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She looked down at her stomach again, then at him. "I'm okay. I've had worse just working. He stretched this shirt all out of shape, though."
The deputy came back. "Mr. Cust hasn't called the station to report anything. If he files charges, one of us will be back to arrest Mr. Walsh."
"What? He was defending me." Fury lit her eyes and flagged her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Moore, but that's how it works. I'm sure Mr. Walsh would be released quickly, especially if you file charges." The corners of the deputy's mouth turned up slightly. "And if you do, we'll arrest Cust, too. The Sheriff is going to chat with Mr. Cust and tell him that a report has been made. Hopefully, that will head off all unnecessary legal action."
"Thanks." Erin smiled, but it looked like it took some effort. "I appreciate your hard work and fairness."
"You're welcome." He nodded and pressed his lips together firmly for a moment. "Be careful, Mrs. Moore. The Custs are powerful. Consider a surveillance system, inside and out."
"That's a good idea, Deputy. Thanks." She smiled again, a little more successfully. "Would you like that coffee now?"
"Sure. Thanks." He tucked his phone and notebook away.
She walked back to pull him an Americano, medium size. Ryan noted it for future situations, although he certainly hoped nothing like this would happen again.
The deputy nodded at Ryan's prosthetic grasper. "Afghanistan or Iraq?"
"Afghanistan."
"Sorry, man. That sucks." He frowned. "Spent some time in Iraq myself, but it wasn't in the rough places."
Ryan nodded, but he wasn't sure what to say. At least the deputy wasn’t likely to ask a lot of insensitive questions.
Erin called, "Cream or sugar?"
"No, just black, thanks."
She walked back to the table and handed the deputy the cup. He took a sip and raised his eyebrows. "This is good. I'll have to stop here more often."
"Anytime." Erin smiled like she meant it. "I give a discount to law enforcement, firefighters, and military."
He smiled at her in return, with a little more personal interest. "Thanks again, and don't forget about the surveillance system." He lifted the cup to her and left.
"Thanks! Have a great day!" Erin sank into the chair and put her head in her hands. "This sucks. Sam says Cust probably won't file charges against you, but he'll probably try to sue me for breach of contract, which he can't win, but it will cost me a ton of money to defend against, at least upfront. And now I need a security system upgrade, or my business might get attacked."
Ryan dithered, then put his good hand on her shoulder, warm muscle firming, then softening under his hand. Good, she took the gesture as comfort. It was the least he could do. Actually, there was more he could do. He hesitated, not sure how she'd take it, then decided it didn't matter. He was doing it for his peace of mind. "I'm calling William and telling him I can't make it in. I'll help you get the Barracuda on a trailer and deliver it, because you shouldn't be anywhere near that guy by yourself."
Erin raised her head. "You don't have to do that."
"I know, but I want to. William will understand." No way he'd leave her alone to deal with that sleaze ball.
"I should say no, but I won't. Thanks." Her smile flickered and died.
"Sure. That's what friends are for." He pulled out his phone and called William, explaining the problem without too many details. William demanded he put Erin on the phone, and she told him the story but softened Cust's attack. She handed the phone back to him.
William said, "Don't worry about work. Do you need a weapon?"
Ryan chuckled but realized he did. His was in a safe at his mom's house. Erin shook her head "no." "Thanks, but I've got one. See you tomorrow."
Erin tapped her fingertips on the table. "I've got weapons; we don't need his. Better yet, I can get a deputy to supervise the delivery." She smiled, a slightly evil smile.
Ryan shrugged. "Yeah, maybe. Do you have a trailer and truck, or do you need to borrow one?"
"Got one." Erin smirked. "It's kind of necessary for the business. It's over at the house. Let me close up, and I'll go get it."
"I'll do the close-up. You go get the trailer." Erin nodded and left. Ryan locked the door and ran the closing checklist fast. He double-checked the door and windows and jogged into the garage. The big door at the end was open, with a trailer positioned in front of the Barracuda. Erin was hauling cable from a winch mounted on the back of her truck.
