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Chapter Forty Two
 
 
 

As the pickup began to slow, Bobie looked toward Sky, a questioning look crossing her face.  "What are you doing?  They will catch us!"

Sky nodded.  "I will not risk either one of us getting injured in a high speed chase on these roads."

Glancing behind, then back to Sky, Bobie replied,  "Then move, let me drive!"

"No time.  This is the best thing.  Sheriff won’t harm you."

"Not worried about me, I am worried about you.  Skylar!  Listen to me, this is not a movie shoot.  Those men have real bullets.  Please let me take the wheel?!"

Shaking her head, Sky pulled onto an off road parking area.  "No.  Sit back.  Don’t put up a fight, it will only add to the charges already made."

As the dust began to settle, the two women found themselves surrounded by several patrol cars.  Bobie reached for Sky’s right hand and squeezed.  "Would much rather have taken my chances on a chase.  I know these roads, should have let me take over."

Sky leaned down, lightly kissed the woman’s hand then whispered,  "I love you.  Whatever happens just remember this.  Promise?"

"I . . . I promise."

"Step out of the vehicle, hands on your heads, now!"  The blare from Sheriff Burgess echoed the area.

Sky gazed toward Bobie one more time then turned to open the door and step from the pickup.  Her feet barely touched the ground and she was tackled to her knees.  The cold steel clamped her wrists behind her back as she was thrown to the ground.

Bobie had stepped from the pickup and upon seeing the rough treatment Sky received, she instinctively kicked out, landing a solid blow to the deputy that was approaching her.  "Sky!  Stop treating her like she is some criminal!  Sky!"

It was amazing to see this woman, golden hair tossing about her shoulders as she catapulted over several men, dodging every effort to contain her.  Several drew their guns but Sheriff Burgess yelled,  "No!  Take her without serious injury!"

Sky tried to move but a man had his knee in the center of her back, hands cuffed behind, as he quickly searched to make sure she was not carrying any weapons.  When the ruckus began, she closed her eyes and grimaced, all the while knowing Bobie Parker was objecting big time. "Should have taken the run,"  she muttered under her breath.

It was Bobie’s right boot that met the side of the man’s face as he turned to see the woman coming at him like a tornado.  Before he could move, she struck with such force it sent him reeling.   Sky had managed to get to her knees as Bobie reached out to help her stand.

"Bobie what are you doing?"  Sky asked as she observed several men walking toward them, some looking as if they had been in a blender and churned out.   Their guns were holstered as they approached.

"Bobie looked skeptical, shrugged and replied,  "Couldn’t stand to see them treating you like that."

"Sheriff Burgess!  Stop your men from coming any closer.  There won’t be any more trouble.  Let me talk to Bobie."

The man tipped his head to the right, surveyed the two women then glanced toward the men and ordered,   "Let the two talk, men.  All right Richmond, I’ll give you five minutes, then we will take you both and no holds barred."

Sky stepped close to the woman, gazed down and softly whispered, "You are a woman to look up to Bobie Parker.  You must know there is no way to get out of this.  Sheriff means what he is saying, they will do what is necessary to arrest us.  Please darling, don’t fight them any longer."

Bobie was kicking at the dirt with her right boot before she looked up and muttered,  "Didn’t think.  I saw them hurting
you and . . ."

"And you are wonderful.  A woman unlike any other."

"I love you, I care what happens to you and I will never let the sheriff and his posse mistreat you."

"Can’t stop them now.  Let them take us in.  Once we are in jail, I will call and get assistance but for now, please Love,
let it happen."

"If this is what you want.  And I know you are right, we really have no way out of this.  I’m sorry if I put you in any more danger."

Sky lowered her head, lips brushing Bobie’s forehead before she replied,  "Just remember I love you."  It tore her up to see the tears rushing to Bobie’s blue-green eyes.  Stepping back, she called out,  "It’s all right sheriff, we are ready to be taken in."
 
 

Bobie paced the cell so many times she was sure there was even a worn path in the floor.  The sheriff would not allow both women to be in the same cell and she had no idea where Sky was or if she was all right.  Conjuring up words she had never used before but each one having a deep meaning, she cursed herself for allowing this to happen.

"Goin to curse yourself all night?"

