Justice Healed (5 page)

Madison sighed.  "You're right.  I'm just being paranoid.  They can't force us to do anything."

"Exactly.  All we need to do is simply ignore them.  They'll get tired of this and move on to something else before long.  Small towns are full of gossip.  Somebody is bound to do something that snags their attention."

"That's true."  Madison smiled at Tanner.  "You are a nice man.  I thought you'd be appalled but you took the news really well."  She reached for her wallet and extracted a twenty.  "Here's my share of the pizza."

His eyebrows shot up.  "Woman, if my father knew I let a lady pay half the check he'd have my hide.  Dinner is on me."

Stubborn cowboys.

She thought about arguing but she could see from
the set of his jaw she wasn't going to win.  She relented, stuffing the bill back in her purse.  "Thank you then.  That's very kind."

The waitress dropped off the receipt.  Tanner signed it and then stood, shrugging on his jacket.  She pulled hers on and felt his warm hands at the collar, helping her. 

"Let me walk you to your car."

She couldn't think of a blessed reason for him not to, so he walked with her down the sidewalk to where she'd parked her car.  He waited, standing there, while she started her engine and drove away.  She forced herself not to give into the urge to look into her rearview mirror. 

If it weren't for his daughter Emily, Tanner wouldn't have even come to the Valentine's dance tonight.  She wanted him to meet her new boyfriend, Tyler Givens.  She'd met him in an art class she was taking in Billings, and he was supposedly "awesome" or some such word.  Now he was here and Emily hadn't shown up yet. So he had staked out some real estate by the food buffet and made small talk with the townsfolk who wandered by. 

The Ladies Auxiliary had really gone all out this year for the annual fundraiser.  The Civic Center, which was really just a converted warehouse for town council meetings and the occasional non-denominational wedding and reception, looked like Cupid had exploded.  Hearts and snowflakes, clearly all handmade from red, white, and pink construction paper, hung from the ceiling while the tables were covered with red paper tablecloths and white paper lace doilies. 

There was also a spot for photos with a splashy red and gold background that would have made Venus blush.  They were charging ten bucks a pop but you couldn't pay Tanner to stand in front of that mural that was obviously designed by a horny teenage boy.  Shit, even the angels had silicone boobs and lascivious expressions. 

All in all, it was a banner year and the turnout was going to make the children's wing of the nearby hospital very happy.  There was a crush of bodies on the dance floor and a steady stream of newcomers through the door.  There wasn't much to do in a small town so when something went on it usually ended up packed with people.

"Tanner, I didn't expect to see you here tonight.  Are you on duty?" 

Tanner winced at the familiar sound of his ex-wife's voice.  Since the kids were now grown, he tried to stay out of her orbit as much as possible.  It wasn't easy in a town the size of Springwood but a determined man could make things happen.  Abby was a good woman and mother, but she had a way of grating on Tanner's nerves.  He was pretty sure it was on purpose. 

He turned to find Abby and her new fiancé, Fenton Jacks.  Abby was a tiny woman with short dark hair and a nice figure, even after two children.  Fenton was a few inches under six feet with a soft middle.  He wasn't a bad looking man.  Tanner had even heard women say Fenton was handsome.  But he had a perpetual smirk on his face that made Tanner want to smack it off.

Fenton had bought a small ranch
about eight months ago.  As far as Tanner could see, the man was a city slicker who didn't know one end of a cow from the other.  Fenton's enthusiasm for small town life seemed suspect since he liked to brag about living all over the world.  He also seemed flush with cash.  Something else that made Tanner suspicious. Small ranchers were rarely rich. 

Tanner nodded.  "Abby.  Fenton."  Tanner looked down at his jeans, western cut shirt with silver bolo tie, and his dress cowboy boots.  "No, I'm not on duty.  Emily wanted me to meet Tyler tonight."

"Fine young man," Fenton boomed.  Heads swiveled toward them.  "We had him over to dinner the other night."

Of course you did, you smug bastard. 

Fenton and Abby always made sure to let Tanner know how much Emily and Chris, especially Chris, liked Fenton.  Tanner made a mental note to call Logan in the morning and see if he'd turned up anything with his investigation.  Tiny pinpricks stabbed the back of Tanner’s neck.  This guy simply was not legit.  It didn't mean he was doing something illegal, but he wasn't on the up and up either.

Abby placed her hand on Fenton's arm.  "We liked Tyler.  He seems like a good boy."

