Where The Wind Blows
Page 26
Outlawing ain’t as romantic as it sounds. But no regrets.
With deepest fondness,
Molly
Jessie finished reading and sat quietly. Chase was overwhelmed with emotion. All those years! The answer had been right under his nose all the time. And robbing the bank, too. Not in his wildest dreams had he or anyone else ever suspected she was in on that job.
A tear ran down his cheek and dropped onto his boot.
“Chase?” Jessie’s voice was soft. “What can I do to help?”
“There’s nothing.” He lifted his face and looked at her. She was a sight, and his heart swelled. “I just wonder if there was something I could’ve done different. So she wouldn’t end up”—he paused—“an outlaw. I just can’t believe it.”
“Do you want to look for her?”
Chase thought about her words for a few seconds. “I wouldn’t have any idea where to start. I don’t know her married name or even the direction they were heading.”
Sarah ran into the room then, breaking the gloomy spell. She snuggled between Chase and Jessie, a chocolate mustache under her nose and a stick of peppermint in her hand.
Chase scooped her onto his lap and buried his face into her neck, bringing forth a gentle giggle. He held her a long moment before he lifted his face to look into hers. “How’s my best girl? Was the chocolate good?”
She nodded and hugged him back in her shy fashion.
Chase didn’t let Sarah go but scooted closer to Jessie and encircled her into the embrace, then whispered into her ear, “You’re right. God does bring something good out of every bad situation. It’s certain I don’t even have to look very hard to find mine.”
Jessie cuddled closer. She looked into his eyes, sending a shiver of delight into his heart. “You’re my silver lining, too.”
Acknowledgments
There are many people I’m grateful to for their help and support in this endeavor…
My husband, Michael, and sons, Matthew and Adam, for understanding and forgiving when my head was in another place and time.
My sisters, Shelly, Sherry, Jenny, and Mary, for their enthusiasm, editing, and unwavering faith. They always believed—even when I didn’t.
Authors Susan Crosby, Theresa Ragan, Robin Burcell, and Susan Grant for their generous insight and guidance.
My editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, for believing in Chase and Jessie, and the story they had to tell.
And, last but not least, St. Anthony…my special friend and purveyor of miracles.
Thank You!
Copyright
A LEISURE BOOK®
August 2009
Published by
Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
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Copyright © 2009 by Caroline Fyffe
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