Page 31 of Long Pig

“Well hell, there’s no way God is a woman. Only a man could screw things up this badly,” he’d informed her.

They’d both laughed and dropped the conversation.

With the two large bones in a bag, Willow placed them in the seat beside her and pulled onto the highway. It was a beautiful day, which made her think about the long, cold winter. She hated to admit it, but the town was downright ugly from November to April. The trees lost their leaves, and everything was brown. It was also freezing most of the time with little snow to make it bearable.

Suddenly, she noticed a vehicle behind her with red and blue lights flashing. Her stomach dropped, and ice filled her veins. She pulled over to the side as far as she could and grabbed her cell phone from the cup holder. Dale set up a recording app on her phone and told her to turn it on if she were ever pulled over.

“It’s not because all cops are corrupt, it’s because if you record what happens, they make mistakes, and the case is usually thrown out of court,” he’d explained.

Hastily, she returned the phone to the cup holder and placed both her hands on the steering wheel, which was another bit of advice Dale gave her.

It wasn’t a town police officer who approached; it was Deputy Wallard. Her mouth went dry, and she hoped she was able to speak.

“Lower your window,” she heard him say through the glass.

She turned the knob on the old truck and lowered the window like he asked.

“Do you know what I pulled you over for?” There wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face.

“No sir, I don’t,” she said.

He went slightly to the toes of his boots and peered inside the cab. “I didn’t think you were wearing your seatbelt, but I see you are. I watched you pull out of the feed store without stopping before the sidewalk.”

Willow stared at him. Dale had drilled into her not to answer any questions unless they were asked directly. He’d also said that if there was any chance she committed a crime, to keep her mouth shut.

Wallard puffed up his chest and stared back at her. She tried to keep her fingers from trembling on the wheel. Her palms grew damp.

“I’m giving you a warning today because you have your seatbelt on. I need your license and registration.” His gaze moved to her chest.

Willow lifted her butt from the seat and pulled out the small flat wallet she carried. It held her license and bank card. She had a few purses her grandmother left but never used them. The registration along with her insurance card were in the glove box, and she pulled them out.

“Give me a moment,” Wallard said after she handed the items over. He returned to his vehicle.

Willow took deep breaths while he wrote the warning. It was easy to figure out that she was being harassed. There was little she could do other than tell Dale when he came back from Show Low. He would be furious.

“I need your phone number in this box and your signature.” Deputy Wallard handed over a small clipboard with an attached pen. “This doesn’t go on your record, but it is the law that you come to a complete stop before crossing a walking path.”

She signed the paper, and he moved the clipboard away after handing her back her documents.

“It’s rather warm today,” he said and gave his first smile. “I was heading to the Burger Shack for a freeze cup. Why don’t you join me?”

Not,Would you like to join mebut,Why don’t you.

She felt a threat in the words. “No thank you,” she stammered because she was thrown off balance. “The dogs are in the house and waiting for me. I’ve been in town too long as it is.” Her words sounded airy with fear.

“That’s too bad,” he said. “Maybe I’ll catch you another time.”

She remembered the recorder, and it made her brave. “I don’t think your wife would approve of you having ice cream with another woman.”

He smiled, and Willow’s creep factor radar went up even higher.

“She’s out of town.” Now the grin was a leer. “Most people know my wife and I have an unusual relationship. They also keep their mouth shut about things that don’t concern them.” His eyes went to her breasts again. “Nothing wrong with sitting at a public table and having a freeze cup with a beautiful woman.”

“I need to get home,” Willow repeated.

Wallard tipped his hat before walking away. Willow rolled up the window and turned off the recording app with trembling fingers. The entire way home, she checked her rearview mirror looking for signs that the deputy was somewhere behind her.

Chapter Twenty