Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

to their team leader for his thoughts first, even in their personal lives.

“What about Mia and the others? We can’t take them to the rally.”

Alex stepped up next to Ace.  “Ace, we can handle ourselves for an hour or two. If it makes you feel any better, I have my gun with me.”

“Look, if you’d be more comfortable, I can pull the deputy I have working dispatch and have him patrol out here. I can call my assistant and have her cover dispatch for that time. She’s always looking for more hours.”

Ace looked at the team. “This is a group decision. It’s everyone’s call.  If you don’t want to, I’ll understand.”

Stitch laughed out loud when Tenley pushed Potter forward and told the Sheriff that her husband would love to volunteer, which earned her a scowl from Potter. After speaking with Autumn, Frost stepped forward, followed by Irish after some reassurance from Bailey. That just left Ace and Stitch.   Alex gave Ace a wink, and Ace turned and said he was in. Stitch glanced over at Mia. He was having a hard time with the decision, and as if she had read his mind, she answered for him.

“Stitch is in as well.” When he looked over at her, she said, “Stitch, go and help your friend. We’ll be fine. We will have the deputy, and Alex has her gun.”

Though he was still unsure, he turned toward the Sheriff, “I guess you’ve got yourself a team.”

“How does this even work? We aren’t deputies.” Ace asked.

Sheriff Prescott grinned. “Do each of you promise to uphold and enforce the laws of this town?”

With a resounding yes from all eight men, the Sheriff said, “Congratulations, you have been deputized under the laws of the town of Sugar Bend.”

Stitch cocked his head sideways and eyed the Sheriff, “Did you just make that shit up?”

The Sheriff grinned, “Yep.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next morning after seeing their men off to the rally, Mia, Alex, Tenley, Autumn, and Bailey sat around the living room picking at the make-shift breakfast buffet they had set-up for the guys. There were platters of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, toast, home fries, and fresh fruit.

Mia wasn’t very hungry. Her stomach was still in knots from everything going on. She did manage to eat some toast with jelly to put something in her stomach so she wouldn’t get sick.

As promised, Sheriff Prescott had his deputy stationed in the driveway.  Mia had felt bad that the guy had been put on babysitting duty, so she had taken him a plate of food, which he thanked her for.

“So, Mia. What’s next for you?” Bailey asked as she sipped on a cup of coffee.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, once all of this over, what are your plans? Are you going back to New York?”

She put her coffee mug down on the table next to her. “I am.” She saw the surprised looks on her friend's faces, not to mention the frowns, and she smiled.  “I am going back to pack my things. Stitch and I talked. I’m going to move in with him, and from there, we’ll look for a place together.”

“What about work?” Tenley questioned.

“Well, I was supposed to meet with the owner of that clinic and shelter that Stitch’s mom volunteers at. He is looking to sell, and I might be interested in taking it over.

“Mia that is awesome news!” Bailey exclaimed.

“Well, nothing is set in stone. I still have to meet with Dr. Katz.”

“I’m sure he’d sell to you.”

“Is a business like that something you can afford?” Alex asked.

“I’ve looked into the process of taking out a business loan. Plus, with the practice also housing a shelter on site, there are grants available as well.  Like I said, I’ll see.”

“Well, it sounds exciting.”

“Where’s Autumn?” Tenley asked, looking around.

“I thought she went to get a soda out of the fridge in the garage,” Bailey said just as Autumn emerged from the bathroom using a towel to wipe her mouth, and Mia suspected she had just gotten sick. She didn’t look so well.

“Damn, honey, you look like death warmed over you,” Alex admitted getting up and heading into the kitchen to find some crackers or ginger ale for her.

“I think I have a stomach bug or something. I’ve been queasy for the last couple of days,” Autumn said, dropping on the sofa as if she had all the energy zapped right out of her.

Mia eyed Alex, who glanced over at Tenley, who then looked back at Autumn with a sly smile.

“Autumn, could there be a possibility that you’re pregnant?”

When Autumn’s eyes widened with a look of shock, Mia could tell the beautiful redhead hadn’t considered that possibility. She knew Autumn and Frost were trying, but from the deer in the headlights look, Autumn hadn’t thought through that scenario.

“Oh, shit!  I don’t know. I mean, there could be a slight chance, but hell, I just went off the pill.  Plus, I wasn’t sick when I was pregnant with Cody.”

“Every baby affects your body differently. Look at me; I was on the pill, now I’m knocked up with twins that already have their daddy’s battle training, going by the punching and kicking my insides take every day.”

“Well, there is only one way to find out,” Alex said, looking at Autumn.

“What’s that?”

“Take a pregnancy test.  And, I just happen to have one with me.” Alex dug through her purse and pulled out a pregnancy test kit.

Tenley gave Alex a funny look. “Do I even want to know why you’re carrying around a pregnancy test in your purse?” Tenley’s eyes shot wide open. “Oh, my, god! Are you and Ace trying to have a baby?”

Now it was Alex’s turn to give Tenley a look. “No….I have to be married first before I’d consider having a baby. And with mine and Ace’s luck at planning a wedding, I’ll probably be the first eighty-year-old woman to pop out a kid.” Everyone laughed, but Mia could tell Tenley’s comment hit a sore spot with