Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Stop me

     She rose, “were you tellin’ me the truth when you said you was too scared to stop me from leavin’?”

     He brushed a random hair out of her face with his finger, “why would I lie?”

     “Do you think our lives would have been different?”

     “Yes.” His answer was immediate. 

     “Would you have tried out for the sheriff’s job?”

     “No.” Again, his answer was immediate. As if he had been thinking about this question his whole life. 

     “Let’s say, you and I had gotten married back then, what would you, we,” she corrected herself “had done?”

     He straightened up in his seat, “Jack would have gotten me a job at the mill. With what you’ve been tellin’ me about your mom,” he rubbed his lips together. “I often thought we would have had a little home, couple kids, been happy. But now, I think it would have killed you. I think you would have ended up like my mother.”

     Evie sat there thinking about that. She never knew Rose to have a happy moment. Never saw her smile. “Really?” 

     “As much as I wanted you.” He paused, “one of the biggest regrets in my life, I wasn’t able to help mom. By the time I was in any position to, she was gone.”

     ‘Wanted.’ He said ‘wanted’. Was her dad wrong about Dillon still loving her?’ Fool, she scolded herself. He put a ring on it. “I’m sorry.” She finally blurted out. 

     ‘Here goes nothing’. He gently pulled her onto his lap. She did nothing to stop him. “I sat here in this spot all day and all night prayin’ you would come back. When dawn rose on the next mornin’, I knew you were gone.” He slid his hands up her back, under her shirt as he spoke.

     “Lawman,” she leaned over and whispered in his ear. “That’s gonna get you in trouble.”

     “Promise?”

     He gave her a kiss.

     “So,” she breathed. “Wanted?”

     “Want.” He corrected through kisses. Kissing what was left of her black eye as well. 

     “Are you still havin’ head aches?” She trailed her fingers through his hair.

     “Not so much.” He sighed, “they are starting to dull down.”

     “Dillon, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been in that spot.”

     He rubbed her cheek with his thumb, “let’s not think about that.”

     Evie moved to lean up, as she blindly reached behind her, she accidentally turned the radio on. A woman was talking about baby names. “What does your name mean?” She asked. “And does it suit you? Talk to me Sunshine Valley.”

      Dillon leaned forward turning it off. 

     “What does your name mean? Dillon Jack Pace? Jack is in honor of dad.”

     “I’ve never looked it up. Evelyn Rose Rice. Rose is in honor of mom.”

     “I’ll look up yours. You look up mine.” She giggled reaching in her pocket for her phone. Dillon leaned forward again pulling his out of, to Evie, seemed like thin air. 

     “Dillon,” she spoke. “Multiple origins of Irish, Welsh, and French. Means loyal, faithful, sea, or lion. I’ve never met a lion but sea lions are adorable.” 

     “Evelyn,” he smiled. “Origin, British, meaning, desired; island; wished for.”  He raised up lying his phone on the dashboard; extending his hand to take hers. “This was fun.”

     “Really?” She seemed surprised.

     “I’d rather think I’m loyal.” He pulled her back to him. “And I know you are desired.”

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Sisyphean task 

     Dillon had set his radar. The inside of his suv was nice and warm. Bill had talked him into a shave with his hair cut. He was warm, relaxed and almost asleep. Evie caused him to jump when she noisly climbed into his suv.

     “Will I ever get used to this?” She blew into her hands before leaning over the  heater vents. “Oohh, that feels good.”

Dillon rose up to look in his rear view mirror. She was still driving her dad’s truck. “I’m sorry.” She blushed, “I startled you.” 

     “I don’t need to fall asleep.” He admitted. “One of those little things.”

     “Sittin’ here like this. Are you expecting  someone to approach your suv.”

     “Possibly.”

     “I’m not so sure running me off the road is Doug’s style. He’s not about hurten’ himself.”

     Dillon fought with himself about telling her what he knew before their conference call tomorrow. Yes, their conference call. As long as he kept silent, he could observe. He let out a long sigh, “Doug’s still in jail. Do you think he could have hired someone to do that?”

     “It’s not outside the realm of impossibilities.” She scooted over to him, holding his face. “You’ve been to see Bill this morning.” Then trailed her fingers over his skin, “I’m amazed he can still hold a straight razor.”

