Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense Online Read A Father's Sins by Hannah Alexander

Read this exciting sneak peek of the Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense series a sequel to Hannah Alexander's Safe Haven! No longer unfamiliar ith dangerous situations! "r# $arah Lee Flet%her &no s she has to ta&e %are# 'hen a stranger arrives in Hidea ay! $arah Lee is suspi%ious ( parti%ularly after treating him at the Hidea ay )lini%! and later dis%overing he has %laimed a false identity# She also gets the strangest feeling that she &no s him from some here*or is that +ust be%ause he's follo ing her all over to n, "espite their re%ent brea&up! -aylor .a%&son! forest ranger and paramedi%! or&s alongside $arah Lee to try to find out ho this man is ( and more important! hat it is he ants#*

)hapter One

In thirty/four years of living! "r# $arah Lee Flet%her had seldom &no n true fear until the past fe months# She hadn't felt fear hen her parents divor%ed! only a deep sadness# She hadn't felt mu%h fear after her mother died of %an%er and she as on her o n in med s%hool# "uring residen%y! she had been a%%used of having the strength and stamina of a )alifornia se0uoia ( even her hair as as red as the interior of those ma+esti% trees# 1ut tonight! as she unlo%&ed the front door of the Hidea ay )lini%! she felt neither strong nor fearless# Fear! in fa%t! had be%ome a habit ith her lately# She made one final %he%& up and do n the shado y! empty street for the patient ho had made the emergen%y %all to meet her here# No one# 'hen she'd spo&en to him over the telephone! his hee2ing had been apparent# Had he run into trouble on his ay here, She had urged him to tell her here he as %alling from! but he'd insisted on meeting her at the %lini%# -he silen%e as bro&en only by the splash of ater do n on the shore of -able Ro%& La&e! and the %all of a loon! lonely in the dar&ness#

She entered the 0uiet building! s%olding herself for her s&ittishness# 'hat as rong ith her tonight, -he tiny village of Hidea ay had only been dangerous one time# -ypi%ally! it had more small/to n %harm than nearby 1ranson! sin%e the tourist %ro ds ere not so large# Hidea ay as safe# 3ore important! she &ne nothing ould happen to her unless 4od allo ed it# 1ut she'd seen Him allo a lot of things# 1ad memories died hard! and her brush ith death barely four months ago in this very %lini% had left her spoo&ed# She hated that# She parti%ularly missed -aylor .a%&son's %ompany at times li&e this# 5Stop it!5 she muttered as she rushed through the %lini%! turning on all the lights# -aylor had made a strategi% mista&e re%ently# He'd as&ed her to marry him# He as better off ithout her! but she'd had a lot of trouble believing these past t o ee&s that she %ould happily live ithout him# Nevertheless! hen she %al%ulated the number of marriages in her family that had failed! the prospe%t of marriage %ontinued to frighten her# 1rea&ing up ith him +ust gave her one less fear ith hi%h to %ontend# She as pi%&ing up the telephone to %all a nurse to the %lini% hen the front door gave its familiar s0uea&# She fro2e ith the re%eiver in her hand# 'hy hadn't she %alled before %oming do n here, Karah Lee, you need to start thinking ahead. She turned! and %aught her breath# -he tall! broad/shouldered man that entered had a ne%&! %hee&s and forehead splot%hy ith a bad %ase of hives# His lips ere s ollen# 1ut the s elling and redness didn't mas& the fa%e of the man ho'd seemed to be every here she as in the past %ouple of days# She'd seen him on the boat do%& a%ross the street t o days ago# Several times she'd seen him in the dining room of the La&eside 1ed and 1rea&fast! almost as if he'd been at%hing for her to arrive# - i%e he'd managed to sit in the table next to hers! and he al ays seemed to be at%hing a little too %losely# 6arlier this evening he'd even tried to start a %onversation ith her# And no he as here, She heard the hee2ing as he stepped up to the re%eption indo ! and she felt badly for being so suspi%ious# He as truly in trouble# It asn't a setup# 'hy ould she expe%t it to be, -he man as possibly an in%h or so taller than her six foot frame! ith dar& gray eyes and hair as bla%& as a rain/dren%hed night# He didn't seem to be a threat in his present %ondition! though the slight s elling around his eyes made him loo& a little sinister# 5I ta&e it you're the .errod Houston ho %alled,5

He nodded! shooting a glan%e at her! then loo&ing a ay as if he as shy! or very self/ %ons%ious about his appearan%e# 5)ome on ba%&# I'll put you in exam room t o# 7ou sound as if you %ould use some treatment#5 She gestured for him to step through the open door ay bet een the aiting room and the %lini% proper# She had left the door open hen she entered# For a moment! he hesitated! loo&ing at her again! almost as if he as in a da2e# She at%hed him! irritated by the frisson of alarm that s&ittered do n her spine# 5Are you o&ay,5 she as&ed# He nodded again# She too& the stethos%ope from around her ne%&# 5-hen let's get you %he%&ed out#5 She led the ay ba%&! hearing not only the hee2e! but stridor! hi%h as an respiratory histle that meant his breathing as definitely not good# A person %ouldn't fa&e that! %ould he, 'hy hadn't she %alled for ba%&up before %oming to the %lini%, It as proto%ol# 1ut tonight this man had sounded rough over the phone! and she'd run out of the %ottage ith no more than a 0ui%& ord to Fa n! her foster daughter# She'd thought about %alling -aylor! but had de%ided against it# -oo painful this soon after the brea&up# Stupid move8 5Have you had trouble before ith anaphylaxis,5 she as&ed# .errod nodded# 5Allergi% to peanuts#5 -hough his voi%e over the phone ( and earlier in the dining room ( had been a medium baritone! it as no a thin reed of sound# 5"o you ever %arry an epi pen ith you,5 5I've already used it#5 -hat meant he as orse than she'd thought# 6pinephrine ore off pretty 0ui%&ly# She si2ed him up# He as a young guy9 he %ould ta&e another shot# 5I'll need to do an assessment on you! but let's get you feeling better first#5 She rea%hed for the epi syringe# 5Are you allergi% to anything besides peanuts, "rugs of any &ind,5 He shoo& his head! obviously eager to get on ith treatment# 5I haven't eaten any peanuts# "on't &no hat happened#5 5I sa you eating bla%& alnut affles in the dining room# If you're allergi% to peanuts! it's possible you've developed an allergy to other nuts#5 He blin&ed in surprise# 51la%& alnut affles,5 51ertie 3eyer's famous for them# 7ou must not be from around here#5

He shoo& his head# 5I +ust sa the affles on the buffet! and they loo&ed good# Friday night's a strange time for a brea&fast buffet#5 51ertie's brea&fast fare is famous! and a fe months ago she gave in to publi% demand to &eep the brea&fast flo ing all day on Friday! Saturday and Sunday# In to n for a visit,5 He shoo& his head# 5:nfinished business#5 She grabbed an ampoule of epinephrine! ;/;<<< strength! popped off the top to reveal the rubber stopper# After ithdra ing all the fluid from the vial! she glan%ed at her patient again# 5Is there someone traveling ith you ho %an &eep an eye on you tonight,5 5No#5 She s it%hed needles on the syringe! then gave him a sub%utaneous in+e%tion in his upper left arm# 5Let's hope you're feeling some better in the next fe moments!5 she assured him# He didn't appear to be in anaphyla%ti% sho%&# 7et# She put him on high/flo oxygen! then listened to his breathing! automati%ally studying his features# As before! she had the strange impression of familiarity! and yet she %ouldn't remember seeing him up until a %ouple of days ago# -he hee2e %ontinued# She pressed the bell of her stethos%ope over his ne%& and pi%&ed up the stridor more %learly# He as moving air! but still not as ell as she ould li&e# He stared up at her! and again she felt un%omfortable# Often! a patient ith breathing problems remained fo%used on the medi%al provider! desperate for res%ue# Stop being so s&ittish! $arah Lee# -he poor guy +ust ants to breathe# Of %ourse! she as overly sensitive lately# Her father as %oming to to n Sunday night to ma&e a spee%h 3onday morning and %harm the people into voting for the tax levy that ould enable this %lini% to have a hospital designation# He ould! of %ourse! be as %riti%al of her as he al ays as# If the great State Senator $emper 3a%"onald's %onstituents had to endure the edge of his tongue as often as his o n younger daughter did! ould they %ontinue to vote for him, 5Sti%& out your tongue!5 she said# He did as he as told# It as slightly s ollen! but not bad# 5-ingly,5 He nodded# 5-hat's typi%al! but e on't ta&e %han%es#5 She %he%&ed his blood pressure! then heart rate ( hi%h as slightly in%reased due to the stress of his %ondition and his epi# 5No for the I= solumedrol!5 she said! rea%hing a%ross to the %omputer terminal in the exam room to ta&e it out of hibernation#

