FLAME SERIES #20 SO SWEET THE SMILE

CHAPTER 17

The Truth Will Out

Kitty was glad that M'Lady knew her way home as she was paying little if any attention to the journey. She had just left Matt at Thad's office. The young lawyer had been successful in uncovering some very interesting secrets in the life of the Ragger family. Cicely Ragger. Or maybe Hennesy would be more accurate.

Like a bee caught in a whirlwind, the thought kept buzzing in her head. Three young men – dead. All accidents Thad said. Kitty put a voice to her thoughts even though she had no audience. "What are the odds of that happening?"

Over the years, she had witnessed so much human depravity it gave her an edge to believe that the young and beautiful Cicely Ragger could be a murderer. At least where the young men were concerned. Possibly even her parents but the thought of this woman killing her own child in cold blood. That was a stretch to accept even for the former saloon owner.

The thought provoking soliloquy came to an end as she reached the Lady K. Kitty dismounted and tossed the reins over the front post. She was surprised to see Doc's buggy since he was supposed to have gone out to the Handlemeyer's ranch. It was quite a ways out and usually dominated the majority of his day.

Before Kitty could reach the last step to the veranda, Cooper burst through the front door running toward his mother. "Momma. Momma you have to go get Calleigh."

"Whoa." Kitty stooped down to catch her boy. "Where is she and why do I have to go get her?" There was a lighthearted inflection to her tone as she ruffled the loose brown curls.

Cooper pulled back enough to let his fearful blue eyes confront hers. "She went with Cicely. Momma that woman is mean but Calleigh don't see it."

Those sinister thoughts that had accompanied Kitty on the way home sprang to life with the genuine concern in her son's eyes. "Okay, slow down. Why do you say that about Cicely? Has she done something to you?"

'No. Not to me." Cooper knew the time had come when he had to tell what he had overheard even if it got him into trouble for eavesdropping. As the story unfolded, he watched his mother's expression. "I know I wasn't supposed to listen."

"No sweetheart, that's not eavesdropping." Kitty pulled the boy into her arms to reassure him. "You did the right thing and I am so proud of you for taking care of your little sister." She leaned him back and brushed the tears from his cheeks. "Where did Calleigh go?"

"Cicely was going back to her house but she didn't want to go alone. Calleigh waited until Poppy got home but they've been gone a long time. I tried to talk to her and Poppy but neither of them would listen. I even ran down to get Newly but he's not home either. Are you going to go get Daddy?"

Kitty stood up, blue eyes rapidly moving from side to side as she contemplated his question. "Daddy rode out to Plunk Shunders place. He was going to meet me here for lunch but I have a feeling I shouldn't wait." She took the boy again by his narrow shoulders. "When your daddy gets here, tell them where I've gone."

When she turned to leave, Cooper suddenly grabbed her hand pulling her back. "But Momma…" fear balled up into a lump into his throat strangling the rest of his words.

"I'll be all right." She assured him. "Now, you go on in and tell Poppy." With a kiss to his cheek, Kitty mounted M'Lady and rode off.