Favorite Wife by Susan Ray Schmidt

Author:Susan Ray Schmidt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyons Press
Published: 2009-03-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The threat of miscarriage subsided as I rested on Charlotte’s couch the next day. I felt almost normal again, and I watched anxiously for Verlan’s arrival. Late in the evening, his pickup finally pulled into the driveway. I sat quietly as he greeted Charlotte, then handed her his bag full of paint-splotched clothes soiled from his work in Las Vegas.

“I’ll need those washed the minute we get back from Ensenada,” he ordered. “I didn’t have time to go to a . . . ” His eyes widened and he grinned, suddenly noticing me. “Well, hello! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be in Ensenada by now.”

“Susan has something urgent to tell you,” Charlotte cut in.

Verlan looked from one of us to the other, but waited until Charlotte left the room before walking over and slipping his arms around me. Fierce love surged through me as I hugged him back.

Traces of fatigue had darkened his beautiful eyes, and as he smiled down at me, the furrows at the sides of his mouth were deeper than I remembered. He seemed much thinner.

“What’s going on, my darling? What’s Charlotte talking about?” he questioned.

Keeping my voice low, I said, “Something happened in Colonia LeBaron, Verlan, and it frightened me. I have to talk to you alone.” I glanced at Charlotte in the kitchen. I knew she could hear us. Verlan grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her bedroom.

“We’re going to go in here and visit for a few minutes, Charlotte,” he informed her. I ignored Charlotte’s stiff back and followed Verlan. “Go on,” he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed and flipped on the lamp.

Quickly and unemotionally, I told him about Ervil and the Mexican man, about the car, and what Ervil said about “taking care of” Verlan in case of any more problems. “He meant it, too,” I shuddered, “I could tell by his tone of voice. It was evil . . . scary. Did you know anything about this? What are you going to do?”

Verlan ignored my questions as he pondered my words. When he turned and faced me, his eyes seemed even more haunted. “I want you to think. Who was the other man?”

I sighed and shook my head. “I couldn’t tell. It was too dark, and besides, I was afraid they would see me if I looked around the tank. I’ve heard his voice before, but I don’t know where. All I know for sure is that he’s a Mexican who was at the meeting in Ensenada with you two weeks ago.”

Verlan looked thoughtfully away. “That could be any one of two dozen men, now, couldn’t it? Too bad you didn’t pay more attention. It could be very important.”

I stared at Verlan, shocked. Had he expected me to dash out from cover and walk up to Ervil and his fellow thief for a better look?

“Well,” Verlan shrugged, watching me closely. “I’m not concerned about his threat to me.

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