Excerpt of The Best Man in Texas by Kelsey Roberts

“It doesn’t matter,” Sara said, closing her eyes. “Marriage is a lifelong commitment.”

“Only when it’s made honestly,” Violet counseled. “When your hank Allen stood in front of God and promised to love and honor you ‘till death do you part,’ he was lying. Seems to me your commitment was based on false promises.”

“I can’t leave him,” Sara insisted. “I have absolutely no money, no assets. I tried to leave him once.”

“What happened?”

“Hank Allen reported the car stolen. Everything is in his name. I’m not even authorized to write a check.”

“There are places that can help you. Organizations that –“

“He’d find me.”

Violet thought about her next move for less than a minute. “Let me help.”

Sara’s eyes flew open and she jerked her head around – a movement that obviously caused her some pain. Wincing, she said, “You don’t even know me. I can’t –“

“All the better,” Violet interrupted. “I’ll give you some money to get yourself away from this mess.”

“He’ll go crazy. Besides, I can’t take money from a total stranger.”

“I’m Violet Mitchum from Pinto, Texas. There, now we aren’t strangers.”

“You know what I mean,” Sara argued. “This isn’t your problem. I’ll deal with it. But, thank you.”

“There’s a fine line between being stubborn and being stupid, Sara.”

“I’m being neither,” Sara said. “I’m being practical. When the time is right, I’ll leave Hank Allen.”

“But when that time comes, will you still be breathing?”