“Pat,” I said, but he cut me off again with a weak wave of his hand.
“It’s already been done. I’ve also instructed Danny to arrange for your grandfather’s funeral, when you’re healthy, of course. That was a terrible thing. You may not know this, but the Fischer family and the Allison family have ties going back to before the Civil War.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“It was a rough history,” he went on. “Lots of bad blood. I’d like our families to bury the hatchet.”
The old man stood catching his breath. Danny held him up. He seemed to be waiting for an answer from me, some kind of absolution for his sins before he died.
I stared at him for a long time. He was a weak old man barely able to stand on his own feet. Maybe the statute of limitations was passed for wrongs committed during the Civil War and its aftermath. Maybe it was time to honor the dead and move on. It didn’t excuse him from what he did—setting me up to kill Marcus Lopez. I cleared my dry throat again. Kelly gave me another sip of water.
“Get out,” I whispered. “I don’t want your money or your friendship.”
He looked disappointed, but I didn’t care. Danny started to protest. Patrick cut him off with a wave of his frail hand. An awkward silence settled over the hospital room. I handed the bank envelope back to Danny. He took it and led his Grandpa out of the room.
“I’m ready to go home,” I said and swung my feet off the bed. I didn’t like hospitals. I had things to do, like tell Mrs. Luna she was right. Her daughter was murdered. And take care of Sam and Grandpa. I was ready to get back to work.
“Now, you need rest,” Kelly declared. She put a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I let her guide me back into bed.
Skeeter’s baritone chuckle erupted in the small room. “That’s a first,” he said. “Never seen anyone tell Nick what to do.”
It hurt to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. Kelly leaned over and kissed me on the lips.
THE END
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Two more exciting Nick Fischer novels are on the way.
Second Chances (Spring 2020)
Nick Fischer takes on the seedy underworld of sex trafficking when the estranged granddaughter of a crusty local rancher turns up missing. He tracks her from rural Central Texas to the back alleys of San Antonio. When Nick finally finds her, she doesn’t want to go back. Saving her life means breaking the law but walking away is not an option.
Last Rodeo (Fall 2020)
A rodeo cowboy turns up dead at the San Antonio arena clutching an empty snuff can inscribed with Nick Fischer’s name and a pocket full of painkillers. Was it a cry for help—the young cowboy was a veteran—or was it an accusation? Nick finds himself on the wrong side of the law, again, as he tries to find the answers that will clear his name and catch a killer before it’s too late.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my daughter Ruby and sister MaryAlice, who chided and encouraged me through the process, and my friend Gus, who introduced me to the great Alamo City and taught me about suppressors. Also, I would like to thank my editors, Edmund Pickett and Lisa Gilliam, for their patience and guidance. Prost!
Because the incident on the Nueces River during the Civil War is controversial, the author would like to acknowledge two main sources of historical research. The first comes from an article in The Southwestern Historical Quarterly written by the historian Stanley S. McGowen, and the second comes from two eyewitness, R.H. Williams and John W. Sansom, whose self-recorded versions of the event are available on The Portal to Texas History website.
About the Author
George Lee Miller is a former cowboy, Navy corpsman, and theater director who splits his time between teaching at a local college and writing the next Nick Fischer adventure. He currently lives with his Labrador retriever in Central Texas.
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