by Curry, Edna
Loni drew a sharp breath. “I can’t let you do that. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Nonsense. You’d be doing me a favor. I should have retired years ago.” Her aunt’s voice was pleading now. She went on to describe very good terms for the sale.
A really generous offer. Loni rubbed her cheek. Hope flared. Could she? Canton was a small town where she knew almost everyone and they knew her. People helped out each other whenever necessary. She’d have back-up, not be on her own like she’d been in the city. Dare she take a stand against this nut?
Strangers in Canton stood out like a man in a suit in a farm store. If he followed her there, someone would definitely notice. Yes, her little hometown would be a good place to go. Ben, the sheriff, had known her and her family for years. He would help her, not blow her off like these city cops had.
“All right, I’ll do it. But I’ll use some of the insurance from my folks for a good down payment, Auntie Dee, so you won’t be short of traveling money.”
Tears in her voice, Dee exclaimed, “Wonderful! I’m sure you’ll love coming back home.”
They settled on the terms, then Dee said, “I see some of your old friends every once in a while. They always ask about you.”
Loni thought of the close-knit group of high school friends with whom she’d spent several happy years in Canton before she’d gone off to college. Before that awful day when Aunt Dee had called to say her parents had been killed in a car accident.
Could life ever be that happy and carefree again? She doubted it. Still—“It will be great seeing them again.”
“How soon can you come? You’re living in a furnished apartment now, aren’t you? So you don’t have a lot of furniture and stuff to move.”
Loni gasped, realizing she hadn’t told Dee about the fire. She’d given her aunt her new phone number, but hadn’t said why she’d changed it again. Now, she gave Dee a thumbnail version of the fire story, downplaying how dangerous the situation had been.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But it does simplify things, doesn’t it? There’s always a silver lining when bad things happen, my dear. I mean, now you won’t have much to pack,” Dee said.
Loni grimaced at the wry truth. She didn’t even own a suitcase. “True.”
“How soon can you be here?”
Loni thought fast. What did it matter if Mr. Adams didn’t like her leaving without giving him notice? If she bought her aunt’s shop, she wouldn’t need a reference from him. She’d be her own boss for a change. Besides, he had other help who’d be happy to work more hours until he filled her job. Sheri, for one.
Making up her mind, Loni said, “I’ll need a day to take care of things here. I can arrive the day after tomorrow. Okay?”
Dee’s voice bubbled with happiness. “Wonderful! You can stay in my house for now. Then I won’t have to worry about closing it up or anything and you won’t have to find a place to stay here, either.”
“Great, Auntie.” And maybe if she left all the house bills in her aunt’s name, whoever was harassing her wouldn’t be able to trace her so easily.
“Hannah and I will take inventory of the gift shop tomorrow and I’ll have my lawyer draw up an agreement,” Dee was saying. “Hannah will stay on as long as you want her. She knows the local customers and can answer any questions. I want to leave as soon as possible.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’ll be there.”
* * * *
Loni hung up, then called her present boss and explained the emergency, apologizing for leaving without notice. Mr. Adams sounded unhappy, but wished her well. Loni sighed in relief as she replaced the phone in its cradle.
She wanted to start packing immediately, but common sense told her she’d need to take care of some things here first. Glancing at her watch, she realized her bank was still open. She could get some of it done tonight, and work off her frustration at the same time. Besides, she really needed to get out of this hotel room where that caller’s ugly threats still seemed to echo against the walls.
She got in her blue Chevrolet and headed back to the branch bank at the mall where she usually did business. She closed her account, taking her remaining money in cash and travelers’ checks. She didn’t want to do anything that would leave a trail, in case her tormentor was using some paper trails to find her.
On the way home, she stopped at a fast food place and ordered a hamburger and fries. A boisterous high school crowd filled the place, evidently eating before heading off to a game. She envied them, remembering the fun times she’d enjoyed herself in high school. How many of her old crowd still lived in Canton? It will be fun seeing them again.
Sitting at a little table, she ate her burger and got out her cell phone to make a list of things she needed to do to complete the move to Canton.
After a while, she got up for a refill of soda, and returned to her table to finish her meal, weaving through the crowd of teens as they left and more people arrived.
She ate the last of her fries and leisurely finished her soda, then looked around for her phone, picking up napkins and looking behind the box her fries had come in.
