Marion Bliss sighed heavily and watched the cars as they piloted the main highway in Belle’s Gap, Texas. Highway…right. The town of just four thousand people in Coldwater County had one main road. And she was staring at it right now.

In the past twenty minutes there had been two cars go by, both of them going the speed limit, and both of them properly tagged and inspected. She wasn’t sure why Sheriff Travis decided she had to come and sit here to watch traffic. She didn’t think she’d done anything wrong in the past week. But sitting here was punishment that was for sure.

Coldwater County had five deputies, including the sheriff. She was the only female, and she didn’t see anyone else out here pulling this dull duty. Sure she was the new kid on the block, only being on the force for six months, but she didn’t deserve to get all the crap assignments. That she knew of, nobody ever came out here, unless they were called. The city was close to the Texas/Oklahoma border, an hour and a half from Dallas, the closest larger city.

Marion herself lived just outside Jackpot, the county seat. It was also the largest city in the county, with seven thousand residents, which wasn’t saying much for a county with twelve thousand residents.

She settled into her seat and wondered once again why the sheriff had sent her to this sleepy city on a Saturday night. The teen-agers here didn’t even stick around. They drove the hundred and twenty miles to Dallas, or the about equal distance up to Oklahoma City, and spent their time there. Or at least that had always been the case since Marion had joined the sheriff’s department three years ago.

It was about time, she thought, to try and find herself employment in a larger area. Now she could put down experience on her job applications. She didn’t really want to live in Dallas, or Austin, or any of the larger cities. But she didn’t want to spend the rest of her career guarding roads where cars came by every fifteen minutes, either.

Maybe she could try for Amarillo, or Lubbock, or someplace further south like San Angelo, or near the border. That might be interesting.

Another fifteen minutes went by with no traffic and she sat up straighter, wondering if she should take a drive around town, see if something was going on. It was close to midnight, and her shift ended at two. She’d hate to spend the next two hours dying of boredom.

She reached for her ignition key, stopping when the sound of a car reached her ear. Someone was going to drive down the road. Yippie. Maybe they’d be going a few miles over the speed limit and she could pull them over, just to have someone to talk to. She wouldn’t give them a ticket; just tell them they needed to obey the traffic laws.

The car approaching was loud, like someone had modified the engine and was revving it up to let everyone know they were near. It took her a few seconds to realize that there was more than one vehicle, though. She hit the radar equipment on her car to make sure it was on, and then leaned forward to look down the road.

There, going east were two cars, almost even with each other. And from how fast the headlines were approaching her she could tell they were going well over the posted double nickel speed limit.

She took a deep breath. Teen-agers, probably racing. This she couldn’t let go. She turned on her car and hit her lights just as they passed her. A glance at her radar output showed they were going ninety-miles an hour. She slammed her cruiser into gear, hitting her switch to activate her lights and siren.

The two vehicles, both of them older-model sports cars, didn’t slow down at first. If anything they sped up. She clicked her microphone from her radio and called in her location, and the action that was occurring. Joe, the dispatcher, a deputy who pulled desk duty for the night, responded with interest.

“Hot damn! Toby, Jeff, y’all hear this. We got us some action. Head out her way to give the little lady a hand.” Marion grimaced at his use of the term little lady. She hated being called that. Part of her wondered if this part of the state ever made it into the twenty-first century.

Still, Joe’s call received two affirmative answers from the other deputies on duty, who were more than forty miles from her location. It would take them almost an hour to get there, depending on the traffic on the interstate that ran through the edge of the county. She’d have to handle the first part of this on her own.

The vehicles were slowing down now, pulling over to the side of the road. She thanked the heavens above that they didn’t keep going, or that one of the drivers didn’t lose control and crash.

She pulled up behind them, her emergency lights still on. As she exited the vehicle the driver of the first car tumbled out, his shoulders shaking in laughter. He walked toward her and she guessed his age to be about sixteen.

“Stop right there.”

“Nah, don’t worry lady, my mother’s the mayor.”

“I don’t care if your mother’s the Queen of England. Go back and sit in your car until I ask you to come out.”

The man, who upon closer inspection looked to be about eighteen, kept coming. His laughter was gone, though. In its place was a frown. “Did you hear what I said? My mom’s the mayor. You’re the one who just needs to get in your car and leave us alone. We’re just having some fun.”

“Sir, I’m not going to ask you again to go back to your car.”

“Buddy.” The driver from the second car leaned out his window. “Cut it out and do what she says.”

“Screw you,” Buddy yelled at his friend. “I don’t have to do what she says. My mom runs this town, not her.” He poked a finger toward Marion, who worried he would run toward her and strike her. When he didn’t, she stopped and waited for him to do the same. He came up right next to her and the smell of alcohol wafted over her.

“Sir, have you been drinking?”