     She was killing him. It took all his composure to spit out, “he’s trainin’ a couple new kids. One’s a girl.”

     Evie playfully asked, “you let a girl shave you?”

     “Once.” Was she aware that she was killing him with her touch. The way she smelt. Being this close to her. This was electrifying. 

     “Would you do it again?” She asked, leaning on the dashboard.

     “Yeah.”

     She giggled, leaning back up, holding his face. “Do you know just how sexy I think a clean shaven face is?” She kissed his nose. “A decluttered face.”

     He choked, “so if I lost a bet and had to grow a beard, you’d never kiss me?” 

     She caressed his face as she talked, “you would deny me this delight?” 

“So tell me.” He spoke as she kissed the tip of his nose again, ‘Change the subject’, he thought. “Does Jack’s truck not have heat?”

     “No. Little does he know, I’m having that fixed. Do you know a good mechanic? That won’t try to screw a woman?” Dillon raised an eyebrow. “A lot of mechanics see a woman walking toward them and they think we are easy targets. And granted, I know very little about vehicles, that doesn’t mean I want taken advantage of.”

     “Drive mine. I’ll get it fixed.”

     “You are a busy man, lawman,” she winked. “Point me in the right direction.”

     “Yes mam.” He smiled. “What are you doin’ out here?”

     “Oh,” she slid out of his suv. Went to her dad’s truck and came back. “Picnic in the cold. Even busy lawmen get lunch.”

     “You know,” he smiled as she laid a cloth over his seat, “Della is gonna get jealous of you feeding me.”

     Evie pouted for a moment, “she’s gonna have to learn how to share.” 

     As Dillon bit into his sandwich, a string of melted cheese fell to his chin. She laughed. “This is the best grilled cheese ever.” 

     “You know what could make it better?” Her eyes were dancing with mischief. She leaned over and kissed the cheese off his chin. 

     “Much,” he choked.

     She looked out the window down the road, “your job, to me seems like such a Sisyphean task.”

     His head was spinning. ‘Ah what’? He thought. “How so?” Came out with caution. 

     “Well, you arrest one criminal. Another one just appears in its place. You clean up one accident site, then there’s another one. You put out one fire, then there’s another one. Seems to me, you are always pushing that rock up a hill.”

     “As long as I do a good job, it’s job security.”

     “Don’t you ever get tired?” She knew the answer to that as soon as she said it. 

     “Of course I do. Burnt out. Beat down. It’s usually the little things that make it worth while. For example, today, an unexpected picnic.”

     She scooted the cloth down toward the passenger door so she could lay her head on his shoulder. As she snuggled in, he kissed the top of her head. 

     “Thanks for the offer of your truck. I can’t drive a stick.”

     It fell out of his mouth before he thought about it, “bet you can.”

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Thinking about retiring continued 

     As Simon went through the folder, Evie glanced at Dillon, he looked tired. 

     “I’ll get right on this.” Simon’s voice brought them both around. 

     “We’ll leave you to it.” Dillon answered, holding out his hand for Evie. He stopped short, “what would you uninvent?”

     Simon looked surprised. That conversation was so 15 minutes ago. “Jealousy, God made each of us uniquely different. We all have different talents, different strengths. If we could just see that and work with what God gave us to better humanity. Hot dang what a world.”

Dillon and Evie walked back toward the house together. 

     “I need 15 more minutes with Teka and put the tools up.”

     “I’ll join you and we can talk.”

     “Of course.” 

     He sat on a bale of hay, “I realize with the next election cycle, I could get voted out. Knowing that,” he took a deep breath. “I think it’s time to really start looking at retiring.” He looked down at his feet. “This mornin’ and a few other little things,” he stopped. ‘Was he going to finish?’ She thought. He cleared his throat, “I’m tired Evelyn.” He so rarely called her Evelyn. “I just want to,” he paused taking a deep breath. “I want to work the farm and be with you.” He made eye contact with her. “Is that selfish of me?”

     She smiled gently leaning on Teka, “then that makes me selfish.” 

     “I can’t think right now. At some point I want us to get serious about our future.”

     “I’d like that.” She smiled. 

     “What are you lookin’ to accomplish with Hillbilly Yoga?”

