Deadly Neighbors (A River Valley Mystery)

by Cynthia Hickey

  “I’m finished talking, and you won’t need food much longer.”

  I clicked my seatbelt into place, thankful she hadn’t worn hers. Desperate times relied on desperate measures, or so the saying went. I leaned over and yanked the steering wheel from her hands. The gun went off, sending a bullet into my thigh. Oh, sweet heaven!

  The pain burned worse than the Tazer. Nausea rose and spots swam in front of my eyes. Blood soaked the denim of my overalls. I blinked against the threatening dizziness and screamed as we sailed over the embankment.

  We skid and bashed into a tree. My seatbelt locked into place. Stephanie wasn’t so lucky. Her head bounced off the side window, knocking her unconscious. The airbags deployed, almost choking me on their powder.

  After I fought my way free, I fumbled on the floor for my purse and zapped her with my Tazer for good measure. Acid rose in my throat as the pain in my leg worsened. I wanted to zap her again

  The door was crinkled past the point of opening so I crawled through the window, whimpering like a wounded puppy, and fell into a heap on the ground. My breath came in gasps. How was I going to get home with a hole in my leg?

  Stephanie groaned, spurring me to action. I pulled to my feet, scrambled to the driver’s side, then succumbed to the temptation of the Tazer again, and pressed it against her lily-white skin. So what if she had a heart attack from the electricity. It would serve her right.

  She jerked and glared at me. “Fair’s fair, sweetie. And I do not want to be your friend.” I palmed her in the side of the head. “That’s for running my daughter off the road. This,” I slapped her harder. “Is for shooting me.” I doubled my fist and laid a good one along her jaw. “And this is for poisoning the man I love.” Her eyes closed, and I slid to the ground, shaking the pain from my hand.

  The world spun around me, and I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat. Anger could only spur a person so far, and now the pain overcame the infuriation roaring through me.

  “Marsha!” I peered around the front of the car and tried to focus. Mom and Leroy slid down the embankment. Lindsey’s face stared through the window of Mom’s Cadillac.

  “I’m over here.” Mom slipped getting to my side. “How did you find me?”

  “We followed you.” She ran her hands over my leg. I winced. “Sorry. We were still in the parking lot trying to decide where to go for dinner. When Stephanie walked out of the hospital behind you, I wished I’d had a gun myself.” She grinned. “Leroy drove worthy of a race car driver trying to keep up with that crazy woman.”

  Darkness threatened. “My purse is on the ground. Use my cell phone to call the police and an ambulance. I’ve been shot.” I laid my head back and closed my eyes.

  When I woke, Duane leaned over me. “Why aren’t you in bed?”

  He brushed his lips across mine. “They couldn’t keep me down once I found out you’d been brought in.” He stepped aside to let Bruce step up.

  “Stephanie said you zapped her and hit her. Twice on the zap, three slaps to the head.” He grinned. “She wants to press charges.”

  “Let her go for it.” I returned his smile. “I did hit and zap. And I’d do it again.”

  “Good thing I took away your gun. You might’ve shot her.”

  “Good deduction.”

  He patted my shoulder. “I’m very impressed, Marsha. But you could’ve been killed. Next time, let the police handle it.”

  Did he honestly think there’d be a next time? “Sure thing.” From now on, I’d stick to stuffing bunnies and Time-Out Babies.

  Once Bruce left, Duane leaned over and smoothed my hair away from my face. “Woman, I love you so much it scares me to death.”

  “There’s only one thing to do then.”

  “What’s that?” The corner of his mouth quirked.

  “Marry me.”

  Chapter Forty

  The wedding march played over the stereo speakers set up in the back yard. With a deep breath, I smoothed the skirt of the embroidered floral dress I wore then stepped into the early evening light. Crickets sang while bull frogs provided the bass. We’d never taken down the decorations from Mom’s party and twinkling lights gave a cheery glow to the faces of wedding guests. A light breeze stirred my curls.

  Lindsey followed, the hem of her skirt rasping against the pebble walkway. She hadn’t even balked at wearing a gown. Dressed in a summer suit of baby blue, Mom beamed at me when I glanced at her over my shoulder. I told her she looked beautiful. Her happiness almost made me forget the twinge still left in my thigh from Stephanie’s bullet. I took another step and focused on Duane’s face.

  He and Leroy waited beneath a rose threaded arch. Leroy’s ruddy face glowed brighter then the moon that would rise later that night. I couldn’t think of a better man for a stepfather or a grandfather to my daughter.

  Duane had said yes to my hospital proposal. All we needed now was a date. Mom had suggested we have a double wedding, but I’d said no, not wanting to infringe on her day. She deserved it, and I wanted time to revel in the fact I’d be marrying the man of my dreams.

  I took my position across from Duane. He mouthed, “I love you.” My face heated and I glanced heavenward. What a gift I’d been given.

  Mom took her place beside Leroy and handed me her bouquet.

  “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here together to join Leroy Bohan and Gertie Calloway in holy matrimony.”

  I lifted a hand to wipe away my happy tears and met Duane’s gaze across the rose petal strewn aisle runner.

  About Spyglass Lane

  Spyglass Lane Mysteries is a collection of Christian cozy mysteries—modern-day whodunnits with colorful characters and plenty of wholesome romance.

  Discover other Spyglass Lane titles at Smashwords.com.

  Other mysteries by Cynthia Hickey can be found at Spyglass Lane Mysteries.