“Are you deaf, or just stupid?”

Marion took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions under control. Right now she’d like nothing more than to reach out and smack the crap out of the little jerk. But she knew that wasn’t an option.

“Sir, I’ll ask you one more time. Have you been drinking?”

“None of your damn business.”

Marion cleared her throat. That was it, the gloves were coming off. “Sir, please step toward your vehicle. We’re either do field sobriety tests here, or I can place you under arrest now and take you to the hospital in Jackpot to run a blood test. It’s your choice.”

The young drunk snorted, leaning toward her. “You try and arrest me, bitch, and you’ll be unemployed by Monday morning. So do us all a favor. Get back in your fucking car, and get the hell away from me. You have no authority where I’m concerned, so you can kiss my fucking ass.”

With those words Marion knew she’d had all she could take. Someone was going to lose this battle of words and end up in jail. And it wasn’t going to be her.

*****

“You arrested Buddy Lilly?”

“He called me a bitch, plus he was drunk, and he was drag-racing. Ninety miles an hour on the main road.”

Marion watched Sheriff Duncan Travis push back his hat and sigh in disgust. “You want a bitch? Wait until his mother shows up to bail him out. She’s a bitch, a royal one.”

“I don’t care. Are you saying I should have just let him go?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. He blew a .09, and that’s well over the legal limit. And since he’s under twenty-one, it’s illegal for him to have any alcohol in his blood stream. I’m just trying to figure out if there was a better way to handle this, like calling his mother and having her come pick him up instead of putting him in a cell.”

“Sheriff, he’s eighteen. Barely eighteen, true, but eighteen.”

“Yeah, and you know he’s in a world of hurt right now.”

Marion stood, giving the sheriff a confused look. “If he was just Joe Blow from down the street, would you be concerned about him?”

“Of course I would.”

“But you wouldn’t be worried about his mother coming in, would you? If she complained that I’d arrested her son for being drunk, driving ninety miles an hour in a drag-race on a public street, refusing to cooperate and calling me a bitch, you’d tell her to deal with it. Instead, you’re scared to death what this woman’s going to do to you.”

“Sandra Lilly’s a very powerful woman. She’s going to cause a stink, I guarantee it.”

Marion winked at the sheriff. “Let me deal with her if you’re scared to.”

She watched him bristle, watched his chest puff out and red spots appear on his cheeks. “I’m not frightened of her, I just don’t want to deal with the crap that’s about to happen.”

“Fine, I’ll do it.” At that very moment a loud female voice rang out from the front of the office.

“Sheriff Duncan Travis you bring me my son, right this minute.”

“She’s here.” Duncan started toward the door, turning before he went out. “She’s going to have to post bond, and she’s not going to be happy about it. In the end, she’ll be gunning for you. You ready for this?”

Marion straightened her shoulders. “Absolutely.”

“Good. Then I’ll stand behind you, one hundred percent.”

“Sheriff!” Sandra Lilly screamed again. “Get out here you coward.”

Duncan actually smiled, then turned the knob and walked out the door. “Sandra, stop your yapping.”

“You let my son go, right now.”

“Sorry Sandra, no can do. You’re going to have to post bond. I suggest you call Mike Jackson.”

Marion stepped around the corner in time to see the woman’s mouth drop open, then close again in a thin line. She narrowed her eyes and took a step closer to Duncan.

“Bring. My. Son. Out. Here. Now.”

“Did you hear what I said? He’s under arrest, for being over the legal limit to drive, racing, and resisting arrest.”

Marion almost laughed. Duncan had added the last charge because Buddy, whose real name was Blake, had been so disrespectful to Marion. After the two male officers had arrived he’d started singing a different tune, mouthing off about how Marion had called him names and was being “mean” to him.

“I’ll call Judge Barnes. He’ll let Buddy go.”

“You do that, and that’s on his head. But I’m following the full letter of the law. Your son cussed out one of my deputies, and I ain’t putting up with it. Plus, he’s drunk as a skunk, back there sleeping right now. You’d do best to just let him lie until morning.”

“My son will not spend another minute in jail because some witch of a deputy was bored.” She whipped out a cell phone. “I’m calling the judge.”

Marion had to hand it to Duncan. He’d been worried about dealing with Sandra Lilly, but he was doing exactly as he was supposed to, and that made him grade A in her book.

She walked toward the outer door, moving to stand next to the sheriff who nodded at her. “Is the judge going to let him go?”

“Probably release him to his mother. Then, Monday morning, all hell will break loose. She’ll be calling every commissioner in the county, demanding your termination, and mine.”

“Will she win?” The idea gave Marion pause. A termination would look bad on her resume. At the tender age of thirty-three, she’d just started her career in law enforcement and she didn’t need that sort of blot on her record. Still, there was no way she was letting a spoiled little punk get away with the crap he’d pulled tonight, just because his mother was the mayor.

