The Lawman Returns. Lynette Eason

sharp nod. “Okay, then.”

      Clay shook his head. “My mother’s cried buckets over that wallet. When it wasn’t in his things the coroner had, she was inconsolable.”

      Sabrina touched his arm. “At least one good thing came out of this.” She slid into the driver’s seat and paused when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”

      “Are you okay, Ms. Sabrina?”

      “Jordan? Where are you? Why did you run and leave Maria and Tony behind? Why did you have them there in the first place?”

      “They followed me. I didn’t know they were there until— It doesn’t matter. I— They said they wanted to play a practical joke on you. They said they’d pay me fifty bucks to call you out to the trailer and to be there waiting on you, but when I was on the phone with you I saw the wallet—”

      Sabrina waved Clay over and mouthed, “It’s Jordan.” Back into the phone, she said, “Where are you? Who said they’d pay you?”

      “I don’t know, just a voice on the phone. But I saw Steven’s wallet in the trailer and I...I figured Stan killed him. And they wanted you to come out there. They said it was a joke and they just wanted to talk to you, but after I saw the wallet, I didn’t think it was just a joke. I was afraid they’d hurt you. That’s why I told you not to come. I had to leave to make sure the guy followed me so Tony and Maria could get away. Are they okay? Please tell me they’re all right.”

      “They’re fine. Where are you?”

      “I’ve got to disappear for a while. They’re going to be looking for me. I don’t think my mom’s coming back anytime soon, so take care of the kids.”

      She thought she heard a sob before the click. She swallowed hard as the reality of Jordan’s words washed over her. Someone had set her up to come out to the trailer. Someone who had a dead officer’s wallet in his bedroom. The chill that shook her had nothing to do with the temperature outside.

      And everything to do with the fact that she thought she might be a target.

      A target who might end up just like Steven Starke.

       THREE

      Twenty minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of Wrangler’s General.

      Sabrina got out of the car and opened the back door to find Maria had fallen asleep. She eased the child out of the car seat. Maria stirred and settled her head on Sabrina’s shoulder. Even though the little girl desperately needed a bath, Sabrina ignored that and snuggled her closer. Her heart tightened. Would she ever have a family of her own?

      Now wasn’t the time for those thoughts. She carried her into the hospital while Clay took charge of Tony, who’d gone silent and sullen.

      Yet kept a tight grip on the stuffed animal.

      Sabrina flashed her credentials to the triage staff. Lily Anderson, a nurse Sabrina had worked with who had become her best friend over the past year, stood when she saw her. “Sabrina, who do you have here?” She moved so she could get a look. “Ah. What a cutie.”

      “This is Maria Zellis. Her brother Tony is over there. It looks like I’m going to take them to a foster home tonight. We can’t locate their parents or the grandparents.”

      Lily turned in the direction Sabrina pointed and winced, grabbing her lower back.

      “Are you all right?”

      Lily nodded and blew out a slow breath. “Yes, it’s just from that car accident I had about three years ago. Every once in a while, my back reminds me I’m not exactly the same.”

      “Is there anything you can do about it?”

      “Not really. I do my physical therapy and just take it one day at a time.” Lily’s gaze moved behind Sabrina and she caught her breath again, this time in surprise.

      “What is it?” Sabrina asked.

      Lily nodded. “Well, well. Clay Starke. Dad said something about the town’s bad boy coming home. Your mother isn’t the only person to send the gossips around here into a feeding frenzy.”

      Sabrina flinched but didn’t take offense. She focused on the duo. Clay and Tony were now headed straight for her. She looked at Lily. “Yes, I know Clay’s reputation, but I’m not judging him because of it.” She prayed he’d return the favor and wouldn’t hold her mother’s actions against her, either.

      Lily grimaced. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. It’s just he and my brother graduated together. I remember Hank talking about Clay’s escapades. They were the highlight of the week.”

      “You mean they took precedence over my mother’s escapades?”

      Lily flushed. “In my house they did.” She sighed. “He may be a cop now, but most people in town will never let him live down the fact that he burned down Bryce England’s house, leaving the boy scarred for life.”

      * * *

      Clay saw the two women speaking in low voices, and he caught the occasional glance the pretty redhead threw at him.

      Lily Anderson, Ned and Daisy Ann’s daughter. She was friends with his sister and had been out to the ranch a few times to ride with Amber. She caught him watching and gave a smile. He couldn’t tell if it was fake or the real thing. Tony’s fascination with the hand-sanitizer dispenser had delayed their journey to the triage area. Now the child stayed snugged up to his side as Clay led him over to the two women. “Everything all right?”

      Sabrina lifted a brow. “Of course.”

      Clay nodded to Lily. “Nice to see you again.”

      “Sorry to hear about your brother.”

      Pain shafted through him. He smiled anyway. “Appreciate that.”

      The door to the pediatric wing opened, and a nurse with a clipboard stood there. She caught Sabrina’s eye and gave a small nod. “Come on, let’s get them back there,” Sabrina said.

      Tony’s small fingers spasmed and Clay could feel the tension running through the child. He knelt in front of the little boy. “Are you scared?” he whispered.

      Tony stuck out his jaw and he started to shake his head no, then changed midshake and nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered back.

      Clay rose and held out his arms. “Want me to carry you?”

      “Uh-huh.” Tony practically leaped into Clay’s arms. He clutched the little boy and swallowed against the sudden lump growing in his throat.

      He turned and found Sabrina watching him with a tender expression. Clay sucked in a deep breath and frowned. “Come on. Let’s get this done. We’ve got things to talk about.”

      He knew his words sounded gruff, but Sabrina didn’t look as if she took it to heart. She simply offered him a sad smile full of understanding. And something else. A new emotion in her eyes. But what? He didn’t have time to figure it out. He cleared his throat and followed her through the double doors.

      With the kids in good hands and Sabrina watching over them like a mother hen, Clay rubbed his weary eyes as he stepped away from the examination room. He pressed his phone to his ear and spoke to his boss. “I thought I’d be bored stiff being a cop in a small town. What’d y’all do to this place while I was gone?”

      Ned gave a low chuckle. “When it’s slow, it’s slow, but the action does seem to come in waves.”

      “Well, right now we’ve got a tsunami.” He sighed. “Have you found Prescott or Jordan Zellis yet?”

      “No. We’re still looking. I sent Lance out to Jordan’s home, and it’s dark as a tomb.” Lance Goode was one of the other deputies in Wrangler’s Corner.