The Heart the Cowboy Broke

by M J Andrews

  "Spit it out Deputy," he snipped.

  "S-Sir, the young man is your nephew. Jordan is on her way but I suspect she'll want to speak with you."

  "God damn it, Leo! I'll be there in five minutes Parker," he barked before he hung up the phone and he ran his hand over his face.

  It was too early in the morning to be dealing with that shit. Leo had been struggling since Jordan informed him of the plan for adoption. Leo's mother consented to have her parental rights stripped, but Leo continued to hold out hope for her. Rather than settling into his life, he pushed Jordan to her limits and this was the icing on the cake.

  Sawyer parked in his spot in front of the office and spied Jordan walking towards him. Ah, shit… She was beyond pissed and he could tell just from the death to everyone look on her face.

  "Jordan, I need you to stay calm right now," he prompted, as she joined him to walk into the office.

  "Did you seriously just tell me to stay calm. In the twenty-nine years, you've known me has telling me to stay calm ever worked?" she asked, as she followed him into his office and slammed the door behind her. He already felt a headache coming and it wasn't even nine am.

  He sat in his leather chair and eyed the stack of paperwork mounting on his desk. "Jordan, I will talk with him and the prosecutor, but this isn't the first charge he has had and I suspect they'll want to make an example out of him. Let me get the details and find out when he's due to appear in court. In the meantime, you might want to get a lawyer for him."

  She dropped into the chair in front of his desk, shoulders slumped and tears filled up in her beautiful jade eyes. Dark circles had taken residency under those eyes and he could tell she'd been worrying more often as the crease in between her brows was deeper.

  "Sawyer, I'm at a loss. I don't know how to help him. He won't let me in and it's killing me to see him self-destruct this way." She ran her fingers across her cheeks to catch the free tears.

  Sawyer rounded the desk and took her in his arms. It was hard to see his strong and resilient sister falling apart. She sobbed into his chest and he kissed the top of her head before pulling back and meeting her gaze.

  "I'll do what I can Jo Jo. Do you know any lawyers you can call?" he asked softly.

  "The court-appointed one has already dealt with Leo before and it's clear he has no interest in fighting for him. He's already typed him as a lost cause. I'll make some calls and see if I can find another more appropriate while he's waiting."

  He nodded and moved to leave the office, "Stay as long as you need, but I'm going to speak with him."

  He stepped out of the office and found Parker to get the full report on what happened. Parker was sitting at his desk and rose as Sawyer's steps approached.

  "Sir, here's the report, you may want to look it over before you go talk to him," Parker handed him the file with a serious expression.

  Sawyer reviewed the complaint and the charges. Criminal trespassing, vandalism, destruction of property, resisting arrest, and …possession? What the fuck? Sawyer looked up at Parker from the top of the file.

  "What are you not telling me, Parker?"

  "Sir, Leo was doing more than spray painting penises on storefronts. He appeared under the influence of something according to the arresting deputy and he put up a struggle. He took a swing at Collins and when they frisked him they found a small baggy of marijuana."

  Sawyer's hand immediately went to the bridge of his nose as he felt the migraine increase pressure behind his eyes. He was going to kill him. There was no way he would make it out of those charges freely.

  "For your own safety Parker, do not speak to Jordan about this. Don't even make eye contact, got it? She's medusa today because she will turn you to stone if she hears anything she doesn't want to hear."

  "Yes, sir," Parker nodded.

  Sawyer entered the holding cells and spotted Leo laying on the hard as nails cot. It was a good thing there was a wall of bars between them right now. His eyes were closed and it looked like he was sleeping. This kid. Using his flashlight, Sawyer wasted no time banging on the bars starling his nephew and caused him to fall on his ass.

  "What the fuck?" he shouted before he turned and realized who he was talking with. "Shit, Sawyer… Listen, I'm really sorry and I've done the time. Can you please get me out of this hellhole?" he pleads.

  What a sense of entitlement the punk had if he thought he was going to walk away from this. Sawyer leaned on the wall and crossed his arms over his broad chest.

  "Here's the thing Leo, there's nothing I can do to help you weasel your way out of this. You're a minor but the prosecutor could ask to try you as an adult given that this isn't your first infraction."

  "W-What do you mean? I'm a child!" he screamed.

  "You are a child. A child making a terrible decision and causing the adults in his life who love him to go through hell. I have a crying, stressed out sister in my office because of your poor decisions. How would you feel if it was Emma who was distraught and upset?"

  His face fell and softened at the mention of his little sister. He may very well be a little shit, but he would do anything for that little girl.

  "I never thought about that," he mumbled, as he ran his hands through his hair.

  "Where did you get the drugs?" Sawyer asked, "Was it yours? Are you using?"

  "No! No, I was drinking last night but I swear I wasn't smoking anything. I was holding on to it for a friend."

  "Oh c'mon Leo! Who are you trying to fool here? That's the oldest excuse in the book," he bellowed.

