Sam Men of Clifton, Montana Book 7

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  “Problem, Sam?” Wyatt asked.

  “That damn Joe Baker is at it again. I need to head out there. You two have a good day and an even better night.” He waggled his eyebrows, grinned, put his fingers to his hat, and walked out. He jogged across the street, climbed into his patrol cruiser, and tore out of the parking lot.

  When he arrived at the Baker’s ranch, he drove up toward the barn. As he stepped out of his unit, he heard a gunshot, and quickly drew his weapon.

  Using his shoulder mic, he called it in, “Shots fired at the Baker ranch, send backup.”

  As he slowly walked toward the barn, he saw Mary Baker come running out of it. Sam ran to her when she fell to the ground. “Mary?”

  Sam rolled her over and swore aloud when he saw her bloodied and swollen face. “Where is he?” he growled. Mary pointed toward the barn. “I’ll be right back.”

  He stood and using his mic again, he called for an ambulance while he cautiously made his way through the barn with his weapon drawn and at the ready.

  “Sam?” He heard Brody call for him in a low voice from outside.

  “In the barn, Brody,” Sam yelled back in a loud whisper. It wasn’t wise to draw attention to yourself when trying to locate a dangerous man with a gun. He glanced in each stall leading with his weapon as he slowly made his way toward the back of the barn. When Brody caught up to him, he didn’t turn to look at him but kept his sights trained on the spaces in front of him. “You must have been close by.”

  “Just down the road. It looks like he beat the shit out of her,” Brody muttered from behind him.

  Sam threw a quick glance over his shoulder to see Brody sweeping the closed stalls on the other side of the barn with his weapon held out in front of him.

  “Yes, and I think I’ll do the same to him when I find the son of a bitch. You hear me, Baker. Come out, you bastard, and face me,” Sam called out.

  “Sam,” Brody said to him, and when Sam glanced over, Brody jerked his chin toward an open stall. “Looks like you’re not going to get the chance.”

  Sam frowned, strode across the barn, and looked into the stall where Brody stood already holstering his gun. Joe Baker lay in the hay with a bullet hole in his chest. Sam holstered his gun and moved to stand over him.

  “I can’t say he didn’t deserve it.” Sam took a deep breath and blew it out as he squatted down beside Joe pressing two fingers to the man’s neck to check his pulse. “He’s dead all right.” Sam looked up at Brody. “Call the coroner. I already called for an ambulance for Mary. I’ll question her at the hospital. I just hope I don’t have to arrest her.”

  “Everyone knows how he beat her.”

  “I know, and I hope to hell it was self-defense.” Sam stood and walked out of the barn to where Mary sat on the ground where she’d fallen. He crouched down beside her. Tears rolled down her face as she stared at the ground in front of her. “Are you all right, Mary?”

  Sam gently touched her shoulder but she flinched away from him.

  “I couldn’t take it any longer, Sheriff. He was going to kill me this time, I just know it.”

  “I believe you but once we get you to the hospital, I’ll need to question you about what happened, okay?” Sam glanced up when the ambulance came tearing up the drive and came to a halt throwing dust all around.

  She stared up at him. “What happened is I killed the son of a bitch. I’d just had it.”

  “I know but I’ll need details, Mary. Let the paramedics check you out then we’ll talk.”

  Mary nodded as tears rolled down her battered face. If the bastard weren’t already dead, Sam would have killed him. He hated men who beat on women. His thoughts went to Tessa. Sam clenched his fists at the thought of anyone hurting her. He swore if he ever saw her wearing a haunted expression such as Mary always wore there was no telling what he’d do to the man who caused it. He strode back to his vehicle and took a deep breath as he watched the paramedics look Mary over. One of them walked over to him.

  “She refuses to go to the hospital.”

  “Damn it,” Sam muttered as he strode back toward her. “Mary, you have to go to the hospital. I want you checked out and photos taken. Trust me it will help your case.”

  She stared up at him, seeming to give some thought to what he said, and then sighed. “All right, Sheriff.” She stood and then lay down on the stretcher. The paramedic rolled her to the ambulance.

