Justice Reborn (Cowboy Justice Association Book 8) (2 page)

Morris tossed his pen on the desk and chuckled, knowing he might have won a few of the battles but ultimately he’d lost the war. “I wish you well, son. You know that, right? There’s always a place for you here if you want it. I hate to say it because I know you despised every day on the job but you were the best sheriff we’ve had in my lifetime. Maybe my daddy’s too. Have a seat for a few minutes and I’ll get your last paycheck.”

Morris started to rise but Evan shook his head. “Keep it since I didn’t give you any notice. I do feel badly about that but once a man decides something… Hell, I just need to be on my own for awhile.”

“A man has to do what a man has to do. Keep in touch.”

Evan wasn’t sure he’d ever be back, to be honest, but he nodded his head in agreement. Anything else would have appeared churlish and he didn’t want this to be a bitter ending.

Slapping his hat back on his head, he turned on his heel and strode out of the building before pausing on the steps of city hall. He took a deep, long breath and looked up at the shining sun.

It was a good day to be alive and unencumbered.

He wouldn’t waste another day looking back. Full speed ahead.

Chapter Two

J
osie Carlton stepped off of the bus and stretched her cramped, tired limbs as the fresh air caressed her face. Exhausted to the bone, she’d slept during the ride albeit with one eye open, still unsettled by the events of the night before. Terrified and unsure as to what to do, she’d jumped on the next bus leaving the station, not caring where it was going, only wanting to get away as quickly as possible.

Now she was standing on the sidewalk of a little town in central Florida, about an hour from Orlando. She’d never been to the Sunshine State before and had pictured palm trees and beaches. There were a few palm trees but there wasn’t an ocean in sight. From what she had seen from the bus windows, there were trees and horses.

And heat. Sidewalk melting heat. That old saying about frying an egg on the sidewalk must have been coined right here in this little town.

She lifted her long hair off of her neck where a pool of sweat had gathered in the stifling humidity. It was the beginning of May and summer was just beginning in most of the country, but here it was obviously in full swing.

Hitching her backpack higher on her shoulder, she struck out toward what appeared to be the center of town. She wanted desperately to sleep but even more she wanted food. She hadn’t eaten in hours and at this point pretty much anything sounded good, which was fortunate as the first eatery she came upon looked like a diner straight from the 1950s complete with pink vinyl booths and juke box in the corner. She slid into a seat and looked around for Fonzie, but if he was there he was hiding in the kitchen or the bathroom.

A young waitress who couldn’t have been more than twenty sidled up as Josie studied the menu. “I’m Tammy, and I’ll be taking care of you today. What can I get you?”

Stomach gurgling with hunger, Josie pointed to the laminated menu. “How are the shakes here?”

“To die for,” the girl giggled. “If you like burgers and fries, you just stepped into heaven.”

Josie slapped the menu closed decisively. “I’ll have a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake. Oh, and a glass of water, if you don’t mind as well.” The waitress nodded and scribbled down the order. “Can you please tell me where the ladies room is? I need to freshen up.”

Tammy pointed to a hallway near the jukebox. “Right back there. Did you just get off the bus?”

That subject was the last thing she wanted to discuss. “Uh yes, I’ll be right back. You won’t give away my table, will you?”

Tammy laughed and shook her head. “It’s safe. The lunch rush is over so you can sit there for a few hours if you want to.”

Slipping back to the restroom while the waitress put in her order, Josie surveyed the damage in the mirror. Dark smudges under her eyes from lack of sleep and too much worry and stress. Hair sticking every which way. Clothes that looked like she’d slept in them. Because she had.

“Aren’t you a beauteous sight,” she muttered as she pulled a brush through her wavy auburn hair and tied it back into a ponytail before splashing cold water on her blotchy skin. Right now, the only thing she was fit to do was scare small children.

By the time she returned to her table her chocolate milkshake was waiting for her. She made short work of it along with the cheeseburger and fries, cleaning her plate except for some lettuce and tomato she’d pulled off the bun. Now pleasantly full, she needed to find a place to sleep. Once she’d rested and her brain worked again she could start figuring out what she was going to do. Nothing she’d experienced in her life had prepared her for this. If she thought about it too much, she’d sit down and cry for the rest of the day.

Tammy slid the bill on the table and gathered the dirty dishes. “Looks like you enjoyed it. Can I get you anything else? We have homemade pies.”

