An Officer and a Maverick

by Teresa Southwick

  Gage appeared in the doorway and did a double take when he saw them in the cell. “What the hell?”

  “Boy, am I glad to see you.” Russ dragged his fingers through his hair.

  “You want to explain to me what’s going on here?” the sheriff asked.

  “Not really. But I guess you should know, since you’re the boss.” Russ took a deep breath. “I lost the key.”

  A wry look settled on Gage’s face. “I’m not a detective like you, but I sort of figured that out. It’s the part where you’re in the cell with Lani Dalton that could use some kind of explanation.”

  “I arrested her for creating a public disturbance.”

  “It’s true,” said Lani, looking as apologetic as possible—and truthfully, she felt pretty bad at the moment. At least, about nearly getting caught doing the deed with Russ. She’d only meant to stop him from arresting her brother, not get him in trouble altogether! “I was dancing in the park fountain. And I pulled him in. I swear I didn’t have liquor. Not really. They’d said that punch was only sparkling wine, but punch was sure the right word for the wallop it gave me—”

  “This is my responsibility—” Russ’s voice was clipped.

  She felt the least she could do was come to his defense, since this was all her fault. But he gave her a don’t-do-me-any-favors glare that kept her silent.

  “Be that as it may,” Gage said, “Russ, I’d like to know why you were on that side of the barred door when it automatically closed.”

  “Lani—the prisoner—was anxious about being left alone. And argumentative.”

  “You couldn’t have calmed her down and argued with her while standing over here?” Shaking his head, Gage put a hand on the barred door in question. “Rookie mistake.”

  “How long before I live this down?” Russ asked.

  “Hard to say. Could take on legend status,” the sheriff told him, grinning. He inserted the key, and the lock opened with a loud click. “Good thing I have another set of keys or you’d be stuck in there a whole lot longer.”

  Lani was okay with that, but one look at Russ told her that one minute more than necessary in here with her was about as appealing as brain surgery with a chain saw. When the door slid wide, Russ walked out and Lani started to follow him. He stopped, and she ran into his broad back.

  “Not so fast.” He turned and looked down at her. “In case it slipped your mind, I arrested you.”

  It kind of had slipped her mind, what with having sex in the slammer. She may have locked them in, but he’d started that. All things considered, the park incident felt like years instead of hours ago, and her head was starting to pound.

  “Let her go, Russ.” Gage rested his hands on his hips. “Given the way this night has gone, her behavior is small potatoes. Sometimes you can pick and choose which hill to die on, and this is one of those times. She’s not a hardened criminal, and it was nothing more than mischief. You and I have more important things to deal with right now.”

  Russ looked at the sheriff for several moments then nodded. “Whatever you say.”

  “Do you need a ride home, Lani?” Gage asked.

  “No.” She was already feeling guilty for taking up law enforcement time on false pretenses.

  “Okay, then. Don’t get into any more trouble and make me regret cutting you some slack.” Gage gave her the intimidating lawman look that was becoming familiar tonight.

  She saluted. “Yes, sir.”

  Gage grinned again then turned and walked out, leaving them alone on the free side of the cell door. Lani was feeling equally happy to be sprung and guilty for what she’d done. Even though protecting her brother was a sound enough reason as far as she was concerned. But all of a sudden it seemed very important that Russ not think too badly of her.

  She cleared her throat. “Russ, I just want to say—”

  “Not now, Lani. I’ve got work to do. And first I have to make sure you get home okay.”

  He walked her to the door of the sheriff’s office then opened it and waited for her to go outside. When she did, he let the automatic locking door close behind them then moved to the sheriff’s cruiser parked at the curb and opened the rear door. She had no choice but to get in.

  Shouldn’t she feel better about this reprieve? About this get-out-of-jail-free card? She probably would except that she felt guilty, and Russ refused to even look at her.

  So nothing had changed. He was back to ignoring her.

  Chapter Three

  When Russ pulled the sheriff’s department cruiser to a stop in front of her house, Lani opened the rear door. It was a short ride from the office, but he hadn’t said a word to her the whole time. The overhead light revealed the tension tightening his jaw.

  “Can you get inside by yourself?” he asked.

  She almost winced at the curt, cold tone. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “There might not be anyone home. You don’t have a purse and that means no keys.”

  Guilt swept through her, and she wished for another cup of wedding reception punch and whatever magical ingredient had made her bold and fearless. She didn’t feel that way now.

  “I can get in. Thanks.” She met his gaze. “Look, Russ, let me just say—”

  “Please close the door, Lani.”

  “Okay. I’m sorry. Good night.” Empty words because she knew his night had already been anything but good. Thanks to her. But the next time she saw him at the Ace in the Hole, she would buy him a beer and not let him ignore her. “I appreciate you bringing me home.”

  She got out, shut the cruiser door then watched until the red taillights disappeared when he turned the corner. One glance at the house’s dark windows told her that her parents and sister were in bed, which was a big relief. There might just be a chance that her fountain performance would slide by under the Dalton family radar.

