Sam Men of Clifton, Montana Book 7

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  "Sam—"

  Sam held up his hand. "I don’t want to hear it, Betty Lou. I know how much you care about Tessa…" Christ, it hurt to say her name. "But it's over and done with."

  "I love you, Sam. You're the son I never had. I hate seeing you hurt, and you are hurting, Sam. I can see it in your eyes." She moved closer to him. "Those beautiful blue eyes of yours have lost their sparkle." Betty Lou put her hand on his arm. "Don't end up like me and Bobbie Jo, Sam. We're lonely because we never took a chance on love. Please don’t end up like us. You love that girl, so you go get her back. Yes, she lied about her past, and yes, that was something important but she had her reasons, and you know that now. You need to forgive her.”

  Sam shook his head and smiled sadly. "It's not that simple, Betty Lou. It’s about far more than her lying to me. It’s about trust. Even if she couldn’t tell me in the beginning, then once we were together and building something, she should have been upfront with me. Her not trusting me enough to tell me—that’s hard to forget." He hugged her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll be fine."

  He moved toward the back door. "I think I'm going to set up radar on Copper Ridge for a while before I head home. Call me if you need me." Pulling on his coat and gloves, he put on his hat then headed out the door.

  The snow was coming down harder but not doing much more than coating grassy areas, the roads were still all right. Sam climbed into his patrol cruiser. He had to do something to keep his mind off her and going home, sitting alone in that house, wasn't the way to do it. He drove to Copper Ridge, backed his vehicle into a spot off the road, and left the engine running then leaned back in the seat.

  It wasn’t long before the radar gun went off. Sam sat up and watched as Tessa drove by in her SUV. He grumbled under his breath. Forget it there was no way he was pulling her over. She was probably on an emergency run anyway.

  Smiling sadly, he remembered the day he rode with her to Wyatt's to take care of the sick horse. She’d paid absolutely no attention to the posted speed limit. The smile left his face when he remembered that was also, the night they'd almost made love. Sam swore as his cock twitched. Damn, all he had to do was think of her.

  He slunk back down in the seat and less than a minute later, Tessa’s vehicle flew by again heading in the opposite direction. What the hell?

  Sam shook his head. Nope, it was none of his business.

  Leaning his head back, he pulled his hat down over his eyes. He was tired. Maybe he'd be able to sleep…

  The radar gun went off again. Swearing, he lifted his hat and his jaw went slack when he saw Tessa’s SUV fly by again—this time fifteen miles per hour over the limit. Swinging his legs up on the seat, he lowered his hat again. He didn't know what she was doing, and didn’t care. It wouldn’t matter if she were fifty miles per hour over he wasn't going after her.

  Maybe she was lost. Why else would she be running up and down the damn road? He sure as hell didn't care. Sitting up, he looked out at the road. Thing was, he did care. He cared a lot but he wasn't going to give in. His lips twisted pushing back what surprised him as a grin when he saw her speed by going in the other direction again. What was she doing? A few minutes went by and she didn’t come back.

  Sam sighed, assuming she must have figured out where she was going.

  Deciding to call it a day, Sam sat up and even though he hated the thought of going home, he couldn’t put it off any longer. He was about to drive out onto the road when the radar gun went off again.

  Son of a bitch! What now?

  Copper Ridge was never this busy. Of course, the only vehicle he’d seen today belonged to Tessa. Sighing, he waited for the vehicle to approach and when Sam glanced at the gun, it read the speed as twenty-five miles over the limit. He was ready to flip the lights on when he saw Tessa’s SUV fly by again. Sam hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand. This time there was no way he could let her get away with it. No matter how much he wanted to let her go, he had to pull her over. She was breaking the law.

  Shit! Shit! Shit!

  Sam flipped the lights and siren on then tore out behind her. Surprising him, she steered the vehicle off to the side immediately. He pulled in behind her then sat there staring at the back of her SUV. Taking a deep breath, he threw the door open, stepped out, and put his hat on. As he started toward her vehicle, her door flew open and she emerged. Sam bit back a groan. He had missed her so much. Everything seemed to slow down around them as if time itself was slowing. Snow fell heavily around them and the world seemed to disappear.

