by D. L. Snow
I could hardly breathe. I was looking at my own handwriting, staring at my own face in the photos. Somehow, I’d stayed there.
And, I’d come home.
I clutched the velvet bag to my chest trying to make sense of it all when a song came on the radio. It was a familiar voice, a familiar song and I sat at the kitchen table shaking in disbelief when the radio announcer said, “That was Kyle Copeland with his number one hit single, Promised Land. He’ll be playing tonight in his hometown of Bandit Creek, Montana at the Sportsplex at 8 p.m.”
*****
I stayed in the shadows of the sports complex while the local warm-up band played, simply taking everything in. Some things in Bandit Creek were the same as before I’d left. But other things were different. For one, Kyle had never gone missing. When I’d asked someone about it, they looked at me as if I was crazy. In addition, my song notes were missing. Poof! It was as if I’d never written the song. It didn’t make sense but for some reason that was okay. I guess I was beginning to accept that not all things made sense.
A strange calm washed over me as Kyle Copeland came onstage that night. Like a moth to the flame, I came forward, pushing my way through the throngs of people who stood near the front of the stage. For the first time in my life, I was seeing the real Kyle Copeland. He looked like Morgan and yet…he was different. His hair was styled differently, he dressed differently and the way he moved onstage? It was so different from the way Morgan Emerson Hawes, the upstanding citizen of Bandit Creek, moved.
His voice, however, was the same. While he sang his brand of rock, blues fusion, I felt as if he was singing directly to me. I knew it was absurd, once the spotlights were on it was impossible to see individual faces in the crowd. But it didn’t matter. He sang to me.
It was during his second encore, while the crowd chanted for him to sing his current number one single that he came back onstage, put his hand to his brow to block out the lights and said, “We’ve got a special guest with us tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, after a much too long absence, please welcome Joss Jones to the stage!”
The crowd hushed and murmured as two burly roadies appeared at my side to escort me up onto the stage.
Kyle walked towards me and I thought I was going to faint. His voice was not the only thing that was the same, his smile was the same as Morgan’s too.
“When I’d heard you moved to town and I caught a glimpse of you in the crowd, I couldn’t resist. I hope you don’t mind.”
Mutely, I shook my head. Did he know me, the real me? Or did he know Joss Jones, the former teen star? I didn’t have time to figure it out because Kyle nodded to the band and the introduction to Promised Land began.
I was too stunned to think. All I could do was sing.
“I’ve looked for you everywhere I go,
There have been highs and there have been lows.
I thought I saw you but you disappeared,
And you left me lonely, left me here.
But before you turned and faded away,
I swear to God I heard you say,
Meet me in the Promise Land, where all our dreams come true.
Meet me in the Promised Land, I’ll go first and wait for you.”
To the ecstatic cheers of the crowd, Kyle joined me in singing the chorus. We finished to a standing ovation.
Wrapping his arm around my waist, Kyle leaned in close and did something I did not expect. He kissed me and the touch of his lips was the third thing that reminded me of Morgan. Not that their kisses were the same; Kyle’s lips were more pliant, more sensual than Morgan’s.
No, it was the way Kyle’s kiss made me feel. That was the same.
He smiled down at me and I suddenly noticed the simple gold cross he wore on a chain around his neck. My mother’s cross. The one I’d given to him in the cave.
“You came back,” I said.
“No,” he grinned. “I’ve been here, waiting for you the whole time.”
Turn the page for an exciting glimpse of the next Bandit Creek book, PENNY CANDY & HARD CANDY by Jade Buchanan, coming October 15, 2011…
Penny Candy by Jade Buchanan
Chapter 1
She’d flown a thousand miles to confront the lies death had revealed. They left a bitter taste in Penny’s mouth even as she breathed deeply of the clean northern air coming in through her open car window.
She’d missed this. She hadn’t even realized that until she’d gotten off the plane in Missoula. Now she was almost home and she’d honestly never thought she’d be saying that again.
Bandit Creek hadn’t been her home in over a decade.
The cold finally got to her and she reluctantly raised the window before turning her attention back to the poorly illuminated mountain road. For a girl used to the bright lights of Houston, it was going to take her a while to get back into the feel of things.
It was a good thing Craig was willing to help her out.
As if on cue, the tinny sound of a man sing-songing “phone call, phone call,” erupted inside the small car.
Jumping, Penny laughed at herself. She fished her cell out of her purse. “Hey, Craig.”
“Are you here, yet?”
“I’m already in the rental car and about twenty minutes away.”
“Are you regretting not letting me pick you up?”
She could practically taste the mirth in his voice. “I’m fine, but it’s so dark I’m close to freaking out here.”
She breathed deeply, studying the road in front of her carefully. She probably shouldn’t be talking on the phone right now, but she wasn’t going all that fast. And besides, there was absolutely no one out here.
“You want me to talk to you for a bit?”
“My cell phone bill will probably hate me, but yeah, I need the company. There’s nothing out here but rocks and trees and water.”
“Seen any wildlife?”
Penny snorted. “Besides the man I saw at the airport?”
A sharp crack of laughter burst in her ear, exactly the reaction she’d been hoping for.
“He was a beast, was he? Did you rip his shirt off?”
“Craig Baxter!”
“That’s a no?” Craig’s voice was filled with mischief.
“Yes, I mean no, I didn’t rip his shirt off.”
“Why not?”
She shook her head. “I’m not answering that question.”
It was silent for a minute. She was content not to talk. It was comforting just having him on the line. Penny was grateful for the company, so to speak.
Craig cleared his throat. “So, just to let you know… Your Aunt Gertie phoned here yesterday. I swear I’m getting caller ID. The old biddy was in fine form.”
She wanted to slam her head down on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, you’ll be paying me back for that one, Pens.”
