Blood on Copperhead Trail by Paula Graves

Author:Paula Graves [Graves, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Harlequin Intrigue
ISBN: 9781472050007
Google: OnpBAgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 18343280
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-01-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Janelle looked pale and red eyed, but Doyle was glad to see she hadn’t fallen apart completely while waiting for them to return from dinner. She held out her arms to Laney, who gave her younger sister a fierce, protective hug while Ivy and Doyle stood a few feet away, allowing the sisters a moment.

Laney cradled Janelle’s face between her hands. “Are you okay, baby?”

“Yes. I just—” Janelle closed her eyes tightly, as if she could shut out whatever it was she’d remembered. “I’m glad you’re back.”

Laney exchanged a quick glance with Doyle. He gave her an encouraging smile as she turned back to her sister. “I’m right here. Tell me what you remembered.”

“The aide brought my dinner just after you left, and you know I get sleepy after I eat—” Janelle cut herself off abruptly, as if she realized she was stalling. She took a deep breath. “I dreamed about the camping trip. It was so real. And then I remembered his face.”

“Whose face?” Laney asked.

“The man who shot Missy.” Janelle’s throat bobbed with emotion. “The man who shot me.”

Laney looked at Doyle again, her blue eyes haunted. He stepped forward, pulling a chair closer to the bed, near enough to Laney to touch her if he wanted. But he kept his hands to himself, despite the urge to offer his comfort.

Janelle looked at him. “I can tell you what he looks like, but I don’t know who he is.”

“He’s not someone from around here, then?”

“No.” Her fingers tightened around Laney’s, her knuckles whitening. “He was older, like in his forties or fifties. He had blond hair, or maybe it was blond with gray. Thinning but not completely bald.” She closed her eyes a moment, as if trying to conjure up the picture from her memory. “I think he had blue eyes, or maybe gray. It was early morning, and still kind of dark, so I can’t be sure.”

“And you’re sure this is a memory and not just a dream?” Laney asked.

“I’m sure. I was getting my gear together—we had to get a move on if Missy and I were going to make it to school on time. Missy was outside the shelter, about to write something in the logbook when she started cussing.”

Doyle glanced at Laney and saw that she was making the same connection he was. He wasn’t surprised by Janelle’s next words and neither was Laney.

“She’d found this photograph of the three of us sleeping in the shelter.” Janelle shuddered. “Someone must have taken it the night before. It was so creepy. Missy showed it to me and then, suddenly, he was there.”

“The older man?” Doyle asked.

“Yes.” Janelle’s face crumpled. “He aimed the gun at Missy and sh-shot her. I think he must have just wounded her the first time, because she started to run away.”

“And he chased after her?”

Janelle shook her head, her whole body shaking. “Not then. First, he came into the shelter and aimed his gun at me.”

Doyle heard Laney’s soft intake of breath, but he didn’t let himself be sidetracked by his concern for her.

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