Branded Wives by Erin Wade

Author:Erin Wade [Wade, Erin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Indie Print Publishing
Published: 2017-12-03T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Lana sat her tea glass on her home desk. She searched the internet for any information she could find on Jessica’s grandparents. If there was a Preston Barton, Jr., there had to be a Preston Barton, Sr.

Bingo, there you are, she grinned as several files containing Preston Barton, Sr. materialized in front of her.

Preston Barton, Sr. was the pastor of a small Baptist Church on the Southside of Fort Worth. He had been very active in setting up food drives for the poor and various other programs for indigent children.

Using her law enforcement privileges, she located an address for Preston Barton, Sr., and sent it to her cellphone.

“Honey,” Ash wandered into her study, “Did UPS deliver my advance copies today?”

“I forgot to tell you,” she smiled, “they are in the back of my car. They left them at the guardhouse. Vernon loaded them for me when I came home tonight. There are five rather large boxes.”

“Um,” she hummed as she headed for the garage. She carried the boxes into her study and opened one of them. The boxes contained hardback copies of Thirty-Six Ways to Die.

She thumbed through one of the books then wrote on the inside cover. To my wonderful wife, Lana. You have always been my muse. My reason for living. All my love, Always, Ash.

She carried her meager offering to her wife and presented it to her. “Thank you for making my life wonderful,” she smiled.

Lana read the handwritten inscription and knew the dedication page of the book carried the same sentiments for the world to read, except their real names weren’t used. She kept her autographed copies in a closed cabinet in their bedroom, so others would never figure out her wife was author Adrian Austin.

She looked up at her from under perfectly arched brows. “I am trying to think of a way to thank you for such a wonderful gift,” she smiled flirtatiously. “Why don’t you come with me while I put my cherished book away?”

Ash watched her walk toward their bedroom. No woman should be that damn sexy, she thought.

Lana woke early the next morning and snuggled deeper into her wife’s arms. This is what marriage is all about, she thought. Waking up next to someone, you love. She couldn’t stop her body from undulating against Ash.

Ash’s arms tightened around her. “You better be still unless you want a replay of last night.” Her voice was deep with desire and sleep.

“I do,” Lana whispered into her ear.

##

Lana pulled her RX350 into the drive of a neat middle-class brick home in the Wedgewood area of Fort Worth. The home and the yard were immaculate.

An older woman was weeding a flower bed at the corner of the house. She stood as Lana got out of the car.

“May I help you?” Her smile was warm and open.

“I’m looking for the Barton’s,” Lana returned her friendly smile.

“I’m JoAnn Barton,” the woman said as she pulled the glove from her right hand and extended it toward Lana.

“I’m Dr. Lana Denton,” she shook the extended hand.

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