On Her Father's Grave (Rogue River Novella Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

next to the grave, not answering Carly’s question because it seemed wrong to admit she wanted to do something illegal.
    “Yes, but it’s not going to be much to see because of the time of day.”
    “We’ll do more when it’s dark. I wanted to do some with just the two of us like he used to do when we were little. He was more into the sounds than the sight anyway.”
    “I hate the noise,” Carly said succinctly.
    Stevie laughed. “Me too. I never understood why that was his favorite part.”
    “I never understood why he didn’t bring the boys.”
    “I think he was afraid they’d turn into fire starters. James had an issue with matches, remember? Mom said Dad had to share it with some of us kids, I guess he thought us girls would be more responsible about it. He insisted on setting them off whether it was New Year’s, Memorial Day, or the Fourth of July.” Stevie’s eyes watered. “It was one of my favorite traditions with him. And it was more special because he’d always take just the two of us.”
    “I miss him so much,” Carly said softly. “It still hasn’t sunk in.”
    “I know. There’re pictures of him up at the office. He still feels so real . . . like he should come walking in at any minute. Seeing Zane or Roy in his chair just doesn’t seem right.”
    “Do they want to keep the photos or can we have them?” Carly asked.
    Stevie paused. “I don’t know. I don’t think anyone would mind if I took them, but I sort of want them to stay in the office. I don’t want people to forget.”
    “He should have his journals somewhere there too. Not police notebooks, but his personal journals.”
    “Really?” Stevie wrinkled up her nose. “Are you sure? I would think they’d have given them to Mom by now.” Her dad had always kept a daily record. There were boxes full of journals in the attic of the house. Some entries were about his kids and some were about his work. He always wrote in them while at work and brought them home at the end of each year. He would spend part of New Year’s Day reflecting on his professional and personal life. Evaluating and looking ahead.
    “No, because I asked Mom about them a few days ago. She was going to ask you to bring them home once you started at the department.”
    “I’ll ask Zane if he knows where they might be. Maybe Roy simply shoved them aside while he was in charge.”
    Carly nodded as she pulled out a contraption consisting of a metal chute attached to a wide, flat board. She set it gently down next to her father’s grave. “I never understood how he justified fireworks with him being a cop and all.” She set a half dozen Roman candles several feet away from the launcher.
    “He couldn’t. That’s why he always took us way out of town to deserted areas to shoot them off. They might be illegal in our state, but he loved them as much as a little kid.” Excitement shot up Stevie’s spine, and she felt like she was ten. “I’m so glad we’re doing this. Thank you for agreeing to it.”
    Carly smiled. “I know what you mean.” She handed the long-handled lighter to Stevie. “But you light them. I’m not getting arrested for this.”

    Zane waved at the car as it cruised past him on Main Street. He couldn’t tell who the driver was, but he’d seen the hand waving at him, so he waved back. That’s how it operated around here. Everyone waved whether you knew who it was or not.
    As he walked back to the station he crunched on the fried chicken meal he’d picked up at the small grocery store. It was hot and tasty and Nell’s best recipe. Everyone told her she should open a restaurant instead of running the grocery.
    “But where would you buy your milk and bread?” she’d ask. “I’m doing a public service. And I’ll keep making chicken as long as people will buy it.”
    She still had the old political sign above the deli.
    “I Like My Spotted Owl Deep-Fried.”
    Zane was pretty certain she’d never fry an owl. He eyed the leg