A quick investigation.

The Sheriff arrived at the motel almost spot on the 15 minutes the clerk had said he would be. His white and blue patrol car pulling up outside the motel’s reception. The Sheriff was in his mid-forties with just a touch of grey on the sides of his dark black hair. His skin dark tanned as someone born ‘south of the border’. He greeted the clerk and then came and introduced himself to Spencer and Darcie, the only other people at the motel at the time.

“I wish it was a better afternoon for you both. I’m Sheriff Pimentel. That’s a hell of a wreck you had back there.”

Spencer stood and shook the Sheriff’s hand. “Just glad to be walking away. I’m Spencer. Sorry, I left my wallet back in the car. Not exactly thinking straight as you can understand.”

With Spencer being the one who was driving, the Sheriff didn’t need to speak with Darcie. He did, however, insist that he be allowed to send a medic down to the motel to give her a once over seeing as she had a cut on her forehead that had thankfully stopped bleeding. The clerk had got a room ready for Spencer and Darcie, giving the room key to her while Spencer accompanied Sheriff Pimentel back to the scene of the accident.

Once in the patrol car, the Sheriff went about his due diligence asking Spencer, “you been drinking at all Spencer?”

“Not a drop today,” he replied to the questioning.

“Well, that’s good enough for me. I can’t smell it on you. Weather was just damn awful right before this happened.”

A tow truck was already pulling Spencer’s car out of the ditch when Spencer and the Sheriff arrived. A deputy that had been dropped off on the way to the motel waving the Sheriff over when he got out of his squad car.

“Take a look at this boss,” the deputy said over the sound of screeching metal and tyres being dragged against their will.

The deer Darcie had put out of its misery lay with its rear legs broken against the tree. The deputy pointing out the bullet wounds Darcie had inflicted upon it.

“Nice tight spacings there Spencer. You’re a hell of a shot what with all that adrenaline after the accident,” the sheriff said impressed as he held his pen up against the bullet holes. All three of them fit within the length of the pen.

“That wasn’t me. That was my friend,” Spencer admitted. “I wouldn’t have hit a barn if I’d tried.”

Sheriff Pimentel further impressed nodded his head in recognition and respect, “impressive. If it was in season I’d probably let you keep her as a trophy but we’ll get animal control out here to clean things up.” Standing back up and walking back over to Spencer. “It’s clear what happened here, Spencer. I’ll get an accident report done up for your insurance that I can get faxed over. Anything you need out of the car beside your wallet before we take it away?”

Spencer would have needed the tile samples if he had any way of getting them back to Darcie’s now. The Sheriff told him he’d get them boxed up for him back at the auto-wreckers and sent over to Avonwick for him. All things considered, the Sheriff was a very understanding man and Spencer was glad he’d been the one to respond to his situation.

Dropping Spencer back at the motel the Sheriff wished Spencer a safe trip tomorrow. Pulling away, Spencer stopped in at the reception for the number to his and Darcie’s room number before heading to the room to check on her.

Darcie has had a shower while Spencer was with the Sheriff and answers the door in a hooded robe the motel has available for guests. Darcie’s long dark hair hanging damp, her dark eyes smudged with partially washed off mascara.

“There’s an inhouse laundry we can use to get your clothes dry after you’ve had a shower,” Darcie told Spencer as he came inside the small motel room and got himself settled in.

“I’m almost dry now but it will be good to have them washed to wear for tomorrow,” Spencer responded.

Spencer was thinking of asking Darcie to join him in the bathroom for a second shower when there was a second knock at the door. The medic the Sheriff had called for arriving to check on Darcie. Spencer gave them space to work as he excused himself to get cleaned up.

In the shower, Spencer discovered he had some moderate bruising across his shoulders and chest from the car’s seat belt. He only hoped Darcie didn’t have similar injuries. The hot water of the shower at least helping to take away the ache he felt now that he had seen his condition.

After waiting long enough for the medic to examine Darcie, Spencer dressed in the other robe left in the bathroom and re-entered the motel room. Darcie was laying on the queen-sized bed flicking through channels on the small TV.

“What did the medic have to say?” Spencer asked Darcie now they were alone again.

“No real damage,” she told him turning her head to show off some small butterfly band-aids on her forehead. “They didn’t think I have a concussion but want you to make sure I don’t fall asleep this afternoon.”

Spencer tried to make a joke about the reason they were coming to the motel in the first place but it fell flat. Neither of them felt like tearing the other’s clothes off anymore. Darcie inviting Spencer to join her on the bed never the less. The mood between the two of them was sober. Both of them knowing they were lucky to walk away so easily from their accident.

The clouds hanging over what was meant to be a fun and frisky excursion only getting darker when Spencer spoke to Amy later that afternoon when she had finished school. Spencer was sure it was the hardest conversation he’d had to have with her in the years since her mother had passed. Explaining to his daughter that he too had been in a car accident but he did everything he could to reassure her he was fine and that he would be home tomorrow and prove to her he was just fine. The pair of them shedding more than a few tears on the phone together. Amy thankfully not thinking to ask on the sleeping arrangements with him spending the night with Mrs Collins.

Giving him space to make his call Darcie took both their clothes to the laundry to wash and dry them. Today had been a big scare for her too. It put the things she was doing with Spencer in a different light. She felt torn for the first time about Spencer. She had really been enjoying the wonderful sex they had been having. The outlet was a lifeline in an unfortunately sexless marriage. She knew she had Tony’s blessings but she still felt like she had come close to losing her family today. She determined herself that she would talk with Spencer tonight and let him know how she was feeling.

The right opportunity to talk didn’t come up until after they ordered in some simple takeout from a restaurant in Cherryville that night. The motel not offering meals. Spencer had undressed down to his boxers in preparation for bed. His mind not on Darcie as she likewise changed into a singlet and panties for sleeping. Climbing into bed together, the light from the muted television provided enough light for Darcie to see Spencer’s face when she told him, “Spencer, can we talk about us and what happened today?