Being Emma (4 page)

Mandy came back in and handed her the glass.
“So how’s the life of a deputy sheriff?” She smiled and sat down in
a chair across from her. Janie laughed and took a quick sip.

“Pretty good, I’d say. We just got an influx
of new money and are happily spending it.” Colt sat down by the
girls.

“Are you getting that new weapon you
wanted?”

“Yes, and other things as well. I think the
town fundraiser must have been a barnburner this year. We got more
than we ever have from it.”

“Sounds like things are going fine for you…
Where’s Craig?”

Janie frowned. “What do you mean?” Colt
noticed her reaction.

“Ah… I just know that … um… didn’t you guys
eat together at Mom and Dad’s tonight? After archery practice?”
Colt looked at Mandy for help.

“That’s the usual pattern, isn’t it? Practice
and then dinner?”

“I don’t always eat with Craig. And I don’t
know where he is…” As if beckoned, there was a knock at the door.
That set off the dogs barking again and rushing to the door with
three little children right behind them.

“Come on in, Craig,” yelled Colt over dogs
barking and children squealing.

Craig opened the door and walked in petting
the dogs first and then grabbing the first child he came to.

“Uncle Craig! Uncle Craig!” He lifted Lucy
while Sammy and Olivia grabbed his legs now. They came up to his
knees, almost. They were as excited to see him as they were to see
Janie. She couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

Craig’s smile could light up any room and
this one was no different. He had to take turns picking up each
child…

“Hey Lucy… You’re so pretty.” Lucy lit up
when he touched her little chin. He put her down and picked up
Olivia who wrapped her chubby arms around his neck. Craig gave her
cheek a peck and smiled at her.

“Livy… You’re getting so big.” She squealed
and he gave her to Mandy to reach for Sammy. Craig pretended that
picking him up was hurting his back.

“Sammy, you really are getting big. My back
is killing me now.” Sammy laughed and clapped his hands. Craig came
to the sofa with Sammy in his arms and sat down by Janie. She
smiled at little Sammy and then her smile faded looking up into
Craig’s face.

Uh-oh… Mandy knew she was mad about
something. Craig seemed to want to make peace.

“How’s practice going, Craig? You guys going
to ready for the big competition?” Colt looked from Craig to
Janie.

“Yes, I think so. We’re practicing regularly.
Janie was a little off tonight though.” He smiled slyly at her. She
glared back at him.

“Someone threw me off my game, but I’ll
bounce back. It just takes concentration and not letting anything
bother me.” She looked over at Mandy who thought she was talking in
some kind of code. She glanced at Colt who couldn’t make it out
either. He shook his head and stood up.

“Sammy, don’t you need to visit the potty?”
Colt took the little boy by the hand and walked him to the
bathroom.

“Mandy, do you mind if I take Lucy outside? I
need a little fresh air…”

“No, be my guest. It’s nice out, she won’t
need her jacket.”

Lucy squealed happily as Janie picked her up
and went out the door to the swing set in the back yard. Mandy
pointed to Craig to follow her out. He nodded and picked up Olivia
to go out back as well.

“How old are you now, Lucy?” She looked at
the sweet little girl in her arms.

“I’m this many…” Lucy held up one chubby
finger.

“And how old are you, pretty Livy?” Craig
asked and she held up one finger too.

Janie went over and sat down on a swing with
her niece in her lap. She started swinging which made Lucy laugh.
Craig sat down on the swing next to Janie with cute Livy in his
lap. She laughed too as Craig started swinging her.

It was pretty hard to stay mad at him with
two giggly and adorable children in their laps. She appreciated
that he was good with children. With Colt as his best friend, the
children were practically his relatives too.

Inside the house, Colt took Mandy’s hand.
“What’s up with those two?”

She shook her head. “I just don’t know. Seems
like lately they’ve been arguing more than I’ve ever seen.” They
watched out the window for a few minutes and then gave them some
privacy.

Outside, Janie and Craig swung with the
little girls for a few minutes.

Then they finally looked at each other and
spoke at once.

“Craig, I’m sorry.”

“My fault, Janie…” They laughed at that.

