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Patting her shoulder, he said, “People don’t take to newcomers easily. Give it time and before long they’ll forget you didn’t grow up here. You’re one of us now, Bay. Even if you do have a weird name and a funny looking face.”

  Bay couldn’t hold back the burst of laughter. This was all too weird. Clapping Joby on the back, she sent him home just as Flossie came out the back door. Giving the cranky woman a big smile, she reassured her that she’d be at Flossie’s house right after work to grab the couch. Flossie gave a grunt and headed for her beat-up, old station wagon to go home.

  After some quick paperwork in the office and another failed attempt at chatting up Owen, she headed out. Hill County was normally very dark and quiet on her shift, but she still tried to patrol as much as possible, changing up her route through the dark. Possum Crossing held only a post office and an old fashioned general store where you could literally buy just about anything. Collinsville was bigger with a few small shops, a bar and Fred’s Fish Fry. Bay always took the time to park her vehicle, get out and rattle the doors to make sure everything was locked up tight.

  The few calls she got overnight were usually prowlers that ended up being some sort of animal, but there had been a few domestic disturbances and she liked to drive past those houses just to check. She also found out that there was one fire department for the county and the volunteer department expected the police to assist with any fires.

  It was nearing dawn and she was traveling the main highway back to Miller Springs when she saw the vehicle off the road against a tree. Grabbing her radio mic and calling it in to Owen, Bay flipped on her emergency lights and pulled over. She saw the blood first and immediately asked for an ambulance.

  Working quickly, she tested the car door and found it had popped open a bit from the impact and she was able to pull it open further. The man inside was slumped over the wheel, blood pouring freely from a cut on his forehead. Alcohol fumes rushed to greet her just as the bottle fell out of the man’s hand to bounce off of her foot.

  Cursing, Bay jerked on a pair of disposable safety gloves and checked for a pulse. Just as she found it, the man moaned and started to move. Talking quickly, trying to get him to be still, Bay wrinkled her nose at the overwhelming smell of stale alcohol when the guy let out an impressive belch.

  “Please hold still sir, the ambulance will be here soon.”

  “What? Who the hell are you?” The man looked up at her, squinting in the flashing lights, trying to focus on her face.

  “I’m Deputy Lopez, I need you to hold still please. How much have you had to drink tonight, sir?”

  “Are you a fuckin wetback? What you doin’ out here? We don’t have no Mexicans around here.”

  Bay’s gut clenched and she bit back the angry words that jumped for release. “Sir, I’m going to ask you again, how much have you had to drink tonight?”

  The man leaned back in the seat and Bay quickly looked for more injuries. “What happened? Did you run me off the road? Damn women got no business driving.”

  Taking a deep breath, trying to find some fresh, clean air, Bay tried again, “What’s your name sir? Do you live near here?”

  He squinted up at her. “Where’s Tuck? Who are you? Get away from me, you spic.”

  Bay could hear the distant sound of the ambulance siren. Clamping down on her temper, and resisting the urge to just shoot the moron, she asked again for the man’s name. She received nothing but more insults. Leaving him sitting in the car, she walked up to the road to greet the ambulance.

  Briefly, she described what she’d found as the medics gathered up gear. She introduced herself to the two men and found Bill and Anthony to be long time medics in the area. They were both familiar with the man in the car.

  “That’s Scotty Brooks. He gets liquored up and crashes his car a couple times a year. Unfortunately, he never manages to do serious damage.” Bill informed her.

  “Sounds a little harsh.” Bay frowned. She may have personally found the man incredibly offensive, but now she wondered if everyone found him that way.

  Anthony nodded. “I take it you haven’t met his wife. Give it time and you’ll understand.”

  They went back to car where Scotty still sat. Bay found that Scotty didn’t care who he insulted as Bill and Anthony received the same abuse that she had. Anthony was worried about the injury to Scotty’s head, so they decided to transport him to the hospital.

