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Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Elizabeth Goddard
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Dedication
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. FOUR
  11. FIVE
  12. SIX
  13. SEVEN
  14. EIGHT
  15. NINE
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. TWENTY
  27. TWENTY-ONE
  28. TWENTY-TWO
  29. TWENTY-THREE
  30. TWENTY-FOUR
  31. TWENTY-FIVE
  32. TWENTY-SIX
  33. TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. TWENTY-NINE
  36. THIRTY
  37. THIRTY-ONE
  38. THIRTY-TWO
  39. THIRTY-THREE
  40. THIRTY-FOUR
  41. THIRTY-FIVE
  42. THIRTY-SIX
  43. THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. THIRTY-NINE
  46. FORTY
  47. FORTY-ONE
  48. FORTY-TWO
  49. FORTY-THREE
  50. FORTY-FOUR
  51. FORTY-FIVE
  52. FORTY-SIX
  53. FORTY-SEVEN
  54. FORTY-EIGHT
  55. FORTY-NINE
  56. FIFTY
  57. FIFTY-ONE
  58. FIFTY-TWO
  59. FIFTY-THREE
  60. FIFTY-FOUR
  61. FIFTY-FIVE
  62. FIFTY-SIX
  63. FIFTY-SEVEN
  64. FIFTY-EIGHT
  65. FIFTY-NINE
  66. SIXTY
  67. SIXTY-ONE
  68. SIXTY-TWO
  69. SIXTY-THREE
  70. SIXTY-FOUR
  71. SIXTY-FIVE
  72. A Preview of Book 2 in the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COURAGE Series
  73. Author’s Note
  74. Acknowledgments
  75. About the Author
  76. Back Ads
  77. Back Cover

“Before you were born,” she said. “He worked undercover for the DEA. He was a hero. The story was that, unfortunately, he had played his role so well that he’d also become addicted to drugs. He quit the job. Got into rehab. He got a desk job at the county. Met your mother and got married. Had a baby—you, Jack. But the truth is that he was never addicted to drugs. The brother of the cartel gang leader your father took down found him. Your father’s death was actually a murder, as was your mom’s car accident.”

What? Jack found the chair next to the wall and eased into it. He rested his head in his hands. “How do you know this?”

“Before I took you in, I demanded answers from his superiors and was silenced with the truth. I could never speak a word of it, or else I could bring danger to myself and to you. The story for the news was that he had struggled with addiction and that he committed suicide. I know it’s not fair for a hero to go down with such a dark story, a lie. I see now how that affected you, but that was for our safety, Jack. Please don’t jeopardize your safety by digging up that past. I simply thought you should know that you are a hero like your father was a hero.”

The news stunned Jack. More than anything, he wanted to believe her words, but his aunt struggled with dementia and could be confused. He wasn’t sure he trusted her story. If he did any digging of his own, he could bring danger to Aunt Nadine’s door. He would give it some time and speak with her about it again, but right now Jack chose to believe this new truth about his father.

A fiftyish woman wearing a white coat and stethoscope entered. “I’m Dr. Presser.” She flashed a smile. “Just call me Carol.”

“Hi, Carol,” both Jack and Aunt Nadine said simultaneously.

“I spoke briefly with your primary doctor, who filled me in on the dementia you’ve been experiencing.”

“I don’t have dementia. He keeps telling me that. Just a few memory problems.”

Jack kept his face straight.

Carol hesitated as though considering her next words. “I think you could be experiencing a reaction to your anxiety medication. That, combined with the fact you have very low levels of vitamin B. Either or the combination of both can cause symptoms of dementia. We’re switching up your medication, and I’m prescribing vitamins. You could see significant improvement in your memory.”

Jack shared a stunned look with his aunt. Confusion lined her features, then her face relaxed. Acceptance.