Page 51 of Tanner
“Tell me again, Cupcake. What are you going to do if Preston comes by here today?”
“Call you, Daddy.”
“That’s my girl.”
The door clicked shut behind him. He waited on the sidewalk, arms crossed, until he heard the deadbolt slide home and saw her small wave through the glass.
Only then did he turn toward his truck. There were things that needed to be done. Jaw set tight, he put the truck in gear.
Time to make sure Preston Lassiter finally understood exactly who Junie belonged to. First stop, the courthouse.
Tanner didn’t break his stride when he entered the squat, red brick building. He pushed through the doors and headed straight for the county clerk’s office. Marlene Stewart, the county clerk since the West had been won, looked up from her desk the moment he stepped in, her familiar smile widening and reflecting in her eyes behind no-nonsense glasses.
“Well, if it isn’t Tanner Daniels. You’re my first customer. What brings you in so early?”
He leaned one forearm on the tall counter and gave her his best slow grin. “Morning, Marlene. That new haircut looks mighty fine on you. Makes those silver streaks in your hair shine like moonlight on the river. You don’t look a day over twenty-five.”
“Oh, you!” she said, slapping his forearm. Her cheeks pinkened up just a touch. “Flattery will get you just about everywhere. Now what’s this about?”
Tanner’s voice changed from friendly to serious. “I need to file a temporary restraining order for my Little girl, Junie Morgan.”
“About time. Glaciers move faster than you, boy. But I hate to hear that about Junie. She’s precious.”
Something they could agree on. “Yes, ma’am, she is. The problem is, Preston Lassiter’s been harassing her. Won’t take no foran answer, no matter how many times she tells him she’s not interested.”
Marlene’s fingers paused on the keyboard. She leaned in a fraction, eyes sharpening with interest. “Harassing her how, exactly?”
“He keeps sending gifts to the bakery and Rainbow’s Edge. At first, they were harmless enough, but lately, they’ve gotten… inappropriate. Real personal. He showed up yesterday carrying a box and tried to push things way too far. Junie’s too sweet to cause a scene, but it really scared her, for herself and Miss Belle.”
At first, Marlene appeared to be shocked, then began shaking her head. “You know, it shouldn’t surprise me. That boy’s always been trouble, you know.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper even as her eyes gleamed with that familiar spark of gossip-hungry delight. “Spoiled rich-kid syndrome. Men like him think they can get away with whatever they want, just because their last name’s on a sign outside their big, fancy office. Like people around here care about that! You should hear some of the stories I’ve heard…”
Tanner gave a solemn nod of agreement.
As court clerk, Marlene wasn’t strictly supposed to divulge anyone’s court business, but Tanner was pretty sure that by lunchtime the whole county would know Preston had crossed a line with “precious Junie Morgan”.
Telling Marlene was better than putting it on the front page of theTown Crier. Of course, when Marlene got done, it might just end up there, too.
Whatever else she did, she handled paperwork with brisk efficiency even if her lips were pressed into a thin line of disapproval. “I’ll get this temporary restraining order processed right away.” She reached over and handed Tanner a clipboard with several papers attached. “Fill these out and hand them back to me as quick as you can. Once I check it, you can carry it down to Judge Langford’s office. I’ll send him a note so that he’ll be ready for you. Once he’s looked over them, he’ll sign off on it, I’m sure.”
Tanner filled out the complaint. Five minutes later, he handedthe paperwork back to Marlene. She took the clipboard and, after another ten minutes, handed Tanner a large manila envelope.
“The judge told me to send you right on down to his office with this order. It’s the third door on the right. I sure hope this fixes things for poor Junie.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll get fixed one way or the other.”
Marlene furrowed her brow in concern. “Now, Tanner, don’t go getting yourself in trouble.”
He ignored her comment. “Thanks for this, Marlene. You’re the best.”
“Now, how would you know?” she retorted with a laugh. “Has Roger been talking?”
“You know your Daddy wouldn’t tell any tales about you,” Tanner said with a wink. He hid his satisfied smile as he took the forms and headed down the hall toward the judge’s office. It was always nice to have friends at the courthouse who understood the type of relationship he and Junie were forming.
Tanner spotted the polished brass nameplate on the door—Judge Everett Langford—exactly where Marlene had said it would be. Not his favorite judge. Tanner would never forget the things he’d said about Kip when Trace had brought her to get their marriage license.
Trace had shut the man down with his words. If Judge Langford made the mistake of saying something inappropriate about Junie, it would be hard for Tanner not to let his fists do the talking. But he couldn’t help Junie from inside a jail cell, so that option was off the table. Praying for patience and self-control, he rapped his knuckles twice, firm and quick on the door.
A booming voice called out from inside, “Enter.”
