Father Bernard, who then continued to conduct mass.
Every word that was spoken was nothing but a buzz in Anna’s ears as she was hyperaware of Chad sitting next to her family. Chad was not Catholic and she had never seen him at mass. She knew that he attended the Baptist church with Chandra. His presence here was a message to her—he knew about her family and was making sure she knew he was serious in his blackmail.
The rest of the service passed in a blur. Even after accepting the sacrament, she was on autopilot. She went through the ritual of shaking hands with those around her and giving the traditional greeting, “Peace be with you,” and receiving the response back, “And also with you.” She barely head the words.
As Father Bernard walked down the center aisle at the end of the service, she and the rest of the choir sang a final hymn, Nunc Dimittis. The parishioners followed the priest outside the church. There was much greeting, talking, and smiling as usual.
Anna was praying that Chad wouldn’t be there when she walked out of the church. But when she made it out into the sunlight, Chad stood to the side on the church steps, talking with Uncle Tito and her Aunt Maria with Josie and Pablo standing nearby.
Heart pounding, she walked up to Chad and her aunt and uncle. She tried to sound normal as she said, “Hi, Chad.” She smiled at her aunt and uncle. “I assume you’ve met Chandra’s brother, Chad?”
Her aunt and uncle nodded and smiled at Chad. “It is nice to meet your friends, hija,” Uncle Tito said. Even though he was her uncle, he still called Anna daughter in Spanish because she was like one to him and her aunt.
“Are you staying for refreshments?” Aunt Maria asked Chad. “I brought my tres leches cake, Anna’s favorite.”
Anna held her breath, hoping Chad would say no.
Chad looked at Anna and smiled. “I would love to.”
Anna swallowed. “Why don’t we go before all of the cake is gone?”
Uncle Tito chuckled. “Maria’s cakes are popular.”
Maria gave an approving smile, as if she thought Chad was there because he was interested in her in a romantic way.
Trying to look relaxed, Anna hooked her arm in her aunt’s with Josie taking her opposite hand. Tears pushed at the backs of Anna’s eyes and she struggled to keep a single tear from falling. This was her family, the people she loved, and Chad was threatening them to blackmail her.
Refreshments were always in a large basement room at the back of the church. Anna wasn’t hungry but took a piece of her aunt’s cake and ate it so that her aunt wouldn’t worry that she was ill. Heaven forbid that Anna imply she wasn’t feeling well. Aunt Maria would be mothering her the rest of the day.
When Aunt Maria and Uncle Tito were occupied, talking with friends, Anna turned to find Chad standing behind her. He was holding a paper cup filled with punch and he took a drink while his eyes met hers.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded in a low tone.
“I’m doing what you are blackmailing me to do.” She clenched one hand into a fist, the other holding the plate with what was left of her cake. “Stay away from my family.”
“Blackmail?” He raised his brows. “All I did was ask you to get in good with Sheriff McBride.”
“That’s a load of—” She took a deep breath and let it out. “Call it whatever you want, but you know it is blackmail.”
“As long as you know I’m serious, we’re fine.” Chad gave a shrug of one shoulder. “Make sure you update me regularly.” He drank from his punch cup.
She really, really wanted to slap him. Instead she gritted her teeth then said, “I went out with him yesterday. I’ll start working on his campaign on Monday.”
“I’m impressed.” Chad smiled and nodded. “You’re working faster than I expected. Look what can be accomplished when you’re properly motivated.”
She thought seriously about smashing the rest of her cake into his face but managed to restrain herself. “I’ll be in touch if I learn anything that might be of use to you.” She said the last words with distaste.
“Good.” Chad tossed his empty paper cup into a nearby garbage can. “I’ll plan on talking with you soon.”
Anna clenched her jaw as she watched him wend his way through the crowded room.
“Is something wrong, hija?” Aunt Maria laid her hand on Anna’s arm.
Anna fixed a smile on her face and faced her aunt. “Not at all. I’m just a little tired. I had a long day and evening yesterday.”
“You should rest when we get home,” Maria said.
With a shake of her head, Anna put her hand over her aunt’s. “I’m fine. I’m going to help with Sunday dinner as usual.”
Maria raised her other hand and patted Anna’s. “Are you ready to go home?”
“Yes.” Anna felt some relief as her aunt let her concern slide. “Is everyone else set to go?”
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