The Wind Blows Cold: 1, #1

By Dallas C. McCullough

Samantha Jackson, the only Lady Sheriff in the Piney Woods of East Texas.  Home town girl, Iraq Veteran, County Sheriff, Single Mom, Excellent judge od character, Tough Sheriff, Solves one of the most hideous murders of our times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dallas C. McCullough
• Release date: May 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781986614696

Book preview

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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This book is dedicated

to all those Law Enforcements Officers that

Must work all night alone in their cars.

Got to wear a gun for protection.

Eats whenever they get a chance.

Works through all types of weather.

Really knows the truth of back-up.

Relies on Loyalty.

Has to make split second decisions.

May have to take someone’s life.

May not return home tonight.

The Wind Blows Cold

Chapter 1

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When does the Crown Vic need service again?  Ewen looked at the speedometer, "it has

352,000 miles on it, the window decal sticker says 353,000 miles."

Samantha looked at him, Ford hasn’t made these cars in fifteen years and they’re still running good.

The Ford Crown Victoria had endured many things in the fifteen years of service it had been in the Anson County Sheriff Department.  Many bumps and bruises, several times stuck in the mud on old one-track County roads.  The black paint still looked good, a little rust on the underside of the vehicle.  The car in her older days now uses synthetic oils in the motor, transmission and rear end.  The Crown Vic ran better mechanically than many newer cars.

The State Trooper in Alto last week had a Crown Vic.  He had 425,000 miles on that car.  State Troopers take better care of their cars, they do not have to chase people on old county roads.

Like me, Ewen said. He glanced at Samantha quickly as he was approaching a sharp curve in the road.  Speed limits on this side of the County were set by the state a 60 mph, too fast for safety.

The good thing about the Ford Crown Victoria is that a policeman could easily put two people in the back seat. A bear could not force itself into the front seat, the cage was built tough as nails. As a matter of fact, the Crown Victoria Interceptor engine could run with the best police cars.

Samantha stated, You are still running and you’re about 70 years old.

You know how old I am, we graduated high school together, remember we’re the Stewart Mustangs.

Samantha said, Yeah that was a long time ago, to be exact 23 years ago.

Ewen asked Samantha if she remembered that night they defeated the Newcome girls in overtime?

Samantha said, That Was the night Julie Smith from Newcome fouled out in the fourth quarter, and Susan made 4 free throws in overtime to help us win the game.

Well, Ya’ll both played an outstanding game that night. 

Susan was Ewen’s wife.  They were High School sweethearts.  The two got married right after they graduated from high school. They had one daughter, her name was Sally.  Sally and Samantha’s daughter Lilly were the same age and the two were best friends just like their mothers.

Ewen, the game has changed so much since we played.  All of the girls wanted to play five-man teams like the boys, but the three on three was fun.

Texas for years played six-member girls teams in basketball. A team consisted of three Guards and three Forwards. They had to stay on each side of the court. Neither the Guards or the Forwards could pass mid court.

If a foul was committed by a Guard, the ball would be taken to the other end of the court and the foul shot would be shot by the player of the Coach’s choice. There were some big defensive battles at mid court.

They were about five miles from Stewart High School.  Samantha and Ewen were going there to conduct a Just Say No to Drugs Presentation. 

It was a pleasant East Texas January day; the temperature was about sixty degrees. In Texas it can be twenty degrees one day and seventy degrees the next.  Sometimes in the thirty-degree range, it can be unbearable without a coat, a heavy coat.

The Anson County Sheriff department was small. Samantha was the Sheriff, the first female Sheriff ever. Her father was Samuel Jackson.  Sam had been Sheriff in Anson County Texas for over 30 years.

Anson County loved Samuel Jackson. He could have been Sheriff for another 30 years.  Clayton, Texas was the Anson County Seat with a population of about 3000, while the county had a population of about 7,000.  It was a laid-back cozy little County in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Clayton had no Police Department; the Anson County Sheriff Department was the only Law Enforcement for the entire county.

When Samantha was seven years old, her mother died of an extremely bad case of the Flu.  Her father Sam raised her by himself.  Sam made sure Samantha was raised in the local Church of Christ Church and he took her to all social functions of Clayton.  He raised Samantha the best a single parent could in his situation as being Anson County Sheriff.

