LETHAL OBSESSION by Carey Regenold Page A

smile and struggled to keep her voice from
sounding wooden.  Ellen wasn't ready to talk about Mark with strangers but she
had to come up with a plausible explanation. The women had gathered close to
listen like they were anticipating a juicy piece of gossip. More than likely
some of them had been at the fishing tournament and saw her there.  Ellen was
beyond mortified.    
          "Sheriff
Stone was very kind to me a while back during a tragic family crisis.  He's a nice
person and I do owe him a debt of gratitude."                                              
          The
women seemed to suddenly wander away. Right at that time Ellen heard a familiar
deep voice and she quickly ducked behind a large bulletin board.
           
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
          "Martha
Darlin," Gene walked up and gave his wife a kiss. "Are you about
ready to eat?  I'm starving."                        
          Ellen
closed her eyes and crouched down hoping she could somehow just slink away into
the crowd.
          Martha
took her husband's arm. "Come here, I would like for you to meet someone. 
She says you were a great help to her during a family crisis and she wanted to
thank you. Ellen? Where are you?  Oh, there you are."
          Martha
pulled Ellen out of her hiding place. 
          "My
husband is right here and I know he'll be glad to see you again.  Gene, you
remember Ellen Anderson?  She said you helped her at one time."
          Ellen
forced her expression to go blank but anybody with half a brain could see the
look of total disgust in her eyes.  Gene stared with a deer in the headlights
look.  If she didn't feel so betrayed it would almost be laughable.  Ellen
extended her hand and watched his reddened face register total dismay.       
          "It's
so very nice to see you again Sheriff Stone. I was just telling your lovely wife how kind you were to help me during my family crisis. It's a shame I haven't
had the pleasure of making Martha's acquaintance sooner.  Hopefully now we can
become good friends."
          Martha
beamed. "That would be delightful, Ellen. Perhaps you would enjoy
attending Sunday services with me sometime."            
          "That
would be lovely. I would enjoy it very much, Martha." 
          The
benign smile on Ellen's face was beginning to ache.
          Fighting
for self control, Gene tried not to fidget. Son of a bitch, what rotten luck.  He
wouldn’t in a million years expect Ellen to show up at an event like this. She never
went out. Gene could tell by her eyes that the easy trust between them was now
a thing of the past. Ellen may never trust him again.  This was bad, real bad. Was
she going to tell Martha?  Gene didn't think so but stranger things have
happened.  If she was then he would just have to find a way to repair the
damage.  It wouldn't be the first time.  He had better start tap dancing right now.
His daddy always said that a bushel of charm could sweeten any sour brew.
Donning his most charismatic political smile, Gene reached out and took Ellen's
hand.                                   
          "Mrs.
Anderson, what a pleasure to see you again. I hope everything is working out
for you."            
          Oh,
it definitely is, Sheriff Stone," Ellen purred in her softest voice.
"I just don't know how to thank you enough for all your time and attention,
and your words of encouragement."        
          Gene
nodded. "I'm very happy I could be of service." His heart was pounding.
Damn he was so close and now this. Gene felt a tug and realized he was still
holding tightly to Ellen's hand.  Martha was staring at him. If Gene was facing
a pride of hungry lions he couldn't have felt more terrified.