Song of the Bones

Thelma Patterson, local postmistress and Chantalene's surrogate aunt, retains Drew Sander's legal services to declare her long-missing husband legally dead. An oil company wants to lease her land for exploration, and she needs to clear the title. But when Drew makes inquiries into the disappearance of Billy Ray Patterson, Billy Ray shows up back in Tetumka—and moves in with Thelma.

The townsfolk remember Billy Ray and find the situation amusing. Except for Thelma, that is, who swears to Chantalene that this man is not her missing husband. Thelma’s afraid to confront him and begs Chantalene for help.

Chantalene is the only one who believes her. To convince Drew—and the law—that the man in Thelma's house is an impostor, they must find out what happened to the real Billy Ray.

Chantalene follows a cold trail to New Mexico where she finds evidence that the man is indeed Billy Ray Patterson—which means the man Thelma married years ago was somebody else. But who? And why? Then things turn sinister. A dark pick-up runs her off the road at night, and the evidence disappears. Billy Ray turns up dead. Thelma is accused of his murder.

In searching out the truth, Chantalene uncovers a bogus oil company, the high-stakes scam of an Indian-owned casino, and a mafia-style family who wants her silenced, permanently.