Topaz And Sunflowers (Country Brides & Cowboy Boots) by Danni Lee Nicholls

Author:Danni Lee Nicholls [Nicholls, Danni Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Sensual Story Theme, Hearts Desire, Lifetime Love, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Romantic Schemes, Small Town & Rural Area, Cowboy & Western Romance, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Country Brides & Cowboy Boots
Publisher: Gelato Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-11-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Kendra quietly sat in the back row of the courtroom and watched as Joshua took the stand. He looked nothing like the kid she remembered growing up with. His cheekbones stretched over his skin and he looked almost cavernous. Gone were the healthy good looks; they were replaced by a reptilian toughness and eyes of flint. Joshua was four years older than her, and when they were kids, he didn’t involve himself in their games or fun. He was mostly a loner who seemed to take pleasure in taunting Andrew whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Kendra’s stomach tied itself in knots as Joshua moved to the witness stand. Would he deride Andrew now? Or would he do the right thing and own his part in the attempted theft that brought him and his brother to this terrible place?

Andrew had told Kendra the story Joshua was sticking by: Chet Simmons had sold him those cows under the table with a cash deal. It wasn’t unheard of, but Andrew swore it wasn’t true.

She clenched her hands together as the defense attorney began questioning his client, her nerves a tangled knot in her lungs, making it hard to breathe. Still, nothing could prepare her for Joshua’s testimony, which fingered Andrew for everything from planning their operation to choosing the cows. Gone was the defense that Chet had paid them under the table. Joshua admitted to stealing cows, but only at the begging request and then demand of his little brother, who’d threatened to turn him in for a few petty crimes if he didn’t go along with his plan.

Kendra sat agape. She glanced at Andrew’s parents, who squirmed in their seats. They grew smaller by the moment, their bodies hunched over in defeat. The Johannsen family also showed shock.

Kendra studied Lexie Johannsen from behind. She was young and pretty with her bobbed blond hair. Earlier, Kendra had noticed freckles across her nose. Kendra admired her courage for showing up at a court case where she didn’t have to be in order to stare down her abuser. Lexie did not flinch, even when Joshua turned his gaze and smiled in her direction.

Kendra was also drawn to Ruby. Her memory of Ruby was dim, but even as kids, Kendra knew her young neighbor was a reckoning force. Now, even from the back of the room, Kendra could see Ruby’s jaw clench with each lie Joshua told.

When it was the prosecutor’s turn, he reminded Joshua that he was under oath and that the story he was telling on the stand was not the same defense he’d given when caught by the police. Easily, Joshua stated he’d lied to the police, hoping to get both himself and his brother off the hook, but he’d since realized the law was too smart for him and he needed to come clean.

Nausea swept up in Kendra’s throat as her thoughts traveled to Andrew, who was sitting just beyond the double doors. He’d already pleaded guilty, and Joshua’s story played off of that.

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