  "I know… what happens next?"

  "Well, Jordan is working on getting you a lawyer before you have to appear in front of the judge. Hopefully, you'll be released into her care while the lawyers do their jobs. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable because if you don't get released, you'll be heading to juvenile detention," he said, as he headed towards the door.

  "I'm sorry," Leo mumbled. Sawyer turned to face him.

  "I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to right now. No matter how hard you push us away Leo, we will be there, whether you like that or not. You are part of our family, adoption or not."

  Sawyer made his way to his office to speak with Jordan but stopped when the prosecutor grabbed his attention. Colin Kincaid always had a grudge against the McGuires for reasons no one knew. Colin was as slimy and manipulative as they came. He gave lawyers a bad name because he was just a creep.

  "Kincaid," Sawyer nodded.

  "McGuire. It seems one of yours has found their way into the cells again," he smirked, and Sawyer mentally envisioned beating the living shit out of him. That little comment warranted a solid right hook.

  "I think we'll push to try him as an adult, given his history," Colin examined his nails, as though he had better things to do with his time.

  An uppercut for that comment.

  "Now, now Kincaid it would seem unfair to judge a teenager for their history. If anyone should understand that, it should be you. As I recall, daddy bailed you out of many an incident," Sawyer smiled sweetly. The bastard could fly to fuck.

  He scowled and moved closer to Sawyer as if trying to intimidate him. Sawyer had several inches on him so, it was useless.

  "Tell your sister she better get a good lawyer, because I'm bringing my game to this one," he sneered, before turning on his heel and exited the office.

  He fucking hated that douche bag.

  Jordan's still sat in the chair when he returned. She jumped when he entered but immediately demanded answers about Leo. It was time to tell her everything about the charges.

  "Jordan… I think you should sit down…" Sawyer prompted, but before he could explain anything her cell phone rang.

  "Sorry, I should get this. Jessica from church has contacts in the legal area since her husband is a partner at a legal firm. She said she would call me back."

  Jordan stepped out to speak with Jessica before returning with a smile.

  "I assume you have good new
s," he prompted.

  "Jessica said her husband doesn't have the ability as he's already filled his pro bono quota, but that their daughter is in town for a bit and would be willing to assist."

  Sawyer looked up and noticed that her smile slipped.

  "That sounds like a good thing, Jo Jo. Why do you look like someone popped all the heads off your barbies?" he recalled, how pissed she was when Remi did that when they were younger. He also hid the heads in different spots around the ranch. Pretty sure there were still some missing.

  "Their daughter…" she hesitated.

  "The lawyer…" Sawyer prompted.

  Jordan grimaced and then unleashed her news. It's Lexi Scott, Sawyer."

  His heart skipped a beat and feelings he had been trying to keep buried began to surface. Lexi was back in town.

  Could things get any worse?

  Chapter 4

  Lexi

  "Lexi!" her mother called out, from the bottom of the stairs. Lexi had never been a morning person, so when her mother's yell is the first thing she hears, it made for a bad day. Lexi jumped up out of the bed, mascara turned her eyes black and her hair was matted in the back.

  Lexi rubbed her hand across her chin to wipe away the drool she was sporting before she slipped her feet into her old rabbit slippers.

  "Coming!" she bellowed in return as she pulled on her Hello Kitty bathrobe and made her way downstairs. She scuffed her way into the kitchen where her parents have gathered. She rubbed her eyes and made her way to the coffee maker when her mother speaks.

  "There she is! Oh, peanut… We figured you would have been up by now," her mother motioned her, towards the living room and grabbed her coffee. Thus, ensuring she follows. She needed her coffee in the morning to function.

  "Mama, you know I'm not a morning person and why aren't we drinking coffee in the kitchen like normal?" she whined.

  "Peanut, please come in. I'd like you to meet someone," her dad eyed her state of inappropriate meeting attire.

  "Daddy, no one said anything about meeting someone. I'm nowhere near appropriate for human sight right now."

  Her father chuckled, "I'm sure Jordan won't mind considering it's a special circumstance. Come."

  Lexi sipped her coffee and followed her father into the family room where a striking woman sat on their sofa, drinking a cup of coffee. She was tall with jade green eyes and light brown hair. She was a beautiful woman and is dressed professionally. The irony of their appearances is not lost on her. Jordan stood when Lexi entered the room and offered her hand to shake, which she accepted tentatively.

  "I'm Doctor Jordan McGuire. I'm a family friend of your parents."

  "I'm Lexi… the Scott family morning grump" she joked. Jordan smiled at her lame joke about her appearance.

  "Lexi, please have a seat," her father asked.

  They sat in the living room of her mother's unique decorating styles. Who knew there were so many different shades of white?

