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sale.”
    Jordan shrugged. Then he sauntered to his truck parked beside the barn. “I’ll be in touch.”
    As Jordan drove off, Veronica fidgeted beside her father. “I’m going in, Daddy, to get ready for Daniel.”
    “Okay, sugar. I’m headed over to the cemetery to have a little visit with your mama.”
    Veronica looked at him with a frown. “Again? You spend a lot of time at Mama’s grave.”
    Shane gave his daughter a wounded look. “She likes the company, honey.”
    “But she . . .” Veronica shrugged her shoulders. “All right, Daddy. I guess we can talk about that little dress matter later.” She kissed him on the cheek, and with a smile on her face, she turned and strutted back to the house.
    Shane watched her go and swelled with pride. He had a beautiful daughter who deserved everything she wanted—the best horse in the state, Daniel as a husband, and, of course a stunning, gorgeous wedding dress. As a matter of fact, she deserved everything Mary had wanted her to have, wedding dress and all. Mary wasn’t around to make sure she got it, but he’d do everything within his power to make sure it was possible.

EIGHT
    TENNESSEE
    SANDRA WELLINGTON STOPPED DUSTING THE picture frames and stepped into the hot rays of sun filtering through the front window of the gallery. She let the warmth from the shaft of light caress her arms even as the central air vent flipped hair around her face. Basking in the sun was something she hardly had time for anymore.
    As she stood there soaking in the warmth, she saw her husband park his patrol car out front and pull something from the back seat. He slammed the door and entered the gallery.
    “Sandee?”
    Sandra leaned forward around one of the free-standing exhibit walls and waved. “I’m over here, love.”
    Wade came around the corner carrying a large bag with black foam board sticking out the top. His black hair, barely graying around the temples, was tossed awry from the wind, and a crooked grin sat plastered on his face. “I expect a big hug and my favorite supper tonight.”
    Sandra jumped toward him and planted a long kiss on his lips. “You found them. Jolly good! Where in the world did you find that many pieces?”
    Wade plopped the pile of foam board on the floor next to the wall and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Remember last month when Greg had a sale at the hardware store on that bunch of Swiss army knives he bought at a flea market? I remembered he used tons of this blackboard for the displays in the window, so I asked if he had any left he didn’t need. He was glad to get rid of the stuff.”
    Sandra grinned. “That was a doodle for you, wasn’t it?”
    “A doodle?”
    “A breeze . . . a cinch . . . you know, easy.”
    Wade laughed and held her tight. “That British slang of yours is why I married you, you know.”
    Sandra gave him a kiss. “Thank you for remembering my blackboard. Leave it to you to remember a small detail like that. Now I can finish the preparation for next month’s space exhibit.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Details and dependability! That’s what makes you a good chief constable.”
    He held her for a moment until a loud noise from the apartment above startled them both.
    “What’s Marti doin’ up there? Rearranging the furniture?”
    Sandra shook her head. “I hope she’s packing.”
    Wade stood back and crossed his arms. “Do you really think she’ll go?”
    “If you mean to Texas, I doubt it. She seemed okay with it last night, but today . . .” She shrugged. “She seems determined to forget Daniel, and she won’t even think about praying over it.”
    “She needs to let God back into her heart, Sandee. He can help her find the answers.”
    Sandra shook her head. “That’s something she’ll never admit. Basically, she hasn’t forgiven God for not protecting her new faith.”
    Wade rubbed his hand through his hair. “I told her I’d check into the accident and Daniel’s accusations, but she