The Truth Seeker (39 page)

Quinn walked over to join her. He had aged during the last hours.

And he had also turned the corner. The blanket of stress pressing him down for years was lifting away. In a week she bet his laughter would finally be fully alive. He crouched beside her, held out his hands to warm them.

“Her parents will be relieved to have closure,” Lisa said softly.

“Yes.”

The fire snapped, sending sparks into the air.

Lisa understood the silence, didn’t try to break it.

“It removes a ghost.”

Lisa nodded, appreciating the word he had chosen. She carried her ghosts. Quinn had carried his. That was what had changed. This had buried his ghost.

Quinn reached over and brushed back her hair. “Years ago, did you get to go to Andy’s funeral?”

behind it was salve over deep scars. “Quinn, I would.”

“We’ll have a private memorial service for Andy and my father.

Finally have closure.”

She wrapped her hand around his forearm and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you.”

They sat in silence for several minutes, watching the fire.

Quinn rubbed his thumb against her chin. “You’re good for me, Lizzy.”

“I know.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Humble too.”

“Somebody’s got to keep you young.” She gestured to the open land. “I like Montana. It kind of grows on you.”

“I’m glad.”

“I like your house too. Of course, that could be because I like your art collection.”

He laughed, leaned over, and kissed her. “I like a lady with good taste who also tastes good.”

“Horrible pun.”

“It got a smile.” He pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go home.”

“Sure.”

“Want to ride double?”

“On your horse?”

“I promise Thunder will be on his best behavior.”

“Quinn, he has no manners. He tried to take a nip out of my hat yesterday.”

He groaned. “He didn’t.”

She held it out. “Look at it. You can see the teeth marks.”

“Lizzy, you promised not to make a pet out of my horse.”

“What?”

“He’s falling in love with you.”

She burst out laughing at his grim pronouncement.

“I’m serious,” Quinn insisted. “What have you been feeding him?”

“I wasn’t supposed to?”

“Lizzy.”

“Sugar cubes. He likes them.”

“You’re hopeless, you know that?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Sure you didn’t. Please

remember the cattle are sold as beef. This is a working ranch.”

“Quinn—” she couldn’t resist—“even the pretty little ones?”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading this book. I deeply appreciate it. I fell in love with Lisa O’Malley while writing The Guardian, and I knew her future with Quinn would make a great story. Her questions about the Resurrection were a look into the future that awaits us with Jesus.

Kate O’Malley and God’s justice and mercy, Marcus O’Malley and prayer, Lisa O’Malley and the Resurrection—the stories in this series have offered me wonderfully broad canvases. I find this family fascinating.

I hope you will join me for Jack’s story in The Protector.

As always, I love to hear from my readers. Feel free to write me at: Dee Henderson

c/o Multnomah Publishers

P.O. Box

Sisters, Oregon

E-mail: [email protected]

or on-line: http://www.deehenderson.com

First chapters of all my books are on-line, please stop by and check them out. Thanks again for letting me share Lisa and Quinn’s story.

Sincerely,

Ž

The publisher and author would love to hear your comments about this book. Please contact us at: www.multnomah.net/truthseeker

The Protector

O’Malley Family Series, Book Four

Available in November!

Jack O’Malley is a fireman. He’s fearless when it comes to facing an inferno.

But when an arsonist begins targeting his district, his shift, his friends, Jack faces the ultimate challenge: protecting the lady who saw the arsonist before she pays an even higher price…

ISBN –

The Guardian

A federal judge has been murdered. There is only one witness. And an assassin wants her dead. U.S.

Marshal Marcus O’Malley thought he knew the

risks of the assignment

He was wrong.

ISBN –

The Negotiator

FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger

in the Shadows is back. He’s about to

meet Kate O’Malley, and his life will

never be the same. She’s a hostage negotiator.

He protects people. Dave’s about

to find out that falling in love with a

hostage negotiator is one thing, but

keeping her safe is another!

ISBN –

Danger in the Shadows

Sara’s terrified. She’s doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with former pro football player Adam Black, a man

everyone knows. Sara’s been hidden away in

the witness protection program, her safety

dependent on being invisible—and loving

Adam could get her killed.

ISBN –X

O’Malley

Family

Series #

O’Malley

Family

Series #

Uncommon Fiction For

Faithful Readers

UncommonHeroes

Series #

Kelly Jacobs has already paid the ultimate price of loving a warrior; she has the folded flag and the grateful thanks of a nation to prove it. Navy SEAL Joe “Bear” Baker can’t ask her to accept that risk again—even though he loves her. But the man responsible for her husband’s death is back, closer than either of them realizes. Kelly’s in danger, and Joe may not get there in time

ISBN –

Uncommon Heroes Series, Book Two, by Dee Henderson TRUE VALOR

Availablein March!

Air Force Pararescueman Bruce “Striker” Stanton spends his life rescuing pilots downed behind enemy lines. Grace “Gracie” Yates spends hers flying an F/A-for the Navy. With dangerous jobs, often away from home, they wrote love letters.

Now a fight between Turkey and its neighbors is spiraling into a confrontation. For the military deployed in the region, it’s not just the occasional news headline—it’s their daily problem. When Grace is shot down behind enemy lines, Bruce has got one mission: get Gracie out alive…

ISBN –

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