The Lawman Returns Read Free Page B

hers just brought home the unfairness of it all. And reminded her why she did what she did, took the chances she took. Sabrina’s heart went out to these innocent children.
    She walked to her car and opened the back door. Never knowing when she would have to transport a child, she had three different car seats—two in her trunk and one for Maria’s age strapped into the seat. She untangled the child’s arms from around her neck and settled her in the seat. She handed her a stuffed teddy bear. “Would you like a new friend?”
    Maria hugged the bear while Tony slid into the seat next to her. Sabrina reached into the bag on the floor in front of Maria’s feet and pulled out another bear and a fire truck. “Tony, would you like a new friend or a toy?”
    Clay buckled the child in. Tony looked at the bear and the truck with equal longing. Sabrina moved the bear’s face up close and tapped Tony’s cheek with it as though offering a kiss. The boy smiled and ducked his head.
    One grimy hand snagged the bear and tucked him under his chin. Sabrina set the truck next to him and turned to find Clay standing much too close. She couldn’t back up and she didn’t want to look silly scuttling sideways to put some distance between them.
    She looked up, and her nose bumped his chin. She saw him swallow and was grateful when he stepped back a pace. “Are you taking them to the hospital?” he asked.
    “Yes. I don’t think there’s anything seriously wrong with them that a few good meals and some vitamins won’t fix, but I have to follow protocol.”
    Clay shook his head. “I’ll follow you to the hospital.” He ran a hand down his face in a weary gesture.
    “You don’t have to. We’ll be fine.”
    Something flickered in his eyes as his gaze darted between the children, then back to her. “I want to talk to you about Steven.”
    Sabrina didn’t know what he thought she could tell him but didn’t have the energy to argue. “I’m taking them to Wrangler’s General.” It was a smaller hospital located in the center of town, but the staff was efficient. If something turned up and the kids needed more intensive care than she thought, then they would be transferred to a larger hospital in Nashville about an hour away. But she didn’t think that was going to be necessary.
    “I’ll meet you there.”
    “Wait a minute, I need to show you something.”
    “What?” Clay frowned.
    “Tony, would you show Clay the wallet Jordan asked you to hold on to for safekeeping?”
    Tony narrowed his eyes, then shrugged and dug out the black wallet with the silver duct tape along the folded edge.
    Clay gasped. “What?” He moved in for a closer look, then stumbled back without touching the wallet. He snagged his phone and punched in a number. “Yeah, Ned. I need you to get over to the Prescott trailer. Steven’s wallet is here, and I can’t bag it as evidence because of conflict of interest and all that, and I don’t want anyone but you to do it.”
    Sabrina lifted a brow even as her heart hurt for him at the pain seeing the wallet brought him. When he hung up, he paced in front of the car while Sabrina explained to Tony that he would have to give the sheriff the wallet when he got here.
    Tony didn’t seem agreeable to that idea, but by the time the sheriff arrived ten minutes later, Tony had decided that Jordan would be okay with him giving it to the sheriff since no one could keep it more safe than he.
    “Where is it?” Ned asked.
    Sabrina nodded to Tony, who handed the wallet over to the sheriff. She gave the child’s shoulder an approving squeeze.
    She turned to Ned. “Steven’s bought me enough cups of coffee over the past year that I knew it the moment I saw it. I even joked about getting him a new wallet for Christmas this year.” Tears clogged her throat at the memories. “But he liked that one,” she whispered.
    “His wife gave it to him when they got married.” The raw grief in Clay’s voice sliced her