Page 130 of Crosshairs

If God could change her dad’s life, maybe he hadn’t forgotten her. She’d been so close to him at one time.He wasn’t the one who moved.Tears sprang to her eyes. Her dad wasn’t the only one who needed to mend a relationship.

Ainsley reached for a tissue in her pocket, and her fingers brushed the diary. She pulled the leather-bound journal out and slid it across the table.

“Is this Charlotte Elliott’s diary?” He opened it and gently thumbed through the pages.

She nodded. “It vindicates Cora’s belief her great-grandfather didn’t murder anyone.”

“You’re kidding!”

“No. Zachary had beaten Charlotte so badly she feared he would kill her. She shot him in self-defense. Robert arrived not long afterward and found his sister unconscious. He didn’t tell the sheriff when he arrived that Charlotte had been the one who killed her husband.

“Robert was arrested, and you know what happened after that. Charlotte didn’t know her brother had even been arrested until it was too late. She blamed herself for his death at the hands of her husband’s friends, and I don’t think she ever got over it.”

Her dad closed the diary and slid it back to her. “I wonder what Cora will do with this.”

“I don’t know. Finish her book, I suppose, and then publish it. Might be a bestseller. Who knows?”

“She doesn’t intend to offer it for sale,” he said. “Her book is a historical record just for our family.”

Ainsley should have known that. Cora wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone.

“I’m glad we’ve talked today.” He blew out a breath. “Just wish it would’ve happened a long time ago.”

She shrugged. “I don’t think either of us is that easy to talk to. Gran says we’re both just alike.”

“You think?” he said with a laugh, then he pressed his lips together and looked up at the ceiling before he brought his gaze back to her. “Since we’re being honest here, I owe you an apology too.”

“For?”

“I was wrong to discourage you from your dream. You have a beautiful voice. Back then, all you lacked was confidence.”

She pressed her hand to her lips. Ainsley never thought she’d hear him say those words. “Why did you?”

“I was afraid you’d get hurt—the music business is ruthless.”

“I thought you believed I wasn’t good enough.”

His brows lowered into a frown. “No. I never thought that.”

“But you called it a pipe dream. And you neversaidI was good.”

“I didn’t think I had to. I’m your father—you should have known I would’ve told you if your voice wasn’t good.”

“A little support every now and then would have gone a long way,” Ainsley said.

“Maybe I didn’t know how.” He took a sip of coffee and made a face. “This is cold.”

“I’ll get you a fresh cup.” All these years, she’d believed he doubted her singing ability. If she’d known the truth, would it have made any difference? Ainsley poured his coffee and set it on the table, then went back for hers. Not really. Living what she thought was her dream had left her empty, not fulfilled like the job she was doing now.

When she sat down again, he said, “I’m glad you tried it, and I’ve never understood why you quit. You seemed to be doing well, and I thought you were headed for a solo career.”

She felt like she was in la-la land.

“I never quite bought that story about you wanting to be a ranger, although you’ve done a great job there.”

“I didn’t quit because I wanted to. I’d strained my voice, and my agent and the recording studio didn’t think I’d get it back.” She waited for him to say I told you so.

“I’m sorry about that. It’s been twelve years ... is your voice better?”

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