Wyoming Winter: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Wyoming Men) by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer [Palmer, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2017-10-31T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

COLIE CRIED IN Lucy’s arms. The other woman just rocked her, crooning soft words.

“I’m so sorry, Colie,” she said gently. “So sorry. I know how much you loved your dad.”

“He was hardly ever sick. He had the appendectomy, but other than that...” She choked back a sob and moved away to wipe her eyes. “I still can’t believe he and J.C. played chess together every week.”

“They were close,” Lucy said, to her surprise. “J.C. looked out for your father. He was always around, anytime he was needed. The reverend put him to work passing out donated groceries to poor families. He said J.C. was a natural at volunteer work.”

“The things we don’t know,” Colie said sadly. She paused to peek into her old bedroom, where Ludie was taking a nap. She came back into the living room. “She’s tired out. She told me that my father was sick,” she added. “She said he was gone before we ever got to the airport and J.C. told me.”

“A truly amazing gift,” Lucy said. Her eyebrows lifted. “J.C. met you at the airport?”

“Yes. With a car seat in the back seat of his SUV for Ludie.” She smiled and shook her head. “The old J.C. would never have done such a thing.”

“Or maybe he would have, and you just didn’t know.”

“That’s possible.”

“Your father said J.C. had a ball watching the videos of Ludie that you sent home.” She bit her lower lip at Colie’s expression. “Oops. Sorry. That just slipped out.”

“It’s okay. I know J.C. suspects the truth. But I’ve never confessed it. Unless Daddy told him...”

“If he had, I think we’d have all known,” Lucy said, grimacing. “I’m so sorry!”

“I had no idea that he and my father were that close...”

“What tangled webs we weave,” Lucy said quietly.

“Indeed.”

“Is your brother coming over for the funeral?”

“Yes. But he’s not staying here,” Colie said curtly. “I won’t have him in the house. If he shows up with his friend, the only thing he’ll be interested in is how much he’s getting from the will and whether or not I’ve kept my mouth shut.”

Lucy grimaced. “That’s why you stayed gone.”

“Yes. I couldn’t even tell my father. I was afraid he’d say something to Rod and his friend would cause problems for Daddy. I agonized over it. I wanted to be here. But there were just too many reasons why I couldn’t come home.”

“J.C. being at the top of the list.”

Colie nodded as she led the way into the kitchen to make coffee. “I didn’t want to subject Daddy to any more malicious gossip. I caused him such heartache.” Tears threatened again. “If I could just go back and relive that part of my life...!”

“And if you did, you wouldn’t have Ludie,” came the reply.

Colie turned, glancing at her friend through red, wet eyes. “No. I guess I wouldn’t.”

“You don’t think your brother would actually harm you?”

Colie hesitated. She turned back to the coffeepot and pulled down a box of white coffee filters. “I don’t know,” she said after she’d filled the pot and started it going.

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