After establishing an I= in .errod's arm and pla%ing him on a heart monitor! %omplete ith blood pressure %uff and pulse oximetry unit! she pun%hed her pass ord into the %omputer and started a ne file# 'hile aiting for it to pull up her s%reen! she ex%used herself and ent into the re%eption room to %all .ill! the %lini%'s head nurse# .errod ould need to be &ept at least for a %ouple of hours! or until he as %ompletely out of danger# $arah Lee anted %ompany# And it as proto%ol# A movement dre her attention to ard the plate glass entry door! and she sa the outline of a human shado in the dar&ness! +ust past her o n refle%tion# Her blood ran %old# 'ho as out there,

)hapter - o

-aylor .a%&son %ontrolled his irritation ith diffi%ulty as he at%hed $arah Lee through the plate glass door# Ho many times had he told her to %all for ba%&up hen she had an evening emergen%y, And yet! ho many times had she snapped at him to stop nagging her, 'ith $arah Lee! he had found that impossible! be%ause she %onstantly too& ris&s# His irritation ith those ris&s had %aused too many %onfli%ts! and that as one reason they hadn't seen ea%h other ( at least so%ially ( for over t o ee&s# A%tually! it had been t o ee&s! one day! thirteen hours and t enty or so minutes# And it had felt li&e a %ouple of years# )hagrined by the loo& of fear he sa on her fa%e! he rea%hed for the door and pulled it open! silently than&ing 4od for his little spy# Fa n 3orrison! $arah Lee's pre%o%ious! seventeen/year/old foster daughter! had ta&en personal responsibility for the love life of her guardian# -aylor &ne a good thing hen he sa it! and he shamelessly allo ed the teenager to run interferen%e for him! espe%ially sin%e $arah Lee had been firm about avoiding him# 'hen he stepped inside! re%ognition and relief %hased ea%h other a%ross $arah Lee's expression*and a hint of some other emotion# Sadness, -ension, 5-aylor! hat are you doing here,5 7ep! tension# 6ven irritation# He had to suppress a satisfied smile# If she didn't still love him! ould she be so ill at ease ith him, He resisted the urge to rea%h out and %omb his fingers through those luxuriant red aves of ay ard hair#

5.ust sa the lights on and thought I'd %he%& things out#5 He &ne she hadn't re%overed from the atta%& last summer# He also &ne she as aggravatingly independent! and that this ne aspe%t of her %hara%ter ( vulnerability ( annoyed her# 5Need some help,5 She hesitated! glan%ing to ard the phone# He %ould read her thoughts# 5'hy %all .ill and disturb her evening hen you've already got ba%&up right here on the premises, Let me help out# 'here's the patient, 'hat's going on,5 5He's in exam t o#5 She glan%ed in the dire%tion of the exam room! and -aylor %aught the slight fro n# Something about the patient disturbed her# 51ad allergy#5 5'hat do you need me to do,5 5I've already ta&en %are of the ne%essities! and it doesn't loo& as if he's getting orse at this time#5 5So he isn't anaphyla%ti%,5 5It %ould be%ome that ay# I ant to &eep him for a %ouple of hours#5 5-hen I'll hang around#5 She hesitated! nibbling distra%tedly on her full! lus%ious lo er lip# Ama2ing# $arah Lee Flet%her at a loss for ords# It as a memorable moment# Later! hen they'd been married for forty years! he'd remind her about ho diligently she had fought to avoid matrimony# >lease! 4od! let us be together in forty years# As he follo ed her to the exam room he %ould barely &eep his ga2e from flitting to her every fe se%onds# He felt li&e a starving man ho had gone too long ithout the hope of food# It only proved to him ho a%%ustomed he had gro n to the thought of permanen%e ith $arah Lee Flet%her# He loved her indomitable ill! and yet she as very mu%h a oman! %omplete ith a tender! brea&able heart# If only she %ould reali2e that he did not intend to brea& that heart# And that fighting didn't mean impending loss# Ho %ould he %onvin%e her they %ould or& it out, He at%hed her as she spo&e softly to the patient# Something about the tenor of her voi%e! ho ever! alerted him# -his man as ma&ing her nervous# 'hy,

5.errod Houston!5 she said! 5meet Ranger -aylor .a%&son# He's also a paramedi%! and he helps out here at the %lini% hen he isn't fighting fires or ma&ing res%ues#5 Her lighthearted small tal& seemed to fall flat# .errod nodded! his heavy lids drooping ith obvious lethargy# $arah Lee most li&ely had given him a hefty in+e%tion of 1enadryl# It seemed apparent! ho ever! that even though the man as fighting the grogginess! his attention as fo%used intently on $arah Lee# 'hat as up ith this guy, ??? 1y the time $arah Lee entered the patient's s%anty history onto the %omputer! he had begun to snore# She noted his breathing sounded mu%h better# -aylor %ontinued to hover over her li&e a prote%tive at%hdog! even though it must have been obvious to him that .errod ouldn't be a threat to anyone in the near future# 53ind telling me hat it is about him that's bothering you,5 he as&ed# She entered the final bit of information in the %omputer# Any other time she ouldn't have hesitated to tell him# 56verything's fine! -aylor#5 She %ould almost feel the faint strum of his irritation# 1ig! strong -aylor had to be able to fix every situation or he asn't happy# 5If you don't mind! I'd li&e to hang around for the next %ouple of hours!5 he said# She nodded# She didn't mind at all# 6ver sin%e a hired hit man had nearly &illed her and Fa n in this very %lini%! -aylor had been very prote%tive of them# It made her feel %ared for# Still! there ere doubts# Al ays! there ere doubts# 6very man anted to be a hero! and -aylor as definitely that# 1ut there %ame a time hen the glamour ore off and a man as left ith the plain! day/after/day experien%e of living ith a oman# 'ives eren't nearly as ex%iting as helpless damsels in distress# Love al ays %ooled! and often turned to disli&e# -hen the fighting began# $arah Lee and -aylor had already rea%hed that stage# 'hat hope did they have of a good future, She &ne all about that! be%ause her o n parents had fought for years# "ad had! in fa%t! reminded her of that very thing hen she last spo&e ith him on the phone# Hadn't her o n sister proven that even the best of relationships didn't last, Li&e father! li&e daughter! Shona as in the painful throes of separation! as ell# And that had been a marriage $arah Lee thought ould last forever# 5Are you sure you %an stay,5 she as&ed# 5I mean! you might get %alled out#5

-he love in those gray ha2el eyes nearly melted her heart# In that strong! fre%&led fa%e! she sa a man ho as ethi%al! dependable and tender# 5I as off duty ten minutes ago!5 he said# 5-hat's perfe%t#5 She s%ooted her %hair ba%& and stood# 5No need for both of us to hang around! and Fa n needs help ith home or&# 'e've already got the blood pressure %uff on his arm and the pulse ox on his finger#5 5)an't Fa n bring her home or& (5 5-a&e a reading every fifteen minutes# 7ou &no my number! and you &no I'm +ust do n the road# )all me if you need me#5 She left him standing in the middle of the exam room! relieved to get out of the %lini%#