Upon graduation from high school, Samantha enrolled at North Texas State University at Denton, Texas.  She majored in Law Enforcement following the steps of her father. She also joined the ROTC Program and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. 

Samantha did two tours in the Iraq Dessert Storm conflict.  She received the Silver Star, Combat Action Ribbon. She was the only lady in Anson County to receive the Combat Action Ribbon as far as anyone could remember.

Samantha was married to a good man she had met at North Texas State University.  Coming back from Dallas one night, he was hit head on by a diesel truck and killed instantly.  Samantha was pregnant with Lilly. It was an extremely hard time for her and her father Sam.

Samuel Jackson made it his goal to raise Lilly the way he had Samantha, everything was in motion, then Sam had a heart attack two years ago and passed away.  Again, Samantha was devastated.

Ewen’s wife Susan stood by her best friend all the way. Susan even helped with the arrangement for the funeral of Sam Jackson. Law enforcement officials came from everywhere to the funeral. Samuel Jackson was a small-town hero to the entire state of Texas.  The community center was barely large enough for the turnout at his funeral.  The Governor was in appearance, several state Representatives plus both Texas Senators.  Around 100 Police and Sheriff Departments were represented."

Everyone that knew Samantha called her Sam.  It would sometimes be confusing when someone called the Sheriff office asking for Sam Jackson, then a women’s voice would say Hello this is Sheriff Jackson.  The entire Sheriff staff would laugh when the calls like that came in.

Base to Command One, over.

Samantha Grabbed the Microphone, Command One, go ahead.

Donna Westerly, the Sheriff Dispatcher replied, Judge Beam is looking for you Sam.

What does he want, Donna?

He wanted to remind you not to forget the Kiwanis Club Auction Thursday night at the Woodman Ranch.

He knows I’m not going to forget that, I got most of the auction items for the event donated.

Donna said, I know, you know how he is.

Does he want me to call him?

He didn’t say he did Sam, Donna Said. Have ya’ll got Copper with you?  I noticed some dog food left in his bowl, he never leaves any food.

Samantha replied, Yeah Copper is with us, 10-4 Out.

The dispatcher Donna had been with the Sheriff Department when Samantha’s father Sam Jackson was Sheriff.  Donna handled every type of call and complaint imaginable. Donna was also baby sitter, Mom to all the Deputies and Samantha, if not for her, the Sheriff Department might fall apart.

Copper was a dog tossed out on a country road three years ago.  Samantha has a warm spot in her heart for animals, especially dogs.  She and Ewen tried for three days to catch Copper.  They would go where he was tossed out and leave food for him.  He would come close enough to eat the dog food, but not close enough for them to catch him. On the third day, Ewen dove at the puppy and finally caught him.  The Puppy bit Ewen on the hand.  Little Copper was about two and one-half months old when he was rescued.

He became the mascot for the Sheriff Department.  He goes everywhere Samantha and Ewen go. They knew he was going to be a large dog. He was taken to the Vet and the Vet told them he was half Boxer and half Rottweiler.  He has been to dog obedient training school and is a formable Assistant Deputy.  Now Copper is three years old and he weighs 110 lbs.  He was named Copper because of his copper coloring.

Ewen, I don’t know about our District Judge Ray Beam sometimes. Samantha said.

Ewen said, He’s been real fair and good to the sheriff department, helped us in several cases getting search warrants in a hurry.

That he has, my father thought very highly of Judge Beam.

Ewen said, Speaking of the Kiwanis Auction, your father and Judge Beam use to really enjoy those nights of the annual auction.  On several occasions, the older statesmen had to be driven home, but it was a fun night and a considerable amount of money had been raised for the Kiwanis Club.

Ewen reminded Samantha the night about six auctions ago when her dad Sam had drawn his Sig Sauer 45 Caliber automatic pistol. It was about 10 P.M. and he shot the pistol up into the air. It scared everyone there. Sam got everyone’s attention and told everyone in the quietness that had suddenly happened that it was now 10 P.M. and the Highway Patrol in attendance would not write DWI’s until Midnight, that gave everyone 2 hours to get home. Everyone quit drinking and listened to the advice of Sam Jackson.

Ewen turned the corner of the County Road and there appeared the Stewart High School.

The Principal told me, we had 1 hour with the student assembly, Samantha remarked.

