Page 2 of Jonny’s Redemption

Baker was smart, he knew what was coming.

“Anything I can do to change your mind?” Baker asked.

“No.”

“The county can’t afford to lose more, Spencer. Think on that before you do this.”

Baker was wrong.

Kent County had recovered after the last sheriff had tormented the citizens he’d sworn to protect. No one was happier to see Sheriff Richard Dillinger go down than Jonny was. He’d spent a long time working for the dirty sheriff trying to get his department clear of the filth that sat in the chair that Baker now had.

Jonny didn’t raise the taunt.

“I wish you’d reconsider,” Baker went on.

There was a beat of silence before Baker shook his head and closed his eyes.

“I quit.”

And with that, Jonny left.

The pain in his chest didn’t subside.

It never would.

2

“What are you gonna do about Jonny Spencer?”

The question came out of the blue.

Well, sort of. I had a feeling Miss Lola had been plotting her sneak attack since I’d arrived. I was actually impressed she’d made it all the way through lunch, me cleaning her kitchen, and us retiring to her front porch before she went for it.

“Miss Lola,” I started, but got no further.

“Don’t Miss Lola me, child.”

I kept my eyes on the empty street in front of me and smiled.

Lola Lane was a kick in the pants. I’d fallen in love with the old woman the first time I’d met her. The mother I never had. But she wasn’t mine, she was my friend, Kennedy’s mom.

“Bobby,” she prompted.

“I’m not going to do anything about Jonny.”

My statement made my heart throb. I wanted to do something about Jonny. But the stubborn man didn’t want anything to do with me. No, that was untrue. He did want something, but he was too damn pig-headed to act on it. And over the years I’d known him, he’d had plenty of opportunities. There had been a time right after Holden and Charleigh had gotten back together I thought he’d take his shot. Then a case he’d been working on turned to shit and he’d withdrawn so far into himself he was now lost to me.

Lost to all of us. He’d quit his job a month ago and had taken off. I knew where he was, we all did, but with his hasty departure, he’d made it clear he wanted to be left alone.

“Someone needs to sort that boy out.”

I couldn’t contain my snort of amusement. Jonny was the opposite of a boy. No part of him could be described as such. Not his icy-blue eyes, not his solid, muscled frame, not his rugged good looks. Jonny Spencer was all man.

“He’s been off since before his daddy died,” Miss Lola continued.

“His daddy didn’t die,” I murmured. “Mr. Spencer was murdered.”

“Indeed he was, Bobby. I’ve known the Spencers a good long while. Good people, caring, so much love to give they took in Doug and raised him like he was their blood. That boy wasn’t treated any different than Jonny was. There was nothing they could’ve done differently. That Doug was born evil. There’re times when nature overpowers nurture—Doug Spencer proves that to be true. Doug’s issues started before he met that sweet Macy. But the Devil got him something fierce. Only reason a man would take his hand to a woman, especially Macy. And he was a lying cheat. Made no attempts to hide it, he was a skirt chaser before he married Macy and he was a skirt chaser after. Only good thing that came from Doug and Macy are those two beautiful children. And they are their mamma. Good all the way through.”