I ducked beneath its wide shelter and hurried to the SUV. I hated climbing into her vehicle and plopping my wet rear onto her seat. “I hope I don’t ruin anything.”
“Impossible. Don’t inhale or you’ll get a whiff of dog, greasy fries, and my forgot-to-shower sixth-grade son.” Again the wide smile parted her lips.
She dashed around to the driver’s side and slid in. “Hungry?”
Genuine and full of life. I liked her.
I hadn’t eaten all day. Should I put her out any more than necessary?
“Your hesitation tells me you’re starved. I’ll drive through McDonald’s. Is that okay?”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten anything but what was dumped on my plate.”
“Oops. I’m sorry.”
I waved away her remark. “No need to tiptoe around me. Where I’ve been is not where I’m going. I’m starved, and a hamburger sounds delicious.”
Edie pulled onto the street, her washer blades reminding me of a hummingbird’s wings. At the McDonald’s drive-through, I placed my order. She added a Coke for both of us and paid for it, much to my protests.
“I inconvenienced you. Left you in the rain and my brother can be lousy company. He wanted to drive you to the cabin, but his attitude can be intolerable.”
She knew him well. “But we’re in good shape now. If you don’t mind, I have a few questions.” When she nodded, I laid them out in the order I’d stacked them in my mind. “Do your children know about me?”
“Enough to know your past is private.” She tossed me a mom-look, complete with squinted forehead. “They are to keep family business private with a threat of me skinning them alive. Told them we’re being Jesus.”
Officer Hughes’s comment about Edie not listening to him made sense. A woman with my reputation could be bad news. “I promise you I will not be alone with either of them.”
“Thanks, and we’ve discussed the same scenario.”
“Your brother said you’re a widow?”
She nodded. “He died of a heart attack. No clue he had a health problem. Went to sleep one night and didn’t wake up. It’s been four years now.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. Every day gets better.”
The drive-through girl handed Edie a bag and two drinks. One bite, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I chewed slowly to savor it all.
“Incredible.” I stuck the straw into my Coke and drew in a long, sweet sip. “How old are your kids?”
“Timothy is twelve and Livy is seven. They’re good kids.”
“Single parenting must be hard.”
“Every day gets a little easier . . . until they’re teenagers.”
I smiled. What a grand feeling to be talking with a normal person outside concrete walls. “Any special instructions?”
“Just common sense around my kids. You’ve met my family’s worst—my brother.”
I held up my palm. “Not going there.”
“No need. He’s like Good Housekeeping.”
“What?”
“He has years of issues.”
I covered my mouth to suppress the humor. Didn’t work. “It’s been way too long since I’ve laughed. But I was serious about guidelines around your kids.”
“I know you are.” She sobered. “After you’ve rested tomorrow, we can talk. I’ll do all I can to help you succeed.” She patted my arm. “We women have to stick together.”
“I won’t disappoint you.”
“We have Jesus, and He’s done the hard work.”
How did one woman say all the right things? “How many people in the community are aware of me?”
“Sheriff Wendall, my brother, Randy, Amy-Jo, who owns the café, the parole officer, my kids, and Pastor Emory. No one else’s business. Wanted to tell you the pastor has signed a check for you to purchase jewelry-making supplies.”
I startled. “But he doesn’t know me.”
“Pastor Emory is a kindhearted man. He wants to make sure you have all you need to get started on the right path. I showed him some pics of your designs. He was impressed.”
A warm sensation curled through me. The chaplain had complimented me, but her role was encouragement. “I’m grateful, and I’ll pay him back. I don’t want to owe anyone or be viewed as a charity case. What a blessing.”
“You do what feels best, but he’s not expecting payment.”
“Would you keep the check for me? The jewelry supplies and stones are sold online, and I don’t have a credit card.”
“Sure. Put together the order, and I’ll handle it. Before I forget it, you have a neighbor who is a super nice guy. I’ve asked him to keep an eye out for you. The cabin is a bit remote.”
“What’s his name?”
“Denton McClure. He rented the cabin nearest you, about a quarter of a mile through the woods. He’s a widower.” Edie laughed. “The man would make friends with a fence post.”
“What’s his profession?”
“High school math teacher.”
“Anything I should be aware of?”
Edie waved away my concern. “Not at all. I trust him implicitly. He’s done a few repairs for me and given Timothy and Livy riding lessons. Told me he’d taken an extended leave from teaching to sort out what he should do next. Said he’d been widowed for over two years, and it was time to put the grief behind him.”
A pop rang out and the right front tire blew, sending the SUV left toward the shoulder. Edie slammed on the brakes, and the vehicle slid and swerved.
“Don’t brake!” Years ago a driver’s ed instructor pounded the warning into my brain. He followed up with videos depicting what happened to metal and people who had blowouts on wet, slippery roads.
Edie lifted her foot, fighting to keep the SUV under control. But the vehicle ignored her efforts and dove hood-first into a water-filled ditch.
The rain had stopped its deluge, but the dark night still held menace. A tow truck disappeared down the road with the SUV. Edie and I had crawled out the passenger side. Now she, Officer Hughes, and I stood on the side of the road like a face-off in the prison yard. Blood trickled down the left side of Edie’s forehead.
“Sis, I’m calling an ambulance.” Officer Hughes yanked his cell phone from his pant pocket.
“You do and I won’t let the paramedics touch me. I’ll handle this with a Band-Aid at home. You’re getting on my last nerve.”
He turned to me. His scrutiny made me crave a shower. “A shooter fired into the tire. Do you know anything about this, Ms. Pearce? My sister could’ve been seriously hurt or worse.”
Anger boiled from my toes to my mouth. “Nothing, Officer Hughes. Edie and I were talking, and I wasn’t aware of anyone else on the road.”
“Your kind has its ways. Looks to me like you crossed somebody, and they’re sending a deadly message.”
“Prove me wrong, Officer Hughes.”
“I’m sayin’ you’ve made enemies.”
“Randy, hush,” Edie said. “You’re jumping to conclusions. We’ve talked about this, and I’m giving Shelby an opportunity to put the past behind her. In fact, I think she should spend the night with me. It’s late and—”