Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss(76)

She leaned forward and put her mouth close to Vernon’s ear. He smelled of sweat, blood and death. “They’re after your son now, do you realize that? If I don’t stop them, if I can’t get my hands on this evidence, in all likelihood he will follow you to the grave. I need to know what evidence my father had on the Syndicate. If you won’t do it for me, or to clear your own conscience before you meet your Maker, then do it for the sake of your son. You owe him that much, at least.”

Vernon shook, whether from anger or from death sinking its talons in a little deeper, she couldn’t say. His lips and skin had turned ashen gray.

“The last ledger.” Vernon took a shallow breath. It rattled around in his chest before he spoke again. “Had details from that night. Bank accounts. A legend. Plans. Would expose everyone. Your pa hid it. Can’t find.” His sentences grew shorter, each one requiring a new breath that came harder and harder.

Meredith had the legend. All she needed now was the ledger and plans to put it all together. “Did he give any indication where he hid it?”

Vernon gave a slight shake of his head. “Said it was...staring me right...in the...face but I’d...never...see it... Tried...”

Vernon’s eyes closed. Staring him right in the face?

Look into yourself.

She turned her father’s words over in her mind, reworked them, changed them around and then it dawned on her. She didn’t bother trying to wake Vernon. She had what she needed. The man would meet his Maker, likely before sunrise. He could atone for his sins with Him.

He opened his eyes briefly and stared at her.

“My son...did this for you...damn Connolly women...death of us all...”

She shook her head. “Your son lied to me and tried to send me away.”

“He tried...save you...at his own expense...not worth it...”

At his own expense? What was he talking about? She looked down at the man who had wreaked such havoc in her life. Should she say something—a prayer, forgiveness? No words came. In the end, Vernon Donovan had made his bed, and now he lay there dying in it. A profound sadness settled around her. Such a wasted life.

She turned and left the room. “How is he?” she asked, walking over to the table where Rory’s large frame had been wrestled into a sitting position. He smiled when he saw her, though it was obvious the poor boy was in pain.

“Doc says I’m gonna be okay, but I gotta stay awake. Guess he wants me to be able to enjoy the doozy of a headache I got.”

She returned Rory’s smile and patted his shoulder. “I’m just thankful that’s all you have to contend with.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Meredith turned to Doc Whyte. “Mr. Donovan isn’t doing so well. He was asking for you.” She didn’t much care for lying to the good doctor, but she needed to slip away and that would be easier done without a roomful of people.

She waited until Doc disappeared into the other room and closed the door behind him before she turned her attention back to the injured deputy. “Rory, I need to go back to the hotel for a minute. If Doc comes out, please tell him I’ll be careful and not to worry.”

Rory nodded then winced, putting a hand to his head. “You’re not really going to the hotel are you?”

Meredith twisted her mouth to one side. She hated lying. It didn’t come naturally to her.

“Doc said Mr. Beckett went looking for Bancroft. My guess is he likely left Jasper in Doc’s stables out back. In case you need a horse or somethin’. Jus’ don’t tell him I mentioned it. I already got one lump on my head.”

She didn’t like hearing Caleb had gone to confront Mr. Bancroft, or Reynolds, or whatever his real name was. But she had learned enough about Rachel’s husband to know he was capable of handling himself and going up against the worst. She had to believe he would be okay.

“Thank you, Rory.”

He nodded. “Just be careful. Sheriff Donovan will have my hide if’n anything happens to you. That is if Mr. Beckett don’t get to me first ’cause I told you to take his horse.”

“I will. You be sure and follow Doc’s instructions.” She left Doc’s office and headed to the stables.

She knew exactly where her father had hidden the evidence.



“You want to tell me how it is you know so much about these men we’re tracking,” Hunter asked, surprised at how quickly Kincaid picked up the trail in the dark. The clouds had blown to the other side of the mountains by now, leaving ample moonlight to guide their way until they hit the wooded area. Kincaid had had the foresight to grab a lamp from Doc’s office on his way out the door and every now and again he’d hold it up to confirm he was where he wanted to be. The bounty hunter seemed to have a sixth sense about how the men who took Bill would react.