I ran to the front door and unlocked the deadbolt. I fell into my sweetheart's arms, hot tears splashing down my front, and I didn't even care. He led me over to a chair before I could fall down.
"Sam," I heard his gentle voice saying. "Sam. It's okay now. You got him. You got the killer. And you're safe." I felt someone kiss my hand.
The voice belonged to George and the kiss belonged to Clancy. I allowed myself to be engulfed in love.
"I was so scared, George. He was a real murderer. But it was Marianne who got him. Not me." I was blubbering.
"I know, sweetie. I know." George's voice was comforting and once again I felt safe. I grabbed his arm and put my other hand on dear Clancy and pulled myself upright.
I looked down at the killer in the headless chicken suit. Jim Bob was out cold. George carefully extricated the knife from the hands of the unconscious man and pulled his arms out of the suit so he could get Jim Bob's wrists into handcuffs.
It was at that point that I realized how scared my honey had been for me. His shirt was soaked and what hair he had was plastered to his head.
"George," I said. "I'm sorry I got myself in trouble again."
He shook his head. "I'm glad you're all right, honey. But you really need to stop putting yourself in danger. I'm not sure I can take much more of this."
Clancy licked my hand and gave me a powerful look. I could tell she agreed.
"I know, honey. I don't do it on purpose," I said to George. "Next time, I'll be more careful."
George sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm hoping there won't be a next time," he said as he reached for his phone to get the Sheriff to come take away the chicken.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"Get in the car and don't ask questions. Please." George opened the car door for me.
That's like asking me not to breathe. But I bit my lip, thinking that George deserved to be able to tell me to be quiet. He put Clancy in the back seat. She was smiling and I didn't know why.
I wondered what could be going on. Now that the chicken killer was locked up, I'd finally had a peaceful night of sleep. It seemed our time in Crackertown was over--and I wasn't sorry about that. Although we'd met some nice people, it had been a weird and scary place. I was ready to go home to Quincy and get back to real life.
Unfortunately, there was no way George was getting to the Grand Canyon on this trip. His vacation was over, and we had a long drive ahead of us.
We drove down some back roads until he stopped in a clearing, walked around, opened my door, and led me out. He whispered, "Stay, Clancy," and we took a few steps. I saw that it was the Grand Rock Quarry that Bob Bob had told us about when this misadventure first started.
I turned to my George and didn't see him. Then I looked down, and he was on one knee, with the most beautiful smile on his face and twinkle in those gorgeous eyes.
"I wanted the Grand Canyon because it's dramatic and beautiful, like you, Sam. This isn't the Grand Canyon, but the Grand Rock Quarry will have to do."
I could see that he was trembling, and I was feeling the shivers myself.
"Sam..." he hesitated. "I've had this planned for a long time, and was disappointed that Jeremiah beat me to it with Marianne. Then I waited because I didn't want to spoil their wedding by stealing the spotlight. But I can't wait anymore."
Now I knew what was coming. His eyes were shining and my breath was caught in my throat. For once, I kept my mouth shut and let him speak.
"Sam Darling, I've loved you since you beat me at arm wrestling in first grade. I never stopped loving you, even through all the years you wouldn't speak to me. It was all worth it when you came back into my life." I could see his Adam's apple bob and then he smiled and said, "Will you marry me?"
The scream echoed through the canyon and bounced back to me, hitting me so hard I almost fell over.
The scream was mine.
The scream said, "YES!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Oh no...it's over! Want more? Don't miss these other Sam Darling mysteries, available now.
WHO KILLED MY BOSS?
(Sam Darling mystery #1)
Moments after hiring Samantha Darling as a therapist, Dr. Burns is murdered. Stunned by his sudden death and desperate to keep the job she just got, Sam vows to find the killer.
She has two things going for her. The first is that her brother Rob is a cop, and she figures the crime-solving thing has to be genetic. The second is that Sam is a little bit psychic--so finding the culprit should be a snap for her. If only she could tell the difference between her psychic vibes and indigestion....
