A Memory Worth Dying For by Joanie Bruce Read Free Book Online Page A

the night before burst from her lips. As Marti talked, Sandra’s fury stewed inside her. Wade would hear about this. Maybe he could find a clue in the alley to pin down this bloke.
    When Marti told her the stalker threatened Sandra, Wade, and the gallery, Sandra’s anger hissed out in her next sentence. “Of all the nerve. Who does he think he is, threatening us? And Wade’s the chief constable. Marti, don’t you listen to this barmy rotter. He’s just trying to frighten you. Wade can take care of us. You do what’s best for you, and we both know that means talking to Daniel.”
    Marti stood up and walked to the window. She stared out at the morning sky. “No, Sandra. I can’t do it.”
    Sandra leaned back against the wall. “Why not?”
    Marti didn’t answer, just stared out into the street. Sandra frowned. She’d seen that stubborn look before. It wasn’t going to do any good arguing about it. It was plain that Marti had made up her mind.
    Sandra stood and shook her head. “Okay, sweetie, this is your call, but at least go with us to the art sale. It’ll do you good to get away for a couple of days.”
    Marti picked up the overnight bag and smiled a trembling smile. “That’s why I left this out—in case I decided to go with you. There’s a horse competition in Vick at the same time. I thought I might go by there one day and check it out. I think a little time away might be fun.”
    Sandra smiled and gave Marti a big hug. “Jolly good. We’ll have a do. That’s the way I like to hear you talk.”
    “A ‘do’?”
    “A party.”
    “Hashtag: a girl’s night out.”
    Sandra grinned and nodded. When she left, Marti was staring out the window. Sandra would have to put her thinking cap on and figure out a way to persuade Marti to make that trip to Texas.
    It meant everything to Marti’s future.

NINE
    TEXAS
    SIXTY-YEAR-OLD GERALD RUSHING jumped when the back door slammed. He was sitting in the office of his rambling ranch house in Carson, Texas, when he heard Daniel’s call through the hallway.
    “Dad?”
    “In here, son.”
    Daniel’s steps pounded on the kitchen tiles then entered the wide hallway leading to the office.
    Gerald squirmed in the antique chair sitting behind the office desk and frowned at the ancient computer keyboard. When Daniel entered the room, Gerald looked up. Frustration pulled his face as tight as a drum.
    “What’s wrong, Dad?”
    “This crazy computer lost my file again. Why in the world I let you talk me into putting the farm bookkeeping on computer, I’ll never know.”
    Daniel grinned then scooted around the desk behind his dad. He punched a couple of keys, clicked in the open folder, and the file Gerald was looking for magically appeared on the screen.
    “How did you do that?” Gerald’s eyes opened in surprise.
    Daniel hid a grin and moved to the side of the desk. “You’ve gotta stop pushing the ‘delete’ key instead of the ‘enter’ key, Dad.”
    Gerald shook his head. “Well, they’re too doggone close on this tiny little keyboard.”
    “I told you before—you need to get one of the newer keyboards. The keys are further apart, and it’s much easier to type. I don’t know why you keep that one anyway. The keys are always sticking and the R key stays down half the time. That’s tough when your name has two R ’s in it.”
    Gerald grunted and pressed the “enter” key to save his file then looked up and pretended he hadn’t heard. “Were you lookin’ for me, son?”
    “Aren’t you going to the town meeting about the wildfire?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it, but it’s been rescheduled—two hours from now. The fire chief was waylaid checking the fire damage. Bud said the wildfire overran the firebreak on the south side wall—that means it’s headed our way if we don’t get it stopped. Hopefully, the state fire marshal will offer resources he can contribute. Is that what you came in here for, son?”
    Gerald watched a furrow grow between