“In this town, everyone knows everyone.Guess it’s a lot different where you come from, right?”She made note on the computer across from the bed of the meds administered and any notes she deemed necessary.“I can’t imagine living in such a huge place as New York City.I would get lost the moment I stepped off the plane.I don’t even like going to Dallas and it’s real big too.”
Ally smiled.“Well, it takes some getting used to, but once you figure out how to get around…mostly on foot or subway…you can map out your own routine.”
“Well, in answer to your first question, yes, I and my family know Jillie and the Parkers and the Lockwood’s and…”
“Lockwood?”Ally heard a familiar name…or at least one she recognized from reading it in the note left for her by Annie.She had finally read the note handed to her by the attorney as she was about to leave New York.But the instructions had been clear:read only when you arrive in Destiny’s River.Well, it had been before dawn and before others began stirring in the hospital when she had finally opened it.And that name was in the note.
Taylor moved over to stand next to the bed.“Yes, the Lockwood’s were one of the founding families of Destiny’s River from way back when.Caden Lockwood, the family member in charge now, married Tori, the oldest sister of Sheriff Parker and Jillie’s aunt.She is a nice person.She moved here and bought the Primrose Inn, a beautiful old Victorian place, and then she became our first lady mayor, and she keeps getting reelected.Her meeting Caden Lockwood was a real romance story.And now they’re expecting their baby soon.”
“You said she was the oldest sister?He has more in the family?”She wasn’t prying so much as trying to see where everyone fit together in Annie’s story.
“Yes, there is Cassie who came to protect another ranching family over in Red Bluffs from this drug lord, and then she fell in love with the rancher, and they got married after the case was over.Cassie is Matt’s younger sister.And then there’s Rance—he’s a U.S.Marshal and is single, too.Seems it’s a tad bit hard to rope in those Parker boys but believe me the females line up to try.”
“I see.And they all live here in this town?”
“Matt and his oldest sister do, of course.Cassie’s just a few miles away on their ranch.And Rance, well he comes home rarely except holidays or weddings.”Taylor laughed.“He is always on some case and lives down south of Austin way for his job.”
“Sounds like quite a family.It’s nice to have such closeness and roots…I would imagine.”
“It is—mine is the same way.But you can get tired of each other now and then.”She laughed once again.“But it is pretty good to know they are there no matter what when it counts.”
“I can imagine.”Ally paused.“Will the doctor be by later today?”
“Yes, he’ll make his rounds once he’s done with surgery.You sound like you’re in a hurry to leave our fine hotel here.”
“It is indeed fine, and everyone has been so kind and caring.But I need to get on my feet and see if I have a car that still runs and see if my dog remembers me,” she said, trying to make light of what brought her to the hospital in the first place.She had a lot of things to get done and no idea how she would do them all, but she needed to figure it out.
*
“I like MissJones,” Jillie pronounced as they pulled into the parking lot of the café.“She’s nice.Don’t you think so?”
Matt turned off the engine then gave a considering look at his daughter.“I suppose she is nice…especially considering all she’s been through the last couple of days.”
They entered the café, which was filling up for the early afternoon weekend lunch crowd…residents combined with out-of-towners driving out from the cities to search for treasures in the small-town shops and enjoy the many wineries that had sprung up in the Hill Country.Tori waved at them from a corner table.They were soon seated with her, and Wallace, her assistant.
“Where’s Cade and the rest of your crew?”Matt asked, accepting the iced tea sat in front of him by the smiling waitress.
“I took the liberty already of ordering your iced tea and your soft drink, Jilliebean,” Tori said.“Food is up to you.We ordered the enchilada plate.”
“No need to look at menus.”Matt nodded at the waitress.“We always come on weekend lunch for those homemade enchiladas of Maggie’s.”Jillie nodded in agreement.
“So, what have you two been up to?”Tori asked, taking a sip of her tea but with her gaze on Matt.
“Why do I think you know the answer to that question already by that look you’re giving me?”Matt was a seasoned veteran of his sister’s ploys.
“Well, since you said that, I will tell you that it’s been the talk of the café here until you walked in the door.So, I just had to keep my ears open.”
“We were at the hospital,” Jillie chimed in.“I took her flowers and then Dad came because I didn’t let him know I was doing that.”
“Really?Well, the way I heard it,Dadtook our new visitor in town some flowers today after visiting her yesterday, too.People found it interesting that our sheriff never did that with anyone else around here.But they didn’t mention that he took his daughter along.Silly gossips.”
“Yes indeed.”Matt nodded.“Silly people with nothing better to do with their time—and they certainly don’t bother to get facts straight before spreading the manure.”
“Matthew!Watch your language around big ears at this table.”Tori grinned while trying to maintain a stern look and failing with a wink at Jillie.Jillie had to laugh at that point.
“Manure isn’t a bad word, Aunt Tori.Dad says it a lot when he doesn’t want to say those other words around me.”
“And it isn’t a topic of conversation over food, so change the subject.”He was glad the plate of food made it to the table at that juncture.Once all of them had their food, he concentrated on eating and hoped the topic would change.