“She’s still mad?” She sighed, fed up with her aunt’s interference.
“Mad doesn’t even begin to describe it. She’s threatening to erase your name from the family bible.”
“She can choke on that bible for all I care. Both her and my dad lied to me for years. I’m sorry she’s upset, but I had a right to know.”
“I’m not sorry. I told her right on the phone where she could put her precious bible. I don’t think she’s talking to either one of us now.”
She sighed gustily. “I’m sorry, Craig. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”
“Stop that right now,” Craig said, firmly. “We stick together, you and me. To the end, you got that?”
“I got it.” It was surprising how much she wanted to rely on Craig. This wasn’t even his family causing him drama, but he never complained. Never backed down. She loved him for it.
Maybe, just maybe, she could finally figure out whether that love would be enough.
She’d once thought Craig was the one for her. Of course, that had been back in high school and a lot had changed since then. She’d moved away and t
hey’d lost touch, but thanks to the modern miracle of social media they’d been talking for the past year almost non-stop. Every time she talked to him it was as if the years had faded and nothing else mattered. Then her dad had died. And then all of this had happened. The first person she’d turned to had been Craig. What did that mean?
She lived in Houston, so she wasn’t even sure anything could happen. He’d been hinting that she should come for a visit for a while now. She’d finally gotten up the nerve two months ago when she’d read the journal that had changed so much in her life. Craig had always been there for her. Maybe it was time to figure out what that meant for them.
Up ahead she saw the familiar turn-off for Bandit Creek. “I’ll let you go now. I’m almost there.”
“See you in a few.”
She wasn’t sure how she felt driving through Bandit Creek. The more things changed, the more they stayed the same apparently. All the old hangouts were still there. She took a drive down Main Street and there was Ma’s Kitchen, The Candy Store, and the Powderhorn Saloon. Was that a law office beside the saloon? Wow. She hadn’t seen that one coming.
Turning around, Penny drove back down Main and onto Walnut to Washington.
The school looked exactly the same as always and the nearby football field brought a lump to her throat.
So many memories. Tainted, now. Would she be able to look at anything here without wondering what really happened twelve years ago?
Driving over the bridge and approaching the edge of town, she squinted at the construction going on beside Craig’s place. What was that going to be?
She finally pulled into the drive and stopped before a long, stretched-out bungalow.
Craig had bought his parent’s home when they moved to Missoula a few years back and, judging from the outside, he hadn’t changed a thing. It was the same as it had always been, and the feeling of coming home nearly brought tears to her eyes. A rectangular log cabin that faced the road, it had been the site of many late-night movie marathons when she’d been a teenager.
She inhaled deeply as she stepped out of the low-slung rental car. The front door banged open, and a man was silhouetted in the opening.
“Well, as I live and breathe. Pissy pants Penny has finally come home.”
Penny sent a mock-glare toward Craig. She didn’t even have to see his face to know he wore a shit-eating grin. His achingly familiar lope had Craig standing in front of her within seconds. Damn, he looked good.
Finally letting loose a chuckle, Penny shook her head. “You’re cruising for a bruising.”
“Geez. What are we? Back in high school?” Craig engulfed her in his arms, holding her close.
Penny ducked her head and held him just as tight. “Kindergarten, apparently, if you’re going to call me pissy pants.”
“Hmm. You should probably pull my hair then and go crying to the teacher.”
“Don’t tempt me, Craigory.”
They finally pulled back and just looked at each other. He had the same short dark hair and meltingly sweet chocolate eyes. That little mole at the corner of his right eyebrow…she wanted to run her tongue over it, see if he shivered in the same lost way he used to when they were younger. He was stunning in just a simple jeans and tee with his feet bare.
Penny hesitated for a moment, before deciding to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. She lifted her chin, leaning toward Craig. He accepted her silent invitation, taking her lips in a bruising kiss that spoke of barely leashed restraint.
She moaned, tightening her arms and squeezing him closer. With a last, lingering kiss, she drew back and just stared at him.
Craig lifted a hand and brushed the backs of his fingers over her left cheek. “Missed you, Penny.”
“Missed you, too.”
“Are you here to stay?”
Penny shook her head. “Don’t ask me that. Not yet.”
He let out a rueful grin. With a shrug, Craig backed away and rounded the car to grab her suitcase.
“You know I’m going to just have to ask again.” He started for the house, waving her to follow him.
He was incorrigible. Always had been. “You haven’t changed.”
“Baby, I’ve changed in more ways that you can see.”
“No, you haven’t. I’ve seen your Facebook profile, remember? And we talk on the phone practically every day.”
“For all you know, I could be a deranged serial killer and just doing a really good job of hiding it.”
She froze as she entered the house. A shiver traced down her spine, causing her to hug her arms.
“Shit.” He was suddenly in front of her again. “I’m sorry, Penny Candy. I didn’t mean to say that.”
“It’s okay. Better that we have it out in the open, right? I mean, you wouldn’t be the first person in my life to hide their killer tendencies.”
“Pens, don’t do this.” He put her suitcase down.
She shook off his hold. “That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? To find out if my dad really did kill my mom?”
Bio
DL spent her youth pursuing adventure and passion, never knowing where she’d end up. From touring with an international performing group, backpacking through northern Africa to living bohemian style in Berlin, she also worked as a wildlife tech, a rock climbing instructor, a tailor’s assistant (measuring men’s inseams – someone’s gotta do it!) and a high school teacher. Then she married the son of a Nakoda chief and finally settled down. Now, DL spins tales about passion and adventure and still never knows where her characters will end up. Find out more about DL at www.dlsnow.ca.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Next Bandit Creek Book
Penny Candy by Jade Buchanan
Bio
www.dlsnow.ca