  As soon as they started working to get him out of the car and strapped to a cot, Scotty decided it was time for him to go home and that, "he didn't need no ambulance!" Bay grabbed him and prepared to take him down as his fists started flailing wildly. Bill stepped up and his large body easily absorbed the blows as he tried to wrestle him onto the cot.

  But Scotty got lucky with the next punch and connected with Bill’s jaw, knocking Bill out cold. Bay decided she was done and in a few, quick, professional moves, had the drunk on the ground and handcuffed. Deciding that if the medics wanted to check him out further they could do it from the jail, Bay manhandled him into the back of her SUV.

  By then, Anthony had Bill awake and the man was cursing loudly. After a short discussion, it was decided that Anthony was taking Bill to the hospital and they would send the back-up crew to the jail to check on Scotty. Bay radioed the call into Owen and had him get a wrecker to tow Scotty’s car.

  By the time Bay reached the Sheriff’s Office, Scotty was snoring happily in the back seat. It took more physical manhandling to get him awake and out of the vehicle. Owen held the door open while she half carried the much bigger man in the nearest jail cell. Tossing normal booking procedures out the window, Bay just wanted the man secured and behind bars.

  She was able to quickly find his information in the computer and had her report mostly done when Tuck came in for shift change. He took one look at her blood and dirt covered clothing and nearly pounced on her. Grabbing her arm, he turned her around and looked her over checking for injuries.

  Bay’s heart rate tripled instantly. The electric connection between them zinged along her skin. She carefully pulled back away from his touch, quickly assuring him she was perfectly fine. In short bursts she informed him of everything that had happened and pointed to the man comfortably sleeping in the cell.

  “I’m fine, everything’s fine. Back up ambulance crew patched his head and said he seemed fine. I’m not hurt, none of this is mine.”

  Tuck stood back staring at Scotty. After a minute he asked, “You cuffed him, and carried him to your vehicle, then carried him in here?”

  Bay nodded cautiously. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking or feeling but didn’t really like the strange look on his face.

  “By yourself?”

  “It’s my job.”

  Tuck nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Why didn’t you call for back up?”

  Frowning, Bay looked at Scotty. “Why? He’s just drunk. No way he could blow on the BAC but I had the medic take blood so we could get DWI charges.”

  She could see Tuck take a deep breath. “You should have called for back-up.”

  The anger was starting a slow climb up from Bay’s middle. “Why?” Rising, she moved to stand in front of him, in his line of sight. “If I was a man, would you be telling me I should have called for back-up?”

  Tension shot between them. They stared at each other for a long minute before Tuck only nodded. “You’re right. Your call.”

  Just then Roy came in the back door. He gave a sneer at Scotty, ignored Tuck and Bay, and headed into the dispatch desk ordering Owen out of his chair. That reminded Bay of Flossie and the couch. She gave a soft curse before squaring her shoulders.

  “I need to ask you for a favor.”

  Tuck raised an eyebrow. The action sent a new and different liquid warmth sliding down through her. Doing her best to ignore it, she quickly explained the couch situation. Tuck gave her a sharp nod, told her to finish her report and meet him out back.

  Once he was gone,
she breathed a sigh of relief and ordered her body to behave. She actually had to run her hands over her arms to get the hair standing up to relax and quit making her feel electrified. Dammit, she had to get control of things around Tuck; he was her boss, he was the sheriff and she was going to be working here for a hell of a long time. Or so she hoped.

  She quickly finished up her report, said good-bye to Owen and filled in Roy on the sleeping Scotty before going out to meet Tuck. She found him talking to the little Mayor and approached slowly, making sure they were aware of her in case their conversation was private. Mayor Williams greeted her happily and exclaimed over the dirt and blood. Bay glossed over the situation as lightly as possible.

  Tuck explained where they were headed and the Mayor gave a salute and left them. Turning to her, Tuck asked, “Want to change fast?”

  Bay shrugged. “Nah. Rather just get going. Don’t want Flossie mad at me for being late.”

  The small smile that quirked Tuck’s lips made Bay’s throat slam shut. “She scare you that bad?”

  She only nodded, knowing that speech was impossible. Taking slow, deep, breaths she