Unveiled Treasures Read Online Free PDF

couldn’t she understand that? He had needs that had to be fulfilled. She was gone so often. How many times and ways had he tried to justify his infidelity to her in the past month? “Why am I torturing myself by thinking about the jerk?” she said. He had hurt her, no question about it. Squaring her shoulders she looked straight into the mirror. He may have broken my heart but he didn’t break me. It’s time to move on, Rachel, time for changes. Change is not to be feared, but to be embraced .
    After Brutus returned from his romp in the forest, they spent the rest of the morning tackling the kitchen. Well, Rachel cleaned while Brutus watched. It took her a good part of the day to peel the wallpaper off and scrub down the walls. She looked at her watch when she grew hungry and was shocked to find out she had been going at it for over five hours. Grabbing her keys and purse, she called for Brutus. “Come on, big guy. Let’s go in to town to treat ourselves to a fast food lunch and check out the local hardware store.”
    * * * *
    Todd Bradley stood patiently in line at the counter in Potters’ Hardware waiting for his sister to finish with the customer she was helping. He took these few moments to watch her without her being aware. He was so proud of Jessica. She was a full-time student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff; working very hard towards getting her degree in Forestry Services. Her goal was to one day be a forest ranger. She worked twenty hours a week at the hardware store and still managed to have a social life. He was impressed she didn’t fall over from sheer exhaustion. Jessica Diane Bradley had been graced with the same gray eyes as he, a gift from their mother. The sandy blonde hair was a Bradley trait from their father’s side as far back as time could remember. She was tall and willow thin with a smile that lit up her pixie-like features and the personality to match, most of the time.
    Jessica happened to look up and noticed him standing there. Winking at him, she smiled. “I’ll be with you in a moment, love.”
    Something was up; he rarely came in to see her at work. Their usual form of communication was through quickly scratched notes posted on the fridge at home. Their schedules never seemed to mesh enough to spend more than ten minutes together. Finishing with the customer, she turned her attention on him. “How can I help you today, handsome?” Jess loved to tease him. Growing up his little sister, she learned quickly how and when to push buttons to get what she wanted. She only used her personal arsenal on occasion now; she respected her brother and what he had made of himself.
    “Hi yourself, stranger. We live in the same house and I haven’t seen you in almost a week. Where have you been, young lady?” He used his most fatherlike voice.
    “Since when did you become my keeper?” she tried to mimic the same tone he had but failing miserably, started to laugh.
    Crossing his arms over his chest, he straightened up and stood his full six foot two and looked down at her. “I became keeper when Mom and Dad moved back east. It’s my job to look out for you. You can answer the question or I can have you followed. It’s your choice.”
    Jessica pouted, “Cut me some slack, Todd. Sometimes it really sucks with you being sheriff. Did you know that? You can’t have me followed! On what grounds can you justify something like that? I’m a grown woman. When will you accept that I’m twenty-three years old and can look out for myself?”
    “No can do, kiddo, I worry about you. I’ve got this burglar out there with no leads. This guy is a freaking ghost. The media have named him the ‘Canyon Cat Burglar’. Can you believe that shit? I don’t see you for days on end and then Mom and Dad called the other day. They asked about you and I didn’t know what to tell them! Uh, sorry, I don’t have a clue where she is. Yeah, I know I’m the sheriff, Mom.”
    She could see he was tired,