Prime Catch by Ilona Fridl

want?”
    He was standing beside her with a Husky on a leash, the dog’s tail waving slowly. The animal was beautiful, different shades of gray and white, its ice-blue eyes steady on her. “This is Shadow. He’s my lead sled dog, and a friend.” He paused. “I spoke to your mother.”
    “I know. She told me,” she snapped. “Why can’t you leave me and my family alone?” She moved to go into the office, and he gripped her arm.
    “I mean to change your mind.”
    “Let go of me, or I’ll bring you in for accosting a woman,” she growled through her teeth. Shadow started barking and prancing on his leash.
    He swung her against the rough boards of the building. “You were promised to me.”
    A hand came and yanked his shoulder. With a cry of surprise, George let go of both Sarah and the dog leash as he was pulled away, his arm twisted behind him, by Amos. Shadow barked savagely, and Sarah managed to snag the leash before the dog attacked.
    Amos pushed George’s face into the wall. “What the hell is going on here?”
    Sarah’s relief at seeing Amos come to her rescue was overwhelming. “This is the man who believes he can get me interested in him again.” She managed to calm the dog while she gazed at Amos’ angry expression.
    “That isn’t any of your business, Sheriff!” George hissed.
    “Roughing up one of my deputies is.” He glanced at Sarah. “Do you want to bring charges?”
    She hesitated. “If he promises not to bother me or my family again, I won’t.”
    Amos whipped him around. “Well?”
    With an angry glare at Sarah, George spat out, “I’ll leave her and her family alone.” He grabbed Shadow’s leash and took off.
    Sarah started trembling, and Amos threw an arm of support around her. “Let’s go into my office.”
    She maintained control until she sat in her customary chair across from Amos, and then she burst into tears.
    Amos finished pouring coffee for them and set her cup in front of her. He gripped her shoulder. “Talk to me. And I don’t want the bullshit that it’s none of my business.” His hand remained where it was.
    “George and I were engaged to be married six years ago, but he disappeared.” Sarah sniffed. “He came back a couple of weeks ago, and I agreed to an outing, but I didn’t feel anything for him anymore. He’s been trying to make me change my mind, and, yes, he’s the one who sent the roses. He even talked to my mother and tried to get her on his side.”
    “Did he?” he asked gently.
    “At first. I explained to her how I felt about the whole thing.” As she related what was said, Sarah carefully omitted the discussion about Amos.
    After she was finished, he was silent for a minute. “He’s a jackass.”
    “That’s what I’ve been telling you.” His hand felt so warm on her. A comfort. She looked into his gray eyes and saw a spark of something else. She glanced down. “Thank you.”
    Amos circled the desk and sat in his chair. “If that varmint comes near you again, you let me know.” They were both startled a moment later by the sound of gunfire in the lobby. With their guns drawn, Amos carefully opened the office door. They heard the front door slam and found Sam on the floor, his right arm bleeding. Sarah ran outside to see if the gunman could be caught, but he was out of sight. “What happened?” Amos demanded as he helped the deputy to a chair.
    “Food was delivered from Millie’s... I took it to the cell... Cusnoo was lying on the floor.” Sam took a longer pause and swallowed. “I opened the cell door... He tripped me. From the tray... Was a gun―”
    Amos interrupted, “A gun was on the tray?”
    Sam nodded. “It was under the cover. He ran out the cell door...me after him. I tried to stop him in the lobby. You know the rest.”
    “Who brought the tray?”
    “It was a dark-haired woman.” Sarah got a tightening in her stomach.
    Amos waved to one of the other men. “Thomas, help Sam to the doc’s.”
    “Yes,