Hometown Courtship
The strike of the judge's gavel reverberated through the room, announcing to the entire town of Burrow, Ohio, that she, Callie Easton, had committed a crime. She could almost see the stern glares of the city's forefathers.
Who knew that lost parking tickets could cause such a problem?
Heather Rinker, Callie's good friend and attorney, leaned toward her. "You okay?"
"I've just been ordered to do community service, Heather. Would you be okay?"
"No, but then I don't lose things." She gathered her copious papers into tidy little stacks and placed them in her folder.
"It's the handbag. I wouldn't be in this mess if not for the handbag." Callie hiccupped. Her usual reaction to life's crises.
Heather turned to her. "What?"
"It was on sale. I love the smell of leather—did I ever tell you that?—and this leather bag looked so cute. It was the right price, and—"
Heather sighed and tucked her file carefully into her portfolio. "Callie—"
"—it has a million pockets, Heather. Pockets, where things are stored, never to be found again." Callie slumped further into her chair, trying to swallow past the shame that had settled rock solid in her throat ... read full excerpt from: Hometown Courtship ebook
