Pushing Up Bluebonnets Read Online Free PDF

tonight.''
      ''That's ridiculous. If you think I'm dying, you're sorely mistaken, Abigail. Both of you will go home and let me alone to bother the nurses all night. That's what they get paid for.''
      I said, ''But Aunt Caroline, I—''
      ''Before you go, Abby, I need to know if you called the police with that girl's name. She needs to be identified in a timely manner.''
      ''Of course I called.'' Maybe not in a timely manner, but I didn't share that piece of information.
      ''Have her people arrived, then? And if so, do they have any idea who might have done this to her?''
      Kate rescued me by saying, ''You and Abby can catch up on—what's the woman's name?''
      ''JoLynn Richter,'' I answered.
      ''Tomorrow,'' Kate said firmly.
      ''You sure you don't want me to stay?'' I said to my aunt.
      ''No. Both of you need your sleep. Especially Abigail, since she has a new case to solve.''
      Funny how ''snooping'' now seemed acceptable, probably because she'd helped me all afternoon. ''This isn't my case,'' I said. But I was protesting too emphatically.
      ''Abigail, if your daddy were here, he'd say you must think I don't have as much sense as God gave a sack of flour. This surely is your case.'' She offered her best semblance of a smile, considering her cosmetic limitations.
      I hated when she was right. ''If the chief asks, I'll be more than happy to help.''
      ''Don't I know that,'' Aunt Caroline said. ''Now, go home and leave me to harass the night staff.''
      So we left and once we were in the elevator, Kate said, ''Is she right? Do you have a new case?''
      ''You know Aunt Caroline. If the truth isn't available, she makes up her own version.'' But like my aunt, Kate can read me like a label on a can of soup at Whole Foods Market—her home away from home.
      ''She is right,'' Kate said. ''I'd like to be involved, if that's okay. I thought I'd be better off not consulting on your cases, since you've proven to be far braver than me. But I've missed the work. Dangerous or not, I want things back the way they were.'' Kate smiled and I saw the first real light in her eyes in almost a year.
      ''Good, because I always need your help. But be warned, I'm prying into a situation without an invitation. Ought to be interesting.'' I went on to tell her about Cooper's phone call and what I'd discovered with Aunt Caroline's help.
      ''Abby, they'd be foolish not to want you working on this.''
      I put my arm around Kate and squeezed her to me. ''Thanks.'' We stepped off the elevator and I said, ''What about Aunt Caroline? From what little she said, she's not exactly understanding how serious her diagnosis is.''
      ''She thinks if she cuts out chocolate and Mocha Frappuccinos, problem solved.''
      ''I feel sorry for the dietitian who gets to teach her about her new diet and the nurse who gets to show her how to give herself an insulin shot. She'll be on insulin, right?''
      ''The doctor thinks she can go on oral medicine once she's stable. Now, when can I see JoLynn? That convention I went to in Atlanta had a few sessions on therapy with head-injury patients. I'm no expert, but I did pick up a few things.''
      ''She's in a coma, Kate. I don't think she's ready for psychotherapeutic rehab.''
      ''Just anxious to get started. I'd like to see what kind of shape she's in.''
      ''Not pretty. You have anything planned for this weekend?'' I asked.
      ''Oh, sure. A speed-dating session,'' Kate said sarcastically. ''In other words, nothing besides laundry and taking care of Aunt Caroline.''
      ''And you're sure you want to help?'' I said.
      ''I'm ready as long as we don't have any role reversals—like you shrink my head while I find some dark alley where I can teach a bad guy a lesson with a Lady Smith and Wesson.''
      ''It's just called a Lady Smith.''
      ''Whatever. A gun is a gun and I don't like them,'' she said.
      ''There's a news flash. I'll meet you here tomorrow morning.