10. Sammie

"He won't mind us calling him this late," Thad reassured me as he pulled up Winthrop's number, pushing the Speaker button so that I could hear everything.

The sheriff answered after the second ring, sounding alert for it being after nine in the evening. "Thad Moon, everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine."

"Good. You scared me. Thought maybe you were having some kind of trouble out at the ranch."

"We are in trouble, actually, but nothing immediate," Thad said. "I've got Sammie Scott with me. We need your help."

"Good evening, Miss Scott," Winthrop said. "What can I do for you two? Do I need to take notes? Or do you want me to drive out there?"

"No, you don't need to come out now," Thad said. "But yes, please take notes."

I hadn't met Sheriff Winthrop in person, but I'd seen him around. However, I'd avoided him as much as possible, worried he might have seen my photograph somewhere and put the pieces together. Now, I wished I'd gone to him sooner. But hindsight is twenty-twenty and all that.

Winthrop listened carefully as Thad and I told him everything we knew, including the fact that I thought I'd killed my husband and run for my life. As embarrassing as it was to admit that I'd been lying to everyone since I'd been here, the sheriff didn't chastise me or question my decision. When it was clear I was finished, he was quiet for a moment. Then he told me about his mother. "My dad beat her up on the regular. When I was fourteen, it was bad enough that she ended up in the hospital." He hesitated for a moment. "She didn't make it, unfortunately. My father went to jail for the rest of his life. It's one of the reasons I became a cop."

I gasped and said how sorry I was, all the while filling with dread. Would this be my fate as well?

"I went into foster care," Winthrop said. "An elderly couple right here in Bluefern took me in. Stella was always kind to me, even though I was shy and more than a little nerdy. I'd do most anything for the Moon family and their friends."

"We want to trap him in his lies," Thad said. "And get it on video so there's no refuting his guilt."

"I see," Winthrop said. "And how do you expect to do that without opening yourselves up to danger?"

"We were hoping you could help us with that," Thad said. "Plus, we want everything on the up-and-up. I don't want this man to get away because of anything we did or didn't do."

"Smart. Tell me what you've got," Winthrop said.

We talked through our ideas, including the hidden cameras inside the motel room. "Unless you think that's a bad idea?"

"As far as recording someone without their knowledge, I think I can get a last-minute search warrant," Winthrop said.

"So fast?" I asked.

"A friend of mine's a judge." Winthrop said. "He trusts me that we have a good reason, or I wouldn't have asked. But even with the warrant, we can nail him for sure if we have video of him hurting you, Sammie. But that means you must be willing to risk an altercation. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I have to," I said. "He wants to finish me off. This is the only way I can be free."

"We'll be right there to rescue you if it gets dangerous. My deputies can set up the cameras in the room that feed right into a surveillance van. We have ways to hide them behind paintings and such. That way it's tight. You'll have to provoke him the minute he arrives," Winthrop said to me.

"I won't need to," I said. "He'll come in hot. He always does. Anyway, just breathing sets him off, so it won't be a problem."

"I'll have my deputies in plain clothes right outside the door," Winthrop said.

"Make sure they know how to play the part," I said. "John's cruel, but he's not stupid."

"I'll make sure," Winthrop said.

"Thank you, Sheriff," I said. "I can't tell you how nice it is to have it all out in the open." Especially now that I knew I wasn't a murderer.

"Rest assured, Miss Scott, I'll do anything I can to put scumbags like this in jail. You're lucky you got away from him. It's not often done without help from an agency of some kind."

"It wasn't what I'd call exactly legal." Heat crept up my neck. "I paid a guy to come up with a new identity. I've been using a dead person's Social Security number."

"None of that matters to me," Winthrop said. "All I want is for guys like him to be locked up. I'm so sick of these guys hurting women and getting away with it until they manage to kill them."

"His family runs the town of Fremont, Tennessee," Thad said, as a preface to telling him about John's family. "He has a brother and a cousin on the police force. We're pretty sure they're running illegal operations of some kind. They even wrote a fake obit for their local paper—all in the hope that it would lure Sammie home."

"Sure, he's got a crooked family pulling the strings down there. But their machinations didn't work," Winthrop said. "He underestimated how smart and courageous you are, Sammie. So, we're in business."

"If we put John in jail," I said, "his family's still out there. They'll want to punish me."

"Is there anything you can do about the Underwoods?" Thad asked. "Because we don't want them coming after Sammie."

"Let me see what I can dig up. I'll call my buddy in the FBI and see if they're interested in looking into things. In the meantime, you might think about an anonymous tip to a reporter. One who specializes in investigative journalism. That's another way to alert the FBI. No one should underestimate the power of words, right?"

