Dela stood on one side of Harper and Rae on the other when Jacob let Quinn and the Hunts into Rae’s house. She immediately knew the woman was Harper’s mother. Mrs. Hunt had the same bone structure and nose. Where her mother’s skin was ebony, Harper’s was lighter due to her father being Caucasian and he had Harper’s ears and mouth.
Dela and Rae had told Harper what was happening. That Athena wasn’t her mother and Alex wasn’t going to be able to take care of her anymore, because her real mother and father had finally found her. They didn’t say Athena kidnapped her or that Alex had killed the only person she thought was her mom. The Hunts could do that when she was older.
“Harper, you have grown into a beautiful little girl,” Mrs. Hunt said. Dela could tell the woman wanted to pull the child into her arms, but restrained herself.
Dela leaned down to Harper. “Why don’t you and Mrs. Hunt go to your house and pack up some clothes and the toys you’d like to take with you?”
Harper looked at her with wide scared eyes.
“I’ll go with you, if you’d like,” Rae said.
Harper looked up at her and nodded. “I’d like that.”
Rae smiled. “Come on. She held out her hand and led Harper, followed by Mrs. Hunt, out of the house.
Dela faced Mr. Hunt who was looking pleased. “I don’t like men who cheat on their wives.”
His face grew dark and he started to open his mouth.
“Dela, we aren’t here to judge anyone’s life choices,” Quinn said.
“You know I don’t give a rat’s ass what this man thinks of me, but,” she stared straight at Mr. Hunt, “I gave Harper my phone number and told her if you don’t treat her right or she feels unwanted, she’s going to call me. Because we have a whole community, here, who loves her and will support her.”
“I can assure you that she will have the best care and my wife will be the doting mother she wanted to be when our daughter was stolen.”
“Because of your actions. Does she know that?” Dela asked.
His face reddened and he looked at the ground.
“I thought not. Remember that I do know and I know how to find your wife should I hear anything.” Dela walked to the door. “I’ll say goodbye to Harper.”
“She can’t threaten me like that,” she heard Hunt saying as she closed the door and walked over to the Kindale house.
Her heart ached for Harper. So much change in a short time. But if she looked closely, she would see herself in Mrs. Hunt and understand why she was living with them. And she had no doubt the woman would love her with her whole heart.
She found them in Harper’s room, filling two suitcases. One with clothes and one with toys Harper picked out. “Write to me,” Dela said to Harper. “And have a good life.” She said this to the mother. Mrs. Hunt nodded and smiled.
Harper wrapped her small arms around Dela. “Thank you for being my friend.”
“I’ll always be your friend. Just call if you need me.” She released the arms. “I have to go. Someone is waiting for me. Good luck,” she said shaking Mrs. Hunt’s hand.
“Thank you,” the woman said, tears of happiness glistening in her eyes.
Dela walked out to where Heath sat in his pickup. She slid in and sighed deeply. “She’s going home even if she doesn’t know it.”
Heath pulled her into his arms and kissed her. When he released her, he said, “Where to?”
“The cemetery. I want to see if we can find Theodore Thunder’s gravestone.”
♠ ♣ ♥ ♦
Thank you for reading book four in the Spotted Pony Casino Mystery series. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review where you purchased The Squeeze. Reviews are the best way to let an author know you enjoyed the story.
As I continue the series there will be surprises about Dela’s heritage and more murders that she, Heath, and their friends will solve.
If you enjoyed this mystery series you might like my other mystery series:
Shandra Higheagle Mystery Series
Double Duplicity https://www.books2read.com/u/bww90b
Tarnished Remains https://www.books2read.com/u/b5oBRm
Deadly Aim https://www.books2read.com/u/3LXde3
Box Set 1-3 https://www.books2read.com/u/m2ELO3
Murderous Secrets https://www.books2read.com/u/4A8QAm
Killer Descent https://www.books2read.com/u/38DDNr
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Yuletide Slaying https://www.books2read.com/u/bzp1Lq
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Capricious Demise https://books2read.com/u/b6ZJOA
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Gabriel Hawke Mystery Series
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About the Author
Paty Jager grew up in Wallowa County in NE Oregon and has always been amazed by its beauty, history, and ruralness. She has always had an interest in the Indigenous people and their culture and enjoys learning more every time she writes a book.
Paty is an award-winning author of 53 novels of murder mystery and western romance. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. She and her husband raise alfalfa hay in rural eastern Oregon. Riding horses and battling rattlesnakes, she not only writes the western lifestyle, she lives it.
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