  “I don’t think it’s hit her yet what she’s done or even that he won’t hurt her anymore,” Brody said from beside Sam.

  “I know. The son of a bitch finally got what he deserved. I’ll follow the ambulance. You wait for the coroner. I’ll see you back at the office.” Sam watched as Brody walked away then he climbed into his vehicle and drove to the hospital.

  At the hospital, Sam walked behind the paramedics pushing the stretcher carrying Mary. Sam wanted to kill Joe Baker for doing this to her but she’d beaten him to it. He stood outside the room while she put on a hospital gown. When the nurse came out, she told Sam he could go in. Mary lay on the bed looking smaller than she was.

  “I killed him, Sheriff,” she whispered as tears rolled down her swollen face. Her right eye was swollen shut, blood oozed from a busted lip, and the left side of her jaw was probably broken.

  Sam swore.

  “I know, Mary. I need to get some pictures of you and I’ll need to know exactly what happened.” Sam took pictures of her and anger flowed through him as he got closer to her and snapped the camera. He pulled a chair up beside the bed and took a seat. “Now tell me what happened, Mary.”

  “I was in the barn with my pistol because earlier I’d seen a snake and I wanted to be prepared if I saw it again.” She shrugged. “Joe came into the barn and told me to fix him something to eat. I was walking out with him when Trick Dillon came by and got on Joe about our cattle being on his property again.” Mary gazed at Sam. “I knew what he was doing but you know how Joe is. I couldn’t tell him anything. Anyway, Joe would deliberately cut the fence line so the cattle could eat in Trick’s pastures.” She shook her head. “He cut the fence in several places. Trick came over a few times a week. He’d herd them back to our land and fix the fence, but Joe would just cut it again. Anyway, Trick told him to keep the cattle on our side or he’d call you again. After Trick left, Joe started yelling about everything—the horses, the cattle, Trick, you, and me. He really got mad when I said we should keep our cattle on our side of the fence. He punched me in the eye. I fell down and my gun landed on the ground. I picked it up, aimed it at him, and told him I was tired of him hitting me and I wanted him to leave the ranch. He knew I was scared so he laughed at me. I shot at him, but missed. That’s when he kicked the gun from me and started beating on me.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Sam muttered then gave her a nod. “Please go on.”

  Mary took a deep, shuddering breath. “This time I fought back and bit him on the arm. When he yelled and jumped back, I saw the gun. I crawled to it and turned around. He was coming at me, Sheriff. I aimed the gun at him. I told him to stop and leave me alone. He kept advancing and he told me this time he was going to kill me.” She trembled. “I believed him…so I shot him. When he fell to the ground—I’m sorry but I felt good about it. He deserved it. He’d never leave the ranch. It’s my ranch so I wasn’t going to leave it. My grandmother left it to me years ago. I wasn’t going to leave.” She repeated. “I’m glad he’s dead. I hated him. If you have to arrest me, I’ll go peacefully.” She stared at him with tears rolling down her face.

  Standing, Sam put his hand on her shoulder. “Sounds like self-defense to me, Mary. I’m not charging you with anything. I need to get to the office but if you need me, you call me.” He handed her his card.

  “Thank you,” she whispered and relaxed against the pillow.

  Sam patted her shoulder, gave her a smile, and walked out. He was glad the son of a bitch was dead too.

  Chapter Ten

  When Tessa heard about the
shooting at Joe Baker’s ranch, she became a total wreck. Jodi told her she’d heard about it when she was at the diner picking up lunch. Connie had a scanner and when the call came across that there had been a shooting out at the Bakers, the entire restaurant went silent. Jodi ran back to the hospital to tell her, only Tessa didn’t know who did the shooting or who’d been shot—only that the coroner had been called. She was anxious and so nervous not knowing what was happening that she could hardly breathe. Dear God, she prayed Sam was all right.

  “Are you all right?” Jodi asked her.

  “I’m scared,” Tessa whispered.

  “I hope it was Baker who was shot.”

  “I hate to hear that anyone was shot but I pray it wasn’t Sam. Maybe he wasn’t even there.”

