Santa's Sweetheart (The Christmas Tree Ranch #4)(46)

“It’s nothing,” she said. “It’s what a friend would do. We have to go now. Get some rest and don’t worry.”

“Thanks again . . .” His voice trailed off as his eyelids closed.

It’s what a friend would do. Her words lingered. Even groggy as he was, Sam knew that what he wanted from her was much more than friendship.

*

When Sam woke, the sun was shining through slatted blinds. An orderly walked in with his breakfast on a tray. The scrambled eggs, toast, and oatmeal didn’t have much flavor, but he was surprisingly hungry. His shoulder wound hurt like the blazes, but the pain was preferable to being on morphine. He’d moved the tray aside and was finishing the coffee he’d asked for when the middle-aged nurse came in to check his vitals.

“You’re doing great,” she said. “If the doctor gives his okay, we should be good to take that drain out. You’ll be more comfortable then.”

“What I really want is to get out of here, go home, and get back to work.”

“All in good time, Sheriff. Your body’s had a terrible shock. You need to give it time to recover. You’re not Superman.”

Sam sank back onto the pillows. The nurse was right; he’d be a fool not to rest for a few days after taking a bullet and needing two pints of donated blood. But the thought of all the things he’d left undone made him want to jump out of the blasted bed, find his clothes, check himself out, and hitch a ride back to Branding Iron.

The drain had been taken out of his wound and fresh dressing applied when the door to his room opened and a welcome visitor walked in.

“Good heavens, Sam.” Helen was all smiles. “You look like a hard case if I ever saw one. How are you feeling?”

“About the way I look. I hope you’re here to catch me up on things at work.”

“Actually, I’m here to see for myself that you’re really alive. As for work, you can rest your mind. Everything’s under control. I brought in Buck Winston full-time to cover for you.”

“Good choice.” Buck, a local boy and Sam’s senior deputy, worked as a ranch hand when he wasn’t needed by the sheriff’s department. He had the makings of a good lawman and would do fine at his temporary post. If Sam could get approval from the county budget folks, it wouldn’t hurt to make Buck’s job permanent.

“What about the folks at the hardware and feed store? Is Walt all right?”

“Walt’s fine.” Helen chuckled. “But his wife’s a basket case. She was off doing some shopping when that robbery went down. By the time she got back, it was all over. Junie Cardona and her little boys are all right, too. That girl’s got one cool head on her. She wrote down the license number of that Camaro before those two birds took off. The state police picked them up around midnight. They’re wanted for armed robbery in three states.”

Sam shook his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t see that second shooter.”

“They were pros. They knew what they were doing. But they should’ve known better than to mess with Branding Iron. Oh—there’s even a TV crew in town. They’ll be talking to Walt and Junie. You can expect a visit, too.”

“Oh, hell.”

Helen laughed. “I knew you’d be thrilled. That’s why I brought something to sweeten your disposition.” Reaching into her big flowered purse, she pulled out a one-pound gold foil box of Sam’s favorite gourmet chocolates. “Enjoy.”

“Wow, thanks.” Sam took the box, opened it, and offered Helen her choice, which she waved away. “I’ll bet you didn’t get these in Branding Iron.”

“No, I didn’t. Actually, I was saving them for your birthday next month. So happy birthday early. And now I need to get back to relieve Buck at my desk.”

“You’re the best, Helen. Tell Buck to call me if he has any questions.”

“We’ll be fine. Get some rest.” She was out the door.

Sam polished off two chocolates and willed himself not to take a third. He was getting drowsy again. He hadn’t meant to sleep so much, but his body was in charge.

When the TV crew arrived half an hour later, he was fast asleep. They woke him long enough to get a few mumbled words about his not deserving credit for stopping the robbery. “All I did was get shot,” he said. “I’m just glad they caught the bastards. Now go and let me sleep.” He drifted off, wondering whether the word bastards would be bleeped from the news broadcast.

“Sam?” The voice that woke him was familiar. He opened his eyes. Walt was standing by his bed. “They said it was okay to wake you because they’ll be bringing lunch around. How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better, but I’ll mend.” Sam pushed himself up on the pillows. “Have a chocolate.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Walt helped himself to a raspberry cream. “Just wanted to come by and thank you. I don’t know what might’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”

“You did pretty well yourself.”

“I tried. But that crazy bugger would probably have shot me after I hit him. Or his girlfriend would’ve. And you’re the one who got the woman and her boys out.”

“Let’s just call it a team effort and be glad nothing worse happened.”