A sheriff for Grace

Chapter 3

Steven pov

Being a sheriff is not easy. We’re not a big city but still is hard. Today we had to deal with one man going to a Primary school and starting shoots with his carabiner. After a long time my men, and a small group of policemen from a town near to us who came to help, we managed to catch him. Unfortunately, two kids were shot, luckily not serious. They transferred me to the hospital and informed me that the one needing surgery was in there now. After I finish all the procedures that I need to do I drive to the hospital to see the kids and their families. The kids are classmates and friends with my nephew Noah. I know good so regardless of duty as the sheriff I have to see them and as a friend. I reach there and I see the parents and my little brother Aden. He sees me and the rest of the people.

“Hi. How are they doing?” I ask

“Eric is still at the surgery. The bullet is in a dangerous spot. So they do whatever they can” Aden answers because Eric’s mom crying and her husband confirms her.

“Austin is in better condition. He injured his leg but is good now. In his room” Austin's parents look relieved for their son but Eric's parents Brantley and Catherine are devastated. I go with Aiden to get them coffee and something to eat.

“How bad is Eric?”

“The doctor that came out during the surgery says that there is hope. The bullet is close to the heart but they can put it out. They need time so they don’t do some damage”

“I hope everything goes well”

“I trust them. Dr. Smith is great and has a lot of experience and the new doctor has a master's degree in surgeries like that”

“New doctor?” I ask

“Yes, she almost two mouths here. I met her with Corine when we brought Mia when she was sick. She just graduated with her master’s degree”

“She must be young then”

“I don’t know how old is she but she doesn’t look older than thirty.” We take the coffee and the snacks and return to the others. When we are close to the waiting room I see Austin's father Matt and Eric's parents Brantley and Catherine talking to a young woman with a dark blue operating room uniform, I guess she is a doctor because of the color. The nurses were light blue. We walk closer and I realize that she is the new doctor. Because I haven't seen her before and I know all the doctors here. She says to Brantley and Catherine that the surgery went well, and Eric is going to be fine but I’m at some point I wasn’t listening. I only look at her. Light blue eyes almost ice blue, thin nose and no to thin no to full lips. No makeup, I can't see her hair but I don’t care if it is blue or green. Her body with the operating room uniform is the sexiest I ever seen. Curves to die for, she is like a sexy Latina. I hear her voice and is like music in my ears. And then Brantley and Catherine thank her and she leaves, and she does not even look in my way. I look at her walking away

“Steven?” I hear Aden

“Where you travel man?” I turn to him

“Where are you looking at?” And he looks to the doctor’s way.

“She is the new doctor. Why are you looking at her?”

“What’s her name?” I ask

“Grace MacLean. Why?” He asks but I keep looking at her until she disappears at the end of the hallway.

“Oh I see”

“What?”

“You like the doctor. After so many women you like someone. Why you didn’t tell me so long ago that you are into doctors?” He asks and I ignore him.

“Here are the snacks Catherine,” I say and I go to the couple

“Thanks, Steven. You shouldn’t”

“You hear the good news?” Brantley asks touching my shoulder

“Yes, and you don’t know how happy that makes me,” I say and I smile at them. After a while, a nurse informed them that Eric had transferred to a room and they could visit one at a time. I stay as long as I can for a company. Aden has to return to his family. I don’t have one so I stay with them. And another reason I stayed was to see Grace. Pathetic I know. Beautiful name just like her. Grace, my Grace sounds good when I say it. I return home with empty hands. I couldn’t find Grace to talk to her, I will go again tomorrow. I hope when I go see the kids she will be there. I ate and I took a shower. After that, I lay on the bed. I close my eyes and I see her. Grace. What color is her hair I wonder? Her blue eyes come to my mind. She didn’t look at me even one time. I hope I like her too. It’s the first time after a long time that I am interested in a woman. What’s wrong with me I’m almost forty years old and I’m acting like a teenager. What does she do to me? I close my eyes to sleep, it’s two in the morning and I have to get up around seven.

The next morning after breakfast at Sally’s I pass from the hospital to see the kids and Grace of course. I walk first to Austin. He is awake talking to his mother, and then to Eric. He is still sleeping so I talk to his mom Catherine for a while. During the night he was sleeping until now. The doctor says to her that he will wake up soon without help.

“Good morning Mrs. Taylor” I hear an angelic voice and I turn around. For a while, we stay looking at each other

“Hi, Dr. MacLean. I told you to call me Catherine” my friend says and Grace starts talking but I don’t listen to what she saying.

“Steven?” What?

“Steven?” I look, Catherine

“Yes? Sorry I was thinking something” I say looking at Catherine

“She is Dr. MacLean. She helps at Eric’s surgery” Catherine said and I took Grace with a smile giving my hand

“Nice to meet you,” she says

“Steven Campbell,” I say. My God her hand is so soft

“I’m also the sheriff,” I say and she smiling

“Nice to meet you, sir” Wow the way she says, sir.

“Nice to meet you too. But please call me Steven or Steve” She smiles and returns talking to Catherine about Eric. When she was talking she also looks me. Her blue eyes are gorgeous and her dark brown hair is tied in a ponytail. So simple but yet so perfect.

“Whatever you need Dr. Smith will be in his office. I will see you tomorrow” she says to Catherine

“You leaving?”

“Yeah. I’m almost twenty hours here. Dr. Smith and his assistant will be here if you need something” she says and returns to me

“Nice to meet you again” she pauses

“Sheriff,” she says smiling and she walks out of the room

“She nice. And beautiful” Catherine says and I look at her. She looks at me with a smirk

“What?”

“It ok to like her Steven”

“It’s so obvious?”

“For us that we know you yes. You can make a move you know. She single and she lives in town alone” she says with meaning and she sits next to her son.

“I have to go to work. Do you need to bring you something before I go?”

“No. Thank you. My mom will visit soon. I’m sure she will bring me something” she says and I’m leaving after saying goodbye and if she needs anything to tell me.

I walk outside and I see Grace in front of me walking closer to a car. I guess is it hers. I walk to my car next to her.

“Hi again” She turns around and when she sees me she smiles

“Hi,” she says and I can say that she’s blushing.

“You going home?”

“Yes. I’m going to eat something and then home. I need sleep”

“Sure I understand. Where are you eating usually?” I ask

“At Sally’s. You know it?”

“I eat there too every day actually,” I say

“Oh,” she says suprised

“What?” I say and I walk to her

“I thought. Never mind” she hesitated

“Ask me whatever you want”

“I don’t want to sound rude. Your wife doesn’t cook?” Does she think I’m married? Of course, at my age would be right

“She could. If I was married” I say and I see I think, hope in her eyes

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to invest your privacy”

“It’s fine,” I say and I look at her. I make her bite her lower lip. She is blushing and I think she wants me to.

“Have a nice rest and say hello to Sally from me” I say and I smile. Now that I know that she wants me I have time to make her mine. For now, she needs sleep and rest. I will never want to make her tired more.

“I will. Thank you” I smile and lean my head touching my hat as hello and she gets in her car.