  Jodi cleared her throat. “He was. Connie mentioned it right after the call came over the scanner. She said Betty Lou called him while he was there having his lunch.”

  “Oh, my God. I need to call Betty Lou. She’d know.” Tessa reached for the phone and then slammed it down. “I’m too scared.”

  “Do you want me to call her?” Jodi glanced over her shoulder when she heard the front door open. “I’ll be right back.” She left to see who had come in.

  Tessa put her hands over her face as tears threatened. Please. Please, don’t let it be Sam who was shot.

  “Tessa?”

  Placing her hands on the desk, she stared up at him as he stood in the doorway. Jumping up from her chair, she ran around her desk then launched herself at him.

  “Sam. I…” She burst into tears.

  “What is it?” Sam cupped her face in his hands and stared down at her.

  “I heard about the shooting. Jodi was at the diner when it came across the scanner.”

  “Damn it,” he muttered, smoothing back wayward curls from her face that had escaped her ponytail.

  “Who was the coroner for?”

  “Joe. Mary had finally had enough and shot him.”

  Tessa wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her head against his chest. Relief flooded her and she took a deep breath before lifting her head again. “I was so scared.” She gasped. “How is she? How’s Mary?”

  Sam hugged her to him. “I talked to her at the hospital and took pictures. He really beat her this time, looks like he might’ve even broken her jaw. She said she shot at him twice, missing him the first time. That must have been the one someone called in. The second shot happened just as I was pulling up. She shot him in the chest. She truly believed he was going to kill her this time. Since it was her ranch…been in her family for years…she told him to leave and I guess he told her no, and she no longer had a choice. Terrible thing but frankly, he deserved it.”

  “I’m glad she’s all right. He was a mean bastard.”

  “Yes, that he was. I have to go write up a report right now but I wanted to ask you if we could have dinner in tonight. I had no idea you knew about the shooting.”

  “Come to my apartment for dinner, Sam. I’ll fix chicken and dumplings.” Tessa grinned up at him.

  Sam leaned down and kissed her lips. “I love chicken and dumplings. Six-thirty?”

  “Yes.” She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  He grinned against her lips.

  “I’ll see you later, sweetheart,” Sam said on his way out.

  Tessa collapsed in her chair and leaned her head back. She had never been so scared in her life. This had been an all-consuming terror, thinking Sam was shot or even worse, dead. She stood and walked out to the lobby. Jodi looked up at her with tears on her cheeks.

  “Are you all right, Jodi?”

  “I didn’t realize how scared I was until I saw Sheriff Garrett walk in here. Joe Baker got what he deserved. I hated him. I don’t know anyone in this town who liked him.”

  “I know. He’s gone now and none of us have to worry about him anymore.” Tessa sighed. “How many more patients do we have?”

  Jodi checked the book. “None. We’re done for the day.”

  “Great. Let’s get out of here. I have a dinner to make.”

  Jodi grinned up at her. “I’d love to get out of here early. I’m going to the movies tonight.”

  “A date?”

  “With the girls.” Jodi stood and grabbed her purse. “I’ll see you Monday, Doc Mac.”

  Tessa walked out with her and locked up. She quickly strolled around the building to her car. She needed to head to the grocery store to get what she needed for dinner but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face knowing that Sam was all right.

  ****

  When Sam entered the department, Betty Lou came around the counter and hugged him. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I was scared to death, Sam. That Joe Baker was a crazy bastard.”

  Sam burst out laughing. “Watch your mouth, Betty Lou.”

  She looked up at him and laughed. “Yes, sir.” She sobered. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “When you called in saying shots fired, I think I lost ten years off my life. Did you tell Tessa about it?”

  “She knew. It seems Jodi was in the diner when it came across the scanner.”

  “Oh, my…I bet she was a wreck.”

  “She’s fine now. I need to write up a report then I’m going to head home. She’s going to make me dinner tonight.” Sam smiled.

  Betty Lou chuckled. “Wonderful. You have a good evening. I’ll be leaving in about thirty minutes.”