     The question caught her off guard. “Well, in the moment, it’s the excitement of something new. Do you think I shouldn’t have pursued it?” She felt a little wounded. 

     “No. I guess I’m just thinking out loud and what our end objective is?”

     “For The Peel’s, they want to expand their business. They don’t have access to a farm.”

     “For us?” Dillon held up his hand. “I know I told you to ‘do what excites you’. And, I’m standing behind that. I guess it’s the realization that this is happening. This is my sanctuary. I’m not sure how I feel about people trumpin’ all over the place.”

     “I hear what you’re saying. If I may add something to think about. If you do want to retire from law enforcement someday; in order to keep a workin’ farm, we are gonna have to hire people.” 

    Dillon smiled at that, “we?” He grinned. 

     “We. Remember, we are in this together.”

 

     He rubbed his hands together. Was he really gettin’ ready to ask this? “I’ve,” he paused, took a deep breath, “are you a millionaire?” There it was. 

     She smiled a great big smile. Oh the places she could go with this. But she loved Dillon and there was no need to make him feel like shit. “No, but at the same time, I’m not hurtin’.” As she hung up her last tool, “most of mine is on paper anyway. My little business is a time filler. I get bored easily. Care for Teka,” Teka snorted as Evie rubbed her neck. “Then what? Fix breakfast. Then what? Cook dinner. Then what?”

     Dillon shuffled his feet, “u gonna get bored with me?”

     She held out her hands for him. He took them, guiding her to his lap. “I think sir, you are gonna keep me on my toes. From what I’ve seen of you, you’re a great leader. The deputies respect you. The community reacts positively to your presence. Why wouldn’t you get reelected?”

     “All it takes is one rumor. Pissing off the right person at the wrong time. One misstep.”

     “Sheriff is a very powerful position.” She rubbed her finger through his hair. “From what I’ve seen, you haven’t let that power go to your head.” 

     “I’m just a man, doing a job.”

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Think about retiring 

     Evie got up as the light of morning was peekin’ over the hills. The frost covered ground sparkled like diamonds glittering in the sun. She smiled as she dressed. It was her day to care for Teka. If she finished before Dillon got home, she might even get to surprise him with breakfast. 

     The ground crunched under her feet as she went to start her dad’s truck. Her dad called it, ‘a rabbit trackin’ frost’.  Her heart was light as she bounced up Dillon’s driveway. Until she saw his truck in the ditch. It wasn’t a large ditch. He would have no issue getting out.  

     As she got out to investigate, she realized his truck was running. And notice just how close he was to the fence. It seemed like a life time of knocking and screaming his name before he rolled down the window. He moaned, “almost home?”

     Standing on the running board, she held his face in her hands through the window, “yes.”

     He made it home without anything else happening. She helped him to bed, then headed out to care for Teka. As she brushed Teka, she would brush awhile and cry awhile. She nor Dillon were ‘young’ anymore. Speaking for herself, she did things in her 20’s and 30’s that she couldn’t do now. The first product lunch she did; she got maybe 2 hours of sleep per day for a month. She guessed. That’s what it felt like. There was so much to do and so little time. They (her and Doug) were down to their last $5.00. If they wanted, he could’ve asked his parents for help. She couldn’t. Knowing her parents would give her anything. At the same time, not having it to give. She couldn’t do that now if she tried. Not gettin’ enough sleep made her ‘slangry’. 

     All Dillon ever put on his calendar was work. Okay 99% of it was work. Day 1 bled into day 15 like one great brush stroke. WORK. 

     She didn’t want him to give up doin’ something he loved and was good at. At the same time, she selfishly wanted more future time to spend with him. How were they gonna do this? Did he have to work so much? Or was it just a habit he had gotten into? 

     Her thoughts and tears were interrupted, “hi.” It was Simon. He held up his hands, “I know it’s your turn to care for Teka. I needed out of the house. And,” he turned looking toward Dillon’s house, “didn’t know where to go.”

     Evie sniffed, then smiled. “It’s okay. Honestly, I’ve been meaning to contact you. This is perfect. God puts us where he needs us.” She sniffed again, hugged Teka before leading Simon to the upper barn. As they rounded the corner of the house, Dillon stepped off the back porch, joining them. “Good morning.” She smiled.