  "Lexi," her father started, "Jordan here has been fostering two children for a couple of years now. Emma is six and Leo is thirteen. She's in the process of adopting them." He smiled at Jordan and Lexi's respect for the woman skyrocketed. It took a special person to care for children who had trauma in their backgrounds.

  "My eldest, Leo, has been struggling with the idea of adoption and has put our family through the wringer. He's been in trouble with the law a time or two, but last night he was arrested while spray painting all the storefronts on Main Street. He also has several other charges," Jordan added.

  "Has he been appointed a court-mandated lawyer?" Lexi asked.

  "He had used the mandated lawyer before, but honestly, we didn't feel that he wanted to fight for Leo. And right now, he needs someone who will be able to fight for him."

  Lexi shook her head in confusion, "I don't understand what this has to do with me?"

  "Lexi I'd like for you to attend his first appearance as a favor to Jordan. Right now Leo is still locked up and they'd like for him to be released into the custody of his family pending trial," her father said.

  "Okay. But Dad you know that I'm only here for a couple of weeks. Once Nana's will reading is settled, I'll be making my way back to New York," she countered. "I have no issue assisting right now, but I won't be here for the trial."

  "We know that, but until I can assign the file to someone at the firm I thought you would be the best option. I also took into consideration that the prosecutor is Colin Kincaid and I want someone who can match his ability in the courtroom. I don't doubt that he will want to make an example of Leo," he said.

  Her father had always been passionate about fighting for the underdog and Leo certainly seemed to have experienced enough in his short lifetime.

  "Ok. When's the bail hearing?" Lexi asked.

  "This afternoon at two pm," Jordan advised.

  Standing, Lexi laid her empty cup on the table and nodded at her father. "I guess I should go get dressed. I'll want to meet with Leo before the court this afternoon, speak with the arresting officer, his social worker, and the prosecutor to see what we can do about some of those charges," she confirmed.

  Tears filled Jordan's eyes as she grabbed Lexi and pulled her into a hug. Lexi wasn't accustomed to her clients hugging her and she awkwardly patted her back.

  "I'll wait for you and we can go together. The clinic is closed today so I can deal with this family matter," Jordan admitted.

  Lexi ran upstairs and took a quick shower before she opened her suitcase and whipped out a navy pencil skirt, ivory silk blouse, and matching blazer. She slipped her feet into her nude heels and pulled her hair back in a high bun. She applied a little makeup, but unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about the long jagged scar that ran from the crown of her head and along the side of her face. For a while, she tried to cover the scar with her hair so people wouldn't stare at her. But now, she didn't give a crap. Everyone in Silverton knew of her accident, but she didn't return afterward to face the town. She grabbed her purse and made her way to the foyer where Jordan was waiting.

  "Thank you for helping. It's really such a relief," she exclaimed.

  "It's the least I can do. Shall we?" Lexi moved over to her parents and gave them both a kiss before heading out.

  "Thank you, Peanut," her father whispered. She smiled and nodded as she left the house with Jordan. They climbed into her BMW and Lexi had to appreciate her choice of car.

  "So, Lexi… how long has it been since you've been in Silverton?" she asked. Jordan's attempt at small talk was typical and the reason she hated interacting with others when she visited home.

  "I've been gone for about ten years. I left right after high school for NYU. Then moved to attend Law School at Stanford," she answered pointedly and with as little detail as possible.

  "Have you been back to visit?"

  "Yeah, on holidays and special occasions. I visited just last month with Nana passed away. I'm visiting now because her will is being read tomorrow and I was required to be present."

  They pulled up in front of the Sheriff's office and Lexi assured Jordan that she could manage from there, leaving her in the hall to wait. Lexi climbed the stairs to the Sheriff's office and stopped at the reception desk where a young deputy sat. She approached and quickly fixed her expression to be all business. The deputy's gaze flicked to her and then did a double-take.

  "Hello. I'm the attorney Leo McGuire. I would like to speak with my client and the arresting officer."

  The deputy was adorable with his boyish features and had an innocent dumbfounded look on his face. She could eat him for breakfast.

  "Um, sure thing. I'll have the Sheriff come to speak with you," he said tentatively.

  "I'd like to see my client first as he has a hearing in less than three hours and I have many things to accomplish before then," she challenged. Lexi moved around the desk and made her way towards, what she assumed was the holding cells. She looked at the young buck's name tag.

  "Deputy
Johnson is it?" he nodded. "Would you please unlock the required doors and provide me access to my client?" she asked. It wasn't a question as much as a demand.

  He nodded swiping his key card to provide her access to the holding cells. There she found a small boy sat on a disgusting cot with his head on his knees.

  "Leo?" she asked. His head perked up and he walked towards the bars.

  "That's me. Are you the lawyer?".

  "I am. My name is Lexi and I'll be attending court this afternoon to discuss your bail. I assume the Sheriff spoke with you about the charges you're facing," she sternly addressed the boy. This shouldn't be a pleasant process for anyone, but especially someone so young and impressionable.