Samantha looked at Copper in the back seat of the Crown Vic. "Copper you need to stay, we don’t want to scare any of the high school students with your presence.  We will crack the windows, so you will have plenty of air.  We will be back shortly.’

Ewen pitched Copper a dog bone they always kept in the front of the car.  The dog bones seem to pacify him to some extent.  Copper was smart enough to realize they did that to just make him obey, Copper was not stupid.

The two got out of the car and proceeded into the Stewart High School Administration office.

They were greeted at the door by the Secretary Julie Smith.  Julie had also played basketball with Samantha and Susan.  Julie displayed a picture on the wall behind her of the three together in the center of the Gymnasium floor after they defeated Newcomb for the District Championship when they were Seniors.

"How you doing Sam?

OK, Julie, how about yourself?

I’m doing fine, just getting older, don’t think I could play basketball like we used too!

The Principal is waiting for you two in the Gymnasium, I think you know where it’s located.

yep, I’ll talk to you later.

When Samantha and Ewen walked into the Gym, the students all looked at the two uniformed officers coming to the front.  As they got positioned, the students were attentive, and the Principal intruded the two officers.

The Principal introduced Samantha and Ewen and the students applauded with great enthusiasm.  The principal reminded the students at Stewart High School will listen to our speakers with the upmost of attention, if anyone gets out of control, I will see you later, OK?

The students all nodded their heads up and down to acknowledge what he had just spoke.

Samantha looked at the students, she was thinking how young they all looked, and was wondering if she and Ewen looked that young when they attended Stewart High School.

Sam began by telling the students if they had a question at any time just raise their hand.

A girl who looked to be a sophomore or junior raised her hand, Sheriff, you played basketball with my mother, she talks about you sometimes, her name is Helen Morrow.

Samantha said, Oh Yes, your mom, Helen and I played four years together, she was a really good player.

The girl looked around to see if anyone noticed her talking to the Sheriff.  She smiled with confidence and shifted her legs to get more comfortable on the gym bleachers.

Drugs are a problem in many High Schools, Junior High Schools and even Elementary schools today.  Drug education must start at home, but it is also the responsibility of the School systems too.  Don’t let drugs destroy your life or steal the dream that you want to live.

Samantha mentioned how drugs would destroy friendships, would have adverse effects on school performance, grades would suffer, you’ll lose the drive to compete that you once had, and may even drop out of High School.

Mustangs, it’s a fact that Alcohol or Marijuana use has proven effects on school academic performance, sometime what you think does no harm, is extremely harmful.

Samantha also stated, Some of the other problems with drugs, is that you can really embarrass yourself and your family.  If anyone offers you drugs, don’t accept them, just say no.

One young male student asked, If we are approached or see one of our friends using or about to use drugs, what should we do at school?

Samantha said, Thank you for that question, a good question, you should go to your Principal.  Don’t gossip to other students, stay away from the transaction if there is one, just be aware of the circumstance and what is happening.

A boy seated on the top row of the bleachers raised his hand.  Samantha responded to him and asked, Yes.

The boy asked if they had Copper with them today.  He had heard of the dog and read an article from the Clayton Courier Gazette that James Mitchell wrote about Copper.  He asked if they could see Copper. "Mr. Mitchell wrote about the time Copper caught that guy who was stealing watermelons out of the farmers watermelon patch.  The article said Copper ran him down, tackled him and began to lick him in the face.

Ewen told the boy, Copper is a really smart dog.  He knows the difference between right and wrong.  He can also be a very enforceable police dog too.  We have had him trained to do so.  He now weighs 110 pounds, so he can tackle anyone he wants to on our command.  He was just playing with the watermelon boy. And by the way, Copper would never take any bad drugs.

Samantha closed by telling the Student Body, Everyone knows that drugs are everywhere, not just the big cities. If we can educate our young people, then our battle with drugs is being fought honorably. There is a long road ahead for Law Enforcement, schools, and families.  I appreciate your time, Go Mustangs.

Samantha an Ewen stopped by the office and told Helen the students were well behaved as they always are. After a few pleasantries with Helen, both Samantha and Ewen got in the Crown Vic and headed back to Clayton. 

Hey, how is Lilly doing with her Piano Lessons? Ewen asked.

She’s doing really fine, Mrs. Martha Evans is a great piano teacher, and the kids just really love her.

