Roan Read Free

Tory realized in vague appreciation. She wanted to deny what he said but had no breath left for it. Instead, her mind went spinning off into semidelirious images. The pain under his hand was like a hot iron pressed against her shoulder. It was as if she were being branded, marked as a criminal by the firm touch of the sheriff. The tears that seeped from between her lashes seemed to scald as they gathered in the hollows under her eyes.
    â€œFirst time it happened, it was a couple of local boys looking for easy cash,” he went on. “They got off with probation because they were juveniles. Betsy was pretty upset since the old man of one of the boys gambled away the money at the boats in Natchez and the families were too broke to pay restitution. She’ll prosecute with a vengeance now. You’ll do time.”
    The agony in Tory’s shoulder and the implacable sound of the law officer’s voice seemed to merge. Red-hot anger flooded over her. She clutched at it, since it helped clear her head. In husky tones, she said, “I won’t. Not ever.”
    â€œYou think you’re immune because you’re female?” He clamped down even more on the wound, as if to emphasize his ability to enforce punishment.
    â€œNot immune. Innocent.” It was amazing how much effort it took to form the words. Her tears spilled over again. They blurred her vision so the man kneeling at her side shimmered in a prismatic nimbus of light.
    â€œNot likely, honey. Armed robbery, resisting arrest, endangering the life of an officer. You’ve got a long list to answer for.”
    As he spoke, he used his free hand to wipe at the wet track along her cheek. Tory turned her head away from the warm touch that seemed to linger with the disturbing feel of a caress. She didn’t want him to see her crying, hated feeling so weak when he was so strong. “I’m not your honey, damn you. I didn’t…didn’t rob anybody. And I’ll see you in hell before I serve a single day in your stupid jail.”
    â€œYou’ll wind up where it’s hot tonight if you don’t be still and let me take care of you.”
    â€œSo you can throw me into solitary confinement, I suppose.” She breathed in short gasps, knowing she should conserve her strength, but was too frustrated, too despairing, to keep quiet. She’d been through three harrowing days with Zits and Big Ears. For it to end like this was the last, unbelievable, straw.
    â€œOh, we’ll get you some company. The creeps who abandoned you, your so-called friends, should make fine cell mates.”
    â€œIf you can catch them.”
    Tory knew that the waspish taunt was a mistake as soon as the words left her mouth.
    â€œThanks for the reminder,” he said, his tone clipped as he turned to speak again into the microphone attached to his shirtsleeve. “Sherry, update me?”
    â€œThe suspects haven’t been located, Sheriff Benedict.” The dispatcher rattled off the movements of a half-dozen police units along with numbered locations then ended with, “Unit 120 from town is covering the east section.”
    â€œThat’s Cal tonight, right?”
    â€œAffirmative.”
    â€œHave him check out Fire Tower Road.”
    â€œAcknowledged.”
    Tory listened to the byplay with a sinking feeling. She needed to revise her knee-jerk impression of this lawman as a dumb hick. His quick actions and up-to-date equipment, not to mention the clear, assessing power of his gaze, suggested something very different. He’d allowed Zits and Big Ears to get away from him, true, but that was her fault. He could easily have left her lying in the road while he chased them down. It said something for him that he had not.
    It wasn’t like her to think in terms of stereotypes or to misjudge people. Or was it? Harrell had certainly fooled her with his quick grin and outgoing habits. She’d been taken in enough that