Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) by Sherri Wilson Johnson Read Free Book Online

going later today to the grocery store. Why?”
    “My car is ready at Millburn’s, and I need a ride to go pick it up.”
    “I’ll take you. How about after lunch?”
    “That sounds good. Thanks.” Cora rinsed her glass out and put it in the dishwasher. “See you later.”

 
* * *
    “What would you do if you were in my situation?” Cora asked Jimmy on the way to Bobby’s shop.
    “My only advice is to stay away from home until you’re ready to deal with whatever baggage you left behind. If you go home too soon, you won’t be ready for whatever fight you might encounter.”
    Cora opened the door and slid out of the car. “Thanks for the advice, and thanks for dropping me off.”
    “No problem. Do ya want me to wait?”
    “No, I’ve got some errands to run. I’ll see you back at the ranch.”

 
* * *
    As Cora headed for the ranch in her Camaro, she reflected on the events of the past few weeks—the people she’d met, the new and challenging tasks she’d accomplished, the decisions she still needed to make. Her stomach churned at the thought of Veronica Ludlowe. Rex had brought her to the ranch with him eight or nine times since that first meeting, and each time Cora saw her, she disliked her more.
    “Lord, I know my feelings aren’t right, but I don’t like her. I can’t imagine her being Susie’s stepmother. It’s obvious she doesn’t like children. She never even talks to Susie. She’d be the type to send her to boarding school. And Susie doesn’t like Veronica either. When she comes to the ranch, Susie clings to me even more than usual. Lord, I know Rex may not even be thinking of marriage, but please protect Susie. She needs a much better stepmother than Veronica.”
    It didn’t take long before Cora found herself meandering through unfamiliar areas of town on back roads, comfortable in the car’s contoured seat. She turned left onto a street she suspected headed back toward the ranch, an unpaved road. This looked like the one Bobby had told her to turn on.
    As she drove, her heart beat a little faster. The tall, draping trees made the road dark and shadowy. Hopefully, she’d taken the right road and wasn’t on someone’s private property. Why did it feel like someone was closing in on her? She should turn around before she went any further, but it was too narrow and there were ditches on both sides. Stay calm. You’re freaking out over nothing. Just find a place to turn around.
    She finally came to a gravel driveway and pulled in to turn around. Her tires started to spin on the gravel, so she slowed down. Then one of her tires blew out and the car fishtailed. Cora slammed the brakes to the floorboard and stopped where the road made a T with another road.
    “Of all days to have a flat! This car!” And she didn’t even have her phone with her. Why hadn’t she waited for Jimmy to finish up in town?
    Cora glanced out her driver’s side window in time to see a gray Ford F350 pickup heading right for her. Before she could reach for the door handle, the truck slammed into her, spinning the car and knocking Cora over almost into the passenger seat. A cry escaped her throat; blood dripped on to her pants. In shock, she reached up and touched her forehead. There was a gash in it, and blood oozed from it.
    The truck was nowhere. So who had tried to attack her? For several minutes, she sat in the car, her hands cemented to the steering wheel. Maybe her circumstances had nothing to do with her car. Maybe the bad things were connected to this town instead. She had to get out of this car and then out of this town. Hopefully, there weren’t any wild dogs running loose or gun-toting backwoods people around here.
    “Lord, after everything I’ve been through, why do I have to go through this? I’m sorry I took the back roads. Help me not to panic. Please protect me.”
    Cora took the keys out of the ignition and grabbed her purse. She climbed out of the car, knees shaking, and looked both