Page 103 of Sutton's Shadow

She held out the paper for him to see. Lucy had drawn him as a very lifelike Tin Man. Flanking both sides of him were his girls, Sutton and Bethany. He had his arms around both of them, holding them close. He and Sutton were staring at each other in the drawing, and the love that shone in their eyes leapt off the page.

Sutton and Bethany held a stunningly intricate, mechanized heart in front of his chest. The fine details in the gears and other mechanical parts were nothing short of amazing. It didn’t escape his notice the meaning behind the little detail that the pair held the heart cupped in their hands.

Both his girls most definitely held his heart.

The Tin Man was whole at last.

Also By

BooksInTheNighthawksSearch and Rescue Series

Nadia's Nemesis (Prequel)

Natalie's Nighthawk

Annika's Aurora

Emma's Element

Sutton's Shadow

Hollynn's Horizon (Coming Soon)

Acknowledgments

DearReader,

Thank you so much for allowing me to tell this story that means so much to me. I appreciate you taking the time out of your life and offering a piece of yourself to these words and these pages.

Did you enjoy Wyatt and Sutton's story?

People are often hesitant to try new books or new authors. Honest reviews of my books help bring them to the attention of other readers and encourage them to make that leap and give it a try. If you've enjoyed this book, I'd be eternally grateful if you could spend just a few minutes leaving a review on any or all of the following sites to help this story find the readers who would enjoy it. Goodreads, Bookbub, Amazon. Even the short reviews really make an impact.

I would also like to acknowledge the following without who this book would not be possible.

Laetitia Treseng of Little Tweaks, whose advice and prodding has gone a long way to fluff up this story.

Jenni Bara, beta reader extraordinaire. I look forward to reading your third book as well.

My family, who more often than not leave me alone long enough so that I can commune with the voices in my head.

Hollynn's Horizon

“JiminyCricket!”HollynnRoweexclaimedasthe engine of her Air Tractor 502 sputtered.No. No. No.This could not be happening. The situation she found herself in was just the tiara on top of adownright Donald Ducked upday. It should have been a nice, normal day. Take the plane up. Spray the crops. Land and reload. Wash, rinse and repeat. Easypeasy. AndHollynnhad appreciated the easy afterleavingher former jobsix months ago. Having seen too muchgriefduring hermissionswith Sokaris Airflying fallen military members totheir homes for burial, she needed the normalcy of the stress-free, tranquil days.

Hollynn had been a captain for Sokaris Air foreight years.Named after the Egyptian god of the dead, Sokaris Air’s missionwas to respectfully ferry the fallen to their loved ones from Dover, Delaware to anywhere in the United States.It was a job that Hollynn had felt honored to perform. But after eight long years, witnessing many

forms of grief, she felt as though she was losing a bit of herself after each mission.

They had told her not to get emotionally involved, but how could she not?After seeingthe anguish in everyfamily member’sface as they waited for the honor guardto carry their loved oneacross the tarmac to them, her heart had ached.

Then the nightmares started.The nightmares were not the only issue that had prompted her to move on from the job, but she refused to chew on that pickle in her present situation.

But now thecomfortable existenceshe had hoped to findin her current jobhad been shot to hell.Hollynn suppressed a snort as the ironic thought penetrated her mind.

Shot.The echo of the gunshots ringing through the hangar played on a loop in her brain. She could still see Uncle Jonah crumple to the floor. And the absolute evil in Travis’s eyes as he caught her gaze while standing over Jonah’s body.

She should have listened to Uncle Jonah. He’d told her to stay home, but she didn’t. She’d arrived at the small private airfield just as Travis and his friend’s approached in theirbig SUVs. Sensing something was not right with the scene unfolding in front of her, she’d hidden while Jonah confronted them.

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