Free Cowboy Famous: Book 4 (Cowboy Justice Association) by Olivia Jaymes Page A

advice. He probably needed time off and was afraid to ask for it with everything going on.
    “Of course you can have some time off–” Griffin began.
    “That’s just it,” Dare cut him off. “It’s not just time off. I need to resign.”
    Griffin inwardly reeled as if he’d been slugged with a two by four. “Resign? What the hell for?”
    Dare scraped his hand through his hair, his lips a grim line. “Dad’s not doing well and my stepsister doesn’t have anyone to watch over her. She’s a teenager, and according to the social worker that called me, if family doesn’t take over they’ll put her in foster care until she’s eighteen. That’s months away.”
    “Then take a leave of absence until your dad is better. Shit, don’t resign,” Griffin argued. Dare was one of the best deputies in Montana. Griffin would hold the job open as long as it took. “I don’t want to lose you. I’ll wait, man.”
    Dare’s shoulders lifted. “Sheriff Barkley wants to retire, Griffin.”
    Sheriff Lionel Barkley had been the head lawman in Dare’s hometown for at least the past thirty-five years. Rumor was that Barkley was planning to die with his boots on so to speak and it looked to be true. The man had to be at least seventy years old, hunchbacked and mean as a snake.
    “Retire, huh? Didn’t see that one coming.”
    Griffin was helpless to stop this train from flattening him. There was no way he would get in the way of Dare getting his own town. Shit, he deserved it and then some.
    “No one did. He’s been talking about it for months. Called me last fall but I was happy here. But with dad and everything…”
    Dare’s voice trailed off as if in apology but he didn’t have anything to be sorry for. Griffin appreciated that the deputy had stayed on as long as he had, especially if he’d been courted by his own town.
    “Aw, fuck. I understand. You’ve got some pay coming for unused vacation time. Let’s sit down and talk about this when I get back. How long do you think you can give me? A week?”
    Dare nodded. “I’m sorry about this. I know it’s the absolute worst time this could happen.”
    “There would never have been a good time so it might as well be now.” Griffin shrugged as if it didn’t matter but his mind was already whirring as to how they were going to cover shifts. “I’m happy for you although I’m sorry about the circumstances. I hope your dad pulls through.”
    “I’m hopeful. As soon as I’m off the clock for today I’m going to go visit him, but I’ll be back in tomorrow. The doctor said he’s stable but unconscious so my sitting by his bed wouldn’t change anything.”
    Griffin never doubted Dare’s dedication to the job, but his words underlined that there were indeed issues in the Turner family. “If you need more flexibility let me know. Family comes first.”
    As close to a smile as Dare ever allowed himself crossed the deputy’s face. “You’ll just be covering those shifts yourself, boss. We’re stretched as thin as ice in April.”
    Griffin slapped Dare on the back and grinned. “My dad always used to say that idle hands do the devil’s work. He always respected a man who put in an honest day’s work and then some.”
    “Your dad would know. How many brothers and sisters you got again?”
    “Nine. Four brothers and five sisters.” Saying it out loud never ceased to amaze Griffin. They should have put his family on a reality show but thank god they never did. “And we grew up in a three bedroom house with one bathroom.”
    Dare pushed the brim of his hat up and chuckled. “Holy shit. That explains a whole bunch about you.”
    “It explains why I don’t mind taking a piss outside. Now I need to get on the road. I’ll be back by dinnertime. Can you pull the evidence for the Casey Charlock case, by the way? Jazz chose it as her cold case and I want to review the evidence with her.”
    “Will do. And thanks for not blowing a gasket.”
    “Wouldn’t have