After the Rain (The Callahans) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Jennifer Hayden
that he looked like a slob, something he hadn’t noticed about himself for quite some time.
Thinking back to the out-of-state blond, he frowned. She’d been a strange one. Most disabled’s met a cop with open arms. Not this one. She’d nearly refused to open her window.
He had to admit, that besides the badge he wore clipped to his belt and the gun he kept in the shoulder holster under his right arm, it wasn’t obvious to the eye that he was the sheriff of Callahan County. Things around here were laid back. It was too hot to wear a stuffy uniform. No one around here had questioned his choice of attire—not in the three and a half years he’d been part of the police department. Of course, that department only consisted of five people, including himself. He was the only one who didn’t dress for the occupation. He supposed no one cared enough about what he wore to say anything about it. Even the mayor wore jeans and a T-shirt every day.
Shrugging his doubt aside, he grabbed his wallet from the glove box and shoved it into his back pocket, before letting the truck door slam shut.
“Always late, aren’t you?”
Trey looked up and grinned when he saw his little sister on the sidewalk, walking back and forth with her two-year-old daughter in her arms. The little girl squealed with delight when she caught sight of her favorite uncle.
“Jeeze, a minute ago she was screaming so loud that no one could stand it.”
“No way, not my favorite niece.” He walked over and took little Amy from her mother’s arms. “You just don’t have the magic touch. Kids understand me.” He cradled Amy to his chest, tickling her lightly as he walked into the bar, Elle at his heels.
“It’s about damned time!” Dusty said when he saw his brother.
“Hung up arresting someone, Sheriff?” This came from Joe, who was seated at one of the tables that were pushed together every Friday night for the family meal.
Trey gave them a sheepish look. “I have an excuse. Things were busy today. Timmy Pickett got caught trying to steal one of the Lancaster’s pigs.” He walked toward the section of the bar where his family was seated amidst the normal hustle and bustle of the busy grill. Friday night was usually one of the biggest nights for the restaurant and tonight was nothing different. The place was crawling with patrons, all of whom waved at Trey. He greeted a few people before finally turning back to his family. That’s when he noticed the extra guest at the table. He thought he was seeing things at first. He did a double take and lifted his sunglasses from his nose. Then he narrowed his gaze. It was definitely her—the out-of-stater from the highway earlier that day. She looked a whole lot better now. Her blond hair was neatly pulled back in some kind of barrette and her face, which had earlier been flushed from the heat, now looked fresh and clean. He could see she’d added something to her skin, though he couldn’t put his finger on what. Lip stick, maybe. It looked…nice, he decided.
Their gazes locked and they both stared, neither apparently knowing what to say. She flushed again, and this time he forced a smile.
“Hey, Montana,” he said the first thing that popped into his head.
“Huh?” Faye retorted, looking at him as though he was crazy.
“We’ve met,” he replied, bouncing Amy, who was beginning to get fussy.
“I told you she’s crabby,” Elle said, reaching for her daughter.
“She’s fine. Eat,” Trey ordered, knowing Leo and Elle rarely got a peaceful meal, what with having a needy toddler around.
Elle shrugged her shoulders and walked over to take a seat next to her husband.
“What do you mean, you’ve met?” Faye asked, confused.
“He means my jeep broke down and he helped me out earlier today. I didn’t know who he was.” Montana spoke this time, her voice that quiet little drawl he remembered.
“And you didn’t call me?” Faye demanded, glaring at Trey.
“Why would I call you?
Thinking back to the out-of-state blond, he frowned. She’d been a strange one. Most disabled’s met a cop with open arms. Not this one. She’d nearly refused to open her window.
He had to admit, that besides the badge he wore clipped to his belt and the gun he kept in the shoulder holster under his right arm, it wasn’t obvious to the eye that he was the sheriff of Callahan County. Things around here were laid back. It was too hot to wear a stuffy uniform. No one around here had questioned his choice of attire—not in the three and a half years he’d been part of the police department. Of course, that department only consisted of five people, including himself. He was the only one who didn’t dress for the occupation. He supposed no one cared enough about what he wore to say anything about it. Even the mayor wore jeans and a T-shirt every day.
Shrugging his doubt aside, he grabbed his wallet from the glove box and shoved it into his back pocket, before letting the truck door slam shut.
“Always late, aren’t you?”
Trey looked up and grinned when he saw his little sister on the sidewalk, walking back and forth with her two-year-old daughter in her arms. The little girl squealed with delight when she caught sight of her favorite uncle.
“Jeeze, a minute ago she was screaming so loud that no one could stand it.”
“No way, not my favorite niece.” He walked over and took little Amy from her mother’s arms. “You just don’t have the magic touch. Kids understand me.” He cradled Amy to his chest, tickling her lightly as he walked into the bar, Elle at his heels.
“It’s about damned time!” Dusty said when he saw his brother.
“Hung up arresting someone, Sheriff?” This came from Joe, who was seated at one of the tables that were pushed together every Friday night for the family meal.
Trey gave them a sheepish look. “I have an excuse. Things were busy today. Timmy Pickett got caught trying to steal one of the Lancaster’s pigs.” He walked toward the section of the bar where his family was seated amidst the normal hustle and bustle of the busy grill. Friday night was usually one of the biggest nights for the restaurant and tonight was nothing different. The place was crawling with patrons, all of whom waved at Trey. He greeted a few people before finally turning back to his family. That’s when he noticed the extra guest at the table. He thought he was seeing things at first. He did a double take and lifted his sunglasses from his nose. Then he narrowed his gaze. It was definitely her—the out-of-stater from the highway earlier that day. She looked a whole lot better now. Her blond hair was neatly pulled back in some kind of barrette and her face, which had earlier been flushed from the heat, now looked fresh and clean. He could see she’d added something to her skin, though he couldn’t put his finger on what. Lip stick, maybe. It looked…nice, he decided.
Their gazes locked and they both stared, neither apparently knowing what to say. She flushed again, and this time he forced a smile.
“Hey, Montana,” he said the first thing that popped into his head.
“Huh?” Faye retorted, looking at him as though he was crazy.
“We’ve met,” he replied, bouncing Amy, who was beginning to get fussy.
“I told you she’s crabby,” Elle said, reaching for her daughter.
“She’s fine. Eat,” Trey ordered, knowing Leo and Elle rarely got a peaceful meal, what with having a needy toddler around.
Elle shrugged her shoulders and walked over to take a seat next to her husband.
“What do you mean, you’ve met?” Faye asked, confused.
“He means my jeep broke down and he helped me out earlier today. I didn’t know who he was.” Montana spoke this time, her voice that quiet little drawl he remembered.
“And you didn’t call me?” Faye demanded, glaring at Trey.
“Why would I call you?