“Too bad they never worked,” I remind her. “Dad always saw straight through my excuses. One time he even threatened to take my guitar away if I didn’t get my work done. You volunteered to pitch in to help me, so I’d finish it quicker.”
“I was just trying to find any excuse to be with you. Even shucking corn or riding around on a tractor wasn’t a chore when we were together.”
I lift her chin up to gaze deeply into her eyes. “What about you, Ginny? What do you want me to do? This whole time we’ve been talking about this situation as if it is only about my family and my career. About what I want. You should know you’re now a part of this decision too.”
She gently brushes the hair back from my forehead and stares deep into my eyes. “No matter how many times you ask me, my answer will always be the same. I want you to be happy. Music is what lights you up on the inside. That’s the bottom line in this equation.”
I kiss the top of her head, wrap my arms around her, and hold her closer against me. The thought of losing Ginny now is unbearable to me. I can’t let my mind even consider the possibility. “The sun will be going down soon,” I say. “We should probably be thinking about eating the picnic I packed and then heading back toward town.”
“Five more minutes,” she says. “I don’t want to spoil the moment.”
“Deal,” I say, then cock my head to one side. “Hang on. Do you hear something?” I ask, lifting my head up a few inches from the blanket.
“What? An animal? It might be a deer running through the woods.”
“No, more like the sound of an engine. Listen a second to see if you can hear it too.”
After a few moments of silence, her eyes grow wide and she scrambles off me in a panic
“Get up! Hurry! Someone’s coming up the road.”
21
Ginny
“What are you panicking over?” he asks, chuckling at my distress.
“I’m the town pharmacist,” I explain. “I can’t be caught on a blanket in a field alone with the famous Luke Collins. What will people say?”
“Are you serious?” he teases, knowing full well how the women in the town like to gossip.
“Luke! This isn’t the time to joke around. I have a reputation to uphold.”
“Alright, calm down. I’ll pack up the stuff and we’ll head back to the truck.” He reaches down and starts putting the food back into the basket. “Are you sure we don’t have time for a bologna sandwich?” he asks.
“We can eat it in the truck.” I snatch one corner of the blanket off the ground and fold it up neatly.
“Oh no, too late,” Luke mutters. “It looks like we’ve got company.” Two uniformed men suddenly walk out of the line of trees by the truck. “It’s the local cops. Do you know them?”
“No,” I reply, not sure if that’s good or bad.
The men are wearing the tan uniforms of the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. Both have on broad wide-brimmed hats and dark-tinted sunglasses. They walk slowly through the knee-high wild grass toward us. They’re a scary, forbidding pair.
“Let me do the talking,” Luke mutters. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”
“Evening folks,” the tallest officer says when they reach us. He waves a hand at our picnic blanket. “What’s going on here?”
“Good evening, officers,” Luke answers politely. “We were just having ourselves a little picnic in the woods. We were already packing up since it’s getting dark. Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to clean up our mess and not leave any trash behind.”
“Did you know this is private property?” the second, more heavy-set officer asks. His gaze turns to me and he eyes me carefully. He slowly takes in my windblown hair, my bare feet, and the now wrinkled dress. I wonder what he thinks we were doing. Something tells me he’s imagining the worst about me. My face flushes in embarrassment.
“We saw the posted sign down at the main road, but we thought that meant not to hunt on the property,” Luke replies with a casual shrug. “We’re not bothering anything and we’re certainly not hunting in June.”
“How did you get past the gate?” the officer asks while the other reaches down to slide the lid off the cooler with the toe of his boot.
“I opened it,” Luke answers. “There wasn’t a chain or anything. It was unlocked.”
“Did you see the ‘No Trespassing’ sign when you unlatched the gate and pushed it open?”
“Yeah, I did,” Luke answers slowly. “Is that a problem?”
“Let me get this straight,” the officer says. “You knowingly entered private property without permission from the landowner?”
“I don’t know the current owner,” Luke says. “We used to come up here all the time years ago. We never caused any problems.”
“Times have changed over the years. We’ve had trouble with groups of kids coming onto private property and tearing things up. Everything from partying to leaving campfires unattended. Last year, two little kids were playing with matches in the woods. Before the fire department could put the fire out, almost twenty homes burned down. Whenever we receive a call about trespassing, we always check it out now.”
The second officer points to the cooler. “Have either of you been drinking this evening?” he asks. “There wouldn’t happen to be a six-pack of beer in that cooler, would there?”
“What if there was?” Luke replies with a shrug. “We’re grown adults.”
Wrong answer. Why would he say something crazy like that?
“How about you, miss?” the officer turns to ask me.
“No, I haven’t been drinking,” I reply. “We haven’t been drinking. Like Luke said, we were just having a little picnic.”
“Which one of you is driving the truck with the rental tag?” The officer tilts his head toward where the truck is parked behind the trees.
“I am,” we both say at the same time. Luke catches my eye and winks at me.
The lead officer takes off his sunglasses without a word, cleans them, and slips them back on. “Well? Which one is it?” he asks. “One of you is obviously lying. Who is driving the truck?”
“I am,” Luke says.
