Chapter Forty-Seven

Link grimaced at the irony. Only a few weeks ago, he’d started at the bottom of the Spencer County Sheriff’s Department totem pole. Hard to believe he was now the Sheriff. Almost. County Commissioners appointed him to fill the unexpired portion of Gary Don's term of office.

A few citizens who remembered only that Link had once been accused of murder came to voice opposition to the appointment. Two other men also sought the position, but neither seemed surprised when Link was named sheriff in a rare unanimous vote from the County Commissioners.

Getting Coy's home returned took longer. Forsythe had lined up a deal with a developer to put a luxury retirement center complex where the homes of Coy and his neighbors stood. The crooked lawyer convinced many homeowners a landfill was going in next to the hill near their property. He was able to buy many homes from panicked owners at prices far below market value.

To acquire the balance of the buildings Forsythe wanted, he and Gary Don dummied tax records to seize the properties. That's what had happened to Coy. Link thanked God for hard-nosed Judge Humphreys and the fact that matters like this moved far faster in a small town than in a city. Otherwise, Coy's home and the others might have been tied up in court for years.

Vince succeeded in convincing the court that since Coy had no part in the drug scheme, he should not suffer any financial punishment or lose any property. Zach Dunaway’s claims against Mitzi’s estate had slowed things further, but an equitable split was finally arranged between Zach and the Francis family. Coy asked Vince to withdraw his name because he had all the land Gary Don had purchased in Coy’s name.

Records and charges eventually had been properly dealt with. Coy and Link were in the sheriff's car. Behind them, Rob Gamble towed Coy’s things in a rental trailer.

Coy said, "I'm so happy I get Mama's house back. You did that for me and I thank you."

Link headed for Coy's home. "You'll have to thank Vince. It took him days to unravel the paperwork. Gary Don and his crooked lawyer made it look as if you were the criminal."

Coy looked as near angry as Link had ever seen him. "I sure am disappointed Gary Don did that to me. He promised Mama he’d take care of me after she died. He lied."

"Yes, he did. Now that Gwen and her husband are taking care of you, things will be just fine. Forrest is a terrific CPA and real good with money. He'll make sure you always have everything you need.”

Coy nodded. “That’s good. Miz Gwen and Mister Phifer are always nice to me. Miz Gwen helped me in my bidness so I wouldn’t be locked up.”

“Coy, you can quit worrying about someone locking you up. You’re safe now."

“You mean always?” Coy sounded doubtful.

“Always, unless you decide to rob the bank.”

Coy chuckled. “Now, Link, you know I wouldn’t never do nothin’ like that.”

They passed by Akridge House. The new roof was on but painters’ scaffolding still stood on the south side. Another day or two should finish up the outside of the house. Maggie had enlisted Anna’s and Gwen’s help in selecting things for the interior and work had already begun on the plumbing. Thank God, he wouldn’t have to battle those old pipes again.

Coy was silent for a bit. “Link, Mama said sometimes people lock up the feeble-minded if there’s any trouble. I reckon I just can’t help worryin’ some.”

“You can stop worrying. I promise.”

They came to a stop sign, so Link had a chance to face Coy. “Think about all you’ve done. For starters, you saved my life. I can’t tell you how much I thank you for believing in me and helping me. Aside from that, you’ve supported yourself in your own business for years, and you helped solve two murders. If anyone tried to lock you away, Coy, they’d have to fight me and my family first.” Having had his say, he pulled away from the stop sign.

“I never thought about all that.” Coy gave a big sigh followed by a smile. “Okay, if you say so, I reckon I’ll stop my worrying.”

He hummed for a few blocks, then asked, "And you're the sheriff now, sure enough?"

"Sure enough, Coy. At least until the election. Who knows if I'll win then?"

"Oh, you'll win. I bet ever'body will vote for you."

They turned into the drive. Cars lined the street on both sides. Every light was on in the 1920’s brick bungalow that once more bore Coy’s name on the deed.

Coy rubbernecked up and down the street. "I wonder what's goin' on. Looks like they's havin' a party somewheres 'round here. Why, look at that. Someone’s left the lights on in Mama’s house."

“It’s your house now, Coy, not your Mama’s. It belongs completely to you.” At the front door, Link urged Coy in front of him.

Two dozen voices shouted, "Surprise."

Link said, "The party is for you. Welcome home."

Half an hour later Link leaned against a bookcase at the side of the hearth and sipped at his punch. Coy opened housewarming presents with the enthusiasm of a child at Christmas. Link’s youngest sister, Beth, recorded everything with her camera.

Contentment slid over Link like a glove. His family was here and he knew they would always offer their support. Most of the others not related to him were his friends. True friends, not the fair weather kind.

