“Alright,” Jake began, “let’s kick this elephant in the butt. Lane told me how upset Jenny is about Pat being back in town. Do you think she could have done this?”
Cal didn’t answer right away. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Finally, he shook it and said, “No. No, she didn’t do this. She wouldn’t have. It’s too childish and petty. Now if you told me Jenny had confronted her on the street and slapped her in the heat of the moment or something – I might believe that. But to be that destructive? No, that’s not Jenny.”
“It wasn’t particularly destructive. Things were thrown around, not torn up. Except for the picture of you and Pat,” Jake pointed out.
“Do you think she did it?” Cal asked his friend, point blank.
“Let’s just say if I wasn’t your best friend, if she wasn’t my sister-in-law, I’d probably be picking her up for questioning right now.”
Cal nodded. “I know. That’s why I want it off our hands. I really don’t think she did it, but I also don’t want to ask her. Please don’t discuss this with Lane when you get home. You know they tell each other everything. I’m going to tell Jenny Pat’s apartment was broken into but that’s all I’m saying.”
“Okay,” Jake agreed. “I’ll do the same. And hope like hell they don’t act guilty.” Jake got out of the car and watched as his friend headed toward home.
~~
Jenny’s car was there when Cal got home, but she didn’t come to the bedroom to greet him as he put his things away. He found her on the porch. She was staring at the river and sipping on a beer. Two empties were beside her.
Cal went over and gave her a kiss. There was little response. “You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she answered. “You?”
Ignoring her question, he asked, “Where’s Ryder?”
“All the grown-ups decided to take a picnic out on the pontoon boat. Sophie and Ryder went along.”
“You’re not one of the grown-ups?” Cal prodded.
“I didn’t feel like going.”
Cal turned his chair toward Jenny. “What’s wrong, honey?” he asked gently.
“It’s just been a shitty day,” Jenny answered. She continued to watch the river.
“Pat’s apartment got broken into this afternoon,” Cal told her abruptly. “The place was pretty well trashed.”
Jenny turned to look at him. “And she called you, no doubt. She’s in town, shouldn’t that be the police and not the sheriff?”
“She called me because she was scared and she knew I’d know what to do.”
“And I bet you ran right over there to comfort her. Maybe someone doesn’t want her here and they’re trying to scare her away. I’m with them. Maybe she’ll go back to where she came from.”
Cal felt his heart sinking. “She comes from here, Jenny. She lived here most of her life.”
“Whatever,” she answered. “You want a beer?” Jenny opened a small cooler beside her chair. Cal saw four empty bottles had been placed back in the cooler. Seven? She sat here and drank seven beers?
“Jenny did you drink all these?”
Ignoring his question, Jenny muttered, “I gotta pee.” She rose to go in and immediately tripped over the cooler and went sprawling.
Cal was at her side in an instant helping her to sit up.
“What the hell happened?” she asked him.
Cal didn’t answer. He scooped Jenny up and carried her into the house. He took her to the bathroom first, then undressing her, he tucked her into the bed. He sat watching her sleep for a long time. The sick feeling in his stomach wasn’t going away.
Suspicions on the River,
Book Three
(a Cassie’s family story)
Cal and Jenny have a nearly idyllic marriage. There are rare trips across his lap for minor problems, but most of those trips are just for fun. Could that be changing? Pat, Cal’s former lover, has moved back to town and she wouldn’t mind giving it another try with Cal. She feels he can’t be serious about this little twit that he married so quickly. Pat feels that once Cal realizes she offers him a better option, he’ll choose her. But soon mysterious things begin happening to Pat. Is someone trying to run her out of town? Could that someone be Jenny?
Cassie and the whole river family try to keep Jenny occupied and out of trouble, but suspicions just go from bad to worse. Both Jenny and Pat want Cal and they’re willing to fight for him. How dirty will this fight get?
These ten books introduce Cassie. She is my friend and has been since she wandered into my imagination fifty-four years ago. She is married to Tom, the man who loves her in a way that makes my heart nearly burst with happiness for the two of them. He loves her, guides her, protects her and when necessary, spanks the fool out of her. I’ve been told that their adventures are exciting, funny and realistic. Their love-life is passionate and fulfilling – but you’ll hear no graphic details, Cassie is a lady and giving too much detail would not be proper.
Cal’s Law series
Cal and Jenny are one of my younger couple. The spanking in their relationship began mere minutes after they met, and Cal hasn’t let up much since. There relationship has it’s struggles, but these two are meant to be together. They live in the same town as Cassie and Tom and there is a lot of interactions among the character of both series. Jenny is not as reluctant as Cassie to openly discuss her sex life, so you’ll find a little more spice in this series.
On the River series
In this, my latest series, everyone is around – all the characters I’ve grown to love over the years are living on the area of the river that they call The Landing. Their lives, their adventures, even their spankings sometimes intertwine. By this time in the series, I’m just typing as my characters tell me what’s happening. And I love it!
I’ll close today with a review on the latest book. This is one of the finest reviews I’ve ever had.
Starting with the first Cassie book until now, I have never been disappointed or failed to wait expectantly for the next one.
And, of course, the links -
Cal's Law series
On the River series
On the River (book one)
Secrets on the River (book two)
Suspicions on the River (book three)
Family on the River (book five)
Sunset on the River (book six)
