The Unrelenting Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans - Christian Romantic Suspense) Read Free

fun with Uncle Carcen. You don’t get to see his boys play ball very often. And be good for Grandma and Grandpa, OK?”
    Marissa’s lower lip protruded and she hung her head down until her chin touched her chest.
    “Honey—”
    Carcen cut her off. “Hey, none of that. If you are coming with me, we can’t have your lip hanging out. Especially not so far. My star player might trip on it while he’s dribbling down the court. Then the meanest team in the lake might beat us.”
    A solitary giggle escaped as Marissa glanced up at her uncle. “The league , Uncle Cawcen, not lake!”
    “Oh! Right!” He tossed her a wink. “Why don’t you go down and wait for me by the door. I left my coat on the table and you might even find a piece of gum in my pocket.”
    Marissa was gone in a flash and Devynne climbed wearily to her feet. On the pretense of cleaning up the room, she began to gather some of the clothes scattered about, keeping her back to him and hoping he would just go this time without making a big deal of her not coming. But she could feel his gaze drilling her from behind. She moved to pick up a sock in the far corner then paused to straighten the pieces to the doll house Marissa had been playing with all morning.
    “If you just ignore me long enough I’ll have to go away, is that it?” His voice was a low growl but she heard the concern around the edges.
    The concern was almost her undoing. Devynne pinched the bridge of her nose, willing herself not to allow the tears until he left. “Don’t do this Carcen. I can’t come. I have work to do. Maybe next time.”
    “That’s what you’ve said for the past several years, Devynne.” His tone dropped to a soft murmur touched with disheartenment.
    She swallowed hard and pushed strength into her knees. “Yeah? Well, for the past several years I’ve been trying to make a living for Marissa and I. I’ve been busy.”
    “What happened to your foot? You’re limping.”
    She tensed. No way could she tell Sheriff Carcen Lang she’d thought there was an intruder in the house and in her panic had dropped her gun on her bare foot. Her heart gave an extra thump and she reminded herself to hoist up her self-control. If he even had a hint of what her morning had been like he would morph into cop-mode faster than his star player could sink a three-pointer.
    “I dropped something on it.” She waved a hand to indicate it was no big deal and prayed he’d just let it go.
    Carcen hesitated. She hadn’t hidden her tears as well as she probably thought she had. But he needed to get going.
    He folded his arms, unfolded them, glanced at his watch, and then folded them again. Stubborn woman. How was he ever going to get through to her? He just wanted her to be happy again. “I have to go.” Reaching out he pulled the pink Barbie pajamas off the end of Marissa’s bed, tucking them under his arm. “I’ll be back later this evening.”
    Her back still to him, Devynne nodded. “OK. See you then.”
    He knew her well enough to detect the note of relief edging her voice.
    She could be relieved for now. But come tonight they were going to have this out, once and for all.

Chapter 3
    Devynne stayed at her sewing machine all through the afternoon and well into the dinner hour before a headache made her realize she hadn’t eaten anything since her coffee and toast that morning.
    Stretching, she surveyed her day’s work. Most of the quilt top was assembled. She just needed to add one border and then do the binding. And it was beautiful. Even Mrs. Abernathy would be hard pressed to find something to complain about on this quilt.
    Satisfaction eased through her. Despite the woman’s grumpiness, she was quite influential. A good word from her and Devynne could expect several more orders from the woman’s bridge club friends.
    As Devynne took the stairs up to the kitchen, her foot pulsed pain with each step. But the further she went the less it hurt. Maybe she should take a little