Jason played on the floor with his cousins, with an occasional glance to make sure Link remained nearby. The house buzzed with conversation and laughter.

In a corner of the room Bubba Dixon chatted up that hottie Billie Faye. From the way they stood, Link decided there must be some sort of chemistry thing going on there. He knew Billie Faye wasn’t on the guest list so he figured Bubba must have invited her as his date for this event.

Those two as a couple prove God has a sense of humor.

Through the archway into the dining room, Link saw Vince pause in the midst of conversation while Eddy found a chair for Ricky. Link wove his way through the other guests.

"Hey, Ricky," Link said. "Great to see you out of the hospital."

Though he looked as pale as a Hispanic guy could, Ricky smiled and his gold tooth flashed. "Got out of that therapy place yesterday. Still a little wobbly around the edges so Eddy gave me a ride here."

Eddy said, "You ought to take a vacation somewhere nice. Get a little R and R under your belt before you go back to work."

"You have some leave coming, don't you?" Link asked.

"A lot. In fact, all I want. I resigned."

Caught off guard, Link said, "Yeah? From the agency or just undercover?"

Ricky shrugged. "All of it. I'm sick of undercover work, sick of all that secrecy, sick of moving around from place to place at a moment’s notice with no chance to put down any roots."

"What do you figure on doing now?" Vince asked.

"Settle down somewhere nice and make a real home for myself." He looked at Link. "Matter of fact, I was hoping you'd find a place for me in your department."

Mentally rejoicing at the news and already placing Ricky on his staff, Link felt he had to play fair and warn him, "Man, you have any idea what the county pays its deputies?"

"I’ve saved most of what I made the last few years, so I’m okay with that. Besides, you have any idea how much I hate what I've been doing? Believe me, I had lots of time in the hospital to think about this.”

Ricky held up his hands as if in surrender, then dropped them to his lap. “No more fast lane excitement for me. I figure with you as sheriff, this county will be a nice, quiet place to live. If you don't have a place for me, I'll try one of the counties nearby."

Link shook his head. "No way. You're hired. Let me know when you're ready to start work."

“Two more weeks, okay?” Ricky said. “Give me time to get my feet under me and close up my apartment in Dallas.”

“You’re on.” Link shook Ricky’s hand on it. “But take as long as you need. You have a job waiting whenever you’re ready.”

From across the room Link met Anna Zimmermann's gaze and he smiled at her. She offered a tentative smile in return, one that held promise for the future. He pushed aside the feelings that smile resurrected in him, feelings he'd thought were long dead. Time enough for that later.

Link’s sister, Gwen, appeared beside him and slid her arm through his. "Isn't it wonderful to have Coy back in his home? He told me no one ever gave him a party before. He's so happy, and he’ll treasure this memory of his friends sharing his triumph for the rest of his life."

"Yeah, Gwen, it's great," Link agreed. "This party idea of yours was good. Don't think I've ever seen him so excited. And it's about time Coy got some pampering and special treatment."

She nudged him with her elbow. "You could use some pampering and special treatment yourself.”

He nodded absently but his thoughts strayed back to Anna. He noticed how often she looked his way, and had to admit he’d thought about her a lot lately. Seeing her in his home lately with Maggie and Gwen seemed right somehow, especially knowing how good she was with Jason.

No, he wasn’t ready to deal with what that thought meant.

Not yet.

Gwen’s tug at his arm broke into his thoughts. “It's wonderful to have you and Jason home, too."

He watched his son laugh at something his cousin Johnny said. "It's good to be home."

It wasn't the same home Link had left years ago, it wasn't the same home he'd expected to find when he returned. He still felt a little like an outsider most of the time, but he was getting the hang of fitting in. In a few more months he might feel at ease with his new life.

Who could say? Maybe Thomas Hardy was right. Maybe a man couldn’t truly go home again.

Almost home was close enough to suit Link.

And this time he'd stay.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Caroline Clemmons writes mystery, romance, and adventures—although her earliest made up adventures featured her saving the West with Roy Rogers. Her career has included stay-at-home mom (her favorite job), newspaper reporter and featured columnist, assistant to the managing editor of a psychology journal, and bookkeeper. She and her husband live in rural North Central Texas with a menagerie of rescued pets. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, travel, browsing antique malls and estate sales, and genealogy/family history. Her latest contemporary and historical romance releases in print and e-book from The Wild Rose Press include THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE, OUT OF THE BLUE, HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Her novella SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME is available as a download only. Her backlist of contemporary and historical romance is now at Smashwords and Kindle. ALMOST HOME is the first mystery she’s published. Read about her at http://www.carolineclemmons.com or her blog at http://www.carolineclemmons.blogspot.com She loves to hear from readers at caroline@carolineclemmons.com