With the help of her landlord and her dog, Sam sets out to solve the murder. Along the way, she spends time with the hot new guy in town and tries not to spend time with the old high school boyfriend who stood her up on prom night.
Using her vibes, her wit, and her charm, Sam solves the mystery, but not before going in the completely wrong direction more than once.
ANY MEAT IN THAT SOUP?
(Sam Darling mystery #2)
When a man falls down at Samantha Darling's feet, she thinks it's pretty funny. But she stops joking when he turns up dead.
Social worker and would-be crime-solver Sam is busy trying to unravel the mystery as the death toll keeps mounting. She's thrilled to be hired by the handsome local private eye to work in the ER and investigate, but her elation quickly evaporates when she finds out that her sister Jen is being investigated for the murders.
A trio of other suspects, a poisoning scare for her best bud and canine companion Clancy, and the back-and-forth pull of Sam's attraction to the dreamy Michael and the loyal George keep her unbalanced as she tries to juggle social work, secret sleuthing, and a romantic triangle.
As usual, Sam takes her snooping to extraordinary heights. She can't seem to stop putting her nose where it doesn't belong. And this time...she may have gone too far.
CAN YOU PICTURE THIS?
(Sam Darling mystery #3)
If Sam had known when she knocked over the guy's bicycle that it would put her knee-deep in murder again, she might have thought twice.
Richie Klingman, the only representative of the "paparazzi" in Quincy, chased Sam down with his camera in an attempt to grab a quick shot of the local celebrity sleuth. But when the flashbulb went off in her face, she went off on him--or on his bike--and down it went, Richie and all.
Turns out that one of the photos Richie took caught the precise moment of a murder on film. The next thing Sam knows, Richie himself has been stabbed and is in the hospital with a serious chest wound.
Sam is stumped. There are no suspects. Instead there are round-the-clock police protecting Sam and her kids, who are home from college for the summer. And there is round-the-clock involvement with her old high school beau George, whom Sam has finally forgiven for standing her up on prom night.
When at last a suspect emerges, Sam is confronted with her own mortality yet again. In this third book of the Sam Darling mystery series, you'll be wondering whodunit right up until the murderer is fully exposed and the picture finally emerges.
Or get a bargain by buying the box set of the first three Sam Darling books, Triple Trouble! which includes a secret short story not available anywhere else. Triple Trouble! will be released in October, 2014.
Coming soon is the fifth Sam Darling cozy mystery, Where is Henderson?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Acknowledgements
Thanks to all those who helped, including ~
Patrice Fitzgerald of eFitzgerald Publishing for her excellent work as my publisher and for being my friend.
Panera Bread Company for their continued patience in allowing me to sit and write my books.
Deb Broadwater for the name of the fictional Crackertown, MO. I warned her that her last name would appear because it's such a great name.
Professor Al Pogge for his wealth of knowledge on the decomposition of bodies.
Toni Taylor of Tiger Images for her beautiful photograp
h of a country church near Quincy (but it's in the Ozarks in the book). I gave the sheriff her last name.
Keri Knutson for taking Toni's picture and turning it into another gorgeous book cover.
My beta readers, Jan Smith, Nikki Shields, Beth Lane, and Donna Welsh, for their valuable input and their friendship.
All the Bozarth Sibs for continually giving me vignettes to write about.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Want to find out about new books by Jerilyn Dufresne before anyone else does? Sign up here:
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About the Author
Bestselling author Jerilyn Bozarth Dufresne is the oldest in a family of nine children, which is where she got the inspiration for the Darling Family--although her sibs fight a lot more and have cornered the market on sarcasm. She returned to her hometown of Quincy, Illinois after having lived a nomadic life in her middle years.
Jerilyn currently works as an outpatient therapist at a local mental health clinic and teaches at Quincy University. She and her dog Gus live with, and are tolerated by, two cats.
Will You Marry Me? (Sam Darling Mystery Book 4) Page 13