)hapter -hree

On Saturday morning! bright sunshine failed to lift -aylor's spirits as he entered Hidea ay )lini%# $arah Lee had returned last night in time to ma&e a follo /up appointment ith their patient and release him# -hen she'd smiled s eetly at -aylor! than&ed him for staying and dismissed him! as ell# .ust li&e that# Frustration didn't begin to des%ribe the ay -aylor felt! and he anted to %at%h her before any patients arrived# -hey needed to tal&# He shouldn't have been so 0ui%& to leave last night# 1la2e Farmer sat at the re%eption des&! fro ning at the %omputer# 53orning!5 he %alled! obviously distra%ted# -aylor returned the greeting# 5Anything rong,5 -he seventeen/year/old high s%hool senior loo&ed up! his ebony fa%e filled ith %onfusion# 5I tried to do nload a medi%al text onto the %omputer this morning and it ouldn't allo me on#5 5'hy not,5 5It said there as an illegal entry! but that's %ra2y# 6ither this %omputer's lying to me! or $arah Lee's been putting in a lot of hours here at night and she messed it up again#5

5'e had an emergen%y last night# $arah Lee and I too& %are of it# 3aybe she didn't shut it do n properly#5 5'e don't shut do n the %omputers at night! e put them into hibernation#5 1la2e shoo& his head# 5-his sho s $arah Lee's entries from the terminal in exam room t o yesterday evening! but did she %ome ba%& this morning at four o'%lo%& for some reason, "id e have t o emergen%ies in one night,5 -aylor glan%ed at his at%h# 5'hose pass ord as entered,5 5$arah Lee's# .ill said she didn't get any %alls last night# 7ou ere the only other person on %all# $arah Lee &no s after/hours %alls re0uire a support staff ba%&up#5 5'ere any patient files pulled up,5 -aylor as&ed# 5Nope! but this is eird# $arah Lee's personnel file as a%%essed#5 1la2e's eyes idened# 57ou don't thin& she's trying to update her info for some reason! do you, 7ou &no ! to loo& for another +ob,5 -he suggestion +olted -aylor momentarily# 'ould $arah Lee be so determined to avoid him that she ould loo& for a position else here, 5She's %ontra%ted to or& here until next .une#5 1la2e gave an expressive shrug# 5)an't %ontra%ts be bro&en, I mean! if $arah Lee +ust anted to %he%& out her file! hy snea& into the %lini% in the middle of the night to do it, I don't &no hy you t o are feuding! but you'd better pat%h it up fast! or e might lose us a good do%tor#5 ??? $arah Lee balan%ed her %up of %offee on top of a ba&ery box and rea%hed for the front door of the %lini%# It %ame open before she %ould tou%h the handle# -aylor .a%&son! loo&ing tired and grim! stood holding the door for her to enter# 5-han&s# 7ou're up and around early this morning#5 She too& note of the set of his +a and the loo& in his eyes# 5Is something rong,5 5-hat's hat e need to find out#5 He too& the items from her hands and %arried them to the re%eption des&! here 1la2e manned the %omputer# 1efore she %ould follo and res%ue her %offee and a %ho%olate @%lair from the box of pastries ( 1la2e shared her taste in brea&fast food and drin& ( -aylor had returned to steer her ba%& outside ith a gentle hand on her elbo # 5'e need to tal&#5 5'hy, 'hat's going on, Is everyone o&ay, Has something (5

56veryone's fine! don't orry# -his is bet een you and me#5 Oh# 5-aylor! %an't it ait, I have patients in t enty minutes! and I haven't had brea&fast! and I'm not in the mood for another fight#5 5No fighting! I promise! but this is important# 7ou didn't %all for ba%&up last night hen you should have! and I thin& that's be%ause of this*fri%tion bet een us lately#5 5I &no ! I'm sorry# I should have %alled! but you &no ho I hate to disturb someone at home hen I %an handle the situation by myself#5 'ith his hand still arm on her arm! he guided her a%ross the nearly deserted street to ard a ga2ebo that overloo&ed the la&e# 6arly morning sunlight glittered li&e diamonds a%ross the surfa%e of the ater# 5I as on %all! and you didn't ant to %all me# And then hen I did sho up! you ouldn't even stay in the %lini% ith me for a %ouple of hours#5 $arah Lee %ould hear in his voi%e that her a%tion had hurt him# 5I asn't lying about Fa n's home or&# She's trying so hard to %at%h up and graduate! and she needs me# I %an't let her do n#5 He tilted his head side ays! %onsidering her for a long moment# 5-hat's the only reason you left,5 She turned and strolled to ard the ater's edge! bypassing a pastel blue and hite ga2ebo ( one of several that dotted this broad la n bet een the to n s0uare and the la&eshore# -his as one of her favorite pla%es to %ome and thin& about things# Right no ! she %ould barely fo%us on al&ing! mu%h less thin&ing# -hat as hat -aylor did to her# He %aught up ith her# 5$arah Lee! I'm sorry# I have no right to ma&e any demands on you# 'e haven't made any promises# I'm not going to for%e anything#5 5I thought you said e ouldn't fight#5 5-his isn't a fight! it's a dis%ussion# -he problem e're having isn't +ust about us9 it's about your father# -hat man did a number on you# He isn't representative of all men#5 5"on't try to tell me again that marriage is all s eetness and light#5 She rea%hed the ater's edge and loo&ed up at him# -he morning sunlight glinted highlights a%ross his bron2e auburn hair! and et%hed more deeply the lines of fatigue around his eyes# 5I've never tried to tell you that!5 he said 0uietly# 51ut I &no ho satisfying and good a real marriage is# I've seen my parents happily married for many de%ades# 'e %ould have that &ind of marriage#5

She heard the sadness in his voi%e# His first ife had left him after the death of their only %hild# $arah Lee &ne -aylor ould never have been the one to leave# He as a hopeless romanti% ho believed marriage as forever# He needed to +oin the real orld# A %ar pulled into a par&ing spot in front of the %lini%# Soon the patients ould start arriving# 5I have to get to or&!5 she said gently# 5First ill you tell me if you're loo&ing for another +ob,5 5'hy on earth ould you as& that,5 51la2e noti%ed you returned to the %lini% very early this morning and a%%essed your personnel file#5 5I left last night about t o minutes after you did! and I never returned until you met me at the door and too& my %offee and box of pastries ( half of hi%h 1la2e has probably eaten! by the ay# -hat &id eats more than everyone else in the %lini% %ombined#5 5-he %omputer doesn't lie#5 5'ell! the %omputer is rong this time# )heyenne ould roast me over an open fire if I even tried to loo& for another +ob# 1esides! I have my o n %opy of my resume ( I don't need to brea& into the %lini% files for that#5 5-hen e need to %he%& out a fe things#5

)hapter Four

-aylor sat at the staff table in the brea& room fa%ing a de+e%ted teenager and a hungry do%tor# 1la2e had made a habit every evening before %losing to double/%he%& front and ba%& entran%es of the %lini%# 6ver sin%e fugitive Fa n 3orrison had spent the night undete%ted in the %lini% in .une! 1la2e had gro n serious about %lini% se%urity# 5I %an't believe I %ould've left a door unlo%&ed!5 1la2e said# 5"on't be silly#5 $arah Lee sipped her %offee! hi%h she had res%ued +ust in time from 1la2e's hands# 5I'm the one ho lo%&ed up last night after our patient as dis%harged#5 5"id you %he%& the ba%& door,5 1la2e san& his teeth into the %ho%olate @%lair -aylor &ne $arah Lee had hoped to save for herself# -he &id %aught her expression and his dar&! thi%& eyebro s rose ith a 0uestion# He nudged a %ruller in her dire%tion#

