Free Tattered Legacy (A Nora Abbott Mystery) by Shannon Baker Page A

assurance laced with an animal sensuality. A comparison to John F. Kennedy hit her. Women voted for Kennedy in droves because of the same qualities she observed heading toward her across the broken blacktop of the parking lot.
    Abbey lifted his head at Darrell and stepped up to greet him. Darrell bent down and offered Abbey the back of his hand to sniff, then rubbed him behind the ears. “This your dog? He’s a handsome old guy.”
    Nora glowed with affection for him. “Abbey’s like any gentleman—the gray around the muzzle only adds to his distinction.”
    Darrell laughed. “I’ll remember to resist the Grecian formula when my time comes. Abbey? But he’s a male?”
    Unbidden, Nora’s mind flashed to an older Darrell with a smidgeon of salt to go with his pepper-dark hair.
    Cole. She loved Cole. An immediate rush of warmth surged through her again. Strong, capable, kind, and funny Cole. She missed him even though it had only been a few days since they’d gone in different directions. No wonder he’d said he loved her on the phone. He was feeling that tug, too. “He’s named after Edward Abbey.”
    Darrell considered that with a tilt of his head. “The conservationist. That makes sense. Are you staying in Moab tonight?”
    Nora motioned for Abbey to climb into the Jeep. “I’ve got to go to Castle Valley. Abigail and Charlie took Rachel home, and I’m still on Lisa duty.” She indicated the box.
    Sadness fell on Darrell’s face. “I can’t wrap my head around Lisa being gone.”
    Nora placed the box on the floor in the back seat and wedged a backpack and fleece pullover around it. “I’ll get in touch when I find the film.”
    He stepped to her door after she climbed in and said, leaning over her window, “I’m available for whatever you need.”
    “Thanks.” She turned the key. A weak sound like the final movement of a wind-up toy rose from the engine and faded. She twisted the key again, and this time a click greeted her. One more twist resulted in the same click.
    Darrell raised his eyebrows. “Sounds like you’ve got trouble.”
    She tried once more. Nothing. Drat —a nd lots of other words she didn’t want to blurt out. Slamming the steering wheel wouldn’t solve her problem and would only make her look like a spoiled brat in front of Darrell, so she clenched her fists in her lap. She reached for her pack to find her phone. “I’ll call Abigail and Charlie.”
    Darrell put a hand on hers to stop her from dialing. “Don’t do that. I’ll take you to Rachel’s.”
    “But it’s twenty miles.”
    He chuckled. “Yeah, I know where it is.”
    Of course he did. This was his district. She hated to impose on him but couldn’t stand the thought of prolonging Rachel’s ride by making Abigail return for her. “Okay, thanks. That would be great. I saw a Conoco station a couple of blocks up the street. Can we stop there and see if they can work on it?”
    He opened her door and she slid out.
    He pulled his phone from his back pocket. “That place will gouge you. They feed off tourists. I know a better place.” He dialed and arranged for a tow while Nora let Abbey out and grabbed her pack that contained an extra change of clothes and the barest of necessities. If Abigail was true to form, she might have scored a suite somewhere in town where Nora could crash on the sofa for the night.
    Darrell slid his phone into his pocket. “All arranged. Ready?”
    He led them to a shiny dark blue Toyota 4Runner.
    “I’m sorry about Abbey,” Nora said. “You probably aren’t used to hauling dogs around in your backseat.”
    Darrell grinned at the dog. “I live in Moab. Keeping a vehicle clean is a challenge I deal with regularly.” He pointed a key fob at the back window and it slid down. He reached in and pulled out an old blanket.
    Nora set Lisa’s box in the back and tossed her pack beside it.
    Darrell spread the blanket in the backseat, let Abbey jump in, and he and Nora settled in the front