Darlene Franklin - Dressed for Death 02 - A String of Murders (25 page)

BOOK: Darlene Franklin - Dressed for Death 02 - A String of Murders

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Later—after Frances and another officer escorted Peppi and Lauren to the jail and Reiner questioned the witnesses—Audie and I closed up the theater and walked into the starlit night.

“I’m glad that’s over.” I looked up at the heavenly canopy. “‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’”

“A contemporary psalmist might say it’s just another day at the office for God. The Truth has revealed the truth about the murder.”

We walked to my house. “At last the secrets have been uncovered and the mystery is solved.”

“Just in time.” Audie gripped my hand more tightly. “I’m glad I won’t have anything more serious to worry about than two sisters who poison their guests.”

I laughed. All was right with our world.

Epilogue

Saturday, June 14

Dina popped into the ladies’ Sunday school classroom. “I think all of Grace Gulch has turned out for the wedding.” She snapped a picture of Jenna attempting to tame my tangled hair into soft flower petals to frame my face.

My two bridesmaids looked radiant. Pale green lace covered the bodices of their satin gowns. I decided green was my favorite color, since God used so much of it in nature. Besides, the color brought out their hazel eyes.

“There is no one else I would rather share the day with.” I turned in my chair and hugged them both. “The end of an era.”

“And the start of another. I’ll be back.” Jenna spoke in her best Schwarzenegger imitation. “I can’t wait for the new art center to open. But I’ll save that for later. Today is your fairy tale.” She patted a few curls in place and sprayed my hair lightly. “Take a look. You’re glowing.”

From the simple lace veil to the beaded bodice to the rose pink tulle underlying the skirt, I did look like a queen on coronation day. The time had come to set aside my detective’s trench coat for a new role, the wife of the most wonderful man in the world.

Not everyone from Grace Gulch could attend the wedding. Though out on bail, Lauren Packer wouldn’t dare show his face. Gene was in prison, as well. Peppi, of course, sat in the county jail awaiting trial. Dina had taken the revelations about her friend like a trooper.

“Are my girls ready?” Dad knocked at the door. “Oh, Cecilia. You remind me of your mother on our wedding day.” Tears formed in his eyes, and I felt answering moisture behind my eyelids.

“Stop it, Dad. I don’t want to cry and ruin my makeup.” I hiccupped a laugh.

“Frances is ready to play the wedding march whenever you give the signal.” Enid Waldberg would also add her musical touch, singing two solos during the service in her beautiful alto.

Dina, her hair a pale blond with only two streaks of green and pink for flair, entered first, followed by Jenna. The music swelled.

I nodded at Dad, and we walked through the open door.

My future waited at the altar.

The End

Don’t miss the next mystery, Paint Me a Murder

Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over thirty books and has written more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online elsewhere at
here
.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3

https://www.facebook.com/Poet.Darlene.Franklin

Twitter: @darlenefranklin

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030543.Darlene_Franklin

Upcoming books:

The Reformed Cowboy
in
The Cowboy’s Bride Collection,
Barbour, 2016

A Bride’s Rogue in Roma, Texas
, in Brides of the Old West,
June 1, 2015

The Face of Mary
in
A Texas Christmas,
September 1, 2015

DRESSED FOR DEATH SERIES

Gunfight at Grace Gulch

A String of Murders

Paint Me a Murder