“Maybe, maybe not. She’s pretty much a witch to everyone she comes across, and I don’t doubt it that some of them will side with her. But not all of them. Let’s not worry too much yet.”

From the sounds Sandra Lilly was making, Marion was pretty sure the judge was telling her he wasn’t going to release Buddy without bond. Her words became increasingly shrill, and her voice rose steadily. Finally she snapped the phone shut and wheeled on Duncan.

“Give me a phone book.” Marion tried not to laugh. She knew Sandra would be looking up the phone number of the local bail bondsman. When Duncan walked toward the back of the office, Sandra narrowed her eyes at Marion.

“If I were you, I’d start filling out job applications. Right now.”

“I’ll take my chances and not do it,” Marion said. “You know, if you disciplined your son instead of coddling him we wouldn’t be in this position.”

She thought the other woman would lash out at her, like her son had. Instead she stared at Marion, then snorted. “Laugh now, because later you’ll be crying.”

*****

“He said what?” Marion slammed her notebook down on the table and stared at Duncan.

“He says you hit him, three times in the stomach so there would be no bruises to show. And his friend, Kelly Wiley, backs him up.”

Marion shook her head in disgust. “I have a dash cam that will back me up.”

“Yes, you do,” Duncan said. “Sandra claims you made sure it was done at an angle where it wouldn’t be seen.”

“Oh for the love of Pete. You don’t believe her, do you?”

“Of course not. But several of the commissioners are calling for an investigation. If I were you, I’d hire a lawyer. The county has one to protect its interests, of course, but I’m thinking you might need one, too.”

A deep sigh escaped Marion’s lips. “Where am I supposed to find a lawyer? There’s one here, and I’m sure she has him in her back pocket.”

Duncan pushed a piece of paper across the desk. “I’m glad you asked. This is the number of a high school friend of mine. He practices law in Dallas. His name is Dallas McCormick.”

Marion laughed. “His name is Dallas and he lives in Dallas? Only in Texas would that happen.”

“Actually, he lives in Arlington. He just works in Dallas.” Duncan gave her a sad smile. “I talked to him last night. He grew up here, so he knows the ins and outs. And he’s willing to take the case at a reduced price.”

“Why?” Marion cocked her head at Duncan. “No lawyer passes up the chance at making money.”

“Because he’s my friend, and because he wants to make sure justice is served. Call him. Get him to come down and see what’s what.”

“I can’t believe this is happening. This just sucks big time.”

Duncan laughed softly, agreeing with her. “I’m sorry. I never thought she’d be so vindictive, especially after the judge backed you up and said it was about time young Buddy got his nuts in a vise. He’s been running roughshod over the area for ages, breaking the law and everybody just looks the other way.”

The room got quiet and finally Marion sighed. “You sent me up there on purpose. You knew something would happen, or at least you hoped it would. You wanted me to be there when it did, because the other deputies have backed down from arresting him, haven’t they?”

She’d tried to keep her voice soft, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

“I didn’t expect you to arrest him, course I didn’t expect him to be drunk as a skunk, either. Joey Phelps, who runs the grocery store in Belle’s Gap, said young Buddy and his friends have been racing every weekend. I just wanted to put the fear of God into him, hope he would straighten up if he got stopped.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Duncan sat back. “Listen, Toby backed down the other day, and so did Joe. Sandra scares the crap out of everyone. I was hoping that since you didn’t know her you would do what you were supposed to do, write him a ticket. I didn’t expect all this, I swear, and I’m sorry.”

Marion thought about it for a few minutes, and then she shook her head. “You know what, I’m not sorry. The little bum needs to learn you have to follow the rules, especially since his mother’s never taught him. I’ll call your friend, and in the end justice will prevail, you’ll see.”

*****

Dallas McCormick stepped outside of his car and took a deep breath. It was nice to not smell the hot exhaust from cars all the traffic in the city provided. Here you had clean country air, if you didn’t count the smell from the mess he was about to involve himself in.

Not that he was afraid of messes. He’d practiced law for more than ten years now, and his cases were not the easy ones. They always involved something that was ugly, and this case was no different.

Duncan had assured him that his deputy, Marion Bliss, was top notch, and that he had no doubt Buddy Lilly was lying through his teeth. And Buddy’s mother, Sandra, had been a terror around these parts since she’d gone to high school with Dallas and Duncan, graduating some twenty-one years ago. Soon after school had ended she’d married and started having babies. Buddy was her oldest, and Duncan said he was as spoiled as milk that had been left on the counter for three days.

Dallas shrugged into his jacket and straightened his tie. He’d told Duncan he’d meet him and Ms. Bliss at the cafe at two, and that was in ten minutes. He had good news, and bad news for her, and he wanted to give it to her in person.

