Read Online Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) by Sherri Wilson Johnson - Free Book Online

their days, fall gently crept into Southern Hope, and the air conditioning kept the house too cool for her liking.
    When the news anchor announced a report on another missing Columbus woman, and the reporter on the scene alluded that the incident was tied in with Cora’s kidnapping, she and Pearl exchanged a knowing look. Following the missing woman story, the news anchor told of the death of a drug dealer who’d been missing for a year. She said the name wouldn’t be released until family members were notified. Cora needed no name. The details given described only one person—Clark Buchanan.
    Cora practically choked while trying to swallow and excused herself from the family room. She said nothing to Pearl or R.L. because they didn’t even know she had a husband, let alone the details about him. She fled to the safety of her room and picked up the telephone to call Ben and Judy. She hated to wake them if they were asleep, but she had to know.
    “Hello,” called a weak voice.
    “Judy? It’s Cora. Did I wake you?” Cora feared her suspicions were accurate.
    “No, Sweetie. We weren’t asleep.” Her voice was sad. Silence hung heavily on the line.
    “I called...because...I was watching the news...”
    Judy interrupted, “Yes. It was Clark. We received the call an hour ago. We haven’t been able to call you yet.”
    No longer able to hold back her feelings, Cora burst into tears. For a year, she’d expected some kind of news, but this hurt worse than she’d imagined. “How did it happen?”
    “Cora, it’s Ben. Judy can’t talk any more. Clark was hiding out somewhere in Nevada, and bounty hunters tracked him down. He wouldn’t surrender, so they had to shoot him. They say he died instantly,” Ben said softly.
    “Thank you for telling me. I knew when I heard the report on the news it had to be him. I need to go. I need to be alone. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Cora rushed out of her bedroom, down the stairs, and outside to the back porch.
    When she sat in the swing, the floodgates opened, and she sobbed uncontrollably. If only she could run, or hide, or lean on someone, or something. Oh, she didn’t know what she wanted….
    “Cora?” a familiar voice called from out of the darkness.
    Cora jumped but couldn’t stop crying. She couldn’t even look up.
    Rex crossed the porch and sat next to her on the swing, gently placing his arm around her shoulder. “Cora, are you okay?” Rex paused. “Well, I can tell you aren’t okay. What is it?” His voice was deep and comforting.
    After several more minutes of weeping and sniffling, Cora swiped her eyes with her fingers and looked up into Rex’s dark eyes, soft for the first time. “I received some bad news from home.”
    “Florida?”
    “No, South Carolina.” The words choked her. “I found out my husband was shot and killed this morning.”
    “Husband?” Rex stiffened but did not remove his arm.
    Cora raised her hand. “Yes. I know...you didn’t know I was married. Your parents didn’t know either. We’ve been apart for over a year. He disappeared one night. He was a...” More tears fell.
    “Take your time.” Rex moved closer to her and took her into his arms.
    Cora relaxed against the strength of Rex’s warm, muscular body. “We’d been happily married—or so I thought—for a while, when he was suddenly arrested for smuggling drugs into the country. I had no idea if it was true or not. He got out of jail on bond, and that night he disappeared. I’ve spent a whole year hoping and praying he’d return. I couldn’t go on with my life until I heard from him. When I came to Lewistown, I was on my way to Florida to be with my parents. I still hoped Clark would come for me, but I’d nearly given up.”
    “He’s been gone as long as my Patricia.”
    Cora turned toward him, gazing into his face so close to her own. He was obviously in anguish too. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have dumped all of my problems on you.” She wiped her