Forever Chance
Also by CJ Murphy
frame by frame
The Bucket List
Five Point Series
Gold Star Chance
Forever Chance
(Five Point Series – Book 2)
By CJ Murphy
©2019 CJ Murphy
ISBN (book) 9781948327565
ISBN (epub) 9781948327572
ISBN (pdf): 9781948327589
This is a work of fiction - names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Desert Palm Press
1961 Main St, Suite 220
Watsonville, CA 95076
Editor: CK King
Cover Design: TreeHouse Studio, Winston-Salem, NC
Blurb
Balancing a professional life and a personal life is always difficult. When you're the Sheriff of a county that brings in a million tourists like Chance Fitzsimmons is, you stand as the thin blue line between order and anarchy twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. Trying to plan a Christmas wedding to begin a decade's long-delayed life with her fiancée, Jax St. Claire, can throw things out of balance.
If that’s not enough, an influx of opioids causing multiple overdoses at a county festival followed by a mass casualty incident at a popular ski resort threaten to push the county emergency service resources to their breaking point. Chance’s dedication stresses her conviction to the five principles she lives by like a rescue rope loaded to its safety limit.
Jax's life isn't exactly calm either at the Three River's Animal Clinic, where a sinister visitor introduces unwelcomed sexual advances that cause waves of intimidation and harassment to her and her staff. The resolution that comes crashing down will close a critical link in the chain of a high-profile investigation, putting lives and a vow yet to be made, at risk.
Both women are dedicated to finding that balance, and their "Forever Chance" is but a promise away if only they can survive to trudge the snow to say ‘I do.’
Acknowledgments
I have amazing people in my life who constantly encourage me to keep writing, keep doing, keep moving forward. These incredible people are family to me even if we aren’t related. I’m also incredibly grateful to my friends and fans who constantly reassure me I’m getting it right with their reviews, their social media comments, and their emails. There are days when I think everything I write needs to be deleted and started all over again. One kind note about how much they enjoyed the story is all it takes to keep my hands on the keyboard. So, for all of you who tell me to keep writing, I thank you more than I can say.
To my incredible editor CK King, thank God Lee put us together. I am forever grateful for your guidance, your enjoyment of the culinary moments in my books, and your honesty when something isn’t working. I truly appreciate you channeling your inner Edward Scissorhands when needed.
To my publisher Lee Fitzsimmons at Desert Palm Press, may we see many books with the character to which I gave your last name to. I can never thank you enough for accepting that first manuscript.
Oh, my beta readers, how do I thank you? I’m continually grateful for your candid comments about the storyline and its characters. You help me keep them alive and relevant. I can’t say how much you do in helping me make sure these books are worth reading.
AJ Adaire, my Yoda. What more can I say beyond how valuable you are to me? I learn so much from you and will always consider meeting you in person a true highlight of my literary career. Irene Our Queen rocks as well! I could never have been half the author I am without your patience and sharp wit.
Lastly, to my wife, Darla. You make all the good things in my life possible. Though you’re now raising two children, our puppy Jaxx, and me, you manage to keep it all together. I thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone and ‘peopling’ with me at GCLS Pittsburgh. You are the reason I write and the inspiration for all things in my life. Thank you for giving me my ‘Forever Chance’ with you.
Dedication
To Darla,
Tha Gaol Agam Ort. Agus Bithidh Gu Brath.-Scottish Gaelic for ‘I love you. I always will.’
Chapter One
SHERIFF CHANCE FITZSIMMONS SAT on the desk in the front of the auditorium-style classroom at West Virginia University. Her good friend, Professor Scott Ross, had recruited her to speak on rural law enforcement challenges. She looked over her audience, the number of male students far outweighing the females by nearly three to one. She was proud to see that one of those females was her little sister, Kendra. Her near carbon copy sat front and center, a miracle of anything but genetics.
“Rural law enforcement differs a great deal from being an officer in a municipal setting. For instance, in a municipality, the distance between where you are and where you’re dispatched to can be a matter of a few minutes or blocks. In my jurisdiction, it could take twenty to forty minutes for me to reach a call location, more if its bad weather. What’s worse is your available backup could be on the other side of the county. That reality can have deadly consequences.” Chance used her clicker to advance her presentation. A large picture of her father in his uniform appeared on the screen. “This officer died in the line of duty on a domestic call. His backup was very far away when an enraged husband threatened his wife with a gun.” She turned to the audience again. “Deputy Ray Fitzsimmons died when he shielded the female victim from gunfire. That deputy was my father, and he died on the scene from a gunshot wound to the head. He was doing all the things he’d been taught, including wearing a vest and using caution. Unfortunately, humans rarely survive gunshot wounds to the head. My dad saved a life that day. It cost him his.”