She pi%&ed it up ith a grima%e# 5I had no reason to#5 57ou made an appointment last night ith .errod# He's due in at ten,5 -aylor as&ed her# 5'e may need to as& him a 0uestion or t o#5 5He asn't in any shape to go snooping last night!5 she said# 5'e %an't +ust go a%%using patients of brea&ing and entering#5 -aylor nodded# -he man had done nothing hile he as here ex%ept sleep! and he'd done it loudly enough for -aylor to hear it all the ay from here in the staff brea& room# 56verybody &no s the senator's %oming to to n 3onday to en%ourage a good vote!5 1la2e said# 53aybe something's up ith that# A fe people don't ant the hospital here#5 5So hy %he%& out $arah Lee's file, Fe people &no $emper is $arah Lee's father#5 -aylor understood that $arah Lee desperately needed to separate herself from her father's overbearing shado # 'hen she %ame to Hidea ay this past summer! she purposely &ept her father's name 0uiet# A state senator %ould garner a lot of attention! and this parti%ular state senator tended to be outspo&en and %ontroversial# He as a rogue# A popular rogue ith the %iti2ens of 3issouri at the moment! but one from hom $arah Lee preferred to distan%e herself# She had deep s%ars from past history# 5-here's no eviden%e of a brea&/in!5 1la2e said# 5-he doors and indo s ere lo%&ed hen I arrived# :nless the intruder had a &ey! it ould be impossible to lo%& a door or indo behind him#5 5I'll %all the sheriff!5 -aylor said# 5'e'll %he%& it out#5 -he nurse opened the door and stu%& her head in# 5First patient's ready! $arah Lee#5 ??? $arah Lee as ta&ing a rare brea& ith a se%ond %up of %offee at her des& hen the nurse! .ill )ooper! slipped through the door and %losed it behind her! holding a %hart in her hand# 57ou say the name of your patient last night as .errod Houston,5 $arah Lee set her %up do n and pushed ba%& from the des&# 5Is he here for his appointment,5 .ill pla%ed the %hart in front of her# 57oung guy! maybe late t enties! early thirties! good loo&ing! bla%& hair,5 57es#5 $arah Lee felt a rene ed spurt of anxiety# 5'hat's rong,5

.ill leaned %loser and lo ered her voi%e# 5"id he sho you any &ind of I", Insuran%e %ard or anything,5 5He as a %ash patient#5 5I don't thin& his name's .errod Houston#5 -his %an't be happening# -he hole thing as getting more and more spoo&y# 5'hy ould he lie about his name,5 6spe%ially after stal&ing her for t o days, .ill slid into a %hair a%ross from $arah Lee# 5:nless my eyes are de%eiving me! that guy ent to s%hool right here in Hidea ay# He as a fe grades behind my &id sister# He al ays follo ed her around li&e a puppy dog ( li&e half the boys in s%hool# He as 0uiet! even morose# He flushed bright red henever she tal&ed to him#5 5If you don't remember his name! hy don't you thin& he's using the right one,5 $arah Lee as&ed# 5Houston is a memorable name# 3aybe I'll give Noelle a %all hen things slo do n a little and see if she %an tell me anything#5 $arah Lee pi%&ed up the %hart# 57ou ant me to a%%ompany you,5 .ill as&ed# $arah Lee hesitated# 7es! she did# 'hat as this man up to, 5I'll be fine! .ill# I'm sure there's a logi%al explanation#5 ??? -aylor &nelt on the ground outside the ba%& door of the %lini% beside Fa n 3orrison! %he%&ing for footprints! fingerprints! tool mar&s on the lo%& or signs of for%ed entry on one of the indo s# -he %lini% asn't the most se%ure pla%e in to n! even after the .une deba%le# -he general %onsensus had been that no alarm system %ould have &ept that armed hit man from for%ing his ay into the building# So far! though! there'd been no sign of illegal entry# 5'hen you spent the night here last summer!5 -aylor as&ed Fa n! 5you slipped in this door before they lo%&ed up that night! right,5 5-hat's right# $arah Lee's still avoiding you! isn't she,5 5Let's fo%us on the issue at hand! o&ay, Ho did you es%ape 1la2e's noti%e that night hen he lo%&ed up,5

5I hid in the hot ater %loset in the bathroom! but he %he%&s that no #5 -he girl gave -aylor an impudent grin# 5$arah Lee doesn't li&e me tal&ing about you! either#5 'hen $arah Lee agreed to be Fa n's guardian this past summer! she %ouldn't have reali2ed hat she as getting into# Not only had Fa n been a sixteen/year/old runa ay from an impossible home life! but she had be%ome a fugitive hen she itnessed a murder in 1ranson# Si%& and frightened! she had ended up here at the %lini%# If not for $arah Lee! she ould be dead no # $arah Lee as the only person -aylor %ould thin& of ho as headstrong enough to handle this independent %hild! but they had formed a strong bond# 5She needs more time!5 he said at last! glan%ing up to ard the se%ond story indo s# )ould someone have found a pla%e to hide hen the %lini% as open! then done their snooping after it %losed, -he sheriff had fingerprinted all the %omputer terminals# It %ould be a hile before they had any results# 5She loves you! you &no !5 Fa n said softly# 5She's been bummed ever sin%e you bro&e up#5 5I didn't do the brea&ing up!5 he muttered# 5She's got issues ith marriage# No she on't even let me go out on a date ith this %ute guy from %hur%h# I mean! she a%ts as if I'm going to elope or something#5 5I'm sure you told her hat you thought about that!5 -aylor said# 5I told her not to ta&e her disappointing love life out on me# .ust be%ause she's too s%ared to ma&e a %ommitment doesn't mean (5 5Ou%h8 "on't you thin& that's a little rough,5 Fa n grima%ed at him# 5I don't &no hy I try so hard for you# If you and $arah Lee get married! that'll ma&e you my foster father# -hen it'll be t o against one#5 5-hat'll even the odds a little#5 She as silent for a fe moments! then said! 5So you ouldn't mind putting up ith me if you marry $arah Lee, 7ou on't ma&e me leave,5 She tried to sound %asual about the 0uestion! but -aylor heard the vulnerability beneath the ords! and he sa the %arefully averted ga2e as she aited for an ans er# -ime to be serious# 57ou &no I lost my son! don't you,5

She nodded! loo&ing up at him! her blue eyes narro ed against the sunlight that had edged over the top of the building# 5'ell! I ould've li&ed more &ids# I have this theory that on%e you've had %hildren! there's al ays spa%e in your heart for more# At least that's the ay I feel#5 She studied his expression for a fe se%onds! eyes still narro ed# 57ou're saying I'm a %hild,5 He grinned# 5'hat I'm saying is that you ould al ays be a el%ome part of my family#5 Something in her expression relaxed# She leaned for ard and &issed him on the %hee&# 5-han&s! "ad# No if you'll +ust %onvin%e 3om hat a happy family e %ould be#5 He remembered something $arah Lee had said a fe ee&s ago# 'hen she and Shona ere gro ing up! they never seemed to have a happy family be%ause someone as al ays fighting# If he and $arah Lee married! ould they have a happy family,

)hapter Five

.errod Houston as settled on the exam bed in t o hen $arah Lee for%ed an expression of %alm assuran%e on her fa%e and entered ith his %hart# His lightly tanned fa%e as no longer splot%hy# He as a good/loo&ing man! ith a strong +a line! high %hee&bones and dar& gray eyes beneath ell/ar%hed! dar& bro s# 'ho as he! really, She should have %alled -aylor to meet her here last night# -he guy %ould be a serial &iller! for all she &ne # $illers had found this tiny la&eside to n before# 5Sorry about last night!5 .errod said# His voi%e as full and mello ! no sign of hee2ing or hoarseness# 5For being si%&,5 She set his %hart onto the des&! stalling for time! illing her heart to stop its ra%ing# 5"on't apologi2e for &eeping us in business# Ho are you feeling today,5 He shrugged# 5It too& a loud alarm %lo%& to get me here#5 5-hat isn't unusual# Allergies %an do that! and so %an some of the medi%ation I gave you last night#5 She studied his features more %losely# Of %ourse! she didn't &no the man! but he asn't ma&ing a lot of eye %onta%t this morning# Shy, Or did he have a hidden agenda,