"I'm sure he is."  Tanner looked over their shoulders for an avenue of escape.  It was all cordial at the moment, but it could turn on a dime.

"I saw Chris today," Abby said.

Apparently the cordial part of the evening was complete.  Tanner’s shoulders stiffened but he kept his expression bland.

"How is he?  I haven't seen him in a few days."

Since I let him out of jail for drinking and fighting two weeks ago.

Abby's lips pressed together.  "He's lost his job at the Hogan ranch.  This is the third in the last year."

Tanner's hopes plummeted.  Logan and Sam were right.  What Chris needed was some tough love.  Fast.  "I hope you didn't give him any money, Abby.  You're only enabling him to keep drinking and losing jobs."

"He has a wife and a baby, Tanner.  I had to do something," Abby insisted. 

"No."  Tanner shook his head.  "Chris needs to do something.  He needs a trip to rehab."

"You never needed rehab."  Abby waved away the suggestion.  "You stopped drinking and Chris can, too.  He just needs someone to help him."

Tanner didn't like his ex-wife talking about his drinking problem in front of her future husband.  He also wasn't thrilled with how she characterized his struggle.  Apparently he'd made his twenty-year love affair with the bottle look like a day at the fucking park.  He remembered it very differently.  The withdrawal alone had been physically excruciating. 

"Getting sober can only be done when he really wants it.  If he doesn't, it's doomed to fail."

"He wants to," Abby insisted.  "He promised me he's going to stop drinking.  Stacey told him that if he didn't stop drinking she was going to leave him."

Personally, Tanner thought that was a good idea.  Chris wasn't seeing all the things he could lose with his self-destructive behavior.

"I hope he means it this time, Abby.  He's said those things before."

"He means it this time." Fenton puffed out his chest.  "Besides, he has me to watch over him now.  He's going to come work on my ranch.  Things are going to be fine."

It was all Tanner could do not to knock that smug smile off of Fenton's face.  He was implying that Tanner hadn't been up to the job of parenting, but Fenton had everything under fucking control.  Tanner gritted his teeth and seethed inside, but tried to appear outwardly calm.

"Don't cut him any slack, Fenton.  Don't baby him.  He needs to quit drinking and learn some responsibility."

It appeared that Fenton wanted to say more but divine intervention was kind.  The Eisleys interrupted with a question for Abby about the quilt she was making for their soon-to-be-born granddaughter and the four of them ambled off to find the bar.  Tanner exhaled slowly, trying to let go of his anger.  He shouldn't let Fenton and Abby wind him up that way.  He knew better. 

He refilled his cup of punch and found his attention pulled to the dance.  Madison Shay had just walked in with her friend, Sherry, and Sherry's boyfriend, Dan.  Madison didn't appear to have an escort and she looked slightly uncomfortable standing there, her smile strained. 

But she looked beautiful tonight.  Tanner remembered her as a gangly kid with long legs and freckles.  This woman was a far cry from the child.  She wore a white knit dress with a high neck and long sleeves, belted at the waist.  It showed off the subtle curves of her slender body, and the red suede boots accented her long legs.  She'd left her hair loose and it hung down almost to her waist in fiery curls and waves. 

Holy crap, it was hot in here.  Tanner ran his finger under his collar.  A blast of cold air was just what he needed instead of standing here salivating over a lovely lady.  He'd been too long between women.  Tomorrow he might want to think about calling that widow he'd been seeing in the town over.  She was always happy to hear from him.  He headed for the entrance and a breath of fresh air but then realized he would have to pass right by her to step outside.   

Sherry's eyes lit up and she made a beeline straight for him, tugging him over to where Dan and Madison were waiting.  "Sheriff, it's so good to see you tonight.  I had no idea you would be here."

The way Sherry was eyeing him gave credence to Madison's story about being fixed up with each other.  He simply couldn't figure out why Sherry had chosen him.  Madison was way out of Tanner's league. 

"My daughter convinced me.  She wanted me to meet her new boyfriend." 

"That's so sweet.  I haven't seen Emily in a long time," Sherry said. 

"She spends most of her time in Billings but she comes here to visit once every couple of weeks.  She's going to art school."

Dan chuckled.  "Good for her.  I can't even draw a stick figure.  I'd love to have a talent."

Sherry linked her arm in his.  "You do have talent, babe.  The kind they don't teach in school."