  Her parents kept an emergency house key hidden in the backyard under one of the bricks that lined the patio. She retrieved it and let herself in the French door to the family room. Moving quietly through the shadowy interior toward the kitchen, she saw the microwave’s green digital readout of the time. Holy cow, how did it get to be so late?

  Apparently, time really did fly when one was having fun. And she really had been—between the time she’d gotten Russ talking about himself and the moment he’d frozen her out after making love to her. Probably she should feel remorse about being “easy” but couldn’t muster it. What happened had really meant something to her but now, thinking about being in his arms, the experience seemed surreal, as if she’d been dreaming.

  It was good she wouldn’t have to face her family right now. She’d have time for her head to clear and sort out what went down before seeing anyone.

  Suddenly, she heard the click of a light switch and lights blazed on.

  “Where in the world have you been?” Her sister, Lindsay, was standing at the bottom of the stairs where the kitchen, family room and front hall all came together.

  Startled, Lani let out a screech. “Dear God, you scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry.” Her sister didn’t sound sorry. She sounded irritated and anxious. “I heard noises and came down to check it out.”

  “Why are you still up?”

  “Couldn’t sleep. I was worried. In the park I looked everywhere for you. We were supposed to meet after the fireworks and come home together.”

  “Unless one of us hooked up, remember?” When they’d discussed the plan, Lani had added that but was joking. She wasn’t psychic and never in the world could have predicted she would hook up with Russ.

  “I guess that means you were with a guy?” Lindsay’s brown hair was pulled into a messy ponytail on top of her head. She was wearing boxer-style sleep shorts with SpongeBob SquarePants printed on them and a pink,
spaghetti-strapped tank top.

  “Define with,” Lani hedged.

  “Look, I saw you get out of the sheriff’s car just now. Why did he drive you home? Something is up, and I want to know what it is.”

  Her sister’s voice was a little louder, and Lani glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor, where her parents were sleeping. “Shh. You’ll wake Mom and Dad.”

  “I’m okay with that.” Lindsay folded her arms over her chest. “What in the world has gotten into everyone tonight? You disappeared. Travis and Anderson got into it with Skip Webster in the park—”

  After what happened with Russ in jail, Lani had forgotten about her brother. “Is he okay?”

  “Skip is fine. He has a fat lip, but with that temper of his it’s not the first time.”

  “Not Skip! Anderson. And Travis,” she added.

  “The boys are fine. Upstairs sleeping it off. Anderson had too much to drink to drive himself back to his place and bunked in his old room for the night. But it’s not like them to drink that much.” Lindsay gave her an accusing look. “I could have used your help. Where were you? Are you okay? And why did the sheriff bring you home?”

  “Technically it wasn’t the sheriff,” she said cautiously.

  “That’s not the point.” But then she said, “So who was it?”

  “Russ Campbell.”

  “Who?”

  “I’ve told you about him. The detective from Kalispell PD who comes in to the Ace in the Hole.” And acts as if I’m invisible, she thought.

  Lindsay looked puzzled for a moment, then the confusion cleared. “Yeah. The really cute cop who doesn’t know you’re alive?”

  He does now, Lani thought. After what they did, he would have a hard time ignoring her from now on. But she only said, “That’s the one. He was working a shift for Gage Christensen because of the holiday and wedding reception in the park.”

  “Smart,” Lindsay said. “It was crazy out there. I still can’t believe I had the guts to get between our brothers and Skip Webster. It’s weird. And all I had to drink was the punch from the reception.”

  “Weird, all right,” Lani agreed.

  “And you still haven’t explained where you were tonight.”

  “Oh, you know—”

  “Not really. And that’s why I’m asking.” Lindsay’s blue eyes narrowed.

  Lani wasn’t up for this. “Look, just because you’re in law school and working in Dad’s office this summer doesn’t mean you can cross-examine me.”

  “And just because I’m the baby of the family doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to know what’s going on. If you won’t tell me where you were, I’m sure Dad can get it out of you. We both know how good he is.”

  Her sister half turned, as if to head upstairs and make good on her threat. “Wait,” Lani said. “Don’t wake him. It’s late.”

  “Okay, then, spill.”

  She took a deep breath and said, “I was arrested.”

  “What?”

  “I was dancing in the park fountain. Singing, too. When Russ Campbell tried to pull me out, I pulled him in.” Lani shrugged. “I forced him to take me to jail.”

  “Why would you do that?” Lindsay blinked, completely at a loss.

  “Seemed like a good way to keep Detective Campbell from arresting Anderson for assault and battery.”

  “So you took one for Team Dalton?” The younger sister shook her head. “That fight was no big deal.”

  “But Skip Webster was demanding someone be arrested, and Russ seemed more than happy to oblige.”

  “But there was no real harm done. Surely Dad would have gotten Anderson out of jail and smoothed it over.”

  “I figured it would go easier for me. Being a woman. And being a public nuisance is less serious than punching someone.”

  “You do realize,” Lindsay started, “that Dad would say you should have let our intoxicated brothers suffer the consequences of their actions?”