“That’s what I thought,” the officer says, nodding.
Luke steps closer to the officer and lifts his hands. “We were just trying to have a peaceful evening. I don’t know what’s happening here, but I’m sure it’s just a big understanding. I’m Luke Collins. The country music singer. You might have heard of me. My driver’s license is in my wallet.” He reaches for his pocket.
“Don’t move!” the officer yells, whipping out his gun and pointing it straight at Luke. “Put your hands on your head.”
The other officer grabs my upper arm and I let out a surprised yelp. What does he think? That I might have a pistol tucked under my sundress?
“What are you doing?” Luke yells. “Don’t touch her!”
“Luke, don’t,” I mutter to him in warning. He’s only going to make this worse. I can already tell. Luke has a temper. Once he gets heated up, he’s hard to calm down.
“This is ridiculous,” he says, growing angrier. “All we did was drive around a gate. We’re not breaking any laws here as far as I know.”
“You’re trespassing on private property,” the officer says. “That’s a law.”
Luke doesn’t answer. Suddenly he lowers his hands, slaps his legs, and bursts out laughing. The officer doesn’t move and keeps his gun leveled at Luke’s head.
“Alright guys, you got me,” Luke says with a big grin. “Who put you up to this prank? My band? I’m going to kill them when I get back to Nashville. You two had me going there for a minute. I’ll admit it. You’re good.”
Luke has lost his mind. We’re in so much trouble now.
By now I’ve recognized one of the sheriff’s deputies. He shops at the drugstore with his wife and kids. “This isn’t a joke, Luke,” I say.
The officers glance at each other over our heads. “We’d better call it in
,” the lead officer tells the other.
“Call what in?” Luke asks, his voice rising. “Don’t you think this has gone far enough? You got me good, okay? But there’s no need to spoil the evening.”
“You’re trespassing and from the sound of your voice, on the verge of resisting arrest,” the officer says. “Which I would highly advise you not to do.”
“You’re serious?” Luke asks, looking back and forth between the two officers while the truth sinks in. “In that case, I know my rights,” he adds firmly, standing up straighter.
Oh no, another wrong answer.
“Good, I’m glad. Then you know that you’re welcome to call your lawyer after you’re booked at the police station. Which will take a few hours. Let’s go.”
“Wait! Hang on. Isn’t there anything I can do to fix this?” Luke asks. “Honestly fellows, this situation has escalated for no good reason. I’m sure the sheriff’s department could use a few more bulletproof jackets or maybe even a drug-sniffing German Shepherd. I’ve heard they’re crazy expensive. Tell me what you need. I’d be glad to help out by making a donation. I’ve heard times are tough in Lee County, and I want to do my part.”
The officer lets out a loud sigh and glances back over at the second one. “Add trying to bribe a police officer to that charge,” he says. “Put your hands behind your back, buddy. Your big mouth has earned you a trip down to the police station.”
“You too, miss,” the other officer says.
“She’s under arrest too?” Luke asks with the reality of the situation finally sinking in. “Don’t worry, Ginny,” he says to me over his shoulder. “I’ll take care of this.”
“No, but she’s coming along for the ride and for questioning at the police station.”
The officers lead us back to their black, four-wheel drive sheriff’s department vehicle parked beside the rental truck. They put Luke into the back seat and motion for me to slide in beside him.
“I’m so sorry, Ginny,” Luke says to me while the officers get into the front. “This isn’t how I wanted our romantic evening to end.”
“Hey! No talking back there,” the officer warns, glancing at us in his rearview mirror. “Or touching.”
I nod back at him and keep my gaze focused out the window to keep from meeting Luke’s eyes. The date has turned into a disaster that I couldn’t have anticipated in my wildest dreams. When we start down the bumpy road, Luke moves his knee closer to touch mine. I don’t dare glance at him for fear of getting him into more trouble with the officers.
One thing is for sure.
Life with Luke is never boring.
22
Luke
The ride to the police station is one of the longest hours in my life. I desperately want to put my arms around Ginny, pull her close, and apologize. Instead my hands are cuffed behind my back like a hardened criminal. I try to catch Ginny’s eyes, but she’s staring out the window and not even glancing my way. I’ve messed up.
Big time.
For once in my life, I should’ve kept my mouth shut instead of trying to sweet talk my way out of things. Now I’ve dragged Ginny into my problems. Her hands are folded primly in her lap. Her pretty dress is wrinkled and there’s a stray flower petal sticking out of her hair.
Ginny has never been in trouble in her life except when she’s with me. Now I’ve put her in a position where she’ll be embarrassed and humiliated. I can’t blame her if she never wants to see me again. With any luck, once we get to the police station, she can hurry on home and this will be something we’ll laugh about tomorrow. Or if not tomorrow, by next week maybe. After forever, we arrive at the police station and the officers haul us both out of the car. Once inside, they quickly separate us on opposite sides of a busy room.
Immediately, I begin to draw stares from the other officers, and then the whispers start. There’s no need to hear their lowered voices to know exactly what’s being said about me.
“Is that Luke Collins? Why was he brought in? Isn’t that the pharmacist who works at the drugstore with him? I knew he was no-good!”
