up to see Sam. Not that she needed a hero, but he’d shown up at a mighty opportune moment.
Sam’s tall frame swallowed the space as he stood just inside the door. How much had he heard? She breathed a silent prayer of thanks and hoped her glance conveyed her gratitude. Why he’d be near the diner at this hour of the night, she couldn’t imagine. With his black Stetson, well-worn jeans, boots, and a short-sleeved red shirt that revealed his well-developed upper arm muscles, Sam made her heart race. Much more so than even the twenty-year-old version of Sam she’d adored as a fanciful teenager.
Moving to stand between her and Merle, Sam slid his hands down to his hips. “Merle, you’ve had too much to drink. Time to go home.”
“Lookee he-here. It’s the bi-big hero man, S-Sam Le-Lew-wis.” Merle snarled the comment.
His features creased with concern, but Sam didn’t flinch. When he darted a glance Sarah’s way, brows raised, she nodded.
“Why’d you come back to this Podunk town, anyway? The only thing worth it would be this little lady.” Merle pointed to her and then his gaze traveled back to Sam. “Hey, you got something goin’ on with our beautiful Sarah? She’s quite the looker, ain’t she? Take a number, buddy. Half the men in this town—”
“I came back to Rockbridge because this is my home,” Sam said, thankfully interrupting Merle. “Home is where you’re going right now. Come on. Let’s go.” When Sam reached for him, Merle shrugged him off.
“Nah, man. Leave”—he burped loudly and stumbled a bit, slumping down into the closest booth—“me alone.” Merle hung his head and let out a loud, obnoxious belch.
“Would you prefer I call the sheriff? On duty or not, I’m sure Tommy will come collect you and give you a nice jail cell for the night. Your choice.” Sam’s voice was as firm and commanding as Sarah had ever heard it. She liked it.
Walking behind the counter, she glanced over her shoulder and then grabbed a mug. After pouring steaming black coffee into it, she carried it over to Merle along with a napkin. “Here, Merle. Drink up.”
Sam shot her a grateful glance.
“That’s mighty hospitable.” Tugging the mug closer, Merle lifted it to his lips with shaky fingers. A stream of the dark liquid spilled over the top and onto the table, but he seemed oblivious.
“Careful there.” She moved the napkin closer to him.
“I’ll be fine. You can go on now.” Merle slurped a longer sip of the coffee. “Always said you made the best coffee in town, Sarah.”
“Want a piece of blueberry pie to go with your coffee? It’s on the house.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Sam slid into the booth on the seat across from Merle. “I’ll take a slice, too, and you can give me the tab.”
“Of course. I’ll bring you some coffee, too.”
“Thank you, Sarah.” Sam’s appreciative gaze made it worth the events of the past few minutes. Not that she’d care to relive them.
As she cleaned tables and helped Jimmy in the kitchen, Sarah stole a peek at Sam and Merle every now and again.
“They’re gettin’ along pretty well out there,” Jimmy said, scrubbing the last pan by hand. “Sam’s a good man. Always has been. He could have a swelled head with his background, but he’s a fine man, like his dad. His mama raised him right, and he respects women. Not like old Merle out there.”
Sarah was aware she was blushing but had no idea why. It wasn’t like she could take credit for Sam’s accomplishments, but she was proud of him nonetheless. “Merle’s lost his way, and I wish I could help him. Other than pray, I mean. From what I know, he doesn’t have any family to speak of since his father died, and he can’t seem to hold down a job.”
“It’s a double-edged sword for some people. The alcohol.” Jimmy put the pan upside down on the counter to air dry. “Keep praying for him, honey. Maybe Jesus will get hold of him and kick some sense into
Sam’s tall frame swallowed the space as he stood just inside the door. How much had he heard? She breathed a silent prayer of thanks and hoped her glance conveyed her gratitude. Why he’d be near the diner at this hour of the night, she couldn’t imagine. With his black Stetson, well-worn jeans, boots, and a short-sleeved red shirt that revealed his well-developed upper arm muscles, Sam made her heart race. Much more so than even the twenty-year-old version of Sam she’d adored as a fanciful teenager.
Moving to stand between her and Merle, Sam slid his hands down to his hips. “Merle, you’ve had too much to drink. Time to go home.”
“Lookee he-here. It’s the bi-big hero man, S-Sam Le-Lew-wis.” Merle snarled the comment.
His features creased with concern, but Sam didn’t flinch. When he darted a glance Sarah’s way, brows raised, she nodded.
“Why’d you come back to this Podunk town, anyway? The only thing worth it would be this little lady.” Merle pointed to her and then his gaze traveled back to Sam. “Hey, you got something goin’ on with our beautiful Sarah? She’s quite the looker, ain’t she? Take a number, buddy. Half the men in this town—”
“I came back to Rockbridge because this is my home,” Sam said, thankfully interrupting Merle. “Home is where you’re going right now. Come on. Let’s go.” When Sam reached for him, Merle shrugged him off.
“Nah, man. Leave”—he burped loudly and stumbled a bit, slumping down into the closest booth—“me alone.” Merle hung his head and let out a loud, obnoxious belch.
“Would you prefer I call the sheriff? On duty or not, I’m sure Tommy will come collect you and give you a nice jail cell for the night. Your choice.” Sam’s voice was as firm and commanding as Sarah had ever heard it. She liked it.
Walking behind the counter, she glanced over her shoulder and then grabbed a mug. After pouring steaming black coffee into it, she carried it over to Merle along with a napkin. “Here, Merle. Drink up.”
Sam shot her a grateful glance.
“That’s mighty hospitable.” Tugging the mug closer, Merle lifted it to his lips with shaky fingers. A stream of the dark liquid spilled over the top and onto the table, but he seemed oblivious.
“Careful there.” She moved the napkin closer to him.
“I’ll be fine. You can go on now.” Merle slurped a longer sip of the coffee. “Always said you made the best coffee in town, Sarah.”
“Want a piece of blueberry pie to go with your coffee? It’s on the house.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Sam slid into the booth on the seat across from Merle. “I’ll take a slice, too, and you can give me the tab.”
“Of course. I’ll bring you some coffee, too.”
“Thank you, Sarah.” Sam’s appreciative gaze made it worth the events of the past few minutes. Not that she’d care to relive them.
As she cleaned tables and helped Jimmy in the kitchen, Sarah stole a peek at Sam and Merle every now and again.
“They’re gettin’ along pretty well out there,” Jimmy said, scrubbing the last pan by hand. “Sam’s a good man. Always has been. He could have a swelled head with his background, but he’s a fine man, like his dad. His mama raised him right, and he respects women. Not like old Merle out there.”
Sarah was aware she was blushing but had no idea why. It wasn’t like she could take credit for Sam’s accomplishments, but she was proud of him nonetheless. “Merle’s lost his way, and I wish I could help him. Other than pray, I mean. From what I know, he doesn’t have any family to speak of since his father died, and he can’t seem to hold down a job.”
“It’s a double-edged sword for some people. The alcohol.” Jimmy put the pan upside down on the counter to air dry. “Keep praying for him, honey. Maybe Jesus will get hold of him and kick some sense into
Similar Books