Her phone was gone. Damn! How stupid of her to have left it at the table when she went for more soda. She’d grabbed her purse, but not the phone. Hank, her computer nut ex-boyfriend, had given it to her and taught her to use it. She’d gotten so used to keeping her addresses and notes for everything in her life in her cellphone, she couldn’t imagine doing without it. Thank goodness she usually backed up her information into her laptop computer, so she still had most of the information.
The high school crowd had left, as well as other people. The place was crowded. Anyone could have picked it up. She reported her loss to management, but they gave her little hope of getting it back. With a sigh, she left and stopped at a computer store and used part of her meager funds to replace it.
Back home, she transferred her backup info from her computer into the new phone and reported the loss to her insurance agent. He told her to fill out a claim form and send it in. When pressed for an answer, her agent said the company would probably pay her for replacing it, but she’d have to pay the deductible. She agreed to file the claim and began packing. She remembered Dee’s words about silver linings and laughed. Yes, there was one in this episode, too. She’d lost her last reminder of Hank. She was free.
Life was sure to be simpler and safer in Canton.
* * * *
Two evenings later, with the few possessions she had purchased since the fire piled into her blue Chevrolet, Loni drove into Canton.
It was reassuring to see the little town looked much the same as always. Even the population was almost the same as it had always been, a little over four thousand, according to the ‘Welcome to Canton’ sign at the city limits.
The old courthouse sat slightly raised on a hill in the middle of the town square, an elegant building of yellow stone. Lush green lawns surrounded it, with spring tulips blooming in flower beds.
Around the courthouse block, businesses sat in a ring. She recognized most of them. Little seemed to have changed in the past eight years since she’d left. The large Flame Restaurant sat on the corner, next came a clothing store, a parking lot and a bookstore. Legal, accounting and dental offices sat on the other side of the square. Most were in older, two-story buildings with apartments on the upper level. Along the end there was a hardware store, a small bakery, a drugstore and the new post office that replaced the one that had burned a couple of years ago.
The fourth side of the square held the bank and the long two-story Canton Mall which housed her aunt’s gift shop along with other small shops. On the street behind the mall were more parking lots and a large grocery store.
No point in stopping at the gift shop now. It was past closing time, so Aunt Dee would be at home. The street lights were on.
Sheriff Ben’s car and two other police cars sat in front of the Flame. Ben waved at her as she drove past. She waved back, pleased that he’d re
cognized her. He and his buddies were going for their supper break as usual. She knew they got together there for companionship and to exchange official business they didn’t want to go out over their radios because too many people in town listened in on their scanners.
Her mother used to say it was the modern version of the old telephone party line. What would Sheriff Ben say to someone harassing her if she had to tell him? Would Ben help her, or think it was all in her head? She wouldn’t tell him, of course, unless whoever it was did manage to follow her here. Would he? Her stomach churned with worry at the thought. She’d wait and see. No sense borrowing trouble.
Loni drove on through town and another mile down the familiar evergreen lined road to Dee’s house. She opened her car window to breathe in the wonderful piney scent of the woods.
She parked in front of the white frame rambler, letting out a long sigh of satisfaction before getting out of her car. The house door flew open and Dee ran out to welcome her.
Grinning, Loni opened her arms to enfold the diminutive lady. Dee’s lavender perfume surrounded her and Loni gratefully breathed it in. She was home.
* * * *
In the Canton Mall two days later, Matt Bennes looked up from his computer to see his friend Dee Jacobs entering his office. The short, white haired lady had a young blonde woman in tow. His gaze swept over her approvingly. She was taller than Dee, slim and attractive. Her short hair curled around her high cheekbones and softly skimmed the collar of her beige silk blouse. Her long legs were clad in brown slacks.
“Hi, Dee,” he said with a smile, rising to shake hands.
“Matt, this is my niece, Loni Jacobs. She’ll be your new neighbor here in the mall. She’s bought my gift shop and is taking over immediately.”
“How nice to meet you, Loni,” Matt said. He reached out to shake Loni’s hand. A frisson of awareness shot through him as he took her soft hand and met her hazel eyes. Her handshake was firm but brief.
She gave him a quick smile and returned his greeting politely, then she stiffened, her mouth tightened and her lips closed. He sensed fear emanating from her. She glanced around his office supply store furtively, as though sure someone was watching her, although he had no customers at the moment and his clerk had left for the day.