'hy had she re+e%ted .ill's offer to a%%ompany her in here, And hy as she suddenly so frightened by him, "espite her fear! he still loo&ed familiar# 'as it possible she'd seen him some here before, 5I heard an interesting rumor today#5 She paused and s allo ed# "id she really ant to get into this, 57ou &no ho rumors are in small to ns! don't you,5 He blin&ed! then nodded# His eyes narro ed slightly! and she heard a momentary pause in his breathing# 57ou've*lived in a small to n before,5 she as&ed# 5Sure have#5 Leave it alone, Karah Lee. Let someone else handle it. 1ut she had never been one to ba%& a ay from a %onfrontation! and she asn't going to go all s&ittish no # 5-his one! maybe,5 He loo&ed up at her# 5"oes it matter here I gre up! "r# Flet%her,5 She flin%hed at the sudden %hill in his expression# Don't show the fear. 5$arah Lee!5 she said! ondering if he %ould hear the tremor in her voi%e# 5'e're pretty %asual around here#5 He held her ga2e for a tense moment# She as on the verge of leaving the room hen he said 0uietly! 5I ouldn't &no # 'e didn't have a %lini% in to n hen I as gro ing up here# Old "o% 4lass had an offi%e upstairs! but I didn't see mu%h of him#5 5So you did live here,5 5I don't anymore!5 he said# 5And here I gre up has nothing to do ith my allergy atta%&#5 She suddenly remembered his %omment last night about unfinished business# 'hat &ind of business %ould he be tal&ing about, 'hy did she get the impression that it might %on%ern her, -he loo& in his eyes hen he loo&ed at her, Or maybe the fa%t that he seemed to have sho n up herever she as the past %ouple of days# 5It doesn't matter to me hether or not you gre up here#5 She tried to &eep her voi%e %asual# 51ut I get %urious hen someone tells me his name! and I find out later that isn't it#5 There you go, Karah Lee Fletcher. Jump in with oth feet. Kemper !acDonald isn't the only rogue in this family.

5I didn't lie to anyone#5 Impatien%e sharpened his ords# 53y name's .errod Houston no ! o&ay,5 6very instin%t told her to get out of the exam room no and let la enfor%ement %he%& him out# 1ut her instin%ts ere a little s&e ed lately# She resented the fear that seemed to atta%& her at every a & ard situation! every off/&ey ord or %omment# She refused to allo her fears to shape her life or her a%tions# She %ompleted her exam! hi%h revealed no residual %ompli%ations from last night's emergen%y# 5I hear the great state senator's %oming to to n!5 .errod said as she sat do n at the terminal to update his online %hart# 5-hat's hat they say#5 She &ept her voi%e %asual# 5And I hear you're related to him#5 She typed for a moment! made several mista&es! had to go ba%& and %orre%t them# 5It's a small to n# 7ou're li&ely to hear all sorts of rumors flying around#5 5'ould that one be true,5 It sounded li&e an a%%usation# She pivoted on her stool# 5"on't tell me you're a reporter out for a story on the senator's visit# If that's hy you've been popping up herever I've been the past %ouple of days (5 5"id I hip out a re%order and intervie you last night,5 5No! and you're not going to do it no ! either#5 5So you are his daughter, And yet! you don't share the same last name# -hat might ma&e a person %urious#5 -here as a tou%h of sar%asm in his voi%e as he mimi%&ed her earlier %omment# 51ut there's a differen%e!5 she snapped# 5I've never approa%hed you! sought you out! or tried to stri&e up a %onversation ith you in a restaurant#5 She %ompleted his %hart! logged off and stood to es%ort him from the room# 57ou're in good shape# I'll +ust have to advise you to avoid nuts of any &ind until you're tested by an allergist# I don't thin& a follo /up appointment ill be ne%essary! but I am going to rite you a pres%ription for an epi pen# )all the %lini% if you find you're in trouble again#5 She left the room! handed the %hart to 1la2e and ent to her offi%e! relieved to be out of the man's presen%e# ???

$arah Lee loo&ed fra22led that afternoon hen she stepped out of the %lini%# She stopped hen she sa -aylor standing on the side al&! aiting for her! and holding up a pea%e offering ( a %ho%olate @%lair from the ba&ery# He'd &no n she %ouldn't resist# Her expression revealed the pro%ess of her thoughts# At first as the +oyful smile that lit her golden amber eyes the ay they must have lit at )hristmas hen she as a &id# -hen %ame the obvious silent reminder! "h, yeah, we're not seeing each other anymore. 5If this is a bribe! it's or&ing!5 she said! ta&ing the @%lair he held out to her# 51etter believe it# 'here are you headed,5 5I'm going home to %he%& on Fa n# She still needs a lot of help on a ma+or home or& pro+e%t this ee&end#5 5I'll al& ith you# Anything on .errod,5 5Li&e hat,5 -here as an unusual sharpness in her voi%e# 5Oh! I don't &no ! maybe a real name! here he lives! hat he's doing ba%& in Hidea ay#5 Her steps slo ed# She fro ned up at him# 57ou sure get around#5 5I've as&ed a fe 0uestions here and there# .ill put me in tou%h ith her &id sister! Noelle! and she told me .errod's real name in s%hool as .erry )lar&! so .erry ould be short for .errod#5 5Any idea hy the %hange of name,5 5)ould be the fa%t that his father! Lester )lar&! ent to prison for murder hen they lived here#5 'ith a s iftly indra n breath! $arah Lee stopped# 53urder,5 5No do you understand hy I don't li&e you meeting patients alone at the %lini% at night,5 Her fa%e paled# 5-aylor! I thin& this man spe%ifi%ally singled me out# I've seen him too many times in the past %ouple of days for it to be %oin%iden%e# I as +ust beginning to %onvin%e myself he as a reporter out for a story! be%ause he as&ed about "ad's up%oming trip do n here#5 -aylor hesitated to tell her the rest ( she as already spoo&ed# 1ut the sheriff ould need to &no hat transpired bet een $arah Lee and .errod#

5'hat is it,5 she as&ed softly# 5I &no that loo&# 'hat aren't you telling me,5 He met her ga2e# 5-om ran ''ants and 'arrants' on .errod and his alias# -here ere none noted# 1ut he did find one interesting tidbit of information# .errod got a permit for a ne handgun t o ee&s ago#5 5Oh*5 She rea%hed for his arm the ay a %hild ould rea%h for her father! for prote%tion# 5Last night I as&ed hat he as doing in to n# He said he had some unfinished business# 'hat if "ad had something to do ith .errod's father's %onvi%tion, Or hat if .errod thin&s he does,5 5I don't li&e this!5 -aylor said# 5I &no you don't ant to be %ontrolled by your father's a%tions in any ay! but you need prote%tion! at least until $emper leaves Hidea ay#5 She fro ned! sha&ing her head# 5I don't need a bodyguard! if that's hat you're tal&ing about#5 57ou reali2e! don't you! that he's probably our best suspe%t for this morning's ha%&ing! until proven other ise#5 5-ell -om and 4reg to in%rease the se%urity for "ad hen he arrives# -he only reason .errod ould %ome to me ( if he's even doing that ( is to get to "ad for some reason#5 He al&ed beside her in silen%e! &no ing she as fighting fear# 1ut ould she admit it to him, No# He as afraid for her! and he &ne that she &ne this# Sometimes they seemed so in tune it felt as if she %ould tell him hat he as thin&ing before he &ne it himself# 'hen they eren't fighting# $arah Lee asn't usually the one ho pi%&ed the fight! he as# He orried so mu%h about her# And it as only getting orse# He didn't have the strength to ba%& off# 1ut if he anted to &eep her in his life! he ould have to! ouldn't he, #lease, Lord, keep her safe. $he's in your hands. %nd please heal this relationship. & elieve 'ou meant for us to e together.

