Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(100)

“I heard him,” she said, sobbing against Raylene’s chest. “The window was open and I heard him. I called Carter.”

Raylene held her tightly. “You did exactly the right thing, sweetie. It’s okay. We’re both okay.”

When Deputy Callahan approached, Raylene pointed a shaky hand toward the house. She realized she was still holding Tommy’s clay bowl.

“I hit him. He fell. I don’t know if he’s okay or not,” she said, her words running together.

Callahan charged into the house, gun drawn, as another deputy arrived and urged Raylene and Mandy toward his cruiser, then followed Callahan inside.

She and Mandy huddled together in the backseat. Though she was still shaking, Mandy gave her a wavery smile. “No matter how mad Carter is, I’m glad I was here.”

“I’m glad you were, too, and that you had the presence of mind to call your brother.”

By the time the two deputies emerged with a dazed-looking Paul in handcuffs, Carter pulled to a stop in front of the house, his complexion pale. He barely spared a glance for Paul. Instead, his gaze was riveted on his sister and Raylene.

“You’re okay?” he asked in a voice that shook. “Both of you?”

Raylene nodded, suddenly unable to speak. Though she’d emerged from the cruiser at the first sight of Carter, the panic and shock caught up with her. She trembled violently. Mandy held her steady.

“I swear to God I lost ten years off my life when Mandy called,” he said, gathering them close. “I hope I never have to go through anything like that again.”

“Believe me, I hope so, too,” Raylene said fervently, then met his gaze. “Is it really over? For good this time?”

“We’ll do everything we can to make sure he’s in prison a lot longer this time.”

Raylene released a long pent-up sigh. Maybe between the certainty that Paul would be facing a longer prison term and the courage she’d found to face him down, she really could get on with her life now.



Carter had never been so terrified in his life as he had been when Mandy called, crying almost hysterically, to say she thought Paul Hammond was in the house with Raylene. He’d made the call to Dispatch, then taken off in that direction himself. He’d made the drive at a breakneck speed that even with his experience behind the wheel had seemed insane on the winding rural roads.

“What’s this?” he asked, removing the object Raylene was clutching in a death grip.

“Tommy made it,” she whispered. “It’s okay, isn’t it? Sarah will kill me if I broke it on Paul’s hard head.”

“I think Sarah would gladly make the sacrifice if it meant you were safe,” he said, smiling as he examined the lopsided little bowl that only a mother could appreciate. “But it’s okay. Not a scratch on it.”

Leading Raylene and his sister inside, he asked, “Any idea how Paul got inside?”

“That might have been my fault,” Mandy said, looking miserable. “I tried the front door when I got here, then I used your key. I might not have locked the door behind me.” She lifted her gaze to Raylene. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”

Carter opened his mouth to yell at her, but Raylene’s touch on his hand kept him silent.

“Does it really matter how he got in?” she said gently. “The point is that he’s under arrest and gone now.”

“I suppose,” he conceded, still wishing he could rant and rave at somebody for allowing this to happen after all their careful plans. He supposed his little sister wasn’t the best target for his own frustration over not being able to protect Raylene. He vowed that once he had the Serenity police force up and running, he’d do a better job at keeping local residents safe. He’d fight for the resources he’d need, even under extraordinary circumstances such as this.

He gave Mandy’s hand a squeeze, then grinned at Raylene. “I think we’re due for a celebration, don’t you? Why don’t we call Carrie and the Sweet Magnolias and get everyone over here.”

“Sure,” Raylene said eagerly, but then the light in her eyes dimmed just a bit. “Carter, today is a huge milestone, but it doesn’t mean I’ll be miraculously cured.”

“I’m not counting on a miracle. I’m putting my faith in you.”

“Oh, Carter,” she whispered. “Please don’t do that. Not yet.”

He refused to be daunted. He knew she was just trying to be realistic, but he wasn’t giving up on their future so easily. He knew, even if she didn’t, that they had one no matter how long her recovery took.

“I’m not going to argue about this now,” he said. “We have too much to be grateful for. You make those calls, and I’ll go by Sullivan’s and see what kind of party food Dana Sue can throw together in a hurry.”

“We could just have hot dogs and burgers,” Raylene said.

“Nope, this is a special occasion. Besides, you know Dana Sue will be offended if she’s not asked to bring the food. Do you have all the ingredients for margaritas? Helen’s going to want to know that.”

“We always have those on hand,” Raylene told him. “We just don’t make them for the men. Margarita nights are for the Sweet Magnolias only.”