Sally loves her too, and she is learning better than I ever could, the keyboard all looks the same to me, Ewen said.

Samantha said, The piano recital is coming up in a couple of weeks, both Lilly and Sally are playing in it. we could not do that. They both are learning very fast to play the piano Ewen.

Martha Evans was a retired school teacher with the Clayton ISD. She taught music forever. Anyone in Clayton or Anson county who wanted to learn how to play the piano took lessons from Mrs. Evans.  She was also the organist at the Wesley United Methodist Church.  It is known that she leaves her organ playing shoes underneath the organ at the church all the time.

Evans is very much respected in the music community. She goes to Austin, Texas once a year to help with the Texas Universal Interscholastic League with the Music Guidelines for all Texas High Schools. 

Ewen asked, how old is she now?

She is eighty-four this year.

She taught music all those years and still teaching it, that is amazing.  I guess the love of music is what has given her such a long caring life.  Ewen said, Why don’t You, Susan, the girls, all of us go together, then I’ll buy dinner after its over at Main St. Café on the Square?

Samantha said, That sounds good with me, check with Susan and Sally, I’m sure it will be ok with Lilly.

Ewen is the Anson County Chief Deputy, He held the position with Sheriff Sam Jackson for four years before the popular sheriff and Samantha’s Dad had died.  Ewen was six feet two inches tall, wide chested, and muscular built.  He had big hands and could defend himself whenever the need would arrive. He two was an Iraq Veteran with two Silver Stars, and One Purple Heart.

Samantha and Ewen were about fifteen minutes out of Clayton when Donna came over the radio.

Sam, we got a call that someone is dumping old tires on the road and in Wells Creek off the bridge, where are Ya’ll located?

Samantha replied, We’re about ten minutes, headed that way, over.

Donna said, I just sent Deputy Davidson and Dennison that way too.

Good work, we are on the way.

Ewen drove the Crown Vic at speeds up to ninety miles per hour.  He was a safe driver and Samantha had all the confidence in the world in him.  They turned off Texas State Highway 84 and proceeded north on Anson County Road (ACR) 397 which in about one mile would intercept ACR 355 where the Wells Creek bridge is another two miles.

Ewen had to slow down to about 40 mph on the ACR 355 road, just too many turns, the countryside consists of Pine Trees with some Oak trees mixed with a few Cedar trees.  This part of Anson County is about ninety percent trees with rolling hills.

Anson County for the last few weeks have had a problem with tires being dumped on the county roads. 

The local tire companies are required by state law to send the old tires to recycling facilities for recycling.  It cost a good deal on money if a dealer has 200 tires.  So, the Anson County Sheriff Department has found some out of town people coming into Clayton going to the tire dealers. 

They tell the tire dealers they will carry off their old used tires for an amazingly cheap amount. 

The dealers can’t do it that cheap, so they pay these out of town guys to haul them off.  Well the out of towners find the nearest County Road to dump the tires.  It takes about ten minutes to dump 200 tires, a quick fix and easy money.

Ewen pulls the Crown Vic up to the Wells Creek Bridge. There is a ¾ Ton Ford Super Duty truck with a sixteen-foot trailer attached and parked on the bridge.  The trailer has about twenty tires left on it. There are over one hundred tires dumped into Wells Creek, and about seventy-five tires dumped on the ground beside the creek bridge.

Wells Creek was a small tributary that ran into the Neches River about five miles down flow. The creek was about five yards wide and about five feet deep.  The flow of water was barely walking speed. It was a murky color as all creeks are in East Texas.

Samantha got out of the Crown Vic, Good afternoon Sir, what are you doing there?

The man appeared to be by himself looked around and knew he was caught.

Samantha once again said, good afternoon Sir, what are you doing with those tires? The man was about forty years old, slender built, maybe five feet nine inches tall.

Ewen got out of the car with Copper by his side.  The man looked at the large Boxer-Rottweiler dog, kept his eyes on Copper.

Ewen said, I’m Samantha Jackson the Sheriff on Anson County, get down out of the trailer, come over here so we can talk.

The tire man kept his eyes moving around to plan his next thought and move. 

Samantha and Ewen circled him and moved closer.  The tire man took off running on the side of the trailer that Samantha was on.  He ran into the Pine Tree thicket.  Samantha nearly had him by the collar, but he jerked