     Dillon hugged her up, “good mornin’.”

    It made Simon feel warm inside just to be around them. ‘But why?’ He wondered. 

     As they walked to the barn, Simon started talkin’. “On the way over here, on the radio, Sunshine Sue asked her listenin’ audience, if you could uninvent something, what would it be?”

     Evie and Dillon both looked at each other. She answered, “poverty.”

     Dillon lowered his head, smiling to himself before answering, “guns.”

     “Wouldn’t that put you out of a job?” Simon asked with surprise.

     “No, there has always been crime. I don’t see it goin’ anywhere.”

     Once in the barn, Dillon let Evie do all the talkin’ as she explained what needed to happened before Hillbilly Yoga could start. From time to time, a goat or a chicken would interrupt their conversation. She handed Simon a folder with all the notes from permits to inspections. “Work up your cost including paperwork follow through.” She brushed Dillon’s arm, “we might even need to look at pourin’ gravel if this takes off.” 

     He smiled and nodded. “If it doesn’t take off, those improvements to the barn will be welcomed anyway.”

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

New people

     Rebecca stormed out of the church without saying goodbye to anyone. Simon stayed behind to speak to the new couple that had attended and to coo over their baby. 

     When he got behind the wheel, she hissed, “what took you so long?”

     “I wanted to introduce myself to the new couple. And show them some love.” Simon smiled trying not to remember the ugly stuff she had said about Evie. “They have the most adorable baby. It impressed me how quiet she was.”

     “So them some love,” she scoffed. “I’ll show them love, I reported them to social services. They are homeless garbage and don’t deserve a child.” Simon pulled the car over to the side of the road. “What in God’s name are you doing?” She pointed at the road, “I just want to go home. Now!”

     “When you met me, what was I?”

     She looked at him bombfuzzeled, “excuse me.”

     “I was a homeless piece of trash that was staying with Jack Rice ‘cause he needed some work done on his place. Did you forget that? Or is it just convenient?”

    “That’s different. You wasn’t waggin’ a baby around.”

     “Different how? I chose to be homeless. So many don’t. I chose that lifestyle because at the time, I wanted to see America and what better way. But most didn’t choose it. It was forced on them because of circumstances outside of their control. You’ve never asked me about the people I met. Or the number of times what little I had was set on fire or pissed on because I was a ‘homeless piece of garbage’ no one wanted  ‘round. You never asked me ‘bout my life before us.” Simon got out of the car and started walking. Leaving Rebecca behind. 

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Sheriff’s office

     Dillon walked from his office to the holding cells closing his flip phone where Evie was talking to this lady and playing with the dog. “There’s been a wreck on Lonely Road.”

     She cut him off, “I can stay here. If that’s allowed.” He showed her the cot in his office. With his thumb, he traced her black eye. “Be careful out there.”

     He wanted to kiss her again. Every fiber in his body was screaming, KISS HER YOU FOOL. He lazily let his thumb trail down her cheek before he walked away. 

     “Lawman?” He turned. She gave him a soft kiss. “Go save lives lawman. First and foremost being your own.”

     The accident was a car load of teens that slid in the ditch. Minor scrapes and scratches. 

     Dillon walked into the warm sheriffs office to the sound of laughter. A whip growl. Followed by more laughter. A toy hit his boot and squeaked before hitting the floor. The clicking of nails on tile raced toward him, a little dog picked up the toy causing it to squeak several times. Then raced back toward the holding cells with the toy in its mouth. “Good boy.” Was followed by hands clapping and more laughter. “Good boy.”

     Dillon sat in the floor outside across from the open door of the cell. “Meet Chico,” Evie smiled. Chico sniffed wildly at him. Starting with his boots. “Chico the Chihuahua.” Evie smiled. Clapping pulled his attention to the cell. “And this is Pam.” She smiled and waved.

     “Hi Pam.” She continued to smile and wave. “Did you get enough to eat?” She gave him a thumbs up. “We are forecasted to have 5 days of this weather. You are welcome to stay here.” She gave another thumbs up. 

     Chico bounced over to Evie and curled up on her legs. “Do you want a dog? He really likes you?” Dillon asked.

     “Not yet. Maybe someday.” She lovingly stroked Chico’s back. 

