A Bridge Unbroken (A Miller's Creek Novel) by Cathy Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

there last week. The heart attack had definitely take its toll. "Thank y'all for stopping by. Andy, I’m actually glad you’re here. Sorry to add to your work load, but I’ve been meaning to get a hold of you for a while now.”
    “No problem. Something you want to discuss now?”
    “Naaah. I won’t bore the ladies. Just drop by some time when it’s convenient.”
    “Chance ate breakfast with me Tuesday morning.” Mama Beth joined the conversation.
    “He did?”
    “Yep, wanted some advice about Levi Kelly’s granddaughter.”
    “Amy?”
    Chance shifted positions so he could see Mama Beth’s face. She twisted her lips to one side. “I don’t remember that being her name. Trish, you brought her over to my house earlier in the year. Pretty red head with big green eyes.”
    Trish nodded. “Dakota.”
    “That’s it!” hollered Mama Beth. “She was your best friend in high school?”
    “No, the youngest sister of my best friend. I saw Angie when Mr. Kelly passed away. Angie's really changed. And not in a good way.” Trish’s words trailed off, and she seemed to check out of the conversation for some place unknown.
    “Amy changed her name? Does anyone know why?”
    Exactly what he’d like to know. No one answered.
    “Well, just so you can be prepared, Andy, I want to visit with you about my will.”
    Andy pulled a pen and small note pad from his suit jacket pocket and jotted down a note. “I’ll bring all the pertinent info when I come. I know tomorrow’s Saturday, but I have another client visit in town. Would it be okay if I drop by then?”
    “That'll work.”  Grampa laid his head back on the pillow. He was fading fast. Time to make an entrance.
    Chance pushed open the door and entered the room. “Hey, everyone.” He hugged Trish and Mama Beth and shook hands with Andy before moving to the head of the hospital bed. “How you feeling, Grampa?”
    Grampa looked up. “Okay. Just ready to go home.” His words held underlying significance.
    An ache rose in his heart. How could he let him go? Chance patted his grandfather's arm. “I know. I’ll try to find out from the doctors when that'll be.”
    The talk soon turned to the latest chatter scuttling about Miller’s Creek, so Chance begged off with a comment about being tired, and hurried out to his pickup. Already it was later than he'd hoped. The last thing he wanted was Dakota pulling a loaded shotgun on him again, but he might as well get this over with.
    Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up outside the farmhouse, surprised to see lights shining from the windows. He exited the truck and made his way through the dark, calling out loud. “It’s Chance, Dakota. Just here to see how you’re doing and to apologize.”
    Her silhouette appeared in the open doorway. “It’s a good thing you added that last part, or I wouldn't have even bothered to open the door.”
    He moved up the steps with a laugh. “I deserve that and more.” Dressed in a denim shirt un-tucked from the waistband of her blue jeans, she was once more shoeless. “Sorry about how I treated you Tuesday afternoon. There’s no excuse for my behavior other than to say I was really scared. But even that's not good enough.”
    She gave one brief nod. “I know you were scared, Chance. It's okay.”
    “And thanks for leaving my truck at the hospital.” A stray thought struck suddenly. “How'd you get back to Grampa's house?”
    Dakota lifted a foot in the air. “The original form of transportation. In the storm. With hail and rain soaking me to the bone.”
    Chance swallowed against the wad of guilt in his throat. “I'm so sorry. How can I make it up to you?”
    “Well, now that you mention it, I could use some manpower on a little project.” Her eyes held a teasing gleam.
    “Such as?”
    “Rebuilding the barn.”
    Chance snorted. “I thought you said little.”
    “Size is relative, right? Trust me. I have several projects that are much bigger.”
    He glanced down at her