"Will I be able to get a divorce if he's convicted?" I asked. "And what about the illegal use of the social security number?"

"You'll be able to divorce," Winthrop said. "As far as the use of an illegal social security number, I think I can make a case that you're cooperating with us. There may be a fine or public service but don't worry. I'll get you the best deal I can."

After we hung up, I thought through everything the sheriff had said to us. Could this actually work? It was imperative that I play the part of scared wife when he arrived tomorrow. Not that it would be difficult to show fear. That would come naturally, as it had during the years of our marriage.

Still, after all these months of being away from him and his abuse, I'd grown accustomed to a pain-free existence. What if I'd grown weak during my time away?

What if they charged me with a felony? My stomach churned at the thought of it. But Winthrop had said he would do his best. For now, I had to assume he would take care of me.

"It might end. All of it," I said. "Do I dare hope?"

"Sometimes faith and hope's all we've got. We both need to believe this will work. For a lot of reasons."

I nodded but didn't say anything. It wasn't the time to tell him how I felt. That could wait until we had John safely on his way to jail. Before now, I hadn't let myself believe it was possible for us to be together. The three of us could be a family. I could have everything I'd always wanted. It seemed too good to be true, but as I sat in the cozy room, I let the possibilities wash over me. I would get a divorce. I'd be free to fall in love and marry again.

Free to love Thad Moon.

"You need a drink?" Thad asked. "Because I know I do."

I agreed, then watched Thad fix me a vodka and cranberry, my favorite. He knew what I wanted without me having to ask him, as with so many things.

My stomach clenched, and every nerve in my body seemed to be on high alert, so much so my skin ached. When he handed me the drink, I took it and sank onto one end of the couch. Despite the warmth of the evening, I shivered.

Thad, being Thad, noticed and brought a cotton throw blanket over, tucking it around my shoulders. He made himself a drink and then joined me on the couch.

"Do you want to talk?" Thad asked. "Now that everyone's gone and it's just us? No pressure. We can just sit here and enjoy our drinks."

I blinked away tears. His compassion warmed me as much as the blanket he'd just wrapped around me. "I don't know what to think. It's such a relief, knowing I won't have to go to jail." I started to cry, happy tears of relief but also born from my overwrought emotions. "What a roller coaster this has been."

He scooted closer and took one of my hands. "I hope you can see that everything's going to be okay. He can't hurt you. Not with the sheriff and all the rest of us protecting you. We'll get him. It's him who's going to jail."

"What about his family?"

"I'm not sure, other than I trust Winthrop. If there's something to be done, he'll do it. But I think we should do as he suggested and get this in the hands of an investigative journalist. Small-town corruption might be of interest to a reporter looking for a good story."

"Where would we find one of those?"

"Rafferty's best friend from college is a journalist. She does articles for the New Yorker and other prestigious magazines. We could send her down there and see what she can uncover."

"What if they harm or kill her? The Underwoods don't mess around. If word gets out someone's sniffing around, they'll come after her."

"I have to assume the reporter knows what's she's doing. Let's ask Rafferty. He can reach out to her and see if she's interested. I know she's done it before."

"Yeah, okay." I gulped my drink. My nerves were frazzled. I'd never sleep tonight.

"We'll send Chloe to my parents' tomorrow morning," Thad said. "Pop can keep her and Mama safe until this is done."

I nodded. It made sense to do so, but knowing John was in the proximity, I hated to think of her without me. Still, it was safer for Chloe to be in some unknown location than at the motel waiting like a sitting duck. Like me.

"Sammie, I meant what I said before—about how I feel about you. Do you have any of those same feelings for me?"

I met his gaze, mesmerized by his pretty eyes. "This time yesterday, I thought I was a murderer. I couldn't think about my future, especially not with someone like you. You're so good. So full of integrity and purpose. I didn't want to bring you into this mess."

"But now?"

A smile seemed to rise up from my belly. I hadn't felt this way in a long time, optimistic about the future, not only as a free woman. I was now free of guilt and on the path toward self-love. "I didn't think I could allow myself to care about you. For so long my only goal has been to keep Chloe safe and me out of jail. The privilege of having a chance for happiness is overwhelming."

"Does this mean I can ask you for a kiss?" Thad's eyes were soft as he reached across the couch to brush aside a lock of my hair.

"You don't have to ask. Not after everything you've done. I think you've proven yourself trustworthy."

"If you kiss me, is it because of what I've done for you or because of how you feel about me?"