Chance watched as the students stared at the screen. She could see that Kendra’s eyes were directed firmly at her. “Firefighters have a saying. You risk a lot to save a lot. You risk little to save little. I spent many years jumping out of a perfectly good airplane into wildfires. I know what that means. I also know the cost of putting your body between an innocent and a bullet. It’s one of the reasons all of my road deputies have a K9 unit with them. They are never alone.”
A hand went up in the back of the room. Chance nodded to acknowledge the request. A young man, who couldn’t have been more than nineteen, stood to ask his question. “Didn’t it worry you, when you became an officer, that you might face that same fate as your father?”
Chance gripped the edge of the desk, her chest tightening at the question. She thought about her father every day she put on her badge. It was a part of her morning ritual, as she stretched her scar tissue and repeated something Maggie had said to her when she’d been in the burn ward. Steel is tempered by fire, and gold is refined by it. How could she explain what she felt about being an officer? “My dad was my hero. Every day, I watched him put on his uniform and pin his badge over his heart. Ray Fitzsimmons believed in honor and duty, and he taught me those same values. In life, you have to find something you believe in from inside the marrow of your bones, something that’s elemental.” Her hands reached up and unpinned her badge. “My dad told me there are five points to this badge.” She placed her finger on one of them and touched the next point with each word she spoke. “Honor, duty, courage, integrity, and empathy. He believed that the empathy part is the hardest for an officer because i
t requires finding balance. He said I’d clearly understand that when I was wearing the badge. His words hold even greater truth today.”
Chance made eye contact with the students in the room before stopping at Kendra. “Some of you will become officers, some lawyers, and maybe some will find this field isn’t for you at all. What I can tell you is, the day you decide to enforce the laws of our land, you will use each of these five points in the performance of your duties.”
She touched one of the points again. “Some of you will rely on your courage, and some will rely heavily on duty. I encourage you to lean on the one my father said would be the most difficult, empathy. When you’ve dealt with the same addict for the third time in as many days, when you’ve arrested the same abusive partner over and over only to have the other party rescind a domestic violence petition again, when you’ve put the same thief in jail for the fifth time, you’ll find that empathy is the most tenuous to achieve. You’ll feel like you’re getting nowhere more often than you’ll feel like you’ve made a difference.”
Chance held her badge in the air. “I can only hope that one day, someone will walk up to you and say you’ve been their role model and their reason for choosing this profession.” She let her eyes settle on Kendra for only a moment. It was enough to feel the connection she and her adopted sister shared. She fastened the badge back on her uniform. “You’ll remember why you pin the badge on every day and stand as the thin blue line between order and anarchy.” Zeus barked his approval and the class released a small laugh. Chance reached down to pet him. “He’s listened to this speech enough he could give it himself. Thank you for your attention today. I’ll leave a stack of business cards with Professor Ross if you have any other questions.”
A round of applause came from those in attendance, as chairs shuffled, and backpacks were hefted. Scott Ross stepped to her side and held out his hand. “Thanks, Chance. Having you come in and talk with them, as a current law enforcement officer, really makes an impact.”
Chance pulled on his hand and embraced him in a hug. “It’s always a pleasure.” She pushed him back but held him by his shoulder. “What makes an impact is having a professor like you who’s been neck deep in the trenches. You can tell them the truth beyond what the recruiting posters portray.”
Scott chuckled softly. “It does differ slightly. Regardless, I am in your debt for so many reasons.”
Chance shook her head. “Scott, there’s no debt between us, ever. I mean that. I enjoy coming down here. Gives me a chance to take Kendra to lunch and get an eyes-on report for the moms-squared. Isn’t that right, pain in my ass?”
“You’re buying, so I’ll agree.” Kendra smiled with a look of genuine mirth.
Chance pointed to her. “See what having a kid sister thirty years younger gets you? An empty wallet and a truckload of sarcasm.” She playfully shoved Kendra.
Scott’s laughter was contagious. “Hell, having a brother two years younger gets you the same thing.”
Chance was aware of Scott’s brother, Miles, who’d been in and out of rehab several times. Scott’s parents had died over a dozen years ago, and he’d taken it upon himself to try and keep his younger brother on the straight and narrow. “I have no doubt.”
Scott put his foot up on a chair and leaned forward, exposing the ankle section of his prosthesis. “The debt goes beyond your guest lecture and you know it.”
Chance lowered her gaze for a fraction of a second before meeting his eyes. “We’ll have to continue to agree to disagree on that point, my friend. Any time you need a lecturer for a day, give me a call.” She snickered when Kendra’s stomach growled out a protest. “I need to feed the beast over there. I’m pretty sure that’s a lion trying to claw its way out.”
Kendra blushed.
Scott shook Chance’s hand. “Don’t think I won’t. I’m glad you’re doing all right after this summer. We’ve both had enough knocks for a lifetime, I think.”
“Mags and Dee will certainly agree.” Chance nodded her own agreement.