  "You in a hurry today, Doctor McGuire?" Sam halted by the back of her car, leaned against it, and folded his arms across his chest.

  "Maybe." She shrugged while chewing on her lower lip.

  "Driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance, please," Sam said in a no nonsense voice pulling out his citation pad.

  "Are you serious?" Tessa asked turning to face him.

  "Yes, ma'am…clocked you at twenty-five miles over the limit. I can take your license right here, right now, if I want to."

  "I was twenty-five miles over the limit because you didn't come after me when I was ten or fifteen over," Tessa said.

  Sam stared at her without saying a word. She’d done this on purpose to get his attention. Tessa marched to him and stood right in front of him, looking up at him.

  "Take those damn sunglasses off." She poked him in the chest.

  Sam stepped back. "Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you assaulted an officer of the law?"

  "No, you don’t need to remind me. You handcuffed me and took me to the office, but you didn't frisk me, Sheriff. Why was that?"

  Sam frowned. What was she up to? "License, registration, and proof of insurance—now."

  Tessa growled and stepped closer. "Frisk. Me. Sheriff." She emphasized each word with a poke to his chest.

  "I don't need to frisk you for a speeding violation."

  Tessa burst out laughing. "How about for assaulting an officer then?"

  "I'm going to let that go since you seem to be having a bad day. You went up and down the road several times. Are you looking for something?"

  "Am I—? Oh, Sam, isn’t it obvious? I was looking for you." Then she smiled at him. "I wanted you to come after me."

  "Why?" He took a step back from her when she stepped closer. She smelled so good.

  "Because I love you."

  Sam nodded. "So you said, at the same time you were lying to me."

  "I will beg you to forgive me if I have to. Love is about forgiving," Tessa whispered.

  He didn't move but when she moved closer to him, he took a step back. Suddenly, she placed her hand over her mouth on a sob.

  "I really did ruin it all, didn’t I? You really don't want me anymore."

  Turning away, she rushed away and climbed back into her SUV. Sam followed her, reached across her, and took the keys from the ignition.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I thought that would be obvious, Doc. I'm arresting you—twenty-five miles over the speed limit, and assaulting an officer. Please step from the vehicle."

  "I will not," Tessa shouted.

  Sam stepped back holding the door open wide. "Yes, you will. Don't add resisting arrest to it too."

  Tessa stepped from the car and stared up at him. “I love you, Sam. Please tell me it’s not too late for us.”

  Sam watched as tears streamed down her face. He spun her around, pressing her to the side of the vehicle so fast he was sure she got dizzy. “I’m taking you in.”

  "Sam Garrett, you let me go. This is ridiculous."

  Sam put his lips close to her ear. "That's Sheriff Sam Garrett, and I will never let you go."

  Tessa turned her head to gaze at him. "What?"

  "I’m never letting you go,” he whispered. He couldn’t be without her a minute longer. Yes, they would have to work out some issues between them but he realized he was a fool to let her go. She was his one.r />
  Tessa squealed and spun around, throwing her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She removed his sunglasses, gazed into his eyes, and then rained kisses over his face. Sam grinned, and then lowered his head to kiss her.

  "I love you, Tessa. I can’t be without you any longer,” he whispered against her lips. “I’ve been so miserable without you in my life.”

  “Sam, I love you.”

  “I believe you do, so what do you say, we start over?”

  “Start over?”

  “Yeah, start from the beginning. I mean, I suppose we could skip all the usual courtship stuff and get right to the making love part of a relationship but…you know, get to know each other again. Trust each other again.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. I’m single and not involved with anyone right now. How about you, Sheriff?”

  “Well, there is this animal doctor that I think is kind of hot.”

  Tessa laughed. “I happen to be an animal doctor.”

  “Really, come to think of it, you look kind of familiar,” Sam said leaning back to give her face a good look. “Yeah, you’re the one. Weren’t very friendly when I first met you but I think I’ve been in love with you since I first saw you.”

