Free The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) by J.D. Faver

looked nervous and small as she sat with her baby in her arms.
    Cami was torn as to which direction to take, but called Loretta to say she would be a little late.
    A look of gratitude spread across Sara Beth’s face when Cami entered the room with coffee and cups on a tray.
    Cami placed it on the table and sat down beside her on the sofa. “Coffee anyone?”
    The sheriff and his man accepted a cup while Sara Beth shook her head.
    The sheriff cleared his throat. “As I was saying, we haven’t had anything of this kind around here for as far back as I can remember.” He gave Sara Beth a steely-eyed glare. “Is there anything you can tell us to shed light on the matter?”
    Sara Beth shook her head again.
    “Is there anyone you know of who would wish you harm?”
    She sniffled. “No, Sheriff. I can’t think of a soul.”
    “Tell him about the feeling that someone was watching you,” Cami supplied.
    The sheriff leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Watching you?”
    Sara Beth shrugged helplessly. “It was just a feeling. For the past couple of weeks, since Nick left, I’ve been real antsy. I thought someone was watching me, even at the shop.”
    The sheriff exchanged a sharp glance with the deputy. “What did you base that on, Mrs. Jessup?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing really…Just a feeling.”
    “There were boot prints and cigarette butts found outside your place, mostly in the tree line where someone could hide and keep you under surveillance.”
    A spiral of fear wound around Cami’s spine.
    Sara Beth released a tiny whimper and covered her mouth with one hand. “But why would anyone be interested in spying on me?” she asked, her voice trailing off to a whine. “I’m not in the least bit interesting.”
    The sheriff looked grim as the deputy made notes on a small pad.
    “And what if they come back? Someone could kill us out there and no one would know right away.”
    Cami patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sara Beth You and the baby will be staying right here with us until Nick gets home.”
    “Oh, Doctor Cami. We couldn‘t impose on you like that.”
    “It’s not an imposition. We want you to stay here.” Cami hoped that Breck would be on board with her invitation. “We can take you by the house to pick up more clothes and things for the baby.”
    Sara Beth nodded and murmured her gratitude. “I just can’t imagine why Nick hasn’t called. Maybe he’s sick?” She gazed at Cami with a doubtful expression, as though she knew her errant husband should be more responsible.
    “Where is Nick, anyway?” the sheriff asked. “I haven’t seen that young rascal around town lately.”
    Sara Beth sucked in a gulp of air and hiccupped. “I—I don’t know exactly. He started working for some long-distance trucking outfit because…” She stifled a sob. “Because me and the baby was too expensive and he needed to make more money to support us.”
    “What is the name of this trucki ng company?” the sheriff asked.
    “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Nick never told me. He just brought home a lot of cash.”
    The sheriff and deputy exchanged another cryptic glance. “Cash? Do you still have it?”
    “I put it in the bank,” she said. “Except for a few twenties I kept in my purse for emergencies.”
    The sheriff asked to see the money and Sara Beth handed the baby to Cami. When she returned she had her purse with her. “I put it in the back of my billfold, so I wouldn’t be tempted to spend it.” She started to reach for it, but the sheriff held out his hand for the bag.
    The deputy pulled on a pair of rubber gloves and removed the billfold from the purse. He spread it open and pointed to three twenty-dollar bills in the back. “Are these the bills you received from your husband?”
    When she nodded, the deputy carefully extricated the money and placed it in a plastic evidence bag. He wrote a recei pt and handed it to Sara Beth.
    The sheriff and deputy left and Sa ra