     That night, they found 10 random people out in the cold. And some people from Coal Town that chose not to brave the weather. Dr. Martin came in and gave general exams to the people that would let him. 

    After 3 days of -5 degrees, Dillon and Evie started going into remote hollers checking on neighbors. Horrible road conditions and ice kept them from 5 houses that Dillon knew of. Including Smith.

     “If this is going to be the new normal,” Dillon sighed, “we need to plan better.” 

     By the grace of God, no one died. 

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Grumblings 

     People kept coming into the church basement. Some were looking for the free food. Others, wanted to sip coffee and socialize. Then there were those hiding from the cold. 

     From the sheriffs department to the church, everyone was sharing on their social media accounts that the church was being used as a shelter. It was Sunshine Sue that said they were offering free food. Pastor Sam didn’t mind. He was praying that maybe it would encourage some new faces to attend worship service. 

     Bradley walked up to Patty, who gave him a fresh cup of hot coffee and a hug. “Everything okay?”

     “Good, good,” he smiled. Sarah was cleaning in the corner where the lady with the dog had been. “Where did she go?” He asked with concern.

     Pastor Sam blushed, “I’m allergic to dogs. I think they moved her to the sheriffs office.” 

     “Good, good.”

     “I’m shocked,” Rebecca smirked. “Evelyn didn’t even speak. And that rude sheriff.” Patty just eyed Bradley. “She’s sportin’ an engagement ring. Did her and the sheriff get engaged?”

     Instead of making any comments, he asked, “where’s Simon tonight?”

     She rolled her eyes, “he’s at the hippy grocery, 2 of their freezer stopped working.”

     Bradley was stunned, “hippy grocery?”

     “Yeah, you know that new store in town where a head of lettuce is $12.00.” She distorted her voice to sound airy. “It’s all natural. All organic.”

     Bradley sat his cup of coffee down, “some people have to eat that way because they have food allergies. And as far as Ms. Evelyn is concerned; why would she speak? I’m sure gettin’ churched hurt bad enough. But on top of that the added embarrassment of havin’ her morals and ethics questioned in front of the town elders, why would she speak?” He leaned through the service window as close to Rebecca as he could get, “what damn business is it of yours anyway?” And walked away. 

     Patty just eyed Sarah. They both knew how he felt. 

     “Food allergies” Rebecca snorted, “half that is just made up so gullible people can be tricked out of their money.”

     Sarah locked eyes with Rebecca, “dad has a histamine intolerance, he can’t eat a lot of processed foods. That store has been heaven sent for him. Now they don’t have to go to Perkinsville as often.”

     Pastor Sam was lazily leaning up against the door frame, taking it all in. Evelyn hadn’t been back to church since. But she had been dropping her dad off and picking him up. And she continued to pay her tithes. Pastor Sam reckoned in his heart that Evie was pissed at him not God. 

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Sadness

     -5 below was a new experience for Evie. Had coming home been a mistake? The suv Dillon was driving was good and warm when they climbed inside. 

     “How many vehicles do you have in reserve?”

     “Just 2. If the frame isn’t bent, I’d like to have the other one fixed. I’m not a big fan of all the electronics in vehicles now. There are some things we have to have. But if we can circumvent hackers, why not.” 

     Evie smiled to herself. ‘College words indeed.’ Then she asked, “when did,” she thought. “When we were little Scooter Culley was homeless. Dad would talk about how he lived in a cave in Misty Holler. Don’t know ‘bout you but I wasn’t allowed near that place. Now that I’m an adult, I’m pretty sure Scooter had a mental illness.”

     “For the most part, Scooter was harmless. And yes he did. But what to call it. Before he died, he started wearin’ aluminum foil on his head and trash bags for shirts. He set the hills on fire a couple times. A social worker found him a little house on the edge of town. That’s how he died. He got cold one night; fire marshal said a fire in a tub in the livin’ room was the source.”

     “I take it you got to know him?”

     “I guess the best way there was?”

     They slid to a stop at the bridge heading out of town. A thin trail of smoke was shooting up from one of the rain drains. Dillon pointed the suv toward the lake. For a split second Evie thought they were going in the water. 

     She grabbed ahold of the ‘oh, shit handle’ above the door. “If we go in the lake, this is gonna make for a memorable road trip.”  