)hapter Six

It had be%ome a habit for $arah Lee to eat at the La&eside 1ed and 1rea&fast after the Saturday morning rush at the %lini%# -oday the buffet held all the s%rumptious deli%a%ies for hi%h 1ertie's pla%e had be%ome famous# It in%luded traditional brea&fast fare! but

their spe%ialty as bla%& alnut affles ith stra berry topping! $arah Lee's favorite food in the orld# She as +ust pi%&ing up a plate hen someone spo&e behind her# 5I thought I'd find you here#5 She stiffened! feeling a sho%& of fear run through her# .errod stood behind her! studying the food instead of loo&ing at her# 'as he %arrying that gun -aylor said he'd pur%hased, $eep it %alm! $arah Lee# 5Have you had more allergy symptoms,5 5I'm fine#5 5Stay a ay from the affles unless you have a death ish#5 She pushed her tray for ard! hoping he ould ta&e the hint and leave her alone# She pla%ed t o affles on her plate! then dri22led them ith fresh stra berry syrup# 'ithin se%onds! she sa him approa%h her again from the %orner of her eye# 5-hey didn't have this pla%e hen I lived here! but then e never had the money to eat out mu%h hen I as gro ing up#5 She pi%&ed up her tray and sear%hed for a table# -here as only one empty! and she made her ay to ard it# She had barely settled ith her food hen she loo&ed up to see .errod %oming to ard her# 5Loo&! I'm sorry I as rude to you in the %lini%!5 he said# 5I'm a little tou%hy about some things! but you seem to be! too# I %an explain#5 She hesitated! and though the dining room as %ro ded! she felt physi%ally vulnerable# Still! if he had something to say to her! better to do it here than hen she as alone# She nodded to ard the %hair a%ross from her# 5Have a seat! then! if you'll promise me you're not a reporter loo&ing for an intervie about $emper#5 Or something orse# 5I'm no reporter#5 He settled a & ardly a%ross from her# 5'hy don't you tell me hat you're really doing in Hidea ay,5 she as&ed# 5Obviously! your mother felt the need to leave to n after your father as %onvi%ted of murder#5 57ou've been tal&ing to your ranger friend,5 5He ma&es it his business to &eep me safe# And hile you're explaining! you might tell me about the gun you pur%hased re%ently#5 Ama2ingly! she lost her appetite after the first bite of affle#

53y girlfriend got mugged a month ago hen she as al&ing out of the mall at night# I anted her to have prote%tion# 7ou %an have the poli%e go through all my things if you ant# I don't %arry a gun#5 At this point she asn't ready to believe anything he said# 5Fine# -ell me your story#5 'hile $arah Lee sipped %offee and po&ed at her food! .errod 0uietly told $arah Lee about the tyrant of a man ho as given to fits of rage! hom everyone in to n hated! and ho terrori2ed .errod and his mother# -he man ent to prison for murder hen .errod as fifteen# 5'hy did your mother stay ith him,5 $arah Lee as&ed# 5'hy does anyone stay in an abusive relationship, She as more afraid of being on her o n ith a hard/to/handle &id than she as of him# She divor%ed him and remarried not long after his senten%ing#5 5And then,5 $arah Lee prompted! a are that this man %ould tell a %onvin%ing story# 'as it +ust that, A story, 5And then I spent some time at a boys ran%h a%ross the la&e#5 -he boys ran%h as a pla%e here in%orrigible &ids ere sent for brea&ing the la # Ho in%orrigible had .errod been, 5'ere you there long,5 5Only about six months# I had a pretty bad temper as a teenager#5 And ho as his temper no , 5''hy are you ba%& in Hidea ay,5

He met her ga2e# 5I remember seeing you here all those years ago#5 Anxiety tightened a band around her stoma%h# $arah Lee and her family had loved to va%ation here hen she as gro ing up! before her parents divor%ed# 53om pointed you out to me!5 he said# 5'hy ould she do that,5 51e%ause you ere $emper 3a%"onald's daughter# 7ou and your sister ere al&ing on the s0uare ith your father# 7ou had all that %urly! bright red hair# Hard to forget that hair#5 He paused! a long! thoughtful silen%e# 57our father as famous even then# 3y mother as an amateur photographer! and she too& a lot of pi%tures# She &ept a photographi% re%ord of your father's %areer#5 -ime to leave! $arah Lee# -his is a %ase of 5Li&e mother! li&e son#5 5'hy ould she do something li&e that,5

5I guess hen a oman is married to an abusive man! she's going to loo& for someone else to admire#5 5"on't ma&e my father out to be a hero# He'll let you do n! +ust li&e your father did#5 5Oh! I'm not doing that!5 he said softly# 57ou don't remember me! do you,5 Leave now, Karah Lee. (e's un alanced. 5Is there a reason hy I should,5 5I spo&e to you one day hen you ere in to n# I thin& you ere about t elve at the time# I as eight# 7ou al&ed out of the general store! and I had been aiting for about thirty minutes for you to %ome out# 7ou ere ith Shona and $emper! and you smiled at me and said hello# Shona didn't even noti%e me! and neither did the great $emper 3a%"onald#5 She %ouldn't miss the sar%asm! the bitterness in his ords! but neither %ould she miss the sadness of a little boy ith a horrible home life! standing out on the street! aiting for someone to noti%e he existed# 57ou remember that after all this time,5 5"id you &no that a pi%ture is orth a thousand ords,5 He rea%hed ba%&! as if to pull something from the po%&et of his +a%&et! then his ga2e shifted to something behind her! and he stiffened# She turned to see -aylor %oming to ard them# Her res%uer as at it again! and this time she didn't mind at all# ??? -aylor as not typi%ally a violent man! but hen he found .errod seated a%ross the table from $arah Lee! he prepared for battle# 5Hello! .errod# 4lad I found you here# )ould I have a ord ith you! privately,5 .errod blin&ed up at him! hesitated! then shrugged# 5Sure! I guess# $arah Lee! it as good tal&ing to you#5 He paused! as if anting to say more! then got up and al&ed from the dining room ith -aylor# 5I've heard some interesting things about you today!5 -aylor said as they stepped from the =i%torian building and a%ross the flagstone steps to ard the street# 5So I understand#5 'as that a tra%e of defeat in the man's tone, 5Ne s travels 0ui%&ly in this to n#5 5Lots of old/timers around here!5 -aylor said# 5I &no a fe things about your past! but not mu%h about your present# For instan%e! hat do you do for a living,5 5I'm a mainframe system designer for a private %ompany in $ansas#5 .errod pre%eded him a%ross the street#

5Interesting!5 -aylor said# 5)omputer system designer# So you must really &no your ay around %omputers# I spo&e ith our deputy sheriff! ho also &no s a fe things# He's been %omplaining for 0uite some time that our %lini% %omputer system is so an%ient e're sus%eptible to any good ha%&er ho might ant to find information about a patient#5 5Ha%&ing into patient files is against the la #5 .errod's steps 0ui%&ened as he rea%hed the side al& that en%ir%led the to n s0uare# 5I ta&e it there's a point to this %onversation#5 5I noti%ed last night that you had a neat little gadget in your shirt po%&et# At first I mistoo& it for an in& pen! but no that I thin& about it! I've de%ided that %ould ell have been a tiny video %amera#5 .errod stared# 5In fa%t! if someone needed a pass ord and user name of a do%tor! all he'd have to do is ma&e a do%tor %ome in after hours for an emergen%y! then possibly use a small video %amera to re%ord the do%tor's fingers as they stri&e the &eys# Later! sin%e the %omputer system remains on all night! our ha%&er %an simply use his laptop in the priva%y of his o n hotel room to brea& into the system#5 5-hat person ould have to be pretty stupid to intentionally eat something he &ne %ould &ill him on the off %han%e he ould have the opportunity to do that#5 53aybe# I'm trying to figure out hy a %omplete stranger ould ant to ha%& into our %lini% %omputer +ust to pull up "r# Flet%her's personnel file#5 .errod stopped in front of an anti0ue shop on the s0uare ( =intage -reasures ( and rea%hed for the door handle# 5I'm sorry I %an't help you# 3aybe you should as& the friendly people of Hidea ay a fe more 0uestions#5

