Free Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair

Sorry.”
    “You worry more than Mama and Melissa combined.”
    “I know.” Hearing Amanda’s giggle, Lindsey felt her spirit soar. Just listen to her. Alive. Laughing. So different from three years ago, when she’d been diagnosed with cancer and was well on her way to dying. She’d been losing weight, her face drawn tight with pain. Now she sounded as she had before—Mandy had laughed all through childhood. “So what’s up?”
    “Texas A&M accepted me. I’m going to be an Aggie!”
    “Really? When did you get old enough to go to college?”
    “Linnie!” The reprimanding tone made Lindsey chuckle and tear up at the same time.
    “S-sorry.” She cleared her throat. It had been worth it. Sure, if Victor hadn’t offered to pay for Amanda’s treatment, Lindsey wouldn’t have rushed into marrying him. Maybe she’d have had a chance to learn what an evil person he was or even why he’d been so eager to get married.
    She curled her lip. At a guess, he’d needed only one smuggling trip to reimburse him for everything spent on Mandy’s treatment. Yet the past didn’t matter. Her sister was alive, laughing, and planning her future. That was what counted. “Congratulations, Mandy. Seriously. That’s awesome.”
    “I know, right? I can’t believe I actually caught up on all those classes I missed. And Mom’s giving me a birthday party next week.” A pause and smaller voice. “I wish you could come.”
    The thought of setting foot in Parnell’s jurisdiction, of what might happen to her … Lindsey’s stomach twisted painfully. Relax. She was far, far from Texas. “Sorry, sissie.” Would she ever be able to go home? “Are y’all doing okay?”
    “The cops swing by every couple of weeks to see if you’re hiding under the couch or something.” She snickered.
    “You’re not telling them anything, right?”
    “Nah, we only say we don’t know where you are. I’m glad you don’t tell us, so I don’t feel like a liar.” She hesitated. “Chief Parnell is…kinda scary, though.”
    Lindsey stiffened, remembering the twisted hatred in the police chief’s eyes. I shot his brother. And Parnell liked to kill. Thank goodness Mandy would soon be leaving town. “You never see him alone, you understand me? Never.”
    “I’m not stupid. If Mama’s not home, I go out the back door and over the fence.” Mandy giggled. “But it’s fun when she’s there. She knows she can’t lie worth a darn, so she just goes into a crying fit whenever the chief mentions your name. And he gets all disgusted and leaves.”
    Even as guilt settled in Lindsey’s stomach, she grinned. She could see her mama doing excellent hysterics. With proper Southern gentility, of course.
    “Melissa came over for supper last night. She’s getting the day off to come to my party!”
    “Good.”
    “And she says she’s still keeping the cattle and the hands away from your property.”
    “Even better.” Thank God for Melissa. The two of them had always taken care of Mama and Mandy. Like when Amanda got sick, Lindsey had obtained the money for the experimental treatment, Melissa provided the support, and Mama had—Lindsey rolled her eyes—Mama had cried. They all loved their mother, despite the fact that in an emergency, she was as much use as tits on a boar. “Now tell me about what you’re going to take the first semester.”
    After her sister finished with the local news, Lindsey dumped her coffee into the sink and went back to the reception room.
    “I’m off to help my baby with her flower arrangements,” Mrs. Martinez said and pointed to a pile of papers on the desk. “If you have time, can you file those away?”
    “You bet.”
    Lindsey stood and watched the short woman hurry out of the office. After a minute, she recognized the feeling welling inside her as grief. She’d been a bride twice now. Even with Victor and having a few qualms, she’d thought there was love. She’d looked forward to children.
    Surely the death