Josie patted her stomach. “I’m stuffed but thank you. I don’t suppose you know of a cheap but clean motel around here? I don’t need anything fancy.”

And I can’t afford it either.

“Sure I do. Go down two blocks that way and then turn right. Cypress Corner Motorlodge will be down about a block. Hank owns it and he’s a good man. Runs a clean place and has decent prices.” Tammy leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “And it’s the only hotel in this one horse town. Tell him I sent you.”

Josie nodded and thanked the young woman who bustled back to the kitchen. Unzipping her backpack, Josie carefully counted out the bills for her meal plus tip and placed it on the table. She’d pulled money from her checking account before leaving home but this wouldn’t last forever and she didn’t dare use her ATM card again or any of her credit cards either. The stress of her situation hit her straight in the abdomen again and a lump rose in her throat, threatening to bring her burger and fries back up.

Swallowing hard, she breathed in and out until her stomach settled. Frankly, she didn’t have the luxury of throwing up lunch as she couldn’t really afford to waste food and money like that.

She zipped her backpack closed and headed toward the door, pausing at a large bulletin board on the wall which had everything from puppies up for adoption to cars for sale. One advert caught her eye and she untacked it from the cork backing to take a closer look.

Temporary housekeeper wanted ASAP.

Lord knew she needed the money so she could keep moving or get to her final destination…whatever that was going to be. Her cash would run out faster than she wanted it to and this might be the answer.

Suddenly Tammy was leaning over Josie’s shoulder. “Evan put that up today at breakfast time. He owns an old house outside of town that’s been empty for years. Looking for someone to help him clean it up and make it habitable.”

Josie’s fingers tightened on the index card. She wasn’t sure she could trust someone she didn’t know from Adam and her concern must have shown on her face. “He seems like the respectable sort. In this business you can always tell the creepers and he’s not one of them. You should give him a call. I think he’s anxious to find someone.”

Anxious enough to hire her with a fake name and references? Could she persuade him to pay her cash? When this was all over, she’d be sure to pay the IRS the tax she owed but right now banking wasn’t the best idea.

Josie looked around the diner for a payphone but like most places they’d done away with them. “I don’t have a phone.”

She’d chucked her cell before getting on the bus in case someone used it to trace her.

“Then come back around six-thirty. He’s here every night for dinner. Says his kitchen is only fit for coffee and donuts. I’ll introduce you.”

Turning, Josie gave the young woman her most grateful smile. Small towns really were friendly. She hadn’t felt this calm in over twelve hours. It felt nice not shaking in her shoes like a Chihuahua.

“Thank you. You’ve been more than helpful. I really appreciate it.”

Tammy patted her on the shoulder. “My pleasure. We don’t get many new people around here. It’s kind of exciting.”

The one thing Josie hoped for with all her heart? That she didn’t bring any action to this little town. If for no one’s sake but her own.

People might ask the question why she hadn’t gone to any of her friends for help but she’d learned early on in life that she truly didn’t have anyone but herself. Trust wasn’t something she offered easily. She’d learned to stand on her own two feet and take care of herself.

She hadn’t had much of a choice then and she didn’t now. Josie didn’t want to put people she cared about in danger. She wouldn’t pull anyone else into the mess she’d found herself in.

Chapter Three

“H
ow are you doin’ tonight, Evan? You look tired.”

Tammy slid an iced tea in front of him as per their usual routine. The kitchen in the house Evan was living in was a disaster so he’d taken to getting most of his meals at the diner. Sometimes for variety he ate at the pizza place or maybe the barbecue joint that was only open on the weekends.

“I am tired.” Evan stretched his shoulders with a groan. “I was working on the garage today and I must be getting old because it kicked my ass royally. After I eat, I’m heading straight home to sleep.”

Except that he wasn’t sleeping much no matter how exhausted he was. His brain wouldn’t shut down and he spent the hours between sundown and dawn thinking about his past and possible futures until his head ached and he could barely hold his eyes open.

Then the alarm would go off.

Tammy smiled and almost bounced with excitement. He hadn’t seen her this animated in the weeks he’d been in town. Did she have a new boyfriend?

“I have someone who can help you with that. New girl in town, just off the bus, and looking for some temporary employment. She’s perfect for the job.”

His brows shot up in surprise as he’d just placed the ad on the bulletin board at breakfast time that very day. In a town this small he’d met about everyone around and he hadn’t much hope of getting any applicants.

“What’s her name?”

Tammy bit her lip and giggled. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask and she paid with cash.”