"The way I feel about you is partly because of what you've done for me. No one, except my dad, has ever treated me as kindly as you and your family have."

"But you don't want to kiss any of them, right?"

I laughed. "I can honestly say I only want to kiss one Moon brother, and that's you. I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you."

"No way?" Thad's eyes danced. "For real?"

"For real," I said, laughing.

He pulled me to him, kissing me gently at first, even tentatively. I didn't respond for a few seconds, temporarily frozen. I'd never felt the rush of passion and affection that surged from a mere kiss. John had never kissed me with love, I realized now. His touch had been invasive and demanding. Thad was different. Everything was different.

Was this what it was like to be kissed by someone I loved and respected and trusted? If so, I planned on doing a lot more of it.

* * *

Thadand I talked until one in the morning. After I'd confessed to being nervous and without much hope for sleep, Thad had made us another drink and rejoined me on the couch.

He asked me a lot of questions, and I answered them honestly, no longer afraid to tell him too much and bring him into the madness of my life.

I told him more about my childhood with my sweet dad and about Chloe's birth and his death and how they'd changed me so profoundly.

He shared stories from his past as well, including his earliest memories of the man who would become his stepfather. "At first, I called him Mr. Moon," Thad said. "Some of my first memories are with him."

"What about your real father? Do you remember him?"

"I have only one recollection, and it's not a good one. It was in the barn, and Soren and Rafferty were in trouble about something. Our father made them take off their shirts, and he whipped them with a belt. I don't think he knew I was in there, because I distinctly remember hiding behind a bale of hay. That's the only one I've got."

"How sad," I said, heart aching.

Thad went on to describe what had happened all those years before between his mother and father. Although I knew the story already, I'd never heard it told from Thad's perspective. "So, all in all, I had it easy compared to the rest of them. Jasper Moon's been my father for as long as I can remember. Well, almost anyway. He's been my rock and my role model every step of the way. If I can be half the man he is, I'll consider myself a success."

"And your mama? If he's your rock, then what is she?"

A smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. "Mama's my heart. She's that for all of us boys. She knows everything about us, can predict things before we have an inkling of them ourselves, and loves us unconditionally. There's not anything in the world she wouldn't do for one of her sons. Knowing I'm loved that much gives me a sense of empowerment, like there's nothing I can't do. If I want something, I've always believed I could have it if I worked hard and treated people right."

"Does that include women?" I asked, flushing. Yes, I was digging for more insight into how he felt about me. Was I worth all of this hassle? All this angst?

"With women it's different." His gaze searched mine. "I've been waiting for a love like Pop and Mama have. That's the bar. Anything less is not acceptable. I'd rather be alone than settle."

"You're wise. I settled—and look what happened to me."

"There was a child involved, which made your decision different. You did what you thought was best for your baby. My mother did the same thing, you know."

"I do know." I dabbed at the corners of my damp eyes with the pad of my thumb.

"I don't want to scare you off. I really don't. But I care deeply for you. If you think I'm rushing you, I'll back off. It'll be hard, but I also want more than anything for you to be happy."

"You haven't scared me off," I said softly. "But there's a part of me that still feels undeserving of such a wonderful man in my life. You're the type of guy every woman would want. I keep wondering what you see in me, especially with all the baggage I bring."

His eyes widened as if he couldn't believe what I'd just said. "What I see in you? Should I count all your amazing qualities? One by one? Beauty, intelligence, compassion, humor. You're an incredible mother. I mean, what isn't there to love about you?"

"Even with all the complications I bring to your life?" I asked.

"There's not a person on the planet that doesn't have something they bring in from their past, good or bad. The way I feel about you—it's unexpected, I'll give you that. I had no idea I would or could feel this way. I tried to fight it, not because of the questions I had about your past or because of Chloe, but because you live with us and work at the ranch. I tried to convince myself it was all very complicated and risky. But I couldn't keep it to myself another moment—I had to know if there's a chance you feel the same way." He looked up at me, earnest and vulnerable. "You're part of this family now, whether you want to be or not."

Family. The back of my throat ached with the effort to keep my tears at bay. Family was all I'd wanted. One of the reasons I'd been attracted to John in the first place was because of his large, involved family. If only I'd known who they really were under the surface. Wealth and power had destroyed any semblance of human decency in every one of them. I'd thought they would be my new family, ease the pain of losing my father, but instead they'd proven to be the opposite. They were not people I should give my trust and loyalty to. Instead, they'd trapped me. However, the Moon family brought me into the fold and looked after Chloe and me, regardless of where we'd come from. Any woman lucky enough to marry one of the Moon brothers gained not only a husband but a loving extended family.

