Small Town Justice(48)

Freezing, straining to hear more, Shane held up a hand to quiet those at his table and focus their attention.

“I know, I know,” the judge went on. “It’s up to the courts to step in when parents insist on keeping company with troublemakers. I’ve seen it happen a lot, particularly with single parents who don’t keep track of their kids while they’re at work or out on dates.”

Shane’s hands were tight fists. He was clenching his jaw. The moment he made eye contact with Jamie Lynn and his mother, they both shook their heads.

Otis was the next to speak. “You know, I’m not that hungry after all. What say we pick up a pizza on the way home, instead?”

By the time Kyle started to whine about not getting his burger, Marsha was already on her feet, had him by the hand and was well on her way to the exit. Jamie Lynn hurried after her with Otis and Shane bringing up the rear.

As Shane passed through the door, he glanced back at the area they had just vacated. Most of the diners were busy eating and had ignored their abrupt departure.

One, however, was looking straight at them. And grinning. Randall had made his point and Shane was so angry he wanted to wipe that sarcastic smile off the judge’s face with his fist.

And land myself in jail for assault, giving him even more reason to go after Kyle, he reasoned, realizing that that might be just what the man had intended.

Instead, they would get him the right way. The legal way. A way that would make Sheriff Sam Colton proud.

“I miss you, Dad,” Shane murmured as he trailed the others to their vehicles. He knew what his father would have done. He’d seen it often enough as a child. Sam Colton had stood up for the underdog and the innocent. He was strong and faithful to his duty, yet could be tender when the situation called for sensitivity. And he never quit. Once he was committed to a cause he never wavered.

Which is exactly why he was killed.

* * *

Jamie had begged off and asked to be taken back to her motel Sunday afternoon rather than stay with the family for supper. She was wrung out, physically and emotionally. The less time she spent with the Coltons from now on, the better it would be, particularly for them. She knew that. She also longed for the comfort that came from being near Shane, from listening to his ideas, from leaning on his strength.

What surprised her the most was how much she missed him. It was one thing to rely upon someone. It was quite another to feel such a deep yearning that it caused her actual pain—pain that even cuddling her affectionate dog could not ease.

By the time Shane called to tell her about their upcoming appointment with the pastor the following week, she’d all but given up hope. Hearing his voice gave her mood such a boost it was scary, and by the time he showed up to get her, she had to fight an almost overwhelming urge to fling herself into his arms. Thankfully the judge’s threats against Kyle and her own sense of impropriety were enough to stop her.

“Are you sure Logan Malloy can help us?” she asked as Shane ushered her into the church through a side door. “He’s nothing like the kindly old minister from the church where I grew up.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” Shane countered. “Logan is intelligent and savvy as well as having a background in law enforcement.”

“Okay. If you think he can help, I’m game. I just don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize you or your son.”

“Judge Randall was a fool to threaten us in front of witnesses,” Shane said. “If anything, he did us a favor.”

“That remains to be seen. Let’s go get this over with before somebody sees us together.”

The pastor welcomed them to his office and shut the door. Jamie was surprised at how knowledgeable and open he was as soon they had filled him in.

“Actually, I’ve been in touch with Williford recently,” Logan said. “Max needed a favor and I obliged. I’ll phone him if you’d like and see if he’ll agree to meet with you.”

“You’ll ask him? What if he refuses?”

“I don’t think he’ll hesitate,” the pastor countered. “Sadly, Marty is out of the picture now.”

“What happened?”

“Let’s just say his youthful mistakes caught up to him and he didn’t survive the health consequences.”

“I’m sorry.” It surprised her to realize she meant it.

“It happens in the best of families,” Logan said. “Even Christians can go astray. We’re human, after all.”

“How far away is Max?” Shane asked.

“An hour or so. He changed his name and occupation.”

“What about his wife?”