“What is it?”

“You’ll see.” He reached for the door, but she put her hand on his arm and stopped him.

“Joe.” She looked down at her feet, then up into his face. “About that day.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to say another word, Neely Kate.”

“But I do.” She licked her bottom lip. “Thank you.” Tears filled her eyes. “The doctor told me you probably saved my life.”

He shook his head again, his cheeks turning pink. “It was nothing.”

“No,” she insisted. “It was something. You could have waited for the ambulance, but you didn’t. And after everything I’ve said and done—”

He grinned, but his eyes were glistening with tears. “I wouldn’t change a thing, Neely Kate. I’m glad you stuck up for Rose. I’m happy you were there for her when I wasn’t.” He paused. “Besides, I’m not sure how I’d handle you if you suddenly went soft on me. I need you to keep me on my toes.”

She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Joe gave me a look of surprise as he hugged her back. “Now don’t you be scarin’ us like that again,” he said, gruffly. “I need you around to take care of my girl.” Then, no doubt realizing what he’d said, he dropped his hold on her and bolted out the door.

Neely Kate kept her gaze on the front door even after he’d gone past the windows. “He’s changed.”

“I know.” I just didn’t know what to make of it.

Chapter Eighteen

Neely Kate and I sat down to resume our search through the journal. But as she pulled up her chair, she stopped. “You never told me what happened last night after you left.”

I sucked in a breath. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for Neely Kate to know the nitty gritty details. Especially after my private chat with Skeeter. It was probably better if I scaled it down to the essentials. “It was a boring business meeting. Nothing much happened except I had a vision.”

“Forced or accidental?”

She knew me too well. “Forced, but before you ask, it was my own decision.”

“And?”

I leaned closer and lowered my voice, although I wasn’t sure who else was gonna hear. “I had a vision of Mick Gentry. He was in a bar and he was telling the guy I had a vision of that he had a list of names to take out. Skeeter was the first one.”

She curled her upper lip. “Good riddance.”

Her words caught my breath, and I was surprised at the surge of loyalty I felt toward him. “He’s better than Daniel Crocker, and if Mick Gentry got control—” I shuddered, “—God help us all.”

“You’re defending him?”

“Neely Kate,” I said, harsher than I intended. “Gentry has a list. We knew all along he had it out for Skeeter, but consider who else is likely on there.”

Her eyes widened. “Mason. What are you gonna do?”

“I already told Mason.”

“You told him you had a vision of one of Skeeter Malcolm’s men?!”

“No! And keep your voice down!”

She looked around. “You think Muffy’s gonna tell anyone?”

“Neely Kate.”

“Okay,” she grumbled. “Sorry.”

“I told him I had a vision of some random man at the gas station on the way home from Bingo.”

“And he believed you?”

“Yeah. Then he called Joe and they had a fight, but Joe sent Deputy Miller out to watch the house and apparently he’s makin’ Mason stay in the courthouse during work hours.” I pointed to the Tasers, still on the table. “Mason wanted to get me a Taser today, but Joe wouldn’t let him out. So Joe got one for both of us; yours is the pink one. He said we probably need them anyway with everything we get into.”

Neely Kate picked hers up off the table. “This would have come in handy with Tabitha last month.”

“Tell me about it,” I groaned, remembering the tussle we’d gotten into with Neely Kate’s cousin’s best friend. “Joe gave us his blessing to investigate Dora.”

“You’re kidding?”

I grimaced. “Well, I didn’t tell him about the possible extortion scheme.”

“A good thing, since you can’t rightly tell him why we suspect it.”

“Then let’s see if I missed anything in Dora’s journal. Maybe it’ll give us an idea of what to do next.”

We bent over the book. Neely Kate flipped through pages, then stopped.

“Look at this.” Her voice dripped with satisfaction. “This entry talking about your father telling his wife she wants a divorce is dated October. She mentions Violet by name.”

I leaned over. “I remember reading this part while Mason and I were hiding from Daniel Crocker at the farm.”

“This proves Dora didn’t have an affair with Henry.”

I shook my head. “Not necessarily. This was in the fall. She didn’t mention Daddy in her journal the previous winter.”

Her gaze pinned mine. “Why are you so bound and determined to prove she was involved with Henry?”

“I’m just tryin’ to be objective.”

She rose from her chair in a huff. “I’m gonna go do some bookkeeping work. But I hope I don’t get seen talking to you about the books or someone might think we’re havin’ an affair.”