Lakeview Protector

“I hope you’re wrong about that.”

“Until you know for sure, be careful. A woman went missing in the next town over a couple of months ago. I’d hate for the same to happen to you or Sarah.”

Jasmine went cold at his words. She’d thought Sarah’s claims of danger exaggerated. At least she’d hoped they were. But if a woman had disappeared, maybe there was more to Sarah’s claims than she’d thought. “What woman?”

“Her name was Rebecca McKenna.”

“I’ve never heard of her.”

“She hasn’t made the news, but she is missing. Her brother hasn’t heard from her in two months. He’s not sure he ever will again.” He let the words hang in the air before releasing her arm and stepping away. “Get a security system, Jasmine. Make sure you keep it on. I don’t think I need to tell you what an ugly world this can be.”

Before she could comment, he strode away, moving across the lawn and down to the driveway that led to his rental, leaving Jazz alone in the still morning air, his words whispering through her head. I don’t think I need to tell you what an ugly world this can be.

No, he didn’t need to tell her.

She knew.

And she’d do everything she could to make sure that ugliness didn’t touch her or her mother-in-law again.

FIVE

“You are not paying for the security system, Jasmine. If I can’t afford it on my own, I don’t need it.” Sarah’s clipped tone matched the scowl on her too-pale face, and Jazz had a feeling nothing she said could change her mother-in-law’s mind.

Of course, being as hardheaded as Sarah, she had to keep trying. “You do need it. And I can afford it, so we’ve got no problem.”

“We’ve got a big problem, and that problem is that you’re treating me like a child. Which I’m not. I’m an adult. Plenty capable of making my own decisions and paying my own way in the world.” Sarah pushed open the car door.

“Hold on, Sarah. Let me get the walker out of the trunk.”

“I’ll make it to the house without the walker.”

“The doctor said—”

“I don’t care what the doctor said. I’m fine. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I could dance a jig if I wanted to.” She eased to her feet, but didn’t move away from the car as Jasmine grabbed the walker from the trunk. Between the late night and the doctor’s appointment, Sarah was looking worse for the wear, her deeply set eyes hollow in the early afternoon light, her mouth bracketed with lines that hadn’t been there three years ago.

Worry beat a throbbing pulse at the base of Jasmine’s neck, and she rubbed her hand against the ache as she handed Sarah the walker. “A jig, huh?”

Sarah smiled and shrugged, some of the irritation easing from her face. “It might be interesting to try.”

“It won’t be long before you can.”

“And it won’t be long before you’re heading back to New Hampshire.”

“I’ll stay as long as you need me.”

“I know you will, dear, but my point is that eventually you’ll go back to your life and I’ll go back to mine because we’re both adults. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself and my problems.”

They were back to the security-system discussion. Not exactly the direction Jazz had hoped to go. The more they talked about money—most specifically, Sarah’s lack of it—the more Jazz realized just how upset her mother-in-law was going to be when she found out the mortgage to her property had been paid off. Obviously, Jazz should have prayed more and taken a few days to think things through.

She hadn’t, so she’d just have to face up to Sarah’s wrath. But not now. They were both too tired for more arguments. “I know that, Sarah, but I want to help. You’re the only family I’ve got, and I want to make sure you’re safe.”

To her credit, Sarah didn’t bring up the fact that Jasmine had barely had contact with her during the past few years. “We’ll see what the security people say, okay? Once we know for sure how much it will cost to have a system installed, we’ll talk about it again.”

“I’d really like it to be installed today. Eli said a woman is missing. Someone from a nearby town. That makes me nervous for your safety.”

“What woman? I haven’t heard anything about this.”

“You were in the hospital for almost two weeks.”

“And you think the rumor mill couldn’t find me there? If someone was missing, I’d know about it.”

“Eli seemed pretty sure about it.”

“Who? Did he give you a name?”

“Rachel…Rebecca…Something like that.”

“Rebecca McKenna?”

“Yes. That was it.”

“She didn’t disappear. She left her husband. I can’t say I blame her. Reverend McKenna is a hard man with very antiquated ideas about the role of women in the home and in the church.”

“Antiquated as in traditional?”

“Tradition is good. Reverend McKenna’s approach is a little too extreme for my taste, and for the taste of most women I know.”

“You’ve been to his church?”

“I’ve heard about his church. You know how the grapevine works around here. Rumor on top of rumor on top of rumor passed from person to person, but always with a grain of truth. According to the people I’ve talked to about it, Fellowship Community Church is more a cult than anything else. But, like I said, I’ve never been.”

“If all you’ve got is rumor to go on, it’s possible Rebecca didn’t leave her husband. Maybe she really did disappear.”

“I doubt it. One of the girls who helped out around here for a while said Rebecca ran off with someone she’d met while she was taking classes at Liberty University. Mary was a member of the church, so I think she probably knew what she was talking about.” Sarah unlocked the front door and stepped into the house, her shoulders bowed as if a weight were sitting on them. And not just one weight. Many. The weight of disappointment. The weight of sorrow. The weight of financial difficulties.

Jazz wanted to put a hand on Sarah’s shoulder and tell her that everything was going to be all right, but she knew it might not be. That was the thing about life. You’d get moving along, everything going well, and suddenly the rug would be yanked out from under you and you’d find yourself flat on your back, staring at the ceiling and wondering how you’d gotten there. “I guess Eli got some wrong information.”

“That’s what it sounds like. Either that, or everyone else does. Maybe you should discuss it with Eli over dinner or a movie. Or both.” Sarah shot Jazz an amused look as she lowered herself onto the couch.

Jazz ignored the look and the comment. There was no way she was going to seek Eli out, let alone have dinner with him. Besides, Rebecca had probably done just what the rumor mills were saying and run off with another man. “It’s past noon. How about some lunch? I could make soup and sandwiches while we wait for the security company to get here.”

“I’m not hungry, dear. I think I’ll just read for a while.”

“Maybe you could just have some soup.”

“You’re doing it again.” Sarah grabbed a paperback from the side table.

“What?”