4 Buried Secrets Read Online Free PDF

parchment framed by long ash-blonde hair streaked with gray holding the other end.
    “You. Over here.” The woman addressed Luke and Jake, jerking the gun barrel to indicate they stand to the left of the girls.
    “Who are you people and what are you doing here?” Her narrowed eyes studied each of them in turn.
    “We’re just doing some metal detecting,” Luke said, innocently.
    The woman snorted. “Well, you’re trespassing.”
    Luke spread his hands at his side. “I’m very sorry. We were under the impression no one owned this land.”
    “Well you were wrong. This is my land.”
    “And who are you?” Luke asked.
    The woman stood rigid, the gun unwavering. “Ain’t no business of yours.”
    Like turned on the charm trying to dazzle the old woman with his smile. “Well we sure didn’t mean any harm.”
    “I got plenty of trouble with gold seekers out here. I reckon that’s who you folks are.” She glared at their metal detectors. “Trying to steal a bit of history … and gold.”
    Jolene heard the faint sound of sirens and the old lady shuffled her feet. The gun wavered as she looked back over her shoulder down the long, flat stretch of road where flashing red and blue lights could be seen in the distance. “Now look what you done. Here comes that damn Sheriff.”
    Jolene relaxed as the old woman lowered the gun and they all stood there watching the police car approach. It skidded to a halt next to them, unnecessarily kicking up a plume of sand.
    Jolene squinted against the bright blue lights on top of the car as she watched the Sheriff get out. He was tall and lean with a hard face. He studied them with hawk-like beady black eyes as he approached.
    “What’s going on here?” he asked.
    “Nothing we need you for.” The old lady practically spat the words at him. “These people were trespassing and I warned them off as is my right.”
    The sheriff glanced down at her shotgun, then up at her. “Now Emma, you know you’re not supposed to shoot a shotgun so close to the road.”
    Emma rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t going to shoot them.”  
    The Sheriff narrowed his eyes at the metal detectors. “And what, exactly, are you people doing here?”
    Luke shrugged. “Just some metal detecting. We’re in a metal detecting club back East and we like to try new places. This looked like a good place.”
    The Sheriff lifted one brow slightly. “You won’t find anything out here but sand and cactus,” he said, then turned to Emma, “and you if you would just sell this place and move into town, you wouldn’t have all this land to take care of or have to worry about trespassers.”
    Emma glared at the Sheriff. “This land has been in the family since 1870. I won’t give it up, no matter how hard you try, Sheriff.”
    Jolene studied the Sheriff. A casual observer might have thought the Sheriff was trying to look out for the older woman’s welfare. Trying to get her to move to someplace less demanding and safer. But Jolene could tell by the looks the two gave each other there was animosity between them. The Sheriff’s brown aura gave away the fact that he had ulterior motives that had nothing to do with the woman’s welfare.  
    “Anyway, I suggest you people move on … And Emma, I suggest you go back to your trailer.” His dark eyes narrowed at the woman. “It might not be safe out here at night for an old woman.”
    Jolene felt a chill run up her spine at the way he said the words. She looked at Emma who stood ramrod straight, her eyes shooting invisible daggers at the Sheriff’s back as he walked to his cruiser.
    “Boy is that guy a jerk or what?” Jolene said.
    Emma laughed. “You can say that again.”
    “I get the impression he’s keen on you moving, but I can see you’re healthy and hardy … he’s after something.” Jolene felt it only right to warn the woman who seemed more than able to take care of herself.
    Emma sighed. “I don’t know why, but Sheriff Kane’s been trying to