Page 137 of Long Road Home

Gingrich walked to Jennifer Rayland. “Come on.”

“This is your fault.” She glared up at him. “You were supposed to protect me! We’re family, and that meansnothingto you.”

Kenna gaped.Family?

Everyone stiffened.

Gingrich’s jaw muscle flexed. “Just because we were cut out of the same woman doesn’t mean we’re family. I didn’t grow up with you, I don’t know you.”

“But you tried to take my son from me, all about yournephewand how impressionable he was.”

“’Cause you’re messed up. Thank the good Lord hewasn’t messed up like you. Growing up in that house, listening to your horror stories.”

Jax glanced at Kenna, his brows raised.

She returned his expression.

Forrest said, “Oh my gosh.”

The state patrol officer said, “I’m definitely coming with you. And you’re going to give me your badge and your gun. Because you’re no longer the sheriff.”

Gingrich looked like he didn’t even care. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one whokilledJ.Pierce. Does it make any difference that she was my mother?” He shrugged.

“I guess we’ll find out.” The state guy held out his hand, motioning for the sheriff to hand over his weapon and his authority.

Kenna closed her eyes.I had to settle for just killing your mama.

She didn’t know how long that roiled around in her mind before Forrest patted her arm.

Kenna blinked at an empty foyer, red and blue flashing lights hitting the frosted glass window. The air in the church lobby seemed overly cold. Her clothes had gotten stiff. Even her toes were damp. She’d lost her hat.

She tried to find her phone, patting her pockets and twisting one way then the other.

“This?” Forrest was the only one here with her now. She held out Kenna’s phone.

She tried to take it, but her fingers wouldn’t move. She used her other hand to hold the phone against her leg, too tired to even process what the words on the screen meant. “Jax left?”

“Don’t worry.” Forrest chuckled. “He said he’d come and find you at thehospital.”

The door opened, and two paramedics entered. She recognized them both and winced. They were the ones in the ambulance when she’d rolled off the gurney and run after Stan, then nearly got run over, and took off with Jax in the sheriff’s truck.

“It was…” She wanted to saypolice business, but that wasn’t exactly true. She should apologize, but her brain didn’t seem to want to work enough for the right words to form.

He crouched in front of her. “Are you gonna run off this time?”

“Does it look like I can run?”

Forrest said, “But we’re gonna try standing on our own two feet.”

He wrapped a space blanket around her, and they headed outside. She hung on to them even though she couldn’t feel her fingers. Forrest was talking, but Kenna couldn’t make out what she was saying. As long as she was alive. Everyone who had hurt someone was in cuffs.

Her cases were done.

Solved.

The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

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