Bang the Blower (Country Roads 3)

Agent Dickerson and his men approached Sam with caution. Their guns were drawn, but he didn’t put up a fight. At one time, he would’ve fought his way out of something like this, but things were different now. Annie had been pregnant. She was pregnant with his child. And he snuffed out her life, and the life of his unborn child, like they didn’t matter.

Maybe he deserved what he had coming, too.

Before the authorities led him away, Duke stepped in front of him and said, “You know, Sam, what you did is inexcusable. Annie may have deserved death, but that wasn’t for you to decide. There’s more to being a man than fighting your way out of a mess. You talk things out. Make a decision that will allow all parties to reach a satisfying conclusion.

“I feel sorry for your wife. If I had to guess, you had a good woman at home, a woman who loved you, someone who probably would’ve set you right in the sack if you’d only taught her how to please you. Hank is right. You wanted a younger model. Now, you’re looking for reasons to justify what you did. Fact is, your actions just allowed your wife a second chance.”

“You’d better believe it,” Hank added his two cents. “And while you’re sitting in that jail cell, I want you to remember Annie’s words. You think about how she insulted you. Then, I want you to think of your wife and her imperfections. The things that made her ordinary to you may be greatly appreciated by someone else. Someone out there will find her extraordinary.

“No one is perfect. But when you promised to love, honor, and keep her, that didn’t mean until you found someone else. That meant forever.”

Sam didn’t respond. How could he? Hank Hinman was right. He’d failed as a man. He’d failed his wife and his children. He didn’t have an excuse, and the one provided was lame and shallow. Now, he had to live with the choices he’d made.

He had a feeling he’d face them from behind metal bars in a facility far away from the only woman who’d ever really loved him.

Chapter Fifteen

Julie was waiting at Frank’s bedside when he awoke. She placed the book on his nightstand and sat on the edge of his bed. “Hey, Frank. You gave us quite a scare.”

“I wasn’t worried for a minute.”

“Really?” she asked, thinking he sure fooled her.

“Maybe a little,” he said, showing her how much by way of indication with his thumb and forefinger pressed tightly together. “Seems I’m good as new now. I’ve had a nap and feel much better. When can I go home? Any word on that from the doc?”

“Probably not until day after tomorrow,” Hank answered for her, entering the hospital room. “And you’d best not give me any lip, or I’ll stick Julie back in a dragster car.”

“Humph,” he muttered. “You ain’t sticking that girl anywhere.”

Hank and Julie’s eyes met and held. Julie snickered, reading his mind.

“We’ll see about that, Frank,” Hank said.

“Where’s Duke?” Frank asked, letting the comment slide. Frank had a way of ignoring their plays on words.

“I think he wanted to stop by and see you a bit later. He said he has something to discuss with you, but he wants to do that in private.”

“I don’t know what he wants to go livin’ in the past for. Old news never impressed me much,” Frank said weakly. He shot Julie a wink and quickly added, “Unless of course the news has somethin’ to do with my little girl. Then it’s a different story. I can talk about her all day.”

“Frank, you’re a mess,” Julie said, placing her fingers against his arm.

Frank patted her hand, which was a rare occurrence. He seldom showed physical affection, and outside of hugging Julie when she’d been away for a while, he rarely touched her. “I love my little girl. I could listen to someone boast about your accomplishments until the cows come home.”

“I love you, too, Frank.”

“Good,” he said. “Cause me and you are about to have a talk, and this comes from the heart.” He stared at Hank and finally said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but what I have to say is between us.”

Hank nodded. “You’ll come straight home after he gets finished with you?”

“I’ll be there,” she assured him, thinking it sure felt nice to hear him refer to his place as their home.

Quite awkwardly, Hank strolled across the room, shook Frank’s hand, kissed her cheek, and then left. “I’ll be seeing you in a couple of days, Frank.”

“If not before then!” Frank called after him.

Hank’s laughter filled the hallway. Frank watched her for a good bit before he finally said, “You’re still in love with him. And Duke, too, I imagine.”

She smiled.