Sun Kissed by Catherine Anderson Read Free Book Online

call the cops on him.” She picked up the report Tucker had filled out. “Very good. I’ll make sure this goes on file. One more nail in his coffin when he goes before a judge.”
    Samantha emptied her things from one of the bags and quickly curled her fingers over the rosary beads, which she carried in her jeans pocket everywhere. “Any news about the horse at the fairgrounds yet?”
    The deputy gave her a thumbs-up. “They found him. He’s cut up pretty bad and has clearly been beaten. As sad as that is, it may be the horse’s lucky day. He’ll get a new home now and won’t be mistreated again. The rescue folks screen applicants very carefully.”
    Samantha was glad to hear that. The gelding’s passive acceptance of such cruel mistreatment had touched her heart. An animal like that deserved to be loved and pampered just a little.
     
    A quarter of an hour later, after they’d both tried to contact family members on the public phone without success, Tucker and Samantha stood in the parking lot, at a loss. Both their vehicles were at the fairgrounds.
    “I can’t believe my dad isn’t answering his cell phone,” she complained.
    “My sister and brothers are all at the rodeo. Could be they’ve turned off their cells or just can’t hear them over the crowd. Not my folks, though. I thought sure they’d be home. They never go to the rodeo anymore.”
    “Why is that? Is their health deteriorating?”
    His mouth tightened. “No. My sister was badly injured in a barrel racing accident several years ago.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    “No need to be. She’s happily married and has two kids. It was a sad time in our lives, but it’s over now. For most of us, anyway. My mother and father still hate watching any kind of rodeo competition.” Tucker gazed thoughtfully at the cell phone in his hand. “You want me to call you a cab?”
    She shook her head. “I left messages on all their voice mails. One of them is bound to check his missed calls soon and come pick me up.”
    Tucker hated to leave her. He reached to rub his nose, but stopped just in time. “I need to visit the ER. If this schnozzle of mine swells any more, they won’t be able to fix it tonight.”
    She tipped her head to study his face. “It’s probably only the swelling, but it seems to be leaning sideways more than it was earlier.”
    Tucker had visited the men’s room before leaving the building, and he’d gotten a shock when he looked in the mirror. His nose looked bad, no question about it. In the course of his work, he often got the cartilage broken. Most times he straightened it as best he could, shoved cotton balls up each nostril to hold it in place, and called it good. Treating the injury himself didn’t strike him as being a wise idea this time.
    “Do you have any money on you?” he asked. “I don’t want to leave you stranded.”
    “Not enough for cab fare clear back to the fairgrounds.”She held up a staying hand. “No, please. You’ve done enough.”
    He already had his wallet halfway out of his hip pocket. “Come on. A cab only costs a few bucks. I’ll give you my address. You can send me a check to cover it.”
    “My dad or one of my brothers will show up any minute,” she insisted. “I’ll be fine. Really. Good luck at the hospital.”
    Tucker wanted very badly to ask her out. Considering the mess his face was in, the timing sucked, though. Instead, he dialed Information, got connected with Yellow Cab, and arranged for transportation to Saint Matthew’s.
    While waiting for his ride he stood beside Samantha, wishing he could think of something memorable to say. Nothing came to mind.
    When the cab rolled into the parking lot, he turned and thrust out his hand. “It’s been an experience.”
    She treated him to one of those slow, hesitant smiles that eventually made her face glow and her eyes sparkle. When she placed her slender fingers across Tucker’s palm, he felt a zing he’d never experienced with any other