2 A New Home Town

(Jennifer Waterstone)

Waking to the sound of a loud bang, I reached for my sidearm. Grasping at air, I looked around in a daze and saw Sheriff, "Tall, cold and brooding " standing in front of me while holding my sidearm.

"You shouldn't keep messing with me Sheriff Jones... I'm a member of the town now that I graduated the academy last month! "

Swiping my sidearm back, he gave a hardy laugh as I found his smug voice irritating when he tried to mess with me.

"You aint ' gone be so quick when a wolf come to take a chunk of that pretty face of yours, Deputy Jenny... I'll be sure to send flowers to your funeral. Ha! "

Shivering in discomfort as his dark jokes often leave me speechless, I didn't have a reply to the strange things this man says.

"Be it a wolf, a bear, or even a harden criminal, I aint gone let no one slip my eye while I'm on the job, ha-puht! "

Sounding out my imitation of an old western spittinh outlaw, I suddenly half choked while Jones laughed his head off at my unfortunate situation. Clearing my throat with a cup of water, I walked back to my desk to grab my jacket as I left the station to make my rounds alone.

"Don't let the door hit yer' on the way out! "

Frustrated by the old mans silly antics, I let headed to the heart of town in my police cruiser as I waved at everyone a happy morning. Stopping at a light, I parked the cruiser and left the car to help out Miss Brenda as she crossed the street with a bag of groceries.

"Oh, thank you sweaty! You are too kind! "

"Not a problem Miss Brenda... I am happy I could be of help. "

After she reached the other side, I got back into my car and continued patroling for anything out of the ordinary. Looking around as dozens of kids in various ages walked to the only school that housed kinder all the way up to high schoolers since the town was five miles from the nearest city.

After I made my way up to the school, I parked the cruiser and went into the gate as I was greeted by the kids.

"Oh! Deputy! Why don't you give us a private frisking?! "

Turning a single smiled and played along.

"Sure! And right after, I can also give you a private booking with your parents! "

Wiping off the smile in his face, he apologized as I let it go and headed into the maim building. Once inside, I reached the main office where I greeted the receptionist with a smile as I asked if Principal Kalen was in yet.

"Yes... He just arrived ten minutes ago. He should be at his office, go right ahead in. "

"Thanks! "

Walking around the circular rim, I knocked while opening the door and smiled as Kallen dropped her notebook to give me a warm hearted hug. As she did, her coffee scented breath brushed up against my nose as she welcomed me to the community.

"Its great to be here... I just hope the rest of the town sees me as a member. "

"Oh! Nonsense, I'm sure everyone in town loves you! Heck! You managed to get the brooding sheriff Jones to open up to you. That in itself it this towns greatest miracle thus far! "

Chuckling as I shook my head while being modest, she sat on her desk as we spoke about my growth from when I first moved here in search of Clara.

"Eh... You know... I don't really like talking much about that... I mean no disrespect, its just she is a really close-"

Stopping myself from completing that sentence as if my mouth refused to speak as if I was still her friend after what John tried to do to me that day. Shaking off the thought as he was still breathing down a tube to this day after I was through with that bastard, I focused the conversation back to business as I asked for the list of skipping students.

"Here you go... We have twelve this time. "

Looking over the pages as I scanned for one particular torubled girl.

"Agh... There you are, Clarisse... Ugh. Just when I thought I had gotten through to her after the talk with her parents. "

"I'm sure you can get through to her like you did before... As always, if you need anything, just let me know and I'll send what I can do. "

Nodding, I turned arojdn whoever waving her goodbye.

"Oh! I would live it if you could bring some donuts on your next visit, Jen! "

"You got it! "

~

Pulling my cruiser at the edge of a long driveway, I got out and walked the rest of the way as I climbed the steps of an old family home near the outskirts of town.

Knocking on the sunburnt, blue colored spring, two large dogs began barking inside as Clarisse opened the door.

"Sheriff Jen?! "

"Its Deputy Jen... And I think you know why I'm here. "

Nodding, she let me inside as I greeted Snowflake and Buttons as they waged their tails at the base of my legs.

"Mind if we talk in your room? "

Heading upstairs, she sat on the bed as I closed the door to keep the dogs from coming in. Pulling up her chair from her desk, I sat down and rolled to confront her.

"So... What's up? I thought we resolved the skipping behavior last week? "

Looking down as she softly spoke as if wanting to cry.

"Its Pa'... He's gotten in trouble with the Holdens ranch after Buttons was let out on Monday and killed one of their chickens... They sad if Pa doesn't pay for the damages, they would tell on em' and send daddy to jail. "

Wiping the her tear as it ran down her face as she tried her best to be strong, I gave a soft grin as I told her I'll stick by her as I told her I would get involved. Staring up at me, she shook her head intently as she feared I was going ti end up arresting her father. Sitting her back down and comforting her as I told her I would do my best to keep her father from going to jail.

