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Lonestar

Sorry about the long delay. Hopefully everything is calmed down enough for me to continue again. Thanks for the reviews.

Ch. 5

"He doesn't need your fucking ass in his life." The infamous Huggy Bear shouted. Hutch felt his stomach coming up into his throat.

"Hi Huggy." Hutch replied calmly.

"What the hell are you doing?" came the reply.

"Huggy I'm trying to help him."

"Help him! You ruined his life and then you fucking left. Send him back now."

"He needs me." Hutch said.

"He doesn't need you. Send him back now!"

Hutch tried to answer but the dial tone ended the exchange.

Hutch gently put the receiver down and stared out the window.

He treasured it here.

It was open and free.

Every day brought a dazzling sunrise and a dramatic sunset.

Hutch tried not to think.

Just watch the sunset.

He didn't want to remember. He tried not to remember.

When she came into their lives it was like fireworks thundering in the sky. They both fell hopelessly in love with her. She was beautiful. Long blond hair beautiful blue eyes and a smile that would light up a room. She had a kindness in her that could make the hardest criminal smile.

She came into their lives as an eye witness to the murder of a high class roller. Captain Dobey decided to assign them to protect her. What a mistake.

Her name was Mindy.

Hutch fell in love with her first.

Hutch got up shaking his head. After checking on Starsky he grabbed a blanket and made himself a bed on his sofa. It was hours later before his mind quieted down enough for him to sleep. He slept lightly waking up every couple hours to check on Starsky.

Hutch woke up at six o'clock and decided to stay up. After checking in on Starsky he went to the kitchen turning on his police scanner and started to make coffee. Sitting down at the table he grabbed a newspaper from the day before and started to read.

Knocking on the door brought Hutch from the newspaper.

Opening up the door he was face to face with one of his three deputies.

"Hi Sheriff. Wanted to make sure you go back from Reno okay." Deputy Mike Anders said standing at the door.

Hutch shooed him outside, he didn't want to wake up Starsky. Mike was his newest and youngest deputy. Mike joined the station about three months ago and was raw has they come.

"Hi Mike. Yeah everything went great. How's the office?"

"Mr. Spencer came in again complaining about the immigrants cutting his fences to get across. Said he lost five head of cattle through it." Mike said sitting on a lawn chair on the porch. Hutch leaned on the porch railing.

"Did you tell him to call the border control?"

"Sure did. He said that the border control and couldn't help him at the moment. Mr. Spenser is getting really frustrated."

"Tell him to go ahead and mend the fences. I'll call the border control tomorrow to see if I can get anything done."

"There was a brawl at the tavern last night. Mr. Sykes's boy and an out of Towner tore up the place over a stupid pool game. Randy locked them both up last night to sober up."

"Does Ms. Holly want to press charges against them?" Hutch asked referring to the owner of the tavern.

"Nah just wants all damage paid for."

"Split the cost between them. Kick the stranger out of town and give Mr. Sykes's boy a month of community service. Maybe after picking up trash will make him think before he tears up her place again."

"Yes sir."

"Also have Randy check out the old Randolph place I heard rumors of immigrants staying there."

"Can I go with?" Mike said excitedly. He wanted to make a difference in the world and writing parking tickets and reports on missing cattle weren't going to do it. He wanted to see some action.

"Sure just listen to Randy." Hutch said smiling. Mike reminded him of himself when he first began the force.

"I sure will. I better get back to the station and give Randy the message." Mike said jumping up.

"Have Randy call me at the end of his shift." Hutch said shaking Mike's hand.

"Okay. See yaw Sheriff." Mike yelled running over to his patrol car.

"You listen to Randy." Hutch yelled after him. Hutch smiled as he watched his youngest deputy peel out of drive way in a cloud of dust.

"Wet behind the ears." Hutch muttered walking back into the house.

"Rise and shine sleepy head." Hutch said walking into his room. He flipped up the shades allowing the sunshine to pour into the room. Looking over at Starsky he smiled trying not to notice the paleness of his skin in the sunshine. Starsky's eyes were open and staring at the ceiling.

"Hey buddy I get to give you a tour of the ranch today." Hutch said running his hand through Starsky short hair.

"But first you have to eat breakfast." Hutch said picking Starsky up. Hutch got him cleaned up and carried him to the kitchen.

"Here we go babe right by the window." Hutch said, "I'm going to have to tie you against the chair till you get your strength back."

Hutch wrapped a length of cloth around Starsky and tied it to the back of the chair. Leaning down he whispered in Starsky ear.

"You'll be up before you know it, buddy."

TBC