  Sam hugged her again then headed toward his office. He pulled out a report sheet, sat down, and stared at it. Taking a deep breath, he began filling out the form. When he finished, he stood and stretched then left his office.

  “I’m leaving Betty Lou. I’ll see you Monday.”

  “All right, Sam. You and Tess have a good weekend.” She winked at him.

  Shaking his head, he chuckled as he headed out the door then climbed into his SUV patrol cruiser and drove home to take a shower. He couldn’t wait to see Tessa again.

  At six-thirty, Sam took a deep breath and knocked on Tessa’s door. She pulled it open almost immediately and smiled at him.

  “Hello, Sheriff,” she said as she ran her hand over his black T-shirt. “Why do you have your coat open as cold as it is? Come in.”

  “I never button my coat.” He stepped inside her apartment and took his coat off. Tessa took it from him and hung it on a hall tree beside the door. Sam removed his Stetson and hung it up.

  “Come sit down,” Tessa said, smiling at him.

  Sam wrapped his hand around her wrist. “How about you kiss me first?” He pulled her closer toward him.

  Tessa wrapped her arms around his neck. “Anything you say, Sheriff.”

  “How is that you can make sheriff sound sexy?”

  Tessa laughed low in her throat. “Because it’s how I want it to sound, I suppose. I love calling you…sheriff,” she whispered against his lips.

  Sam growled. “If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d suggest we skip dinner.”

  “Oh no. I worked my ass off making this dinner.”

  Sam’s hands ran down over her ass and squeezed. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

  Tessa chuckled. “Smartass. Sit down, Sam and I’ll get your dinner.”

  “All right.” Sam walked to the sofa and took a seat. He stretched his legs out in front of him. Tessa carried in two plates of steaming chicken and dumplings. She set them on the coffee table and handed Sam a fork.

  “I hope you like it. I haven’t made it in forever.”

  Sam took a bite, raised his eyebrows, and chewed. “Fantastic, sweetheart. You can cook for me any time.” He smiled and winked at her making her grin proudly.

  ****

  Tessa couldn’t keep her eyes off him. She was still reeling from earlier when he’d been at the Baker ranch. Dear God! If he would have been shot or even worse, killed, she wasn’t sure she’d survive it. The thought of losing him scared h
er so much.

  Well, you’re going to lose him as soon as he finds out your secret! She mentally groaned. I know. I’ll tell him. When? Soon. It has to be soon.

  Sam raised his head to look at her and smiled. She gave him a smile. No doubt about it, he’s going to hate you.

  The evening passed by quickly and later, as they sat on the sofa together watching a movie, Tessa noticed Sam was asleep. Her gaze ran over his face taking in how his thick eyelashes cast little shadows on his cheeks. She’d kill for lashes like those. Sighing, she knew absolutely that she was in way too deep. This was why she never wanted to get involved with him. She knew she’d fall in love with him but then when he discovered the truth about her, he was going to hate her. A tear slid down her cheek as she pushed his hair back from his forehead and his eyes fluttered open.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered wiping the tear away.

  “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. This election has been keeping me up nights. I’m more tired than I realized. I’m sorry, Tessa.”

  “It’s okay, Sam. Let’s just go to bed.” Tessa stood and put her hand out toward him. He took it and stood. She led him to the bedroom where he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his T-shirt off over his head. Tessa mentally groaned. She loved his hard body.

  “I’m going to take a nice long bath, Sam. You just go to sleep.”

  “Tessa, I’m sorry…”

  “Don’t be, Sam. We have all weekend. Get some sleep.” She smiled as she watched him get in the bed and pull the quilt up to his waist then she entered the bathroom to soak in the tub. As she leaned her head back, tears rolled down her cheeks. She was going to lose him and she was the only one to blame.

  ****

  Sam rolled over, wrapped his arm around Tessa’s waist, and pulled her back against him. She moaned in her sleep and his dick woke right up. He nuzzled her hair with his nose and inhaled its sweet vanilla scent.

  “I’m trying to sleep here, Sheriff,” she murmured in a sleepy voice.

  “And I’m trying to wake you up, sweetheart.” He chuckled.