Page 64 of Shelter for Sharla
“Yeah. They were so excited.” Chelsea and Lionel had never gotten a chance to go to the big theme park when they were growing up, so Carter’s first act as their prospective stepdad was to make arrangements to take them. They’d argued with Sharla that she and Carter should come, but she told them to go on. Carter needed to rest and get back to his old self, and the two young people were more than old enough to entertain themselves in the theme park. “I hate to ask, but have you given that offer some thought?”
“I have.” As soon as he’d become stable, he’d gotten a visit from JesseTalbert and Jesse’s boss, HarmonPeterson, with an offer of a position at KDCI. Carter had been surprised and flattered, and he really had been thinking about it. “And I know my answer.”
He made her wait until she finally cried out, “Oh, for god’s sake, Carter, what is it?”
“No.”
“No? But why? This would be great for you?for us! More money, better position?”
“You meansaferposition, right?” Carter said and turned to stare into her eyes.
“Yeah, okay, safer position. Why wouldn’t you take it?”
He sat up, dropped his legs off the side of the lounge, and faced her. “Have you ever done something and known it was the exact right thing? Or been somewhere and known you were exactly where you were supposed to be at exactly the right time?”
He could see her deflate a little when she answered, “Yeah. I have.”
“That’s how I feel about being sheriff of TriggCounty. Yeah, that KDCI position would be a safer position, and more money. But the people of my county, they need me. They wouldn’t have elected me sheriff if they didn’t. And I love them, babe. Yeah, you guys are my family, but so are they. Those guys in my department? They’re my brothers. If I don’t get re-elected, then yeah?maybe it’s time for me to go. But right now, no. I can’t. Matter of fact, I don’t want to. I hope you’re okay with that.”
“I guess I’m moving to TriggCounty, right?” she asked and winked.
“I guess you are.” She had no idea he’d been looking at a bigger house and had already bought a ring. That was on a need-to-know basis and right that minute, she didn’t need to know. They were in Kentucky, so it didn’t matter how old her daughter and her nephew were. He could still adopt them, and if being his children was what they wanted, he had every intention of doing just that.
CarterMelton loved his job. He loved Sharla, he loved the kids she brought to him, and he loved the guys he worked with. He loved his mom too.
And he loved the food at the resort, but some of WildaFern’s chicken ‘n dumplins sure would’ve been good right that minute.