Hope on the Horizon by Kathryn McNeill Crane

Author:Kathryn McNeill Crane [Crane, Kathryn McNeill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kathryn McNeill Crane

Despite Walker’s verbal bomb, Hailey managed to listen to most of the service. Though, if hard pressed, she wasn’t sure she could recall the topic of the sermon. As it was, she walked outside with Walker without falling on her face or grinning like a fool, another amazing feat if you asked her.

As promised, they spoke to Grace before heading to the truck. With her head in the clouds, she almost walked right up on Kane. Seeing him was enough to jerk her back to Earth.

Being careful not to knock Walker’s crutches, she placed her palm on his back.

“That’s Kane leaning against my truck. Wonder what he wants.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Walker picked up his pace. “Come introduce us.”

How Walker moved so fast on crutches was beyond her, but she had to hurry to catch up to him, so they’d get to the truck at the same time. Presenting a unified front to Kane seemed important.

“Hey, Kane. This is Walker Carriker, Victoria’s brother.” Because Kane’s rigid stance made her nervous, her smile was forced.

“You’re taking in a lot of strays lately, Hailey. You scratch this one behind the ears, too?” Kane snorted like his joke was funny, not insulting.

Before Hailey could call Kane out for his rudeness, Walker growled, “You’d better watch your mouth, kid, and show this woman some respect. And if you think I’m taking advantage of her, you’ve got another think coming. I’m earning my stay.”

“Sure, you are,” Kane sneered, eyeing Walker from head to toe. “What exactly can the crip do?”

Walker’s nostrils flared. “I take the night watches, hoping to get my hands on the vandals.” He got right up in Kane’s face. “And I have a certain knack for accounting and bookkeeping. Payroll and accounts payable are my specialties.”

The color washed out of Kane’s face, leaving a skinny ghost in its place. “But . . . But . . . That’s m- m- my job,” Kane stammered.

Worry seeped out of Kane’s pores, leaving a soured scent in the air. If she and Walker were wrong about double books, she’d apologize to him later. As it was right then, though, the fact that she couldn’t afford to pay her current employees their missing wages was enough to make her blood boil.

“You realize I can look at the accounts anytime I want, right? After all, Firefly is my business, not yours,” she said. Her calmness surprised her, but then again, Walker’s support gave her courage and strength.

“If you need something, I’ll be happy to find it and print it out.” Kane’s eye ticked, and his shoulders twitched.

“From both files or just one?” Her fake smile slipped off her face.

“You!” Kane shouted, glaring at Walker.

Hailey’s last shred of doubt concerning his innocence evaporated. “We haven’t talked to the sheriff yet, but that’s our next step if you don’t have a very good reason for robbing my employees and me.” Lost hope left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“I needed the money,” he said, as if that made everything okay.

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