“No, really. It’s my fault. I’m probably
pushing Diane, but she’s my best friend…” Janie looked sorry.

“I’m sorry to be scolding you a lot these
days. I should be encouraging you with all you do, instead of
berating you.”

Craig held out his hand to Janie. She took it
and looked into his face.

“Friends again?”

“Yes, please. Let’s not quarrel. We’re such
good friends and I want to keep it that way.” Craig grinned at her.
Livy was going to sleep in his lap.

“Looks like your charge is already asleep.”
He looked at Lucy.

“So’s yours. Let’s get these kids to bed.”
Smiling, they stood up and took the children back in the house and
to their beds. Sammy was already asleep, so when Janie and Craig
returned to the family room, Colt and Mandy were sitting
comfortably, probably for the first time all day, on the couch.
Mandy sighed.

“Thanks you two for helping with the twins.
They can cause quite a ruckus at bedtime. We have a minute to
ourselves finally… Sit down and have a beer or something.” Colt
looked relieved and leaned over to kiss Mandy.

Janie found her wineglass and Craig snagged
two beers from the refrigerator. He handed one to Colt. They sat
down across from Colt and Mandy and smiled.

“A little hectic with three, isn’t it?” Craig
took a pull of his beer.

“Yeah, Jesse has it easy with just two.”

Mandy laughed. “I guess you haven’t
heard.”

“… What?”

“Audrey’s pregnant again…” Colt and Craig
started laughing.

“Remember what he said the other night when
we were out looking for the coyotes?”

“Yeah.”

“What’d he say?” asked Janie.

“He was telling me to be more measured with
having children. I didn’t think they wanted any more.” Mandy
laughed again.

“Jesse obviously didn’t discuss it with
Audrey. She wants a few more…”

Colt nearly choked on his beer. “Really? ...
Great! Can’t wait to kid him next time we’re out. This should be
good.”

“What makes you think we’re done?” Colt’s
mouth dropped open and he looked at her.

“Anything you want to tell me, sweetheart?”
She gave him a sexy smile.

“Maybe later…”

The two couples continued talking
companionably for nearly an hour. Then Janie glanced at her
watch.

“I need to go. Early day tomorrow.” She put
down her glass and stood up.

“Me too. I’m meeting up with your dad and
uncle about the Vegas trip.”

“Putting on your accountant hat now,
Ferguson?” Colt laughed.

“Yep. Janie, let me give you a ride to your
car…” He smiled at her.

“Okay, thanks. Colt, Mandy, lovely to see you
and yours as usual.”

They all stood for hugs and walked to the
door.

“See ya, Colt. Thanks, Mandy. Love those
babies…” Craig gave Mandy a kiss on the cheek and then took Janie’s
hand. “Let’s go. Night all.”

Janie and Craig walked to his car and he
opened the door for her. After she was in, he walked around to his
side, got in and started the car. He backed it out of the driveway
and they waved while leaving.

“Why aren’t they a couple, Colt?”

“Good question, sweetheart. Maybe because
they’ve known each other forever and are such good friends.”

“That’s just a step, honey… Just a step.”

“At least they’re not mad anymore.”

“Yes… Maybe they’re something else.”

“Enough thinking. Let’s enjoy our few hours
of peace and quiet…”

“Good idea.”

CHAPTER FIVE

The next day Janie was at the Sheriff’s
Office bright and early getting some reports finished. Bud came in
to ask her if her equipment list was finished.

“Just about, Sheriff. You need it on
Thursday, correct?”

“Yep. Make sure you have approximate figures
with the items listed, all right?”

“Sure.”

Bud looked around. It looked like everything,
for the moment, was in order. He knew that could change in an
instant, however.

“Where’s James?” Janie looked up from her
report.

“He’s out on an early call. Something about a
deer crashing into someone’s house over on Elm.” Bud laughed.

“…Haven’t had that one in a while. Wildlife
must be coming down out of the hills to eat. Damn drought…” She
nodded.

In walked Ethan with a big smile on his face.
He handed Bud his list.

“I finished early, Dad, er… Sheriff. Here’s
my list.” Bud frowned because he called him ‘Dad’ at the office,
and snatched the list from his hand. He glanced at it and frowned
again.

