“I’ve lived in hell from the day I met you,” Agnes screamed, the veins in her neck bulging with fury.

Myrna and Larry stood stupefied as Agnes Jordan let loose with all the venom stored in her body. As she cursed her husband she smashed everything in sight. When she was finally exhausted, she turned to the two reporters. “I’m sorry you had to witness this outburst. You should probably leave now. I think you have enough to write about. I’ll be leaving myself in a few minutes.”

Myrna felt out of her depth. Womanly instinct led her to the woman’s side, where she wrapped her skinny arms around her shoulders. “Can we help you? Can we take you somewhere?”

Agnes Jordan squared her shoulders. “I have an old car. I think it will get me to Indigo Valley and my daughter. I should have left a long time ago. Go now.”

The two reporters backed out of the kitchen door. When it closed behind them they could hear Cady’s mother shrieking, “I will not repent! Do you hear me, Asa! I know there’s a place reserved for you in hell because that’s where you’re going. And, hear this, Asa Jordan, if there was a way for me to send you there, I would!”

And then there was silence.

“Jesus, Mother of God! What the hell was that all about?” Larry said, beelining for his car, Myrna on his heels.

“This is just a guess on my part, and it has nothing to do with my fine reporting skills, but I’d say Mr. Asa Jordan considers his wife and daughter sinners. Possibly bigger sinners than his mother. He’s a whack job, Larry. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“What about her? What if he does something to her?”

“He’s all mouth. He’s a bully just the way Jeff King was a bully. That woman has lived in fear all her life. Couldn’t you see that? We just did her the biggest favor of her life. She’s going back to Indigo Valley, to her daughter. I think that’s pretty wonderful, if you want my opinion. Are you going to write about this, Larry?”

“Jeez, I don’t know. I’m not one of those tabloid reporters who goes for the jugular and ruins people’s lives. I want to see how this plays out. I’m not going to expense this trip because if I do, then I’m duty-bound to report what happened.”

“I’ll split the expenses with you. Hey, how about taking in a movie tonight. A date. We could go Dutch.”

Larry laughed. “Okay. You’re a real trouper. I was listening to you talking to Mrs. Jordan. You did real good.”

“If that console wasn’t between the seats, I’d wiggle closer and hug you. That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.”

Larry smiled. He thought he just might have, sort of/kind of, found a girl.

16

Cady opened one sleepy eye and looked down at the man next to her on the couch. She could feel his body warmth against her side. Six o’clock. They’d talked all night long about everything and nothing. Where had the hours gone? She smiled in the early-morning light as she stared down at her old childhood protector. Something stirred in her. Something she’d never felt or experienced before. She liked the feeling.