)hapter Seven

Later that afternoon! -aylor found $arah Lee sitting on her favorite ben%h on the la&eshore! at%hing the sun as it slipped past the hori2on# A bla2e of red and gold rimmed the trees on the far shore and refle%ted from the surfa%e of the ater# -aylor san& do n beside her on the ben%h# 5Se%urity has no been tripled for your father's arrival! and you ill also have a bodyguard hen your father arrives#5

$arah Lee shrugged# 5'hy am I not surprised, -aylor! I thin& .errod is a se%ond/ generation stal&er# His mother too& pi%tures of "ad! though I don't &no to hat extent# .errod mentioned photos of our family! and I'm ondering if he as issuing a veiled threat#5 5)ould his mother have been a bla%&mailer,5 5>ossibly# If so! there's no telling hat she %ould have %aught on %amera#5 5I had a tal& ith .errod!5 -aylor said# 5I thin& he as the one ho loo&ed up your information on the %lini% %omputer# He didn't deny it#5 5I thin& he as +ust trying to find out if I as really $emper's daughter!5 she said# 5Ho I ish I eren't#5 -aylor pi%&ed up a flat stone and s&ipped it a%ross the ater! shattering the smooth surfa%e into a %auldron of spar&ling %olor# 5Not all men are li&e $emper 3a%"onald#5 5Of %ourse they aren't# Some are orse#5 He suppressed a sharp retort# 5Some are better#5 She sighed# 5I &no that! -aylor# I have no doubts about you#5 5I thought both of us had managed to get beyond the bitterness of our pasts#5 5It's hard to get over the past hen you don't &no everything about your past# 3y father has lied to so many people! pulled so many strings to suit his o n desires that I %an't help ondering hat he's done to attra%t a bla%&mailer#5 5'hy should that affe%t us, 'e're still ho e are# 7ou &no I'm not going to hurt you as your father has# And I &no you are stubborn enough to ma&e a marriage or& no matter hat it ta&es#5 She sat 0uietly as they at%hed the spar&les of %olor smooth and deepen a%ross the la&e on%e more# -hen she %hu%&led softly# 57ou ma&e marriage sound li&e a lifelong restling mat%h#5 He put a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to ard him# 5I love you! $arah Lee# I don't ant you to forget that# I never thought I'd be as happy as I have been sin%e I met you#5 5And I have never in my life been as lonely as I am no dryly# 5I'm not sure that's su%h a good development#5 hen I'm not ith you!5 she said

5It's a great development# It means e need to spend more time together! not less#5 He gently tou%hed her %hee&! and lo ered his lips to hers# For +ust that moment! she gave him hope# ??? $arah Lee had almost rea%hed her %ottage Saturday evening hen .errod Houston stepped from the shado s li&e a silent raith# -hen he spo&e# 5-he man ho lived ith my mother and me asn't my father#5 She stopped! too startled to feel fear immediately# 5.errod! hat are you (5 5And the reason I remember the day I sa you as be%ause it as the only time my o n sister ever voluntarily spo&e to me#5 $arah Lee's lungs failed her for a brief fe se%onds# 57our mother told you that,5 This can't e happening. This man needs to e locked up in a psych ward. 5She never told your father about me!5 he %ontinued! 5but she never anted me to thin& I belonged to that +er& she as married to#5 57ou %an't expe%t me to believe you#5 She turned from him! suddenly desperate to es%ape# He rea%hed for her hand# She +er&ed a ay# 5'hat I thin& you've been telling me today is that you've stal&ed me ever sin%e I as t elve! and that your mother stal&ed my father# Loo&! I don't &no ho you really are! or hat you're up to! but I ant you to stay a ay from me85 5>lease! +ust listen to me for a minute#5 54et a ay85 She s%rambled to &eep an arm's length bet een them# 5I'm not going to hurt you! $arah Lee8 >lease! all I as& is that you loo& at a %ouple of pi%tures# I've tried to find the %ourage to sho them to you sooner! but I %ouldn't do it# I'm doing it no # If you don't believe me after you've seen them! then I'll never bother you again#5 She glan%ed to ard the door of the %ottage# She %ouldn't go in there and possibly lead him to Fa n# 57ou promise you'll leave me alone,5 5I promise#5 -here as no threat in his expression! only sadness that loo&ed eathered into his fa%e# In his hands he held a billfold! and from it he slid a photo of a beautiful!

dar& haired oman ho appeared to be in her late t enties# 5"oes this person loo& familiar to you,5 &t's a trick, Karah Lee. #eople can do anything to photographs these days. 5-hat loo&s li&e "ad's se%ond ife! Irene# Anyone %ould have ta&en this pi%ture#5 5Loo& %loser!5 he said handing her the photo# 5-hat oman's name as 3argaret# She as my mother# She died three months ago# She al ays anted me to get to &no my father and sisters! and I don't have any other relatives on her side# 6x%ept for you and Shona and $emper! I don't have any family# 7ou %an't possibly understand ho that feels#5 5Loo&! you %an't +ust go %laiming family ties be%ause of a resemblan%e in a pi%ture#5 5I've seen a photo of your mother ith you hen you ere little# Our father apparently had very spe%ifi% tastes#5 He pulled another snapshot from the billfold and handed it to her! as ell# 5-hat's my mother and me hen I as ten#5 $arah Lee too& it! then %aught her breath# "espite the gender differen%e! this %ould be a photo of Shona as a %hild! ith the dar& hair! the dar& gray eyes! even the same tilt of the eyebro s# No onder she'd thought he loo&ed familiar# 5I'm not the son of a murderer!5 .errod said# 5I'm the illegitimate son of a philandering politi%ian! hi%h is almost as bad# I dare you to %onfront our father ith that pi%ture#5 ??? State Senator $emper 3a%"onald as a tall! broad/shouldered lion of a man ith a thi%& mane of auburn hair liberally strea&ed ith silver# He had pier%ing! golden bro n eyes and %ould usually undermine $arah Lee's %onfiden%e ith a fe ell/%hosen ords# 6arly Sunday evening! ho ever! he sat in the exe%utive suite above the La&eside 1ed and 1rea&fast lodge as he stared at the t o photographs on the %offee table in front of him# His typi%ally ruddy %omplexion paled# 5'here did you get these,5 he as&ed# 5From him#5 She pointed to the little boy in the pi%ture# 5He's four years younger than me#5 $emper loo&ed up at her sharply! his eyes narro ing# 5-he orst thing about this is that I %an't help ondering ho many other people might approa%h me in the next fe years %laiming to be a sibling of mine!5 she said# $emper %losed his eyes and slumped ba%& in the %lub %hair# 5'here is he no ,5

5I don't &no if he's even still in to n#5 5-rust me! he didn't %ome all the ay here +ust to give you a %ouple of pi%tures# He's some here in Hidea ay! and he'll be sure to sho up sometime during my spee%h tomorro # In fa%t! I ouldn't be surprised to see his mother here! as ell#5 5His mother is dead#5 >ain flashed briefly a%ross $emper's expression# 5"id you love her,5 He rubbed his fa%e earily! sighed! shoo& his head# 5I barely &ne the oman#5 She %ould tell he as lying# 57ou slept ith a oman you barely &ne ,5 He glared at her# 5Ho many others has he told about this,5 5.errod didn't say#5 5Haven't you learned by no that people %ome out of the ood or& hen they thin& you have something they ant, It ould ta&e more than a %ouple of snapshots to %onvin%e me of any paternal responsibility# -hose things %ould be do%tored#5 5Haven't you seen ho mu%h he loo&ed li&e Shona at that age, -he family resemblan%e is still there! "ad# I %an't believe I'm saying this! but I thin& he's telling the truth#5 $emper stood up and strode into the &it%henette# $arah Lee follo ed him# 57ou haven't denied having an affair ith 3argaret#5 He rea%hed into the %abinet for a %ouple of mugs# 5)offee,5 5-his isn't something you %an ignore or dismiss#5 He put the mugs do n on the %ounter# 5If you hadn't gone into medi%ine! you ould have made a good prose%uting attorney#5 57ou haven't denied the possibility that .errod %ould be your son#5 5No! 7our Honor! I have not!5 $emper dra led ith that 3issouri t ang for hi%h he as ell &no n# 5And if I'm going to &eep my reputation! it ould behoove me to &eep my mouth shut about it#5 5So you're telling me your politi%al %areer is more important to you than your family#5

