Denim and Diamonds Read Online Free Page A

switch, she acted out a game they’d played since Cricket was two.
    “Blow out the light,” she whispered.
    The child blew with all her might. At that precise moment, Letty flipped the switch.
    “Good night, Mommy.”
    “Night, sweetheart.”
    Lonny was waiting for her in the living room, still frowning over the incident between him and his niece. “I don’t know, Letty,” he said, apparently still unsettled. “I don’t seem to be worth much in the uncle department.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” she said, trying to smile, but her thoughts were troubled. She couldn’t schedule the surgery if she wasn’t sure Cricket would be comfortable with Lonny.
    “I’ll try not to upset her again,” Lonny said, looking doubtful, “but I don’t think I relate well to kids. I’ve been a bachelor for too long.”
    Bachelor…
    That was it. The solution to her worries. All evening she’d been thinking how lonely her brother was and how he needed someone to share his life. The timing was perfect.
    Her gaze flew to her brother and she nearly sighed aloud with relief. What Lonny needed was a wife.
    And Letty was determined to find him one.
    Fast.

Chapter 2
    It wasn’t exactly the welcome parade Letty had dreamed about, with the bright red convertible and the high school marching band, but Red Springs’ reception was characteristically warm.
    “Letty, it’s terrific to see you again!”
    “Why, Letty Ellison, I thought you were your dear mother. I never realized how much you resemble Maren. I still miss her, you know.”
    “Glad you’re back, Letty. Hope you plan to stay awhile.”
    Letty smiled and shook hands and received so many hugs she was late for the opening hymn at the Methodist church on Sunday morning.
    With Cricket by her side, she slipped silently into a pew and reached for a hymnal. The hymn was a familiar one from her childhood, and Letty knew the lyrics well. But even before she opened her mouth to join the others, tears welled up in her eyes. The organ music swirled around her, filling what seemed to be an unending void in her life. It felt so good to be back. So right to be standing in church with her childhood friends and the people she loved.
    Attending services here was part of the magnetic pull that had brought her back to Wyoming. This comforting and spiritual experience reminded her that problems were like mountains. There wasn’t one she couldn’t handle with God’s help. Either she’d climb it, pass around it or carve a tunnel through it.
    The music continued and Letty reached for a tissue, dabbing at the tears. Her throat had closed up, and that made singing impossible, so she stood with her eyes shut, soaking up the words of the age-old hymn.
    Led by instinct, she’d come back to Red Springs, back to the Bar E and the small Methodist church in the heart of town. She was wrapping everything that was important and familiar around her like a homemade quilt on a cold December night.
    The organ music faded and Pastor Downey stepped forward to offer a short prayer. As Letty bowed her head, she could feel someone’s bold stare. Her unease grew until she felt herself shudder. It was a sensation her mother had often referred to as someone walking over her grave. An involuntary smile tugged at Letty’s mouth. That analogy certainly hit close to home. Much too close.
    When the prayer was finished, it was all Letty could do not to turn around and find out who was glaring at her. Although she could guess…
    “Mommy,” Cricket whispered, loudly enough for half the congregation to hear. “The man who likes chocolate chip cookies is here. He’s two rows behind us.”
    Chase.
Letty released an inward sigh. Just as she’d suspected, he was the one challenging her appearance in church, as if her presence would corrupt the good people of this gathering. Letty mused that he’d probably like it if she wore a scarlet
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so everyone would know she was a sinner.
    Lonny had warned her that Chase was