Texas Lullaby (Texas Montgomery Mavericks Book 7) Read Online Free Page B

she could get from wherever it came.
    Monday, the bodies were released for burial. Eternal Rest Funeral Home arrived to transport them back to Whispering Springs. As they were packing up the hotel room, Lydia’s cell rang.
    “Dr. Henson,” she answered.
    “Is this Lydia Henson?” a female voice asked.
    “Yes.”
    “I’m trying to reach Meredith or Jim Hardy. Your number was given as an emergency contact.”
    The emotional stab came in hard and fast, gutting her so quickly it made her drop to the edge of the bed.
    “Who is this?” she asked.
    “Naomi. We have Jasper here for boarding. The Hardys usually pick him up first thing on Monday morning, but we’re getting concerned since we haven’t heard from them. Do you have another contact number for them?”
    “Jasper? Who is Jasper?”
    At the mention of Jasper, Ellery and Annie began jumping around the room shouting, “Jasper. We’re going to go get Jasper.”
    Lydia put her finger to her lips, which did little to slow down the two girls.
    “Their dog,” the woman on the phone replied.
    “Meredith and Jim had a dog?”
    “Yes. A golden retriever. Now about reaching the Hardys? Can you help?”
    “Hold on a second.” Lydia stood. “Jason, I need to step outside for a minute to finish this call.”
    “No problem,” he said, tucking both girls under his arms to swing them. “I’ve got this.” The two girls giggled and shouted as he tossed one and then the other onto the bed.
    The hotel room door snicked closed behind her.
    “Meredith and Jim were…” she paused to swallow against the lump growing in her throat. “Meredith and Jim were killed this weekend in a car accident.” A flood of tears gathered again in her eyes.
    “Oh my God. I am so sorry for your loss.”
    She sniffed. “Thank you.”
    “I hate to ask, but what do you want to do about Jasper? We can keep him until you pick him up.”
    A dog. The last thing she needed was a dog. She opened her mouth to ask if it was possible to find him a new home, but the sounds of Ellery and Annie laughing echoed in her mind. They’d already lost so much. How could she take away their pet too? Maybe having Jasper with them might help a little. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
    She sighed. A dog and three kids.
    “Can you hold on to him until I can get there?”
    “Of course.”
    “Thank you. We’ll head up there today.” Besides, they had to go to the house and get clothes for the kids.
    The house. How would she be able to take care of cleaning out the house and selling it? Once again, she was swamped by a tidal wave of all the responsibilities she’d just inherited. Her stomach threatened to return her minimal breakfast of toast and coffee.
    “Today or tomorrow. No hurry,” the woman was saying. “Again, I am so sorry for your loss.”
    Lydia leaned against the door to their suite, running the various options of getting to Wichita and back to Whispering Springs. She didn’t see any way possible to do everything they needed to do and get home in one day.
    The door behind her opened, sending her stumbling backwards. Jason caught her before she fell.
    “Sorry about that,” he said. “You about ready to head home?”
    She sighed heavily. “I have to go to Wichita first.”
    “What? Why?”
    “Seems there’s a dog I have to pick up.”
    “Ah. Jasper by any chance? The girls have been talking about brushes and toys ever since you mentioned that name.”
    She nodded. “Look, would you mind terribly if I took the van? We can rent you another car to get you home. As long as I’m headed to Kansas, I might as well pick up clothes for the kids.”
    “Hell, yes, I’d mind.” The remark snapped like a flag in a heavy wind.
    “I just, well, you’ve been awesome, but these are my problems, not yours.”
    His eyebrow shot up. “Problems?”
    “No, no. That’s not what I meant.” She rubbed at the headache forming at her temples. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m just a little