Tanner laughed and Madison turned pink at the innuendo.  It intrigued Tanner to see a woman as beautiful and sexy as Madison act so innocent.  It made her seem fresh and unspoiled compared to the wom
en he'd dated lately.  He tended to gravitate toward females who were also divorced and didn't want a man around full time.  The care and feeding of the male animal wasn't a part of their future plans.

A Trace Adkins song came on, and Sherry clasped Dan's arm and squealed with delight.  "I love this song.  Let's all go out and dance."  She turned to Madison with a huge smile.  "You remember how to line dance, don't you?"

"Kind of," Madison replied, clearly not as enthused as her friend.  Sherry patted Madison's shoulder.  "Just follow us.  It'll all come back to you."  She started tugging Madison and Dan toward the dance floor.  "Sheriff, you're coming too, right?"

Tanner was about to make his excuses and head outside when he saw Abby and Fenton by the front door.  He didn't want to run into them again tonight.  A quick glance toward the food buffet and he could see Marilyn Cedars scanning the crowd hopefully.  She'd been widowed about a year ago and was looking for a new daddy for her five uncontrollable children.  Tanner had his own issues without taking on five more.  Make that six, if you counted Marilyn herself who chain-smoked and chewed her gum like the MGM
lion.  Discretion was the better part of valor or some shit like that.  He dutifully followed Madison, Sherry, and Dan to the dance floor.  As long as the steps weren't fancy, he could fake it. 

Thirty minutes later he'd danced to several songs alongside Madison.  She'd stepped on his boots a few times in the beginning but she moved with a natural grace he couldn't help but admire.  She also had a self-deprecating sense of humor that made him smile.  Damn if she wasn't the most attractive woman he'd met in a very long time.  A sultry, slow song started, the lights going dim.  Tanner looked down at Madison's pretty face and threw caution to the wind. 

Fuck it. 

He was ready to admit that he liked her and was attracted to her.  She was too damn young or he was too old, but he enjoyed her company.  They had things in common and she was pleasant to be around.  He held out his hand.

"Dance?"

Her eyes widened and she looked ready to bolt for the exit.  He was ready to slap himself upside the head thinking a woman like her would want to dance with a guy like him when she gave him a tremulous smile and placed her hand in his.

Instant electricity.

A zing went up his arm that jolted his entire body.  He enfolded her into his arms and they began to gently sway to the music.  He could smell the flowery scent of her shampoo and feel her heart beating against him.  He closed his eyes and let his cheek rest on her forehead while the warmth of her body seeped into his skin.  A simple dance had never been this good or this right.  Her body fit his as if the good Lord had made her just for him. 

Right there and then he decided.  He was going to pursue Dr. Madison Shay.  Heaven help her, he was a man on a mission with the first woman he'd truly liked in years. 

Hopefully he wouldn't screw it up. 

* * * *

Madison didn't want it to be this good, but Tanner's hard body so close to hers felt like heaven.  He was solid and strong, and she let herself lean against him as they moved to the soft ballad.  It was all over too soon and the song ended note by note and the lights came up, harsh and blinding to her eyes.  She quickly pulled away as if she'd been burned.  In a way she had.  He was the bright light and she was a moth, helpless to the attraction she felt for him.  She'd thought she'd been above all of the nonsense until their slow dance.  Her body was on fire just being close to him.

But she'd seen what happened to moths and she wasn't planning to let that happen to her.  She stared at the floor and mumbled a thank you before turning on her heel and heading straight for the foyer and then out the front door.  The cold air hit her like an icy wall, freezing her in her tracks.  Her breath came in frosted pants and she wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the bitter February weather. 

She should have headed for the ladies room, but as usual, her mind hadn't worked correctly in the presence of a man and now she was probably going to get hypothermia.  She quickly calculated her probable blood alcohol level after a glass and
a half of wine and used that to predict how long she had before she would freeze to death.  Not long.  She needed to figure out how she was going to sneak back in, get her coat, and find a ride home.  Walking home in this weather wasn't an option, and Sherry and Dan were having too much fun to abandon the party and drive her anywhere. 

She rubbed her arms and almost jumped as something heavy was laid across her shoulders and a warm male scent surrounded her.  She whirled around and Tanner was standing there, his brows knitted together.

"You'll freeze out here."  He tugged the front of the coat together and his fingers brushed the sensitive flesh of her neck, sending sparks through her body.  She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.  He must think she was a total idiot.