Half of the officers in the room are already discreetly reaching for their cellphones to type out a message to their girlfriend or wife.
“You’re not going to believe who was just arrested. Luke Collins!”
My arrest will be big news in a town with only one traffic light. By morning, the whole town will be talking about me and Ginny. She’s still sitting on the other side of her room with her head down, her long hair covering one side of her face. The arresting officer is standing in front of her, lecturing her loudly and giving her a strict warning about not trespassing onto private property. I’m worried this might get back to her boss at the pharmacy.
“Do you understand everything I’m saying to you?” the officer asks, talking down to Ginny as if she’s sixteen years old instead of a highly-educated woman.
Ginny nods solemnly. “Yes, sir.”
“Alright then, you’re free to go.”
He motions to a uniformed woman who’s sitting at a desk full of unorganized papers. “Can you make sure she has a ride home before she leaves the building?” he asks before turning Ginny over to the female officer, who leads her firmly toward the door.
“Ginny!” I call out to her before she gets out of earshot. “Wait a second!” She stops walking and glances back over her shoulder. “Don’t call Matthew,” I say. “I don’t want to bother him with this. He has enough on his plate to deal with me.”
“Who am I supposed to call then?” she asks in a desperate voice. “How do I get you out? I don’t know what to do. Tell me. I can’t leave you in jail.”
“I’ll call my manager. He’ll know ten lawyers who can be here in no time. Go home. I’ll be out by morning. Don’t worry.”
“I can’t leave you overnight in the county jail,” she says. “I’ll call Dad. He might know how to post bail.”
“No! Please don’t call your dad. I’ll take care of it. Go home, Ginny.”
The female officer she’s been turned over to tugs on her arm. “Come on, miss,” she says. “Talking time is over. You need to call a ride.”
I watch her walk away until she’s out of sight. Another office returns to uncuff me and take me to a room where I’m instructed to empty my pockets. A bored female officer behind a glass window dons a pair of gloves and calls out each item to me as she carefully logs it into inventory; my cellphone, the truck keys, a pocketknife given to me by Dad years ago, credit cards, and the big wad of cash in my leather wallet. When she’s finished, she raises her eyebrows at me in question. I don’t offer one single word in explanation. She obviously already has formed her own opinion of me. She can think what she wants.
After positioning me in front of a wall, she takes my mugshot. There’s no doubt in my mind it’ll hit social media before I can get out. The record label will be furious. Not only have I bailed on the tour, now I’m doing real damage to the image they’ve carefully constructed for me.
They finally allow me my one phone call. Taking a deep breath, I pick up the receiver and dial the only person who I know for certain will take my call on a Sunday night.
“Harry?” I say when he picks up his cellphone after two rings. “It’s Luke. We’ve got a big problem. I need your help.”
23
Ginny
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Misty says in a rush after I call her from the police station and explain my situation. “Don’t panic. We’ll figure something out about Luke. Sit tight until I get there.”
“Okay,” I say. “Thank you.”
I hang up my cellphone and turn to the female officer standing beside me. “My friend is coming now to pick me up,” I tell her. “She’ll be here in a few minutes. She lives not too far away from here.”
She nods at me. “Was that Luke Collins that came in with you?” she asks. Her question tells me she already knows the answer. “What were you two doing to get arrested? It must’ve been somethi
ng serious.”
“Nothing,” I say, letting out a long sigh and dropping my head into my hands.
There’s no point in denying it was Luke or reminding her she shouldn’t be asking me legal questions without an attorney present.
“Don’t you work at the drugstore?” she asks, giving me a closer inspection. “I was in there last week to pick up allergy medicine. I remember you took the time to come out from behind the counter and help me choose the right one. Pollen was killing me.”
“Yes, I’m a pharmacist there. I thought I recognized you too. Did the medicine help?”
“I can breathe now, so the answer is yes. You seem nice, so I’m going to return the good deed. Karma and all that jazz. You might be interested to know there are a few people with cameras lurking around outside in the parking lot. Unless you want your photograph splashed all over the place, keep your head down when you walk outside.”
“Photographers?” I ask in surprise. “They already know Luke is here? How is that possible? We came in less than an hour ago.”
“Sweet Rose Canyon is a small town,” she says in explanation. “Everyone knows everything going on. People talk. Even my mama knew Luke was in town for a visit, and she hates country music. Word spreads fast when the gossip is juicy.”
“Thank you,” I say. “I appreciate it more than you know. If I can ever help you out in the drugstore again, please ask for me.”
While I wait for Misty, I can’t help but wonder if the paparazzi has been stalking Luke since he arrived in town. It’s unnerving to think about and more than a little creepy. I don’t like the thought of strangers following us and watching our every move.
“Ginny! Thank goodness you’re okay! I drove ninety miles an hour to get here.” Misty rushes into the room, full of worry and concern for me. She grabs me in a big hug, almost squeezing the air out of my lungs before I pry her arms off. “Did the officers hurt you in any way?” She takes my arms and starts examining them carefully for bruises and then checks one side of my face and then the other.
Every Good Cowboy Deserves A Second Chance Page 17
