Country Strong--A Novel by Linda Lael Miller

Author:Linda Lael Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2019-11-11T20:03:10+00:00

* * *

THE NIGHT HAD gone well and ended well, Shallie reflected as she drove Russ back to the motel. He sat quietly beside her for about half the ride, then thanked her for inviting him, asking her to thank Cord, too. “This is the best time I’ve had in ages. I hope we can get together again soon.”

“We will,” she promised. “Plus I’ll keep you posted on anything I learn about Christine. We’ll make sure you meet Eddie, too.”

“After you and I talked, I decided to start looking for Bethanne. I’ll try to get in touch with her husband.”

“I’m glad.” Shallie was even more conscious of the fact that Russ was a decent guy, and smart. She regretted their complete loss of touch—and regretted some of her previous assumptions about him. His apparent self-involvement was more about his isolation and a fundamental loneliness; his lack of social comfort came from an understandable and lifelong shyness.

“Do you have anything to work with?” she asked. “Any more information?”

“No more than we already discussed. But I do have time.”

“I’m glad you’re using it—some of it, anyway—for this.”

“Thanks.” He paused. “Nice guys, Cord, Eli, J.P. I remember them, sort of. We weren’t friends, but I liked spending time with them tonight. And believe it or not, I’m kind of excited about joining those patrols.” He laughed briefly. “Never thought I’d become pals with the sheriff.”

“Hey, no reason why not. That would be a useful connection for a businessman, in case someone tries to break in or rob you or something like that.”

“I wouldn’t need to be friends with him in that case. I could just call 911.”

“True...”

“I’m interested in getting to know all of them—and getting to know you better.”

“Thank you. Me, too.”

She dropped him off at the dark and dreary motel. He gave her a rather clumsy hug, then clambered out, her headlights providing him with a reasonably well-lit path to the office door.

Back at Cord’s place, she saw him and Eli still talking. They told her J.P. had gone home and Carly had left with Tina and Mitch. They asked her to join them and she did, accepting a glass of wine. Eli let her know that he appreciated Russell’s unexpected willingness to get involved with one of the patrols. “I hope I made that obvious.”

Cord nodded.

“Is there anything new he was able to add to the Christine Fletcher situation?” Eli asked next.

“Nothing yet. Oh—I forgot to tell you both. Russ and I talked about Christine’s husband earlier today. We assume he was her husband and my father, although my birth certificate just says ‘Father Unknown.’” She grinned wryly. “Something else Carly and I have in common.”

“We should learn more on Friday night when Eddie’s here.”

She and Cord walked him out to his car, then Cord suggested he and Shallie go for a ramble with the dogs.

“I hope he can find himself more of a life,” Shallie said. “But this evening was a good start.”

They returned to the ranch house, said good-night at the foot of the stairs, dogs hanging around them.

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