Read Online Hero's Journey by J. J. Cook, Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene - Free Book Online Page A

you know where Patrick lives? I called his cell phone but I can’t get in touch with him.”
    John nodded. “I can look into that. He’s staying in a travel trailer over at the campground right outside of town.”
    â€œI’d appreciate that.” Stella glanced up at Eric. “It would make me feel better if there was no sign of a dog being with him.”
    â€œI’ll check it on my way home tonight.”
    Stella glanced at her watch. “Speaking of that, I’m on my way to talk to the person who recommended Patrick to me.”
    â€œYeah. Who’s that?” John asked. “I could go with, if you like.”
    Walt nearly choked on his last swallow of coffee. “You don’t want to know. And you don’t want to go with her.”
    John frowned. “Ben Carson, right?”
    â€œThat’s right.” Stella got to her feet and put her Coke can in the recycling.
    â€œDid he have something stolen after a small fire?” John wondered.
    â€œNot as far as I know. But then, I didn’t either. Patrick might be completely innocent in all of this. That’s why I’m asking about him. Tomorrow we’ll get started at the Loflin house. I’m sure there will be some answers there.”
    John stood with her. “I withdraw my offer to go with you. Sorry. You know how I feel about the old man.”
    Her eyes were stormy. “I do. And I can’t help that I’m related to him. I guess you know that too. I’ll see you later.”
    Stella walked out of the cabin with John right behind her.
    Walt shook his head as he put his coffee cup in the sink. “That boy is as thick as pea soup, Eric. He could be with her if he wasn’t so stubborn about living in the past. It’s a shame. I’ll go now too, buddy. Talk to you later.”
    Eric had his own ideas about that. He closed the door to the cabin when everyone was gone.
    â€œStella—” John stopped her before she could get on the Harley.
    â€œWhat?” She put on her helmet and angrily faced him.
    â€œYou know it’s nothing personal.”
    â€œThanks for telling me. I feel so much better.”
    â€œSorry. I’ll check on Dorner and get back to you. If he’s got Hero, I’ll bring him back.”
    The last part was said in a shout as she started the Harley and took off.
    Stella had heard all she’d wanted to hear about John’s father. According to the tale, John’s father had been fired from working on her grandfather’s estate for no apparent reason. He’d killed himself shortly after.
    Her grandfather’s part of the tale was that John’s father had been fired for stealing.
    She didn’t know either man well enough to say which part was true. She didn’t exactly trust Ben Carson. She’d been kept away from him all of her life. Her mother had left Sweet Pepper when she was very young and had never looked back.
    Recently, she’d confided to Stella that she’d thought Ben had killed her mother. That was why she’d left home. As the years had passed, Barbara Carson-Griffin had changed her mind. Now she believed it was shock and a youthful mind playing tricks on her.
    The strange part was that Stella’s mother had never said anything about having family here at all. She’d let Stella take the temporary job in Sweet Pepper without even telling her that a part of her family she’d never known was waiting for her here.
    Like many things that involved the Carson family, her mother’s leaving and decision to finally speak to her father again were shrouded in mystery. People in Sweet Pepper loved all the Carson lore and clung to it as they did their ghost stories.
    Stella drove down the dark, twisting road to the firehouse more quickly than usual. She knew John was right behind her. She didn’t want to talk to him again that night. She was tired of trying to convince him that she wasn’t