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Sky didn’t have much to say as they drove into Wilder. And her anxiety clearly escalated, because when they walked into the office and she saw Ryan Bain, Wilder’s newest deputy, she drew up short and then abruptly whirled around on her boot heels and headed toward the door.
“Whoa, darlin’,” Sam said as he caught her by the arm. “Why the about face?”
Her gaze flashed to Ryan, who got to his feet. He wore a confused expression.
Her attention returned to Sam and she whispered, “I forgot he’s a deputy now. He’s married to Ginger. He’ll tell her what happened to me.”
“I’m sure he’ll be discreet.”
“They’re married,” she repeated. “And we’re all close friends. He wouldn’t keep this from her.”
“What’s going on?” Ryan interrupted them. “You okay, Sky?”
Over his shoulder, Sam told him, “No, she’s not.”
The sheriff came from his office.
“Sky, honey,” the older man said. “You in some sort of trouble?”
She sighed. Sam kissed her on the temple and murmured, “You’ve got to tell him everything, darlin’. That’s how they’re going to nail this guy.”
She to
ok a deep breath, then said, “I know. But I want to talk in the sheriff’s office, with just him and Ryan.”
Deputy Dan Baker appeared to be out on patrol, which meant she was politely indicating to Sam that she didn’t want him in on the conversation.
His jaw clenched.
Sky explained, “I don’t want you hearing all the details. I have to let Ryan and the sheriff know exactly what happened in Nashville. But just like you don’t want me learning all the painful details about the new horse at the ranch, I don’t want you knowing specifically what Mac Willet did to me.”
She may as well have stabbed a knife in his chest, it hurt so bad. Yet as the tension seized him, he understood what she was saying to him, and he had to admit, she made a good point, given how furious he already was.
“Fine,” he said with a nod. He released her. “But I’ll be waiting out here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
She gave him a quick hug. “Thank you.”
Then she stepped around him and said to the lawmen, “Someone burned my trailer in Luckenbach and I have a very good idea who it was.”
Ryan’s gaze shot to Sam, the consternation immediate in his eyes.
Sam said, “She’s got a story to tell, and she doesn’t want me to hear all of it.”
“Then let’s go into my office,” the sheriff said, looking equally disturbed.
Sky preceded the men and the door closed behind them. Sam’s chest tightened and it was a wonder he could breathe. He slumped into a chair and rubbed the knot at the back of his neck.
All Sky had told him about this Willet character forcing himself on her was that he’d pinned her down and had shoved her skirt up. Sam hadn’t allowed his mind to wander any further than the natural conclusion that he’d taken her against her will. He hadn’t even fully digested her words about Willet telling her she could scream for help as loud as she wanted because the walls were soundproof.
As was the case with the abused horses he dealt with, a filter in his mind latched on to significant nuggets, but compartmentalized traumatizing details. It helped him to focus on what needed to be done, not the emotionally devastating aspects of each case. He’d learned that trick in the Service.
But now he couldn’t escape the true reality of the situation with Sky.
By the time she was done with Johnson and Ryan, Sam was edgy. He stood when she came out of the office and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.
Sky told him, “The sheriff is going to contact the authorities in Fredericksburg and speak on my behalf with the firefighters who responded to the call.”
“You gonna be all right?” Johnson asked her.
