No Ordinary Sheriff

Cash thought of his own dad. Staring at Austin brought home how much Cash had missed in his relationship with his own dad.

It didn’t seem right to never see Frank again.

What if yesterday was the last time Cash ever saw his dad? Panic drove fear through Cash’s blood. He’d always known that Dad was on this earth somewhere and it had felt right, even if only for Cash to feel righteous in ignoring his father.

But if Dad were gone? Truly gone? Dead? Not a trace of him left on this earth?

Cash couldn’t avoid the truth. It would hurt like hell.

A pressure had been building inside of Cash since that moment he had run after his father’s car yesterday. That pressure was the need to find his father, to talk to him again. Soon. How much time did Dad have left? Did Dad have enough money for proper medical care? To eat? To live out his dying days in dignity?

Austin stirred in his sleep and Cash thought of how much Austin would want to see his dad if he could, but fate had taken that option away from the kid.

Austin had no choice.

Cash did.

Cash didn’t want to waste whatever time was left with his dad. He needed to find his father before Frank died.

Decision made, Cash put on his cowboy hat and headed out the door, locking it behind him.

He forced himself to calm down. Right now, Austin needed him. There were things Cash had to do to take care of the boy.

His breath fogged in the cold Montana air. He knew full well it was a no-no for Big Brothers to buy their Littles gifts, but Austin needed so much. Cash would be damned if he’d let the boy freeze in that flimsy fall jacket.

If anyone didn’t like that he was providing essentials for Austin, they could sue him.

The irony of a cop breaking Big Brother “laws” didn’t escape Cash.

Before he bought anything, he had to go talk to Austin’s mom, to tell her where Austin was and why. He didn’t want to, though. She pushed his buttons, made him remember too much of those years when he’d had to take care of his own emotionally fragile mom.

He phoned her instead. He’d memorized her number in case something happened to Austin when he was out with Cash and Cash needed medical history.

When Connie answered the phone, Cash told her what he was doing with Austin today.

“Whatever you think is best, Sheriff.”

He disliked the tremor in her voice. He wanted her to make the important decisions about Austin’s life. They shouldn’t be left to a relative stranger. Cash wanted her to be the adult, the parent she should be, to give Austin the strength and guidance a kid like him deserved.

Cash visited the school next.

On the drive over he passed Mary Lou McCloskey driving in the opposite direction, speeding like a demon. Mary Lou, one of the sweetest women in town, knew better. He’d have a word with her at some point. At the moment, worried about drugs in the area getting into the hands of preteens, he needed to talk to the principal.

Ordinary Middle School sat on the edge of town. Once there, Cash spoke to Paul Hunt, the principal, explaining why Austin would be away today.

Twelve, thirteen and fourteen-year-old kids laughed and talked in the halls between classes.

“Any idea where Austin could have picked up the marijuana?” Cash asked.

“None. The kids here are pretty good, but you know weed’s a temptation for them. It’s easy enough to find.”

“There’s more. I’ve heard a rumor there are methamphetamines in the area. Have you seen any?”

“No, but that’s worrisome.” Paul had been leaning back in his chair but sat straighter now. “Meth is dangerous stuff.”

A boy ran down the hallway past the principal’s open door. “Taylor, slow down,” Paul called. “No running in the halls. Sorry, Cash, what were you saying?”

“There’s a man in the hospital from taking meth he picked up in Ordinary. In a coma.”

Paul stood and closed the door. “That turns my blood cold. Are you sure he got it here?”

“Pretty sure. There’s a problem throughout Montana. I just hadn’t suspected it was this close to home.”

“Me, either. I don’t have anyone at the school who looks like they’re taking it.”

“Yeah, it ravages people quickly. You can usually tell.”

“Listen, Cash, we have an assembly in a couple of weeks—students and parents. On Thursday. Will you come talk about the dangers of drugs? Both the kids and their parents need to be informed about this issue.”

“Good idea. What time?”

“After lunch. One o’clock.”

These kids were too young to do meth, but you just never knew… Cash stood to leave. “Call me if you hear even a whisper about meth in the school.”

“You got it. I’ll keep an eye on Austin when I can.”

“Appreciate it.”

The stores were open by the time Cash left school and he bought a thick, durable ski jacket. New, not used and worn like the stuff Austin’s mom bought him. Cash also picked up a wool hat and Thinsulate gloves.

After a stop at the New American diner for breakfast, he returned to the cop shop.

Austin slept soundly in the cell with his mouth open and drool dripping toward his ear. He had one arm flung above his head and the other dangling over the side of the cot.

Cash sat at his desk and booted up the computer. He searched data in San Francisco for Frank’s whereabouts first, but Dad had hidden his tracks. Why? Why come all the way to Ordinary to tell Cash he was dying and then drive away without leaving contact information?

Maybe because of your reaction to him? You weren’t exactly welcoming.

Yeah, and I refuse to feel guilty about that.

He dialed his mom’s number in San Francisco. Jamie answered instead, sounding peeved.

“Hey, buddy, it’s Cash. What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mom and Dad.” Yeah, Jamie definitely sounded sullen. “They won’t let me do stuff I want to do. They treat me like I’m a kid.”

Technically, Jamie was still a kid at fifteen.