Beneath the Tombstone (The Tombstone Series) by Martin Cogburn Read Free Book Online Page A

wondered
what the man was doing sitting underneath a pile of trash. Did it fall on him?
Then it became clear; this man was homeless. That didn’t concern Jason too
much. What did concern him was the fact that the drunk had seen part of his
scheme going down. But, then again, what’s the chance of him remembering any of
it in the morning? – Slim to none… and even if he did remember, the chances of
it getting back to Misty were just as unlikely.
    Finally,
Jason decided that he could do nothing but leave the drunk be and hope for the
best.  With that, he left the intoxicated man thumbing the stem of his
flower and singing a slurred song about lost and faded love.
    Jason
jogged the entire way back to the restaurant just to ensure that his sweaty,
battered look was complete. He crossed back in front of the gift shops, made
his way across the street and down to the River Walk, Misty’s purse flopping at
his side. One more thing that he had not thought through was the tourists he
encountered along the way. Torn and dirty clothes… and carrying a purse – Jason
was getting some peculiar looks to say the least.
    Sirens
rang in the distance as Jason crossed back under the bridge, beaten and
tattered yet victorious. The restaurant came into sight, and he saw his wife
waiting by the short, iron fence where he’d left her. When she caught sight of
him, a look of relief came to her face a few short moments before she rushed
through the gate, meeting him by the river where she wrapped her arms around
his chest. Jason hadn’t felt her hug him that tight in a long time.
    With
a shaky voice, she demanded, “Why did you do that? It was just a purse. You
could’ve been hurt or killed.”
    She
sounded angry. Jason couldn’t believe it. He was supposed to receive a
returning hero’s welcome… but instead he got a lecture. “Next time I’ll wear a
helmet,” he spoke in disbelief.
    She
released him and wiped her eyes before giving a tiny laugh. Looking up, she
wrapped her arms around his neck and spoke softly. “I didn’t mean I’m not
grateful.” With that she tip-toed up and placed a warm kiss on his lips.
    Jason
felt like he was floating on clouds. He leaned down, wrapping his arms around
her waist as his lips responded to hers. This was more like it. This was how a returning hero should be treated… to be showered with respect, love
and honor.  When their lips parted ways, Jason, with a huge grin, said,
“Let’s go pay the tab and get out of here before the cops show up.”
    “Already
done,” Misty whispered, smiling back. Jason looked at her with admiration and a
bit of surprise. “The owner was about to have a cow because you ran off without
paying,” she explained, “and seeing as how we ain’t got no place for livestock, I went to the truck and got the checkbook and paid
with a check.”
    “What
a woman,” Jason said with a smile before turning around and leading Misty back
along the water’s edge in the direction from which he’d just come. The night
was busy and parking limited, so they’d been forced to park several blocks
away. Reaching the gravel lot where they’d parked, Jason opened the driver’s
side door, allowing his little damsel-in-distress to jump in. She shoved all the
bills and other papers into the passenger floor, clearing herself a place to
sit in the middle seat (which had been vacant for quite some time now.)
    Jason
grinned as he slid in next to her, slamming the door behind him. After cranking
the engine, he dropped the transmission into reverse and let the gravel fly.
Misty shrieked with excitement as they slid out backwards onto the two lane
highway. Dropping it in drive, he laid the gas-pedal down, and they left black
marks and the smell of burning rubber behind.
    As
they headed home, Jason awed his wife with his tale of close call and daring
deed. She listened intently as he explained that what they originally thought
to be robbery he realized was a well-planned ambush after he