"I'll come by once I get this whole situation sorted out... Okay, so don't cry and get yourself ready for school... Hey, why didnt you go to school now that we're on that subject? "

Looking forward to the door, she told me she wanted to keep an eye on the dogs so they don't leave the house again.

"Ah, gotcha! "

~

Waiting for her at the end of her driveway, I stood up from the hood of my cruiser as she came running in her middle school uniform.

"Don't you look so cute today! "

Blushing as she brushed her hair and waited with smile, we got in and headed for the school.

Pulling out onto the road, I put my signal and turned right as Clarisse mentioned it smelled of cigarettes.

"Sorry, this cruiser belonged to the old gezzer that can't crack a joke without getting angry at him first. "

Chuckling as we passed the green lights, I asked her if her mother was still working out in the city far from the town.

"Hmm... Ma' told me she was coming back on my birthday with a present... "

"Oh! Its your birthday is coming up? When is it, I'll be sure to bring a gift. "

Jumping from her seatbelt as she eagerly asked dme if I was serious, I gave her a reassuring smile and a nod as she sat back down delight. Not long after, I dropped her off at the school gate as I waved her off while she ran into the main building.

"Agh... What an adorable little kitten... Having to shoulder all that weight for both her parents, I feel I should get her something special for her birthday... Hmm. "

Slowly pulling out into the curb, I stop at an intersection and as I began tunning the radio, a speeding car passes the green light at an alarming speed.

"Oh no you don't! "

Turning the siren and burning wheel as I chased after them, I began using the speaker as I ordered them to pull over and stop.

"I repeat! Pull over and stop the car-"

Swerving as a glass bottle broke over the windshield, I regained control for the cruiser as they pissed me off past my limit. Stepping on the pedal and pressing the gas, I began to ram them and after the third time, I managed to run them off the road and into a ditch beside the open road.

Slowing down as the car flipped twice, I drove slowly until it stopped and afterwards, I went to drag the two delinquents out form the car. In handcuffs, I smacked both of them while throwing them in the backseat of my cruiser.

"Honestly! Its one damn thing after another with these boys... "

Heading to the station where I took them in, Jones sat back laughing as he teased thetwo kids that I was doing the registration today instead of him. Nodding intently as they knew how rough I got laslast time they were here with a hadened inmate, they begged Jones to proceed them instead of me.

"Oh?! Is something wrong with me? You don't want me... To process bitch you idiots until your parents get here? Fine! I have to get started on writing a report for the cruiser anyway. "

While I say down on my desk and began writing a report, I heard a commotion as Jones guided a little girl towards the lounge.

"Yes... That's right. I found her in the forest while picking wild flowers. She hasn't said much other than she wasn't to go back to her mommy. "

Standing up, I walked over the small hall and as I rounded the corner to get a better look at the girl, I fought the attention if the whole room as I gasped out of shock.

"C-Clara?! Is... Is that really you?! "

Trembling as my knees began giving out while Jones held a worried look, I water night time answering him as he spoke.

"You know this kid? Deputy? "

"S-shes young... B-but, I know its her... Its Clara! I would never forget that dimple under he left eye... "

As they looked at her, the lady confirmed she had a dimple under her left eye. Half screaming as my wheezing became frantic, I stood up and rushed to hold her as Jones held me back.

"Now! Hold on a minute, Deputy! She still has to be processed for identification! Follow protocol, deputy! "

"Let me go! She right there! Clara is right there! "

"Hold- Riddly! Jane! Help me with Deputy Jenny! Now! "

I was then taken away as Clara fell further away from my sight as I rounded the corner.

~

Closing the door as Jones blocked my path, I shouted for him to move or he would regret it otherwise.

"Snap out of it, Deputy! You know as well as I do, that girl is nice more than fifteen! "

"And?! The moment I saw her, I immediately knew she was Clara! Move! I have ti talk to her! "

"Calm down! Calm down! Listen... Your friend came to this town two years ago and disappeared after three months... Jdnerstand that that is just a little girl who may look like your missing friend... Think about it, Jenny! "

Pacing back and fourth as I was in a heated state to. Listed to anything he had to say, I stopped and told him whether understood him or not was irrelevant as I would never mistaken Carla for anyone.

"Move! "

"You know I can't! Not in the mental state yer' in! "

"I'm fine... Just let me see her, please... Please. "

As we calmed down, he exhausted a breath and refused to let me through. Forcing my way through him, he blocked my punch and kick as he sent me backwards into the room.

"Let's not do this rookie? You know I served in the military... Just stand down and if you are calm, I'll let you see her. "

Sitting up, I cough my breath as avvelted his terms, regardless of how I was acting, I wanted more than anything to speak to Clara one more time... Even if that little girl was most likely not her, I needed to know for ceritan.

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