He helped her to the register. “No, I’ll be fine. I won’t be long.” Just as soon as she passed the packages to the clerk, he squeezed her arm and stepped away.
“Don’t get lost.” Journey watched him leave with a hint of trepidation. “I’ve got it bad. I can’t stand for him to get out of my sight.”
Shaking off her concern, she went to meet Arlene.
…Down the street, Reno hurried along. Marrying Journey was his heart’s desire. Finding out a babe was on the way just spurred things on a bit. There was no way he would allow her to go unclaimed another day. The faster he could get a ring on her finger the better.
Once he entered the shop, Reno realized he was in over his head. He didn’t know what he’d expected but the dozen or more jewelry cases with bright lights and dazzling displays was slightly overwhelming.
“May I help you?”
An attractive woman with short brown hair came to greet him. “Thank you. Yes, ma’am. I’m looking for a ring.”
“Oh, a ring?” She clapped her hands. “What a lucky woman? What do you have in mind?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
She took him by the arm. “Well, let me show you around.”
Within the next ten minutes, Reno discovered quickly that the money he’d garnered from the sale of his coins wouldn’t be enough to purchase anything more than a plain gold band. “I guess I’ll just have to save the diamonds for an anniversary present.” He held out the correct number of hundred-dollar bills.
The nice salesclerk gave him a reassuring smile. “I can guarantee she’s going to love this ring. After all, you come with it. Right?”
“Right. I come with the ring.” He nodded, his words having a hollow ring. “Thank you.” Reno pocketed the small velvet box, pushing aside his worry about the future.
Leaving the store, he hurried down the street, hoping he’d returned before Journey finished her business
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Waiting in the car, Journey saw him coming. “Now, where have you been, Mister Black?”
She peered down the street, but she couldn’t tell from what store he’d emerged. Oh, well, it didn’t matter. “There you are,” she greeted him once he’d settled into his seat.
“Yea, sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Did Arlene give you a big order?”
“She did. If I were going to be around, I think she’d be a good contact to find more customers in this area. But…I’m not.” She didn’t say more as she pulled into the road. “Sheriff’s office next.”
Reno placed his hand over the bulge in his pocket, a plan formulating in his mind.
They’d driven no more than a half mile when Journey slammed on her brakes in the middle of the street, causing the car behind her to slam on his brakes too. Immediately, car horns started blowing.
“What’s wrong?” Reno asked with urgency. “Are you ill?”
“No.” She pressed the gas, drove another block, then pulled off the road. “You can’t talk to the cops. They’ll want to see identification.”
“I’m sure it won’t matter. I’ll just tell them I lost my wallet.”
“No, that won’t do. We can’t risk it. I know you haven’t done anything wrong but having no identification will just send up a bunch of red flags we don’t want to deal with. All we need is for you to get thrown into jail and miss the full moon.” She started the car again. “You’ll just have to keep out of sight, and I’ll give them fake information.”
This did not set well with Reno. “I don’t want you to get into any trouble on my account.”
Journey giggled. “It won’t make any difference. I’ll be leaving with you soon enough.”
She found a parking spot about a block away. “Stay here and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful,” he warned, watching her go.
At the sheriff’s office, Journey met with an officer in a private room.
“Thank you, ma’am, for coming down. This is routine, nothing to worry about. All I need you to do is read your statement and sign it if you agree with what’s written there.”
Journey did as she was asked. “Looks right to me.” She wrote her name on the signature line.
“Now, about this Mr. Black who came to your aid and put the two…gentleman out of commission for a while.”
Journey clasped her hands together tightly. She had plenty of time to formulate her answer to the question that seemed ages in coming. Officer Hancock, according to his name badge, seemed to take a nap between every third word he uttered.
“What can you tell me about this Mr. Black.” He consulted his notes. “Reno Black.”
“Not much. He was visiting the park and just happened to come along at the right time to prevent me from being hurt or killed.”
“So, you don’t know how we can reach him?”
“Not really. I think he’s from out of town.” Way out of town.
“And he was on horseback, you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is that allowed in the park?”
“I’m sure you would know better than me, sir. I’m just glad he was around when I needed him.” She shifted nervously in her chair. “He didn’t do anything wrong. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a hero.”
“Well, I’m just a country lawman. After talking to those two heathens, I can’t say I disagree with you.” He slapped the folder on the table. “Uh, about that threat…”
She held up her hand. “Don’t worry about it. I know I’m safe as long as he’s in your custody.”
“Very well. If you have any trouble at all. You let us know.”
Just down the hall…Reno waited. There was no way in hell he was going to sit safely in the car and just wait to see if she returned to
