Nobody spoke as they went about their chores. Every once in a while Laurel caught a glimmer of tears in her mother’s eyes, and her heart pricked for the pain she had to be feeling. How could Charlie hurt their parents so? And what about her and Willie? Did he care so little for them that he could...
She was just coming from the direction of the kitchen when she saw him, and she hurried to meet him. When he reached her, he grabbed her and hugged her in welcome.“Where is everybody?” he asked.Casey laughed and arched an eyebrow. “Did you think there’d be a welcoming committee waiting for you?”H...
She yanked her dress and apron off and hurled them into the chair by the window. Mama had cautioned her over and over about going barefoot, but she hadn’t listened. Now she’d paid the price. She’d never been as embarrassed in her life as she was when she realized she must look like she’d been wor...
Even with a roaring fireplace and the blanket, she could still feel the chill of the February night. It seemed impossible that she had been living at the DeHan mansion for six months now. And every day made it seem more like home. Edward and Richard had been true to their word and had made her an...
He stared at the back door and counted each step until he stumbled into the kitchen and sank down at the table. He propped his elbows on the tabletop and buried his face in his hands. How could Rani have been so foolish as to put herself in Wade’s line of fire? The very thought sent chills down h...
Now it was Monday morning and she still wouldn’t answer. He leaned against the kitchen counter, his cell phone pressed to his ear, and listened to the rings on the other end. Her voice mail picked up and he repeated the message he’d left over and over. “Rachel, this is Matt. I’m sorry about the t...
Anna watched him shovel the last bite into his mouth and swallow. “Simon, you git ’nough to eat?” Granny propped her hands on her hips and stared at his empty plate. Simon glanced at Granny. “What’d you say, Granny?” She raised her voice. “I said, did you git ’nough to eat?” Simon laid his fork d...
She stood on the threshold and thought about the talented girl who’d lived here only yesterday but would enter no more. Danielle blinked back the moisture about to spill down her face. “Are you all right?” Jack asked. The impassive expression on his face held none of the concern for her she’d see...
He’d hiked this area many times when he was growing up and knew from this point to the levee there weren’t many houses. A sheriff’s patrol car waited at the side of the gravel road that wound into the distance. Seth jumped from his car, and the police cruiser that had foll...
He stopped just inside and glanced down at his leg. Blood soaked his jeans, and he could feel it trickling down his calf. He only hoped the tourniquet would slow the flow long enough for him to find Billy. As he moved down the aisle, Dean scanned the building for any sign ...
Her foolish decision to leave Treasury’s had landed her in a terrible fix. At the moment, she lay tied and gagged in the hull of a boat transporting her to her death. Her clothes were soaked from the driving rain, but she knew from past experience the storm would only get worse. She would be left...
Lisa sighed and rubbed the bump on her head that throbbed. This had been the longest day she’d ever had at work. Maybe she should have taken another day off to recuperate. Luckily for her, the office had been quiet with few calls coming into the station. Of course, only the local residents called...
He looked over his shoulder, and the look of concentration on her face assured him she was managing so far. He slowed when they reached the woods and stopped so they could catch their breath. “Are you all right?” he asked. “I’m fine, just worried ab...