Bobie stopped, turned to see the concerned face of Belle Gardner as the woman approached her cell.  "Belle?  I didn’t know anyone was near enough to hear me."

"It’s all right.  I understand your feeling.  Have said my share of burning words since hearing you two had been taken prisoner."

Bobie rushed to the cell door, grasped the bars and asked,  "Have you seen Sky?  Is she all right?"

Belle shook her head, then reached out to touch Bobie’s right hand.  "Sorry.  For some reason, they will not allow anyone in to visit.  Meg owed me a favor and that is how I got in here.  Sorry this happened.  If I could take this day back . . ."

"You and I both.  We were just going to check on a few things.  Neither of us gave one thought to the sheriff.  Guess we should have.  Didn’t you mention that Meg said they were still concentrating on the reservation?"

"Yes.  But the sheriff may not have told her everything.  The woman knows we are close and would have jeopardized her own job had she told me.  Still, she owes me a lot more than this visit."

"However you got in here, I am grateful."

Belle glanced at the cell then asked,  "Is there something I can get for you, do for you?"

"Can you find out how Sky is?  I’m worried about her."

Belle nodded.  It was obvious by the look on Bobie’s face she was very worried.  "She is probably doing the same thing in the cell they have her in.  Worried for you, wondering how you are.  I will do what I can, but for some reason they are not letting any visitors in to see her.  Tell me, how is it you were caught?  I keep hearing bits and pieces."

"Got a few minutes?"  Bobie asked, stepping back.

"Sure.  Nothing happening at the tavern, no word on Jeanne.  I have as long as they let me stay back here."   She looked around for something to sit on, there was nothing so she sat on the floor and gazed up at the woman.  "Shoot, I want to know how this happened?"

Bobie marveled at this woman.  Every day Belle surprised her more.  She sat and began to describe the recent activities.   When she finished, the woman looked at her in amazement.  "You wanted to switch seats and drive?"

Bobie nodded.  "Yes.  I know paths."

"Did you also know that they had all the roads blocked, the two of you would have run into disaster.   Bobie, Skylar did the right thing for both of you."

"Belle, if you had seen the way they treated her.  There was no reason for this.  It was not right."

"Not right but doing what you did surely didn’t help the situation.  There were already charges out, now they have resisting arrest, injuring several officers, the charges just keep mounting."

"Bogus charges.  Well I did hit a few, trying to get to Skylar.  I was wrong, but seeing her on the ground, the cruel way she was being treated, just . . ."

"Just brought out the Annie Oakley in you.  You’re a caring woman and one deeply in love.  I understand your reasoning, however not sure the law will look at it the same way."

"I don’t care about me, I can take whatever they throw my way, just want for Skylar to be all right.  I am going crazy here not knowing."

Belle stood, then replied,  "You are not doing yourself or Sky any good by getting all upset and making yourself sick.  This is not the place.  I will do what I can to find out what is happening to Sky.  You sit tight and try to calm down."

Bobie nodded and watched the woman walk down the corridor and out the door.  "Calm down, easier said than done,
Belle."   She walked to the cot, sat then laid back.  "Calm . . . try to  be calm . . . "
 
 
 

Sky was limping back and forth, each step sending a sharp pain up her right leg.  It was obvious she had pulled something in the fall.  Mumbling and cursing she reached out and grabbed the cot, and in a rage, threw it over.

"Damaging county property is not the way to win favors."

Sky spun around, pain grasping her like a vise and she stumbled.  It took a lot of will power to stay on her feet but she succeeded.  It was Sheriff Burgess that gazed at her through the cell bars, his face having the appearance of stone, no movement, cold and calculating.

"Looks like you injured yourself.  Need a doctor?"

Limping to the cell door, she scowled at the man.  "No thanks.  I’m fine.  How is Bobie?  I want to see her."

"She is fine.  What you want is inconsequential."

"I need to see her."

"What you need is not my problem.  The two of you have gotten into things that would have been better left alone.   I first asked you nicely to leave.  You refused.  The list I have against the two of you gets longer every day."

"Really, Sheriff Burgess?  Bobie is a deputy, she had the right to investigate.  And as far as I know she hasn’t done anything illegal."

He listened to the woman carefully watching her movements.  "She has not been a good girl.  And in so far as deputy, she gave this up when she chose to run with you instead of taking orders from me."