5I didn't say that#5 She %olle%ted the photographs from the %offee table and left the suite ithout another ord#

)hapter 6ight

$arah Lee stood beside her sister! Shona -remaine! slightly apart from the %ro d 3onday morning at the par&# It seemed as if all of Hidea ay and perhaps half of 1ranson had %ongregated to hear their father endorse Hidea ay )lini% to be designated in the future as a hospital# His voi%e boomed from all the strategi%ally pla%ed spea&ers! and he loo&ed polished! as usual# 5"id you sele%t his suit for him,5 $arah Lee as&ed Shona under the %over of his ords# 5And rite his spee%h and arrange for lodging and prompt him on the ride do n,5 5'at%h it!5 Shona said! rea%hing up to tame several strands of bla%& hair that ble in the bree2e# 57our %la s are sho ing again#5 5'hy do you still let him dominate your life the ay he does,5 57ou should tal&# 7ou seldom even see him! but your resentment of him affe%ts everything you do#5 5He bro&e up your marriage!5 $arah Lee said# Shona gave a 0uiet sigh! her dar& ga2e automati%ally studying the %ro d ith all the fo%us of a se%ret servi%e agent# 5I bro&e up my marriage# I made the rong %hoi%es# I have only myself to blame#5 5Have you seen 4eoff lately,5 56very night on the ne s %hannel# He's an an%horman no #5 5'hen is the divor%e final,5 $arah Lee as&ed# 6ven grima%ing! ith the sun in her fa%e! Shona as a stunningly attra%tive oman! hose appearan%e %on%ealed ell her thirty/eight years# 5-here's been no date set# I'm

tired of being reminded about the divor%e# I'm not pushing it! and neither is 4eoff# Let it rest# If you'd stop blaming "ad and get on ith your o n life (5 5I'm getting on ith it#5 And it as true# Although -aylor didn't &no it! their dis%ussion had stayed ith her# She'd sat ith him on that same ben%h so many times! arguing and debating! sharing and praying together# She hadn't reali2ed it so %learly until last night! but they had begun forming a strong bond months ago# A bond* She found herself automati%ally sear%hing the %ro d for a glimpse of the one person she most anted to see# 5Last summer my relationship ith -aylor seemed to &i%& into high gear hen e started praying again! after years of avoiding 4od# -o me it proved that a relationship is strongest hen 4od is a vital part of it#5 5'ell! there you have it! then#5 Sar%asm eighted Shona's voi%e# 5'e %an blame all our family problems on our godless heritage#5 -hough their mother had been a %hur%h/going )hristian! $emper only gave lip servi%e to 4od hen he anted the vote from that se%tor of the population# 5Ho do you explain all the divor%es that ta&e pla%e among )hristians these days,5 5Studies sho that among %ouples ho pray together daily! only one in a thousand ends in divor%e# Ho often did our family pray together hen e ere gro ing up,5 -he %ro d laughed at something their father said! and Shona as obviously relieved at the %han%e to %hange the sub+e%t again# 5If your relationship &i%&ed into high gear! then hat's this problem bet een you no ,5 5Ho do you &no there's a problem, 7ou +ust got here last night#5 5Fa n told me#5 5Of %ourse# I don't thin& the problem bet een us is as big as it appears!5 $arah Lee said softly# -hey had something going for them that she hadn't %onsidered# It as hat %ould give them lasting strength# It as 4od# $emper roused the %ro d to still another round of %heering and hearty applause! then aved at the people and stepped do n from the bandstand# $arah Lee finally %aught sight of -aylor! and to her sho%& she sa .errod ith him# As $emper %ontinued to ave at the %ro d! -aylor and .errod approa%hed him# 5'arning!5 she said to Shona# 5Fire or&s about to erupt#5 Shona nudged her arm# 5)ome ith me and be ama2ed#5 She led the ay through the dispersing %ro d to ard their father# 5Are you a glutton for punishment,5 $arah Lee ex%laimed#

5"ad and I had a tal& last night after you sho ed him those pi%tures# He's a%tually eager to meet his son# He ants to ta&e responsibility for hat he did#5 5-hat asn't hat he told me#5 57ou don't have a lot of patien%e# 7ou left before he even had a %han%e to thin& about it#5 She turned her attention to .errod as they approa%hed the men# 5So this is our long lost brother!5 she said! ever in %ontrol in even the most a & ard of situations as she too& .errod's hand# ??? As $emper 3a%"onald dre his son aside! -aylor too& $arah Lee by the arm# 5)ould e tal& for a fe minutes before you go to or&,5 She glan%ed to ard her father and hesitated! as if she thought she might have to intervene in a fight# 5-hey'll be fine!5 he said# Finally! she relented and al&ed ith him# 5Someho I get the feeling I've missed out on some interesting a%tion#5 57ou %ould say that# -o begin ith! your brother finally admitted this morning to ha%&ing into your personnel file! though he told me he did not intentionally eat nuts to ma&e himself si%&# He simply too& advantage of the situation# 4iven his intentions ( and the fa%t that he also offered to program se%urity into the system ( I don't thin& there's a need to press any %harges# And as for him and $emper* ell! you ere the one ho got the ball rolling in the first pla%e# -his morning your father %alled and as&ed me to find .errod and arrange for a meeting after the spee%h#5 5"id he say hy,5 57es! and my estimation of your father has had to undergo a ma+or overhaul#5 5He's ready to admit .errod's his son,5 53ore than ready# He told me this morning that he as ashamed of many things he's done in his life! but he's not going to apologi2e for .errod's existen%e# He ants to get to &no his son# He had a %hange of heart! $arah Lee# >eople %an do that! you &no #5 For a moment she as silent! then she said! 57ou're right# >eople %an %hange their minds#5 56ven someone as stubborn as a 3a%"onald#5

57ou're pushing it#5 5Sorry#5 Again! she al&ed a fe more steps in silen%e! head bo ed! studying the grass in front of them as if it ere the most fas%inating thing she had ever seen# 5-aylor!5 she said at last! 5I've fought hard my hole adult life to be independent of my father's money and influen%e# 1e%ause of his interferen%e in the past! I still 0uestion ho mu%h of my %areer I've earned on my o n terms and ho mu%h input he had on my grades and my s%hool ran&#5 57ou are an ex%ellent physi%ian! %aring and bright# 7our father had little to do ith that# He also had no input hen I as&ed you to marry me#5 She loo&ed up at him# 5"id you &no that a bond of three %ords is not easily bro&en,5 He rea%hed for her hand# 5'here did that %ome from,5 5'hen I as tal&ing to Shona a moment ago! I remembered a verse I %hose to memori2e hen I as a &id be%ause it as short# Or so I thought# I thin& 4od had other ideas#5 5Our bond ould have three %ords#5 She ga2ed into his eyes! and he reali2ed something had %hanged# He no longer sa the telltale sign of ariness in her expression# 'hat he sa as love and trust# 5"oes that mean you thin& e should get married,5 she as&ed softly# 5-hat's hat it means#5 5A bond of three %ords,5 she as&ed# He too& her into his arms then! not the least bit %on%erned that half the to n as probably paying a great deal of attention# 56xa%tly#5 Her smile lit her hole fa%e# He %ouldn't resist# He &issed that fa%e! %hee& to %hee& to forehead to lips# A bond of three# It as the perfe%t pres%ription for happiness# The End