Running to the Farmer (The Runaway Brides of Darling Creek #2)

Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ellis

I can’t believe she’s doing this.

I just married my wife, and now I’m about to lose her on the side of the road when this half-assed plan goes pear-shaped.

Feeling helpless and useless, I watch through the trailer window, keeping to the shadows.

“So, you see, officer…”

The female officer is questioning Jake a few yards away.

In the flashing lights, I can see the wicked gleam in his eye. My mind goes back to the other night, and I now realize that Louisa probably did see what she thought she saw.

"That's Elder Mark to you," I hear him say.

Louisa does not have an ounce of self-preservation, and I'm ready to explode. She replies, “Well, no, actually. I’m married now. Outside of the church. You might’ve heard about that? I no longer belong with you, so you’re not my elder anymore. But you see, my family and I are on our way back from a big trip up in the mountains. So, if you don't mind, we'd like to get home.”

“Then it wouldn’t hurt if you let me have a look in the trailer, just to make sure everything is above board.”

The deputy approaches the trailer, but Louisa gets in his way. “I’m sorry, but we’re awfully late.”

He rolls his eyes. “Come on, Louisa. Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think I don't know you were kidnapping a bunch of kids in that trailer?"

Kidnapping? That's quite the spin.

“And so what if we are? You can’t stop us," Louisa says.

Shit. What the hell is she doing?

“Oh, I think I can. I’m the one with the gun,” the deputy says.

With two fists firmly planted on her hips, Louisa delivers the blow. “That’s true. And if I had a death wish, I might point out to you that between the seven of us adults here, you are outgunned. But since I don't want to involve your female sergeant over there in your drama, I'll hold my tongue."

It's the way she says "female" that really makes this Mark guy bristle. She's winding him up good.

But she's not done. "So, let’s be civilized. I’m just going to quietly point out that you might have a badge and a gun, but you also forget that your new job in the community comes with monogamous, law-abiding superiors. And if that sergeant over there finds out you’re engaged to a fourth wife who’s only 16 years old and whose older sister you’re already married to…you see where I’m going with this, Mark? Normal heathens don’t take kindly to that sort of thing, do they?"

"I have cause to check your trailer," he says, loud enough that that female deputy glances over.

Louisa lands the final blow with a whisper, "How's Orlyn?"

"What?"

"Looks like you guys had a lot of catching up to do the other night. Maybe I'll let your sergeant know you've been helping a wanted criminal."

He quietly seethes, “Your bitch mouth better not say a word against me.”

"Should I say it louder? Or are we free to go?"