  That sounded about right for Ben Dalton, Lani thought. But she couldn’t reveal the real reason it was necessary to keep Anderson’s record spotless. When their brother was ready, he would tell the rest of the family.

  “At the time, it seemed like a good idea to keep Russ distracted.”

  “Russ? Sounds like you got pretty chummy with him in the clink.” Lindsay stared her down. “You’re not saying anything, and I know that look on your face.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.” She knew exactly what her sister meant. They were close enough that the sisters knew if one wasn’t telling the whole truth.

  “Then I’ll put a finer point on it.” Lindsay moved closer. “You just said you had to keep Russ distracted. That sounds premeditated to me. And you’re on a first-name basis with him. Just what did you do to keep him distracted?”

  Lani felt heat creep up her neck and settle in her cheeks. If only she could have put a bag over her head.

  Lindsay’s eyes grew wide even though Lani hadn’t said a word. “You didn’t.”

  “Of course I didn’t sleep with him.”

  “I didn’t say you slept with him. What makes you think that’s what I meant? Why is that the first thing that popped into your head?”

  “Good gravy, Lindsay.” Lani had no doubt her sister would be a very good lawyer someday. “You sound like a prosecutor.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” There was a pleased expression on her pretty face just before her eyes narrowed. “But I’m not stupid, sis. Something happened between you and Russ. You were gone for hours, and I’d like an explanation.”

  “It’s not a big deal.” Liar, she thought. She would throw her sister a bone and get her off that line of questioning. “We were in the locked cell together. I managed to take his keys and hide them. And before you start, I didn’t want him to dump me there just so he could go back to the park and arrest Anderson.”

  “This just gets better and better.” Lindsay shook her head. “I’m speechless.”

  “That’s a first.”

  “How did you finally get out?”

  “Gage came looking for Russ. He let us out. When Russ wanted to keep me in jail, the sheriff talked him out of it and said there were bigger problems to deal with.”

  “That’s true,” her sister said. “But I can’t believe how underhanded you are.”

  “You say underhanded, I say resourceful. The good news is that Anderson is in the clear.”

  Lindsay met her gaze. “You’re the one I’m worried about. He didn’t get arrested. I hope Russ doesn’t change his mind and press charges.”

  Lani hoped so, too.

  * * *

  When her alarm clock went off at zero-dark-thirty, Lani felt as if she’d just closed her eyes. But the holiday was over and she had to work at the ranch today. The cows and horses still got hungry and needed attention even if their humans got only a couple hours of sleep. As motivational speeches went it wasn’t great, but she didn’t have the energy to kick herself in the ass.

  She dragged on jeans, shirt and boots. Pulled her hair into a ponytail, brushed her teeth, washed her face and put on sunscreen. On her way downstairs she smelled coffee, and her attitude perked up a little, no pun intended. No one in this house but her was ever up this early and brewed coffee, so there must be a God.

  She walked into the kitchen and saw Anderson grabbing the bottle of Tylenol from the cupboard above the coffeepot. She was happy that he was here and not in a jail cell.

  “Can I have a couple of those, too?” she asked.

  He held out the bottle. “You look terrible.”

  “Thanks. So do you.” Lani shook some of the white caplets into her palm. “I feel as if there are teeny, tiny elves hammering a Sousa march on the inside of my skull.”

 
“Me, too.” He poured coffee into a mug and held it out. “Can you give me a ride to my truck? It’s at the park.”

  “Sure. How did you get home last night?”

  “I’m not exactly sure.” He dragged his fingers through his brown hair. “It’s all a blur. And I don’t even know why. I feel hungover, but all I had to drink was that punch at Braden and Jennifer’s wedding reception.”

  She blew on her coffee. “So you don’t remember giving Skip Webster a fat lip?”

  There was a frown in his blue eyes as he flexed the fingers on his right hand. “Yeah, that would explain the bruised knuckles, but it’s all a blur.”

  “Hitting someone isn’t your style at all, Anderson.” She’d always looked up to her brother and knew what a good man he was. He’s the one who told her Jase Harvey was a sweet-talking charmer who would crush her heart then held her while she cried when he turned out to be right. If only she’d listened to him.

  “Dad raised us boys to never start a fight. But he always said that if anyone else did, don’t run away from it.” He rubbed a calloused thumb over the thick handle of his mug.

  “If it’s any consolation, I saw what happened. Skip swung at Travis when he wasn’t looking, and you stepped in. He hit you first.”

  “Okay, then.” He nodded grimly and met her gaze. “If you were a spectator to that, I guess that means you stayed out of trouble.”

  “Define trouble.”

  Those big-brother blue eyes of his zeroed in on her. “What happened, Lani?”

  She figured he had a right to know and was the only person she could tell the whole truth. “Russ Campbell was going to arrest you for assault and battery on Skip Webster, so I created a diversion.”

  “What did you do?”

  “It was hot.” She had been feeling no fear and wasn’t sure why. And just before the incident she’d thought about someone jumping into the fountain but hadn’t expected that person to be her. “I took a dip in the park fountain, and there might have been some singing and dancing involved.”

  His gaze narrowed. “That’s not all, is it?”