Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Opal frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Delta Rivers’s hair was brown,” Laurel noted.
“Her hair was a dark brown with some gray in it.” Opal glanced at the earlier picture. “She was blond when she was younger, but as she became older, her hair turned darker with threads of silver through it.”
Huck peered at the picture. “What color was her hair last time you saw her?”
Opal shrugged. “She had dark hair.”
“Do you know why she left the commune?” Laurel asked, setting the picture down. She was going to have to take it with them, but she wanted to keep Opal agreeable for now.
“Yes. She flew out almost two weeks ago to meet a man. It was the first romance she’d had in years. I was very excited for her to go meet her Romeo wherever he lived.”
Huck jerked and turned around. “Romance? With whom?”
“I don’t know.” Opal’s gaze dropped. “I wish I did, but I just don’t have any details. She met a man when she was out selling her paintings in town, and they struck up a romance. Delta was always up for an adventure, and when he invited her to meet him up north, she thought, what the heck? She could take a couple weeks off, get some new ideas for her paintings, and go from there.”
“What do you know about this man?” Laurel asked, her heart beating faster.
Opal sighed and looked up as if trying to remember. “Delta grew very excited, and she got that sparkle in her eyes that, you know, we all get during new romances. She said that he was one with the earth and the wind, and she looked forward to her journey with him.”
“Did anybody else meet him?” Laurel asked.
Opal shook her head. “No. Unfortunately, Delta remained rather secretive, as if she wanted this relationship just for herself. She met him several times in town.”
“Do you know where in town?” Huck asked.
Tears filled Opal’s eyes. “No, we don’t keep track of each other like that. She would often sell her paintings on different main streets, but I don’t know where. She lived her own life, Captain Rivers. I think you would’ve liked her if you had gotten to know her.”
“I didn’t get that chance.”
Opal sighed again, the sound heavy. “I’m sorry about that. I can’t explain it, except that she just lived her life the way she wanted, on her own terms. I’m surprised she stayed here as long as she did, but I think it’s because she had the freedom to come and go as she wanted. No obligation, no responsibilities.”
“That’s not how adults live their lives,” Huck muttered.
“Not most adults,” Opal agreed.
Laurel cleared her throat. “Let’s get back to this mysterious man. Do you know anything at all about him?”
“I have no idea. I’m so sorry,” Opal said. “We all refrained from being nosy.”
Huck reached for the picture of Delta holding him as a baby. “She never mentioned his name?”
“No,” Opal said, tapping her lips. “I figured he was a holy man. The only thing I ever heard her call him was ‘the pastor.’”
Chapter 34
After midnight, Huck flipped on the lights in his cabin as Laurel shut the door against the rain and wind behind them. Aeneas stretched from his bed by the fireplace and came to greet him while Fred the cat opened one eye and then shut it again.
Huck reached for a note on the counter from Monty saying that he’d fed both animals, taken Aeneas out several times during the day, and had left a tuna casserole in the fridge for them.
Laurel yawned widely and ditched her boots and coat before wandering over to pet her cat. “We could have stayed in Santa Fe tonight,” she murmured.
He shook his head. “I needed to get out of Santa Fe.”
“I understand, and after Opal mentioned a pastor seeing your mother, my mind is spinning. Pastor John or Pastor Zeke?”
“Or a different pastor, which I doubt,” Huck muttered.
They’d claimed both photographs of Delta Rivers, and Opal had insisted he take several of her drawings. Maybe his kid would want to know something about his grandmother someday. Who knew? At the moment, Huck was too tired to worry about it.
“I think I could sleep for days.” Laurel ambled toward the bedroom.
So could he. He felt tired to his very bones.
Laurel’s phone buzzed, and she sighed, lifting it to her ear. “Agent Snow and it is after midnight.” She stiffened and turned around. “Wait, wait. Slow down, Julliet. Slow down. Okay. What time did they . . . Okay. Yes, I’m here with the captain. I’ll have him call in. I’ll call you back.” She clicked off.
“What is it?” Huck came awake immediately.
“Kate’s friend Julliet called her in a panic because her daughter is out on a camping trip. Kate gave her my number since she’s in North Carolina. Something about earning a wilderness badge. The kids haven’t been heard from, and they should have been back three hours ago.”