Free Finding Amy by Carol Braswell Page B

wait until the lake freezes.” Amy set the child on the floor and caressed her tiny cheek.
    S he and Carson followed Jamie into the house. Amy noticed the revolver Jamie had hidden behind her back. They both knew how to use a gun, their father had insisted on it. But Amy didn’t like them.
    “Where did you get that?” Amy asked her twin.
    Jamie took a key from her pocket, placed the weapon in a drawer and locked it. She stashed the key above the door jamb. “I bought it before we left Texas. We’re out here alone with our nearest neighbor a mile away and I need something for protection.”
    “ That’s a good idea,” Carson stated, coming up behind the twins. “Do you know how to use it?”
    “Of course . I took a gun safety course. Now, how about some hot cocoa for you,” she tapped her daughter on the nose lightly, “and coffee for us?”
    “Yeah.” Trish took off, sliding into the kitchen on the polished hardwood floor.
    A roaring fire burned in the rock fireplace that dominated the wall to the left of the entry. When they first toured the cabin, Trish could stand up straight in the fireplace opening. Jamie had purchased a leather sofa with matching wingbacks and positioned them facing the plasma television over the mantel. A narrow walkway behind the couch led into the kitchen. On the right were the stairs leading to the second level that had three bedrooms and another bathroom. Just the perfect size for a family.
    T he group entered the sunny kitchen and Jamie started the coffee to brew. She opened the cabinet above the pot and set four cups on the granite counter top. Trish led Amy to the antique plank dining table and shoved her aunt into a chair. She crawled into the chair next to Amy.
    “Mr. Carson , you can sit there.” Trish pointed to the end of the table.
    “Thank you , Trish. You can call me Carson.” He sat where Trish had pointed.
    Jamie made cocoa for Trish, filled the other three cups, placed then on a glass tray, and carried them to the table. When everyone had settled with warm drinks, she asked, “Is there any particular reason you came early?”
    Amy glanced at Carson then to Trish, who had a chocolate mustache. She picked up a napkin and wiped the child’s face. “Yes there is,” she frowned at her sister, and cut her eyes toward Trish. “The Highway Patrol detained me in Yellowstone.”
    Jamie choked on her coffee and set her cup down. “You what? What does that mean, you were detained?”
    Amy shook her head. “Sweetie, Aunt Amy brought you a new Disney movie. Would you like to take you r cocoa in the living room and watch it?” Amy had bought the movie when she stopped for gas.
    “Yes. What ’d you get?” Trish jumped up, grabbed her cup, and took off toward the other room, spilling the brown liquid with every step.
    “I’ll get my bag out of the truck.” Amy rose.
    “Sit still. I’ll get it.” Carson walked toward the front door.
    “What’s going on, Amy?” Jamie’s brows drew together in concern.
    Amy sat on the edge of the chair. “There’s a little problem. Let me get Trish settled first and Carson and I will explain.”
    Jamie ’s hands were shaking when she picked up her cup. Amy reached over and hugged her sister. “Everything’s going to be fine. You need to stay calm for Trish.” She rose and left the kitchen to get the movie going for her niece. When Tangled had Trish’s undivided attention, Amy and Carson went back to the kitchen table where Jamie sat tearing a paper napkin to shreds.
    Amy sat close to her sister , leaned over, and placed her hands on Jamie’s knees. “Someone broke into my apartment yesterday. Stan suggested I leave town for a few days and take Bess’s Jeep in case it started snowing.”
    Fear, stark and vivid, glittered in Jamie’s eyes. Her face paled and she clasped her hands together until her finger tips turned white. Amy wrapped her hands around her sisters, and continued. “Outside of Yellowstone a State Trooper