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Savannah finally looked at the woman, seeing no censure in her eyes. She tried to smile, "Thank you, Mrs. Johnson."
"I'll see you get some clean sheets, too dear." And with that she shook her head.
She spoke softly to the Sheriff and then with a smile and a wink, she left, leaving Savannah feeling lower than a skunk. She felt ashamed and didn't even know why. She wanted to crawl under some rock and disappear. But what had she done? What was her crime? Disturbance?
How had she gotten herself into such a mess, all because she ran from a wedding!
She spent another hour berating herself for pulling such a stunt and then wondering to what extent it had become such an unlawful thing to flirt with a man.
When he was about to lock up and leave for the day, she had to ask him.
"Why am I being held?" she asked in a small voice.
He came to stand in front of her, looking directly at her, into her eyes, into her soul.
"Junction was a real nice little town until you came here. I haven't used handcuffs in over a year. But you come to town and all hell breaks loose. Leroy nearly broke the bartender’s jaw. Want to know why?"
"Yes." Savannah's mouth popped open.
"Because Many said it wasn't your fault. Said I should have arrested Leroy instead."
"And you blame me for that?"
"Among other things, yes. I have put you into protective custody for now. I don't get you. I probably never will. I kissed you and you backed off like a snake had bitten you. They put their hands on you, made bets with you and you flirt like some little hussy. Are you really that shallow and two-faced?"
She opened her mouth to protest and he pointed his finger at her, “Don’t press it Savannah, You are still in possession of your parents car, and they weren’t sure if they wanted to press charges or not, so don’t tempt me. You came to town with no id, and dressed well…dressed in that get up. I could throw the book at you if I wanted to. Now, your bail is $150, or a night in jail, take your pick.”
"You’d do this just because I flirted with a couple of…"
"Not for flirting, no. Those men were not playing for money, would you rather I put down a different charge?"
"You mean they thought I would really go through with it? But I didn’t intend…."
"Maybe you didn’t, but they did. Now which is it going to be, a night in jail or $150?"
"But why are you taking it all out on me?"
"Because you started it." He stared at her with such a frown.
Where could she go, he certainly hadn’t offered her a room in his home again? She only had a little over two hundred dollars altogether. She had no choice. He intended to keep her in jail overnight.
"I guess I’ll stay then…"
"It's not like you can't afford it. I find it strange that you have money, but no id."
As though he were trying to reason it all out in his own head, he shook his head and glanced at her again, "You are a walking piece of trouble. How I could ever thought you so sweet, is beyond me."
Tears streamed down her face, yet his words gave her a ray of hope. She had finally gotten rid of her "sweet image". One accomplishment, only what had it cost her? "I'm sorry. But I really didn't do anything wrong."
"You obviously don't have to," his eyes narrowed on her. "Sleep on it. I'll see you in the morning."
* * *
The next morning Ben walked into the office an hour early. He hadn't slept a wink and by the looks of her, Savannah hadn't either. Something deep within him wanted to comfort her, but he kept telling himself just how much trouble she was and that he had been right from the start about her. The sooner she got out of town the better!
He'd been a fool once before over a woman, he wouldn't be repeating that experience.
Instead he greeted her with a smile and a "Good morning."