“Sorry, sir…” Janie hid her smile from the
desk where she was writing. Ethan did that from time to time which
really pissed Bud off. She thought it might be difficult working
for one’s father. Just then dispatch took a call.

“Sheriff, it’s a 211 over on Garden Street –
Break-in and possible robbery.”

Bud looked over at Janie and then Ethan.

“You take it, guys. Report back to me later.”
Janie nodded, got up and headed out the door to the patrol car.
Ethan was at her heels.

“You drive, Janie.”

“Gotcha.”

It took them about fifteen minutes to drive
to Garden, north in the Indian Hills residence area towards Carson
City. Janie parked in front of the address that the dispatcher had
given her. Getting out, she signaled to Ethan to go around the
back. He ran quietly down the driveway toward the backyard. In her
peripheral vision, Janie saw tall sunflowers lining the driveway.
She walked up to the front and saw the problem. The clasp was
hanging down from the frame and the door was standing slightly
open. It had been jimmied open with a crowbar, most likely. She
pulled her handgun out, holding it with two hands pointing up in
the air. Janie stepped into the house…

Walking softly down the darkened hallway
toward the kitchen, she thought she heard a noise. All of a sudden,
a man wearing black clothes came around the corner fast. He was
running and pushed Janie away as he shot past her, heading for the
door. She fell on the floor and dropped her weapon. Picking it up
and pushing herself off the floor, Janie made for the front door
after the man.

She could hear Ethan running behind her as
she sprinted after the guy in dark clothing. He was almost to the
next street when Janie finally caught him. She threw herself at him
and got him with a flying tackle. Coming down hard, he had the
breath knocked out of him and gave up the chase. Janie sat on his
back until Ethan caught up with them and then she got off. Ethan
cuffed him while Janie read his Miranda rights.

Ethan laughed as they stowed the man in the
back of the police car.

“That was pretty damn good, Deputy Johnson. I
don’t think I’d want to mess with you.” She laughed.

“Yeah, I guess those workouts are paying
off…” Janie stayed by the car, while Ethan checked the house.

They got the suspect back to the Sheriff’s
Office and the jailer took it from there. Janie and Ethan went into
the deputy’s workroom to fill out their reports.

After they’d been working for a while, she
casually looked over at him.

“Um… Ethan. So what have you been up to
lately?”

He glanced at her wondering what she
meant.

“Well, the usual… work, work, work…”

“No, I mean… you know… what do you do after
work?” She tried to look busy with her report, while Ethan was
getting confused. She’d never seemed interested before.

“… I work out at the gym… practice at the gun
range … buy groceries…” He looked at her. “Why are you asking?”

“I was just curious if you were seeing
anyone…”

His jaw
dropped.
What? Janie Johnson, the gorgeous deputy was interested in
him?
He licked his
suddenly dry lips.

“…Ah… No, not right now.”

She smiled brightly at him. “Well, if you’re
free, there’s going to be a birthday party at my folks’ ranch this
weekend for my two nephews. They’re both turning three and it’s
going to be a fun do. Why don’t you come?”

Ethan
could hardly believe his luck.
Wow… Maybe she did like him
…

“Sure… when is it?”

“Saturday at noon. There’s lots of people
coming – friends, family. I think my dad has invited Bud too. Meg’s
coming down from San Francisco with her little girl, Sofia. I’ve
invited a few of my friends as well.”

“Well… Great! I look forward to it. Thanks
for inviting me…” He got back to his paperwork and finished it with
flair and a smile.

Janie smiled too. She had also invited Diane
and was hoping to sort of push them toward each other. He had
seemed friendly enough to her when they met at the coffee shop last
week, but a party would be better. More people to socialize with
and Craig hopefully wouldn’t see what she was up to.

Just to thicken the plot, Janie left the
workroom and called Diane on her cell phone. She asked her to come
to the Sheriff’s Office, if she could, to help her with something.
She worked close by and Janie wanted to throw them together again,
a preview for the party.

She started fooling around with the passport
camera as Ethan came out of the workroom.

“Hey, are you the one taking passport photos
now?”