The Archer [Book 13 of the Hawkman Series] Read Free Page A

stubborn."
    "We've got to convince them that you've done nothing wrong."
    Reluctantly, she nodded. “I can't bear the thought of this person mentioning my mother in such a horrible way. She's old and I couldn't bear something happening to her. I love my folks dearly."
    "All the more reason we've got to talk to them."
    She looked at him with fear in her eyes. “When?"
    "As soon as possible."
    "You mean today?"
    "Yes."
    Laura bit her lower lip, as she clenched her hands in her lap. “I'm not sure I'm ready. Besides, I told Mom I'd pick up her list of groceries after my class."
    "I'll take you back to your car, follow you to the store, then you can lead me out to your house."
    She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “You sure don't leave me much choice."
    "If we talk to your folks, it'll prove you're telling me the truth about these episodes."
    "I had the feeling you didn't believe me. My story sounds absurd, but I'll swear to God it's true."
    Hawkman turned on the ignition. “Okay, let's go back to your car. After you finish shopping we'll go to your house."
    She nodded. “Okay."
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CHAPTER FOUR
    When Laura came out of the grocery store, Hawkman helped her load the bags into the car. As he returned from rolling the cart to a holding cage, he found her still standing outside the vehicle, her expression clouded.
    "Are you having second thoughts about talking to your folks?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Yes, but I realize I'm going to have to confide in them eventually. It just worries me."
    "Letting them know what's happening is better than leaving them in the dark. They need to be made aware of the situation."
    Laura sighed and unlocked the car door, then climbed inside. “Okay, follow me."
    As Hawkman tailed her through town and past the city limits, he tried to analyze the young woman's personality. She seemed reserved and mature, not like a bubbly teenager. It appeared she'd grown up under strict rules guided by her parents. However, he realized he'd only seen her under stressful circumstances. He didn't have the vaguest idea what she might be like among her peers.
    He glanced around the countryside as they bounced off the pavement onto a dirt road. The homes were scattered several miles apart, each with their own acreage. After about two miles, Laura turned into a gravel driveway and drove up to a neat looking
    two-story frame house. She pulled around to the back, but Hawkman decided the gentlemanly thing to do was park in the front. He hoped both parents were in the house, as sometimes the men stayed in the fields until dark.
    Laura trotted around the corner, with a bag of groceries in her arms, and motioned for Hawkman to follow her up the stairs of the front porch. She pushed open the door, and led him into a modest, neat living room, decorated with spindle-legged furniture, faded floral upholstery, and crocheted doilies adorning the backs of each piece. Family pictures in metal frames were lined up on end tables and propped on a book shelf made into the wall. He could hear a television blasting the world news from a nearby room.
    "Mom, Dad, I've brought a visitor,” Laura called, putting the sack on the couch.
    Mrs. King came out of the kitchen, removed her apron, dropped it on the back of a chair, smoothed out her hair on each side and stood in the doorway. Laura scurried past her.
    "I'll get Dad,” she said, touching her mother's shoulder.
    Hawkman noticed the older woman seemed a bit nervous as she clasped her hands in front of her and kept glancing over her shoulder. She had a gentle face, with smile wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Her short white hair had a tinge of yellow, and appeared to have a natural wave as it turned under near the collar line. She had a stout build, but not big, probably a woman who'd spent time in the fields. Her dress appeared homemade with a small pastel blue and white stripe, mid-sleeved, and hung to mid-calf. She wore slip-on shoes with a