And Thad? He was the essence of the word haven; a soft spot to land and stay. Protector. Friend. Father to Chloe? How could it be that he was right here all this time, and I didn't even know it? Waiting for me to arrive so that he could offer me a life so good I didn't even believe it was possible?

"I didn't think there was a chance for us," I said softly. "I've been terrified for all these months, thinking they would find me at any moment and take Chloe one way or the other."

"He's alive, Sammie. You aren't in danger of going to prison or having Chloe taken from you. We're sending the bastard to jail instead."

"I still can't believe he's alive. His eyes—I swear they looked dead to me. But I was in shock and not thinking straight, so that may have affected my vision. He must have been well enough to call an ambulance because the gunshot was real."

* * *

"Has it hit you yet?"Thad asked. "This could finally be over for you. You'll be free to live however you wish."

I looked down at my lap. The cutoff jean shorts I wore had frayed at the bottom. I stuck a finger through one of the strings and tugged it loose. "If he doesn't kill me first." He was alive. The relief that knowledge brought came in equal measure to my fear of his wrath. Now that he knew where I was, I was in danger. Even with the sheriff involved, anything could happen tomorrow.

"We're not going to let that happen. You're not alone this time. You have us and the sheriff. We'll nail him to the wall and toss him into jail where he belongs. He won't hurt you or Chloe again."

"And then what?" I asked. "What happens when it's all over?"

"Then you decide what you want from your life and go for it."

"It's the same thing I've always wanted. A family. A place to belong. For me and for Chloe. I'd like to stay here with you. For as long as you'll have us."

"If it's up to me, you'll stay forever."

"Forever?"

"Yes, forever. I want to marry you, Sammie. I want to be Chloe's dad and have a bunch more kids and raise them here near my family. I want to give Chloe the childhood I had." He tapped his chest. "I'm in love with you. I think I have been since the first time I saw you."

"I've not allowed myself to imagine having a relationship with you," I said. "Simply because it would further shatter me if I had to leave you."

"You won't have to. I wasn't sure we'd have a chance, but Pop was right. He said to pray, and a solution would come, one way or the other."

"He's a wise man." I played with the spot on my finger where my wedding ring used to be. I'd expected a dent to remain in my skin from the ring that represented entrapment, fear, and pain, but instead it had returned to the way it was before I'd become Mrs. Underwood. Could I really marry again? Would I be able to get a divorce and be done? What would happen tomorrow with John? Questions that couldn't be answered at one in the morning. All I knew now? I loved Thad Moon. "I'd like to stay with you. Tonight, and always."

He leaned close and kissed me again. By the time we lifted our heads, we were both breathless.

"We should go to bed," I said.

"As much as I wish that weren't true, I know it is." Thad stood and offered his hand. "Come with me upstairs. The rest of our lives starts tomorrow."

We walked up the stairs holding hands. When we got to the doorway of my room, he stopped and pulled me into his arms for another kiss, gentler this time, as if he knew how skittish the idea of sharing his bed made me. He didn't want to frighten me away, and his instincts were right. I needed a little more time before I could contemplate moving the relationship to the next level. After all, I was still a married woman and not a murderous widow. Thank God.

"I can give you all the time you need," Thad said.

"How did you know that's what I needed to hear?"

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about you, studying you. I'm basically an expert on the ways of Sammie. You're precious to me. I'd never want you to feel pressure."

"Thank you." I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed against his lean, hard chest. Goose bumps broke out on my arms when he stroked my neck, followed by a trail of kisses.

"I better leave you before I get carried away," he said. "Sleep well. Tomorrow will bring what it brings, but we can face it together."

"Good night. And thank you. For everything. I mean it."

"Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done." He kissed me quickly one more time and then nudged open the door the rest of the way with his foot. "Off you go."

I stayed where I was, kissing him one more time before murmuring against his mouth, "It's easy to love you too."

I went inside, closing the door behind me and leaning against it, wishing I could bring him into my bed and have him hold me all night long. It wasn't time for that yet, though. We had business to take care of, including extricating myself from the Underwood family for good.

I tiptoed over to Chloe, gazing down at her, my heart so full of love it almost hurt. She slept on her side, with her arms around Slurfpig.

I listened to the sound of Thad's footsteps as he went down the hall, the creaks of this old house like a friend.

Was it possible I could really have this life? A father for Chloe? A husband for me? One who didn't hurt us? I leaned down to kiss my daughter's warm, dry forehead. "I really hope so," I whispered to my little girl. "For you and for me."