“You’d better include your fiancée. I don’t mess with Jax. She’s tough.” Kendra pointed her finger at Chance.
Scott snapped his fingers. “That’s right. You’re finally taking the plunge. Congratulations. I hope to meet this miracle worker someday.”
“We’ll have to do dinner sometime, with you and your wife. I’d venture to say they’d be two peas in a pod. It was great to see you, Scott. Call me anytime, and if I can work it in, I’m there.” Chance hugged him again.
“Dr. Ross is busy delivering babies today. I don’t know how she does it. She’s the most sought after obgyn in the area, and I have no idea what she ever saw in me. Kendra, I’ll see you next week.”
“Thanks, Professor Ross. I’m looking forward to the session.”
Scott pointed to Kendra. “She reminds me so much of you; it’s scary. Kendra’s going to be a fantastic officer someday. She’s got a great role model to follow.”
Chance blushed. “I think her professors have a bit to do with that as well.”
“You two are embarrassing me, and I’m starving. See you next week, Professor Ross.” Kendra hefted her backpack to her shoulder and grabbed Chance’s sleeve.
Chance slipped on her Stetson. “I think that’s my cue to leave. Call me sometime, Scott.”
Once they’d left the classroom, Chance asked the obvious question. “Where do you want to go?”
Kendra didn’t even hesitate. “Colasantes.”
“Okay, you’re on.”
“And I have a favor, well more of request.” Kendra dropped her eyes.
“I can’t say yes or no until you tell me what you want.” Chance adjusted the brim of her hat.
“Can I bring a guest?”
“I don’t see why not. Who do you want to join us?” Chance watched Kendra. She was sure she was about to learn who her sister had been spending an inordinate amount of time around. Try as she might, she struggled for the name she’d heard Kendra use in one or two of their phone conversations.
“Brandi.”
“Do we need to pick her up somewhere, or is she close by?”
Kendra cleared her throat and rubbed a hand across the back of her neck. Chance grinned at the blush her little sister was sporting. Kendra pulled out her phone and tapped the screen a few times, then waited. “She’s over at the Mountain Lair. She can meet us at your vehicle in ten minutes.”
Chance put a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “Breathe, Bullseye. I promise I won’t interrogate her.”
Kendra’s nervous laughter made Chance smile. One deep breath later, Kendra met her eyes. “I’ve wanted to introduce her to everyone for a while. She’s…well, special.”
“I gathered that.”
They started walking toward the parking garage, Zeus on their heels. Hordes of students were rushing from one place to another, earbuds in place while they stared blankly at their phones. It amazed Chance how they were able to navigate without falling over something. One second later, Chance noticed one of the enraptured students walk into traffic. Chance was moving before she could say a word. Her boots gained traction against the blacktop, as she ran toward the oblivious young woman. Three more feet. Chance looked at the truck that was barreling down at her. She heard the motor decelerate before she heard the squeal of tires as the brakes were applied. Her arm went around the waist of the unsuspecting student, as she pulled her close and dove for the grassy area on the other side of the street. The two of them tumbled, and Chance wrapped her arms around the woman to protect her from the fall.
The frightened young woman was wide-eyed, as she jerked her earbuds out. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Saving you from becoming a hood ornament.” Chance pointed at the truck only feet from them that was now sideways from the force of the sudden need to brake. She winced at a pain in her shoulder from the impact.
Kendra dropped to the ground beside her, as Zeus came to her side. “Chance!”
The driver of the truck yelled out the window. “Are you two okay?”
Chance waved him off. “We’re good.”
A young man in ratty jeans and a WVU T-shirt ran across the street and knelt by the shell-shocked young woman. “Lisha, what the hell happened?”
The young woman shook her head. “I don’t know, but I think she just saved my life.”
Chance held out her hand. “Sheriff Chance Fitzsimmons. I’m just glad I was here. I hope you’ll try and be a little more aware of what’s going on around you. If I hadn’t been watching, this could have resulted in more than just a skinned knee.” Chance pointed to the scrape marks on Lisha’s knee.
“I’m Lisha’s brother, Ian. I don’t know how to thank you. I had her here on campus to visit before she enrolls in the spring. I don’t know what I’d have done if something happened to her.”
Lisha put a hand on Ian’s forearm. “I’m okay; I just wasn’t watching. I was texting Jacob.”
Chance stood and dusted off the grass clippings from her uniform. “It’s really important to keep your eyes on what’s going on around you. There are dangers far beyond walking in front of a truck. You two, be careful.”
Ian stood and extended his hand to Chance. “Thanks again.”
“Anytime.” Chance watched the two walk away. She picked up her Stetson from the ground. “Kendra, promise me you’ll never be so consumed with your phone, or anything else, that you lose sight of the objects in front of you.” She pointed her hat to indicate the student to Kendra. “When you’re an officer, that will get you killed.” She examined a tear in the shoulder of her uniform shirt. “Damn.”