snapped sideways and downward. Whispers hushed instantly. Laney Longhorse turned her head away and began slicing an apple pie. Something was definitely up.
âHe was here a while ago,â Kerry said.
âLeft right after he told that Baker girl where to go,â Bart Stancil added with a snort. âThought they was gonna pick up where your daddy and Jed left off.â
Grady gritted his teeth. âDid he say where he was going?â
âProbably to follow her and make sure she left town,â Kerry offered.
Laney frowned in disapproval. Violet had dragged Darlene along to visit the older woman sometimes. Sheâd filled their heads with Native American legends that had fascinated the girls. Darlene had tried to tell their father, but Walt Monroe hadnât allowed talk about the ancient legends in his house. Just as he hadnât allowed Violet.
Grady had hated his fatherâs prejudice back then. Heâd treated Violet like some kind of leper just because she was poor.
He didnât like his attitude now, either.
Not that heâd treated her much betterâ¦.
What if Violet was an innocent bystander in this whole damn mess? He was the sheriff, responsible for all the people in town.
Any time heâd lost his way over the years, heâd tried to think of Darlene. She was his dose of humanity. The rich kid who hadnât differentiated between herself and a girl no one else wanted as a friend. Peculiar or not, she had loved Violet dearly. What would his baby sister want him to do now? Let their father vent his bitterness and anger toward Violet and run her out of town? Protect her from the truth about her old man?
But what if she had known the truth or sheâd learned it over the years and had kept silent? Then she had betrayed Darleneâ¦.
Ignoring the knot of emotion festering in his throat, he turned to leave.
Kerry touched his arm. âDonât you want to stay and have some coffee?â
He glanced down at her hand and wished things had been different. But he couldnât give her what she wanted. He just didnât have it in him. âNo, thanks.â
Then he strode out the door, hoping sheâd finally get the message.
As he drove out of town, he told himself his easy dismissal of her had nothing to do with the blue-eyed woman his daddy had tried to run out of town.
* * *
S HE WAS SO COLD . She couldnât breathe. Couldnât move.
Where had he taken her?
She opened her eyes and tried to see through the darkness. Shadows obliterated the light. She couldnât see, couldnât make out his face. Dear God, she didnâtwant to die. She was young, she had plans, she had to finish school, get her masterâs degree. Teach awhile. She had always wanted to work with little children.
And she wanted to get married, wear a long white wedding dress, have babies of her own. See her mother be a grandma. What would her mom do when she was gone? She was all aloneâ¦.
A tear seeped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. She tried to lift her hand to wipe it away, but her hand was numb. Heâd tied her down like an animal. She couldnât move.
Panic rippled through her. She couldnât give up. She had to fight.
She tried to squirm, to escape, but it was useless. Whatever drug heâd given her had robbed her of life. Everything was numb except her mind.
She could still think. Could feel the horror of what he was going to do to her.
Then his hand touched her. Icy fingers pulled at her clothes. The stale scents of sweat and other body odors assaulted her. Nausea rose to her throat, nearly choking her. One button popped open, then another. Cold air brushed her torso. His hands slid lower. Lifted her slightly. Lowered her skirt and began to slide it down her legs. She opened her mouth to scream, but the sound died in the back of her throat.
Finally she gave in to the fear, closed her eyes and prayed for darkness.
Death had to be better
âHe was here a while ago,â Kerry said.
âLeft right after he told that Baker girl where to go,â Bart Stancil added with a snort. âThought they was gonna pick up where your daddy and Jed left off.â
Grady gritted his teeth. âDid he say where he was going?â
âProbably to follow her and make sure she left town,â Kerry offered.
Laney frowned in disapproval. Violet had dragged Darlene along to visit the older woman sometimes. Sheâd filled their heads with Native American legends that had fascinated the girls. Darlene had tried to tell their father, but Walt Monroe hadnât allowed talk about the ancient legends in his house. Just as he hadnât allowed Violet.
Grady had hated his fatherâs prejudice back then. Heâd treated Violet like some kind of leper just because she was poor.
He didnât like his attitude now, either.
Not that heâd treated her much betterâ¦.
What if Violet was an innocent bystander in this whole damn mess? He was the sheriff, responsible for all the people in town.
Any time heâd lost his way over the years, heâd tried to think of Darlene. She was his dose of humanity. The rich kid who hadnât differentiated between herself and a girl no one else wanted as a friend. Peculiar or not, she had loved Violet dearly. What would his baby sister want him to do now? Let their father vent his bitterness and anger toward Violet and run her out of town? Protect her from the truth about her old man?
But what if she had known the truth or sheâd learned it over the years and had kept silent? Then she had betrayed Darleneâ¦.
Ignoring the knot of emotion festering in his throat, he turned to leave.
Kerry touched his arm. âDonât you want to stay and have some coffee?â
He glanced down at her hand and wished things had been different. But he couldnât give her what she wanted. He just didnât have it in him. âNo, thanks.â
Then he strode out the door, hoping sheâd finally get the message.
As he drove out of town, he told himself his easy dismissal of her had nothing to do with the blue-eyed woman his daddy had tried to run out of town.
* * *
S HE WAS SO COLD . She couldnât breathe. Couldnât move.
Where had he taken her?
She opened her eyes and tried to see through the darkness. Shadows obliterated the light. She couldnât see, couldnât make out his face. Dear God, she didnâtwant to die. She was young, she had plans, she had to finish school, get her masterâs degree. Teach awhile. She had always wanted to work with little children.
And she wanted to get married, wear a long white wedding dress, have babies of her own. See her mother be a grandma. What would her mom do when she was gone? She was all aloneâ¦.
A tear seeped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. She tried to lift her hand to wipe it away, but her hand was numb. Heâd tied her down like an animal. She couldnât move.
Panic rippled through her. She couldnât give up. She had to fight.
She tried to squirm, to escape, but it was useless. Whatever drug heâd given her had robbed her of life. Everything was numb except her mind.
She could still think. Could feel the horror of what he was going to do to her.
Then his hand touched her. Icy fingers pulled at her clothes. The stale scents of sweat and other body odors assaulted her. Nausea rose to her throat, nearly choking her. One button popped open, then another. Cold air brushed her torso. His hands slid lower. Lifted her slightly. Lowered her skirt and began to slide it down her legs. She opened her mouth to scream, but the sound died in the back of her throat.
Finally she gave in to the fear, closed her eyes and prayed for darkness.
Death had to be better
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