  “Me too, Sam, me too,” Tessa said against his lips.

  He took a deep breath. “I want you in my life for as long as I live but I’m serious about us working through our trust issues then maybe in say six months or so—will you marry me, Tessa?”

  "Yes. Yes, Sam. I will," Tessa cried then showered his face with kisses. “I trust you completely. I knew that the night of the shooting. I knew you’d come for us. I was terrified that you would, but I knew it. I just hope you can learn to trust me as completely, Sam. I will always trust you with everything, my secrets, my heart, my love…” Suddenly, she punched his bicep. "I thought you were seriously going to arrest me."

  "Oh, I am arresting you, angel. It's for a life sentence and even that’s not long enough. You’re where I belong, Tessa."

  “Does this mean you will forgive me for lying to you, Sam?”

  Sam swallowed hard but knew he would—that he had.

  “I have already. I know you had your reasons. Crazy as they may be, but I realized if you had told me the truth, this never would have happened between us and to use your words, I wouldn’t change one minute of the time I’ve spent with you. Maybe I made it a bit hard for you to tell me the truth too, with all of my talk of honesty and hating deceit but from now on, you can tell me the truth…even if it’s not something I want to hear. I will never want any other woman in my life, Tessa. I love you.”

  "You are everything to me, Sam." Tessa kissed him and moaned when he deepened the kiss. Someone drove by and blew the horn. Sam and Tessa waved without breaking the kiss. It would soon be all over Clifton that the sheriff had caught his woman.

  Epilogue

  Tessa stood in Katie and Riley’s bedroom staring at her image in the mirror. She was in awe of the reflection staring back at her. Nearly eight months had passed since that day on the road when she’d literally thrown herself down like a gauntlet to win Sam back, but it had been worth it.

  “You look so beautiful, Tess,” Katie said from beside her.

  “I’m so glad you forgave me for hurting Sam, Katie.

  “I was hurting too, Tess. Everyone knows I adore my big brother. I’m truly glad you’re going to be my sister in-law though.”

  “I didn’t get a wedding like this the first time. My dad hated you know who so much that we got married at the courthouse.” Tessa refused to speak his name. She was letting go of that time in her life. “This gown is so beautiful.”

  “So is the bride wearing it,” Olivia said from where she sat on the bed.

  “Thank you, Liv.” Tessa smiled over her shoulder at her dear friend.

  The gown was white with a tight bodice and scooped neck. The sleeves were three quarter length and made up of lace. A long train flowed out behind her. The top of the dress was silk and the full skirt matched the lace on the sleeves. Around her neck, she wore a tear-drop shaped diamond necklace that Sam had given her for a wedding gift. She smiled as she thought back to him giving her the necklace along with one other gift.

  “I love the necklace, Sam,” she had whispered as she kissed him.

  “It’s the only teardrop I ever want to see on you again.”

  “What about tears of joy?”

  Sam nodded. “Well, okay but only those and I’m hoping there will be many of those.”

  “I know there will be. I have the man I love and I’m never letting him go again.”

  “I have one more thing for you. Come with me.” He had held his hand out to her. Narrowing her eyes and wondering what he was up to, she had followed him as he led her to the barn. Stopping by one of the stalls, he had jerked his chin toward it with a smug grin. She stepped up and looked inside. Her eyes went to Sam, wide with delight.

  “You bought me a horse?”

  “Yes. You said you always wanted one so I bought her from Ryder. She’s a three-year-old Paint.”

  Tessa had laughed as she hugged him. “I love her. Thank you, Sam.” She had kissed him filled with joy. “I can’t wait to ride her. Sam, you once asked me about my tattoo, well, I want to tell you about it. It represents my freedom from him. A butterfly emerges from a chrysalis to begin a new life. It’s what I did when I left him—started a new life.”

  “That new life is with me,” Sam had whispered against her lips right before he kissed her.