He headed for Red’s Café, wondering what Marion Bliss looked like. He had all her vital statistics, Thirty-three years old, divorced, no children. Duncan said she went to the police academy after her divorce two years ago, to try and give herself a fresh start in life. But she was a little too old for most departments she’d tried to get on with, so she ended up working for the Coldwater Country Sheriff’s Department.

Everything had been fine, until now. The best part about this would be that Marion didn’t plan on backing down. The woman had a backbone, and he liked that, a lot. He hoped she enjoyed the news he had to deliver today.

He saw Duncan the minute he went inside. His old high school buddy had gained a little weight and lost some hair, but he still looked robust and ready to take on anything. Sitting across from him was Marion Bliss. Dallas studied her as he walked toward the table She looked to be about five foot seven, probably one hundred forty pounds.

She was wearing her uniform, and as he neared the table she stood, as did Duncan, who held out his hand. Dallas shook Duncan’s hand while looking over Marion. Dark auburn hair, deep brown eyes, a pert nose and lips that would look perfect when they were…

“Hi.” She stuck out her hand. “Thanks for coming.”

“No problem.” He shook her hand, then they all took a seat in the booth.

“Did the Rangers call you this morning?” Dallas looked between the two of them.

Duncan’s smile showed that they did. “They did an investigation, and sided with us. Which is a good thing. Said there was no evidence Marion had assaulted Buddy. They also cited the deputies who arrived after the stop, saying Buddy was belligerent and uncooperative until one of them pulled out their handcuffs. Then he became meek and mild.”

“But little Miss Sandra’s filed a civil suit, I hear, for assault and battery against her poor little baby.”

“First thing this morning. She’s trying to slam me for a million dollars,” Marion said. “She says I scared him for life.”

“Having her for a mother would scar anyone,” Dallas replied. “She had to have known the law would side against her, because you did nothing wrong. She had this waiting in the wings.”

“I just don’t understand how she can do it,” Marion said. “You would think since no one filed charges against me that would count for something.”

“You can file suit for anything,” Duncan replied. “I think she thinks that since she knows everyone here she’ll be able to threaten everyone to vote like she wants them to.”

Dallas snorted out a laugh. “If she thinks this trial will be done here she’s nuts. I’ll file for a change of venue, to Dallas, or Wichita Falls, or someplace else. She’s too well known to have it here. And since she’s the mayor I’m pretty sure my motion will be granted.”

Marion’s shoulders fell just a little. “Can’t we just get it dismissed?”

“We can try,” Dallas replied. “But I don’t see that happening. I’m sure the judge will rule in her favor. But once the trial is moved we’ll do just fine, don’t you worry.”

“What if they don’t move it?”

“They will,” Dallas replied. “And, if they don’t, then we have the perfect excuse for an appeal. She’s the mayor in a town of four thousand people. There’s no way you could find a fair jury here. I’m sure people either love her, or hate her.”

“Or are scared to death of her,” Duncan replied. “When will you file your motions?”

“Today. I’ll go down to the courthouse and request a copy of the filing. I’ll fax it to my office and have a paralegal write up our request for change of venue and we’ll have it all set to go before five tonight. If that doesn’t work, it will be first thing in the morning.”

“Great,” Marion replied. Dallas watched her toy with her coffee cup, and he looked at the young waitress, who had watched them with interest since Dallas came in, but not approached their table. He indicated he’d like a cup, and Marion and Duncan needed refills.

She nodded, and then went to get the coffeepot.

“Don’t worry,” Dallas said. “All this will just be a bad dream before you know it.”

“It still goes on my record,” she said softly. “It still shows that someone filed an assault charge against me.”

“True, but it’ll show that the Rangers knew it was bogus, and so will the civil court. You just relax and let me handle everything. I’ll make sure Sandra Lilly knows she can’t run herd over the Coldwater County Sheriff’s Department, or Deputy Marion Bliss.”

A small smile appeared on her face and it made him grin. “What happens if we lose?”

Dallas’s eyes widened in shock. “Lose? Me? Never. Listen to me very carefully. I’ve known Sandra Lilly for a long time, even when she was Sandra Johnson. She’s a royal witch, and I’m looking forward to letting her know she can’t run everyone’s life and get away with it. We’ll move the case to a larger city, and she’ll learn very quickly that she can’t control everyone. A month from now this will all be over.”

“You’re very confident.”

“I am. As a matter of fact, if I’m wrong, and it takes longer than a month, I’ll work the case for free.”

Marion sat forward. “No charge to me, whatsoever?”

“Whatsoever.” Dallas held out his hand and Marion shook it. He was happy to see she looked considerably calmer than she had when he’d walked in. Now he just had to live up to his promise.