Mountain Secrets Elizabeth Goddard (life changing books to read .txt) 📖

so torn about telling Colin everything. It felt strange to think of him as Colin now instead of Chief Winters. But it also felt natural, and that particular wall she’d erected as a safety net was already broken down. In fact, when he’d assigned his officers to stay and watch the house, Jewel had been disappointed—she had wanted Colin to stay.

Being near him was dangerous. She should be relieved he’d left, but the relief didn’t resolve her disappointment that he’d chosen to assign guard duty to his officers.

Jewel sighed. She was losing her mind.

After Colin had checked the house to ensure her safety, he’d nodded at her just before he’d walked out the door. His demeanor had told her that he was also disappointed in her. Maybe even angry with her. She’d never seen that look in his eyes—he knew she was holding back, purposely hiding information.

A man had been killed because of Jewel, and she wanted to keep her secret?

Despite Colin’s frustration with her, he hadn’t pressured her to give more than she’d been willing.

Her heart shifted, inched toward him. How could it not?

She wanted to shove aside her fears, confess what she’d done in the past and tell him her suspicions. Tell him what someone could be after. But Meral and Buck had been right there when he’d asked, and then Meral had promised to stay with her at all times.

Behind Jewel, her sister sat on the sofa and chatted on the phone. Jewel had no idea where Buck had sauntered off to now. She hoped he wasn’t in the attic searching for the diamond.

She dropped the curtain and plopped on the sofa. Though absorbed in her phone call to a friend in Baltimore, Meral glanced at Jewel, her brows drawing together. Jewel didn’t want to concern Meral with her anguish, so once again she turned her attention to the window.

Guilt chewed at her insides, making her forget about her stitches and bruises. For years she’d been dishing out advice and words of wisdom to friends and even to guests when they confided in her. Jewel had always thought that was her one gift, but now when it came to her own life, wisdom escaped her. Everything was twisted into a ball that she had no idea how to untangle. What right did she have to give advice when she harbored such a secret?

Maybe she was trying too hard to figure it out on her own so she could protect herself. There was only one thread for her to pull. One thing to do, and then let things unravel as they would.

I have to talk to him. Tell him everything.

Jewel made her decision. She stood from the sofa and tried to get Meral’s attention, but Meral lifted a finger for Jewel to wait. Instead, Jewel went to her room and changed. She rummaged through her dresser for makeup, which she hardly ever wore except on special occasions like Christmas. This wasn’t a special occasion, but her reflection was gaunt and, frankly, terrified her. What was it doing to others? Making them think she was weaker than she was? Vulnerable? Well, Jewel was strong, and she was ready to make a stand.

Ready to end this once and for all.

A knock came at her door. “It’s Meral.”

“Come in.”

Her sister stepped inside. “What are you doing? Where are you going?”

“I need to go to town and talk to Colin... Chief Winters.”

Her sister’s frown turned into a soft smile. “You like him, don’t you?”

Meral’s words surprised Jewel. Her sister hadn’t been here long enough to know that, had she? “What makes you say that?”

“I have eyes. Besides, he likes you, too, Jewel.”

Jewel didn’t say anything to Meral’s comment. Just worked to cover her haggard appearance with concealer. Spiffed up her bobbed hair that was more difficult to deal with than when it had been long. Funny, she’d cut it to make life simpler. Maybe Meral thought she was trying to look good for the chief of police. Jewel paused. Was she?

Well, Jewel was about to put an end to that once and for all. Once he knew the truth, Colin—Chief Winters—couldn’t like her anymore. She would drive a much-needed wedge between them with her words. But she feared she would also drive a wedge between her and Meral, losing two people she cared about deeply in one fell swoop.

“You can’t go alone, you know. I’m happy to ride along.”

Jewel sighed. She’d never felt more smothered. “I need some air.” Some space.

She was going through the motions, hoping she’d get up the nerve to actually go through with telling Colin about her past and her suspicions. She could be way off base and sharing a secret she didn’t want anyone to know. Implicating a man who might be innocent. Meral would be devastated and would leave, then Jewel would never see her again.

Jewel put her brush in the drawer and eyed her sister in the mirror. For all Jewel knew, Meral was also after the diamond. Had their parents threatened to disinherit her for marrying Buck, cutting her off completely, just as they had Jewel for marrying Silas? Jewel frowned and averted her gaze.

“What’s wrong, Jewel?” Meral asked.

She shook away her misgivings. “Nothing.”

“Let me tell Buck where we’re going and that I’m riding with you.”

No! No, don’t...

But she couldn’t stop Meral. Couldn’t tell her the reasons for her uncertainty.

Nor should Jewel be afraid of her own sister, yet her hands trembled. She stood tall and tried to project confidence into her words. “We’ll just okay it with the officers first, but I’m sure it will be fine. I’m heading into town to the police station to talk to Chief Winters. How could they object to that?”

Maybe on the way Jewel could somehow bring up the topic and ask Meral what she knew about the diamond. Yes. This was a good thing, after all. Jewel would finally be alone with Meral without anyone around to hear them.

“Let me freshen up and grab my purse,”