  The door to the bedroom flew open bringing her back to the present, and Becca, Kaylee, Kelsey, Emma, and Madilyn entered. Each of them carried a flute of champagne, and then her mother, Poppy O’Brian, Sam’s mother, Genevieve Garrett, and Tessa’s aunt Lil followed them in. Poppy handed one of two flutes to Tessa.

  “Are you nervous, honey?” Poppy asked her daughter setting her own glass down. Tessa watched her mother attach the beautiful veil she’d chosen over her long hair, which was pulled up in a loose bun with tendrils falling down around her face.

  “No. Not at all, Mom,” Tessa said sipping her champagne.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re marrying my son,” Genevieve said smiling at her.

  Tessa smiled back. She already loved her future in-laws. “I love him so much, Genevieve. I think that’s why I’m not nervous.”

  “I wasn’t nervous on my wedding day either,” Olivia said. “I knew I finally had the man I wanted—easy peasy.”

  All of the women laughed and nodded their heads in agreement. Tessa glanced at all of them. “I’m so happy to have all of you in my wedding.” She slipped her arm through Katie’s and hugged her. “Thank you for being my matron of honor, Katie. I think I’ll love having you as a sister in-law.”

  “Of course you will. I’m wonderful.” Katie laughed. “I was a little worried that Sam might not ask Riley to be his best man…they were always so close growing up…but he did, so I guess they’re finally good again. All the guys are close, but Riley and Sam were always the closest.”

  “Sam loves him like a brother. I’m glad Riley had your family to lean on when he was growing up,” Tessa said.

  “He’s happier now since he has his parents in his life, especially his real dad. Jordon adores Riley.”

  “Tess? I have something for you and Sam for a wedding gift,” her aunt Lil said stepping forward.

  “You have done more than enough for me, Aunt Lil. I can never repay you for all you’ve done.”

  “And you don’t need to. I love you like a daughter. This is for you and Sam together.” She handed Tessa an envelope. “Go on…open it.”

  Everyone stood around her waiting while she tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper. It was a deed. Tessa skimmed over it then raised surprised eyes.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Of course I am. The judge and I rarely go there. It can be your place to get away together.”

  “Oh, Au
nt Lil,” Tessa cried hugging tight the woman who had done so much to give her freedom.

  “What is it?” Olivia asked, ever curious.

  Tessa looked at her friends and smiled with pure joy. “The deed for the cabin in Kalispell. Sam and I had planned to go there when everything went wrong. It’s a perfect place and I can’t wait to tell him. Thank you so much, Aunt Lil.” She looked at her mom with suspicion. “Did you know?”

  “Of course I did.” Poppy laughed then hugged her daughter.

  “Hello, beautiful ladies,” Sean O’Brian said from the doorway.

  Tessa moved forward to greet him. “Daddy, you look so handsome.”

  Sean kissed her cheek. “I see Lil gave you her present.” He winked at Lil over Tessa’s shoulder then looked lovingly into his daughter’s eyes. “Let’s get you married, baby girl. I’m sure Sam is getting anxious.”

  Waiting for everyone else to file out before them, Tessa placed her arm in his when he extended it to her. She smiled up at him and let him lead her from the room.

  ****

  To say Sam was anxious would be a huge understatement. Running his fingers through his hair and cursing himself for doing it yet again, he paced the floor in the back room of the church. He stopped for a moment when his groomsmen returned to the room after seating everyone.

  “Would you relax?” Riley chided him.

  Sam started again and stopped, narrowing his eyes at his best man, brother-in-law, and best friend—still. “If we weren’t in church, you know what I’d say to you.”

  Riley laughed. “I’m surprised you don’t anyway. Why are you so nervous?”

  “What if she doesn’t show?”

  Riley snorted. “Come on, Sam. You know better than that.”

  “Do I?”

  “She loves you, Sam,” Wyatt said taking a seat then hopping back up and smoothing the back of his tux jacket.

  “I know, but—”

  The men laughed in unison making Sam glare at them, making them laugh even harder. The door opened and Jonathan Garrett stepped into the room. He halted when he saw Sam glaring and his friends laughing. Jonathan sighed and rolled his eyes.