     Dillon laughed, “i really wouldn’t count this as a road trip.”

     “We are in a vehicle. On a road.” They didn’t go in the lake. Dillon hit a service road that ran parallel, leading under the bridge. 

     “Not dead yet,” he playfully winked. 

     Someone had a fire in a barrel. “Hello,” Evie called. “Are you okay? We have blankets.”

     A skinny man stepped from behind a bridge support. He was scared of the law. Dillon held up his hands as he spoke, “I’m not here to arrest you. If you want to go, we,” he pointed at Evie. “We are here to take you to a shelter until the weather breaks.”

     Evie waved. 

     “All of us?” A timid voice asked from behind the man. A woman appeared from the shadows with a bundle in her arms. 

     “All of you.” Dillon answered. 

     At the church, they were intimidated by the bright lights. The bitter cold drove them inside. Pastor Sam had the basement toasty warm. Della had soup and sandwiches ready.

     While they were getting this family settled, Bradley came in with a woman. She huddled in the farthest corner of the basement, her back to everyone.

     Evie got a bowl of soup taking it to the new comer. Dillon was ready to jump as Evie raised her hands. He was ready to run to her. Everyone’s heart stopped. A collective sigh was released when Evie started using sign language. A little dog popped its head out from under the woman’s many layers. 

     Rebecca frowned, “someone should take that dog away from her. If you are so poor you can’t feed yourself, how can you take care of a dog.”

     Sarah had opened her mouth to speak not knowing that Widow Blake was about to. “Child,” she voiced. “What about the couple with the baby? You seem more upset over a dog.”

     Sarah added, “people need companionship. Not only is that dog her friend. But a source of warmth, joy, and love. We need more than just food to keep us alive.”

     Pastor Sam said with a meek voice, “I’m allergic to dogs.”

     Dillon walked over to Evie, explaining the situation. This lady agreed to go to the sheriff’s office and spend the night in an unlocked cell as long as she could keep her dog. 

     “When did you learn sign language?” Dillon asked as they helped this lady get settled again.”

     “My roommate in college. She could read lips. But I wanted to learn how to communicate with her better. She taught me sign language and I taught her Appalachian.”

     “Thank you.”

     “Anytime lawman.” She smiled.

     Evie officially met Tiny. Who was anything but tiny. Where Dillon was a mountain of a man, she was his female counterpart. As well as the night dispatch officer. Best of all, she wasn’t allergic to dogs. 

Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

First Winter

     Evie was spending her first winter in Sunshine Valley since she was 17. If things ran true to course, there wouldn’t be much sun. She knew her dad was safe and warm. Dillon would make sure Teka was warm and dry. Oh, Dillon. He’d better keep his flat butt safe. She smiled to herself. 

     -5! How was this happening? “-5?”

     Dillon just laughed. “Wanna play in the snow?”

     “Wanna freeze to death?” She smirked. “Thank you.”

     “For?”

     “Encouragin’ me to prepare.”

     “You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat. “If you are going stir crazy, you can go out on patrol with me.”

     “Do you really have to work in this?”

     “Yelp.”

     “Are you allowed to take civilians on patrol?”

    He laughed again and tried to sound like Bradley, “I’m the law in this town.”

     “Alright lawman.” He picked her up at 7 pm. “What are we going to do all night lawman? Eat donuts and play checkers?”

     “Is your opinion of me really that high?” She could tell he was smiling. 

     The night started with making sure the suv would start. Deputy Tolliver gave him a brief report from the day shift. “Pastor Sam has the basement of the church ready, sheriff.” Tolliver reported as he left tipping his hat to Evie. 

     “Ready for what?” She asked.

     “We have a few homeless people here. Wanna come with me to find them. Help me talk them to safety?”

     She gave him a sideways grin, “y Dillon Jackson Pace you didn’t want my company tonight. You want to use me because I’m a soft and gentle female. You scare people. Big ole mean sheriff.”

     “Evelyn Rose Rice, you are right on one count and wrong on the other. Your company is greatly appreciated. And yes, people are afraid I’m going to arrest them. If you would and are able to help me convince them, we just want them to be safe, I would forever be in your debt.” He bowed. 

     She smiled, “lead the way lawman.”

Sunshine Valley