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"As a matter of fact, I do... I needed to get away from the hum-drum city life for a while. I've got an aunt I'll be staying with, not too far from here. Maybe you know her, Lucy Harper?"
He nodded, "Lucy Harper is your aunt? Yeah, I know her. But you are completely out of luck if you plan to stay with her. She's gone to Europe with a church friend."
"Europe? Oh...no. This can't be. I was so counting on her being there. Well, surely, I could stay at her house, while she's gone?"
Ben eyed her a moment, despite the fact that she was pure trouble, he felt just a tad sorry for her and knew if she could furnish some identification he'd take her out to Lucy's place.
"I suppose you could stay, if you can identify yourself, that is. I mean, I really don't have any way of knowing if you are who you say you are."
Savannah's eyes rounded. "Well, I'm sure...I've got something..."
"Yeah, a driver's license, social security card, anything." Ben took a bite and watched her.
* * *
But Savannah had left her identification in her luggage, at home. She didn't even have her driver’s license and if he found that out, she was sunk. How could this be happening? All she wanted to do was get away from that church, that wedding, and her parents long enough to figure out what to do next.
"Look Sheriff, you aren't going to believe this..."
"You don't have any identification?" his eyes narrowed on her now, a frown forming.
"Well, yes, I do. But not with me. I mean...come on Sheriff; I was running from a wedding. Give me a break..."
"Not even a driver’s license?"
"Well...I...no!" Savannah sighed, and held out her arms to him. "Sheriff, you don't wear your drivers license to a wedding, now do you?"
"What's this?" he asked as though she'd gone loco.
"Aren't you gonna put the handcuffs back on?" she asked her eyes pleading with him for understanding.
"I don't think that'll be necessary. You aren't that dangerous. If need be, I think I could take you. However, this does create a problem. You are going to have to stay here until I get some kind of id on you. What about a social security card?
She shook her head.
He shook his head with what looked like disgust, but all the while not missing a bite of his chicken. He stopped for a minute and added, "And you can't be driving that car until you get a replacement license, that'll take a day or two."
"Then you don't believe me?" She stared at him with the rounded green eyes.
"Oh sure, but I can't go on what I believe. Everyone has to have identification. It won't take long, and you'll be fine, unless you'd rather me lock you up in a cell, until I verify who you are."
"A cell!" her eyes were so big and beautiful he could drown in them, but he shook off this crazy attraction once more and nodded with a slight smile.
"Uh...no, Sheriff, if you don't mind, I'll stay...here."
"I thought maybe you would." Ben chuckled.
"This isn't a bit funny," she protested. "Anyone can tell I'm not a criminal."
"You don't have to be a criminal to break the law. People do it, everyday. They don't put their seat belts on, they don't carry their license or their insurance in their cars. There's a lot of misdemeanor's out there. Now, because I saw your state of dress on the bus, and new you must have escaped a wedding, I can believe that. But it doesn't begin to tell me who you are and what you are doing in our little town, now does it?"
"No…I guess not. But honestly, do I look like a criminal to you?"
"Depends on which side of the fence you're sitting on, I guess." Ben smiled.
Savannah slumped in her chair. "So how long is all of this going to take?" She let out a long sigh of impatience.
"Oh a couple of days at most." Ben replied pretending great interest in his food all of a sudden. "Of course taking care of your car might take a little longer."