Sky couldn’t come any closer to the bars as she expressed,  "You brought me to this town.  When you didn’t like what was happening between Bobie and me . . ."

He had taken several steps back, before interrupting,  "Has nothing to do with what is happening between Parker and you.  But has a lot to do with where you have been poking your noses.  I am the Sheriff, the law, you are someone I thought  . . .  "

"You’re not the only one that can interrupt Sheriff Burgess.  You thought my past, perhaps fame would give the town an edge, bring publicity to the area, add more prestige to you and your office.  You had no inkling we would fall in love."

"Love?  Is that what you call getting Bobie mixed up in ungodly chases?   Disobeying a command?  Leaving a good life for God knows what?"

"Bobie is a grown woman with a mind of her own.  Admit it, sheriff, you are not upset that I’m here, you are upset that your peaceful office has been rattled.  That Bobie Parker has found someone to really care for her."

He had been tapping the handle of his holstered gun, fingers beating out an angry tune.  "I care about her.  People in this town care about her.  You are an outsider and from what I have heard a woman that will take then leave."

"Don’t know where you heard those words but I’m nothing like that.  If I were to take a guess I might say, Bernie has something to do with this.  I might add, you show your care for Bobie in a poor way.  People in the town will soon figure you out sheriff and what you have done to Bobie Parker.  A woman many think dearly of."

"Make a deal with you."

"I’m listening."

"You say you care what happens to Parker.   If this is the case, you also know she is facing some serious charges.   How long do you think a pretty thing like her will last in the State Pen?"

Suddenly Sky’s left arm shot out, barely missing the man.  "Damn you!"

Taking a deep breath and swallowing with much effort,  the man looked toward the main office and the closed door before he said,  "I may be damned but it is up to you just what charges Parker will face."

"Be thankful  I didn’t grab you, that these bars stopped me.  What do you mean it is up to me?"

"I have a proposition.  I will allow you to see Parker on one condition.  I want you to tell her that what the two of you had is over."

Sky fumed, her eyes shot sparks, as she tossed her flaming hair back off her shoulders.  "Like Hades I will!"

"You do this.  I don’t care how you convince her, but do it.  If you do, I will drop all charges against her and allow you to be transported back to California.  Never to contact her again.  Have I made myself clear?"

"Very.   This will tear her up, guess you don’t care if she is hurting."

"She will get over it, over you.  I have not been idle, know that the Trenton’s are involved in this mystery, and will soon know the rest.   I appreciate your coming to this town but your services are no longer required."

"You may wear a badge, carry a gun but you are a little man.  I will be out of here soon, my contacts will see to that."

"Perhaps, but Parker will still be here.  Before you go and try to make a jail break, she will be long gone.  I know you have influential contacts.  I have not been idle.  Take my deal, it is the last one you will get.  See Parker, say your goodby but leave the woman thinking you are out of her life.  I will give you ten minutes then . . ."

"All right.  I will do it.  I can’t stand the thought of Bobie spending one minute in the State Penitentiary.  It will kill me but there is no other choice.   Whether you believe me or not, Sheriff Burgess, I love this woman, care for her more than my own life.  I hope you can sleep at night."

He smiled then replied,  "Sleep just fine.  I need my deputy back, the one that objected to my bringing you here in the first place.  Go on, climb pyramids, wander in the mystic fjords of unknown regions, just leave my town and Bobie Parker far behind.   I’ll have a deputy take you to her cell.  Oh and Richmond, make it good.  What happens to her next is on your shoulders."

Sky paced the floor, each step brought pain to her leg, but she didn’t care it didn’t even touch the gut wrenching pain that had embedded itself, overtaking every fiber of her being.  Telling Bobie they were through, that she was not serious ,was going to be the hardest thing she would ever do.  To destroy her trust, destroy the love they shared was not an easy thing to contemplate.  She was not sure given the moment she could even carry this off.

 The sheriff made it clear, if she didn’t, just what would happen to Bobie.  And it would kill her to know that the woman was sentenced and sent to this place.  Walking to the cot, she picked it up and sat.  Sky lowered her head onto her hands as tears fell like rain, she crumpled to the floor in agonizing pain.

Continued in Part 21