Free In the Paths of Righteousness (Psalm 23 Mysteries) by Debbie Viguié Page B

trick is just learning to control the direction in which you lash out.”
    “This had nothing to do with PTSD and everything to do with Kyle,” she said.
    “I’m sure he deserved it.”
    “He’s dating a woman with the same first name as our dead sister.”
    Mark blinked at her. “Okay. I can see where that might be a bit traumatic to someday have to reference her as your sister or sister-in-law, or whatever.”
    He didn’t get it, she could tell. She could also tell he wasn’t about to say so, probably afraid that she would hit him as well.
    She was tired. At the moment it felt like that was all she had ever been her entire life was tired. The thought of spending another day being bounced around on the wagon sounded like more than she could take. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be a cowboy,” she admitted.
    “Well, you hit like one,” Jeremiah said as he walked up, looking inordinately pleased.
    “What is it?” she asked.
    “Kyle’s going to be doing the rest of his show with a magnificent black eye.”
    She knew she should feel guilty. Knew it, wanted to, but couldn’t. Instead she felt a strong sense of satisfaction. This day had been coming for a lot of years. She had finally told her brother off and hit him in the eye with a fist instead of a dart like she had for years with her dartboard back home.
    It didn’t make her feel any better about him dating a woman named Lisa, but it did make her feel a bit better about everything else. Even a long day on the wagon didn’t seem so bad now that she knew Kyle would have a black eye while on television. Of course, there was a chance that Liz could work wonders with her make-up kit, but she hoped not.
    In fact, she happened to know that Liz’s kit was riding in the back of the chuck wagon with some of the other equipment that was too large to carry on horseback. Maybe if she accidentally bumped it and it fell off the back of the wagon...
    She knew she wouldn’t do it, but the thought made her smile nonetheless.
    Mark looked at her suspiciously. “Why are you sm-”
    He was cut off by a sudden shout.
     

7
    The shout seemed to be coming from the far side of the wagon Jeremiah realized as he and the others raced toward the sound. They found Norman sitting on a small, folding stool with camera equipment all around him and a camera in his hands.
    “What is it?” Jeremiah asked.
    Norman looked up, watery blue eyes staring at him. “It’s gone,” he said.
    “What’s gone?” Kyle asked as he pushed his way through the growing crowd.
    “Yesterday’s footage. I was getting the equipment ready and I wanted to check the playback in a couple of spots, make sure the settings are working under these conditions, and I discovered that it was all gone. All of it’s been erased.”
    “Are you sure the camera was working properly yesterday and it actually filmed something?” Jeremiah asked.
    Norman glared at him. “Of course I’m sure. Besides, I checked it at lunch yesterday and then briefly last night as I was putting stuff away. I don’t know how this could have happened.”
    “Could you have accidentally hit a button?” Traci asked. “I know once with my camera-”
    “I am not an amateur or an imbecile!” Norman interrupted, pale cheeks flushing and voice raised in outrage. “I’m telling you this was no accident.”
    “But, who could possibly want to sabotage the footage?” Kyle asked, a blank look on his face.
    Jeremiah knew that he for one wanted to sabotage the footage, but it seemed somebody else had beaten him to it. He glanced sideways at Hank and couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what the big man had been doing last night while everyone was supposed to be sleeping.
    “This is a disaster!” Norman wailed and for a moment Jeremiah thought he was going to actually burst into tears.
    Kyle seemed to rally at that. “Hey, it’s all good, most of yesterday’s footage will look a lot like today’s footage. All we’ve lost is the