To Love and Honor Read Online Free Page A

Lieutenant Gibson take you home, I’ll walk with you and be sure you don’t have any more trouble. I want to see you home safely with your project.”
    Janie nodded assent, and Roger moved toward Misty’s project. “I still want you to join our teen group, Janie. Think about it.” The grim expression on his face indicated that he would have some stern words to say to the youth he counseled. “I’ll see you at church on Sunday, Violet.”
    Since he had bidden her goodbye in that manner, Violet didn’t expect to hear any more from Roger until Sunday, so it was with some surprise that she opened her door to him, still in uniform, Friday evening.
    He removed his hat. “I have something I need to ask you, Violet. Is it all right for me to come in?”
    Violet unlocked the storm door and motioned him inside. Obviously this wasn’t a social call. He twirled his hat around in his hands a time or two, and his demeanor puzzled Violet. She had never known Roger to be ill at ease.
    â€œViolet, do you know Linda Conley, an inmate in a correctional facility in Topeka, Kansas?”
    Roger’s face blurred, Violet’s hands fluttered nervously, and her body sank slowly toward the floor.

Chapter Two
    V iolet didn’t black out completely, and she felt Roger’s arm around her, leading her to the couch. He pressed her head forward to her knees.
    â€œHold on a minute.” Roger’s voice sounded a long way off. Soon, he sat beside her on the couch, supported her head and wiped her face with a cool, damp cloth. He brought a glass of water and forced a few drops between her lips. She had trouble breathing, and she gasped for air.
    â€œTell me I’m dreaming, Roger. I can’t believe you said what you did.”
    Roger smoothed the damp hair back from her face, for he had been overzealous in wetting the cloth.
    â€œIt’s true, Violet. I received a call about her a few minutes ago.”
    Violet caught his hand. “Tell me everything.”
    â€œLinda Conley, a life prisoner, has terminal cancer, with a life expectancy of six months. They’re looking for her next of kin to give her a home so she won’t have to die in prison.”
    Violet shuddered and shook her head in disbelief, grasping Roger’s hand as if it were a lifeline. “Roger, you can’t understand what you’ve just said to me. I’ve never needed a friend more than I do now.”
    He squeezed her hand. “You have a friend, so don’t worry. Whatever it is you’re facing, I’ll be with you all the way.”
    She sat up, pressing her hand to her forehead. “Who else knows about that phone call?” she asked finally.
    â€œNo one in Maitland. Fortunately, I was alone in the office when the call came in.”
    â€œI won’t lie to you, but I would rather die than answer that question. I thought when I moved to Maitland, I had left the past behind, and now it’s pursued me here.”
    Roger patted her hand. “Your past doesn’t matter to me, and I wouldn’t have approached you if it wasn’t my official duty. I don’t want to do anything that will hurt you, but you know I can’t return that call and say I couldn’t find the answer. From your response, it’s obvious you do know Linda Conley.”
    Violet smiled slightly. “One of the things I’ve always admired about you, Roger, is that you do what you think is right regardless of the consequences, so I would never blame you for doing your duty because it involves me. It’s just difficult to unearth the past.”
    â€œIs Linda related to you?”
    â€œLinda Conley is my mother, but I don’t remember ever seeing her, because I was only two years old when she shot and killed my father.”
    Violet hadn’t looked at Roger when she blurted out the truth. The words left a bitter nasty taste in her mouth. After a moment, she glanced