He frowned. What did this pretty blonde have to be afraid of?
He turned back to Dee. “So you’ve sold the shop. Does this mean you’re heading off soon to spend your retirement with your sister in California?”
“Indeed it does.” Dee nodded her white head. “I reserved the cab to take me to the airport. I’m on the first flight out tomorrow morning.”
Matt’s jaw fell. “Tomorrow? So soon? You’ve already done all the paperwork for the sale? Loni knows all about running a gift shop, then?”
“I’ve worked in several around the country,” Loni told him.
Her polite voice dripped ice and her hazel eyes darkened. Oops. He’d insulted her by doubting her abilities. Not getting off to the best start here. He tried a nod and a smile, saying, “Great.”
“We met with my lawyer last night and took care of the sale details. Hannah will stay on to help her part-time, as she’s been doing for me,” Dee said, sending a reassuring smile Loni’s way. “Loni spent all day working with me to get familiar with the specifics of this particular shop. I’ve got all the bookwork up to date and I’ve introduced her to the other shop owners in our little mall. Loni will do fine.”
“I’m sure she will,” Matt agreed, trying to smooth over his goof. “I was balancing the till here before closing up, but I can come back later and finish. May I take you ladies out for a farewell dinner, Dee? If you’re leaving in the morning, tonight’s our last chance. I’m going to miss your friendly chatter.”
“Why, thank you, Matt. That’s so sweet of you. We’re starving and would love dinner out, wouldn’t we, Loni?”
Matt glanced at Loni. She looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. What was her problem? She bit her lip and looked away, then sent her aunt a smile. “Whatever you’d like, Auntie.”
He let out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Somehow he was sure if she didn’t go with him along with her aunt tonight, he’d have a lot of trouble trying to get close to her. And he did want to get to know her better. “Where would you like to go?”
“How about The Lagoon out on Deer Lake? I love their shrimp,” Dee said.
Matt closed his roll-top desk and picked up his keys. “The Lagoon it is, then.”
He locked his store. As he took Loni’s arm, he could have sworn she flinched. Did she have a dislike of all men, or only him? He escorted them out to his blue Buick. Loni insisted that Dee sit in front with him, so he handed Dee into the front seat and then opened the back door for Loni.
She threw him a small smile and settled in, but said little as he drove the half dozen miles to the restaurant.
They were almost there when a dark van came up fast behind them and almost side-swiped them as it came alongside. Loni screamed.
Matt swore, slammed on the brakes and fought for control. He glanced into the rear view mirror and saw terror on Loni’s face.
The van roared past and disappeared around a sharp curve.
“Stupid idiot driver!” Matt said, slowing down to give the guy plenty of room to stay well ahead of them.
“Where’s a cop when you need one? He deserves a ticket! Maybe he was drunk,” Dee said.
“A little early in the evening for that,” Matt said. “But he’s gone now. Did either of you get his license number?”
“No, I didn’t,” Dee said.
“I looked, but couldn’t read it. I think it was covered in mud,” Loni said.
“Mud?” Matt frowned and met her gaze in the visor mirror. “It hasn’t rained for a week.”
Matt pulled up at the restaurant, parked and helped Dee from the car. Loni didn’t wait for his help, but allowed him to take her arm as he walked between them into the low, well lit building. She still looked a little pale.
“Are you feeling okay?” Matt asked Loni.
“I’m fine,” she said, shrugging. She hurried inside.
Delicious aromas of food, a buzz of conversation and soft music met them as they stopped inside the entrance. The restaurant was crowded already.
The hostess, Jean, greeted them warmly and reminded Loni they had been high-school classmates. She led them to a table overlooking the lagoon that gave the restaurant its name. Decorative gas lamps lined the lakeshore and showed off the well-tended flowerbeds under their window. The sun hung in an orange ball low over Deer Lake, sending rosy fingers of light across the rippling water.
“Ah, we’re in time to watch the sunset. I love watching sunsets over the lake.” Dee sighed and took the chair opposite the window. “This is my favorite place to eat because of the wonderful view.”
The hostess frowned. Dee glanced at her and quickly added, “Of course, the food’s great, too.”
Jean smiled. “Your waitress will be right with you,” she said and left.
“It is a lovely view, isn’t it?” Loni said. She gazed at it for a minute, and then picked up her menu as their waitress brought them water and asked for their orders.
Matt knew what he wanted, so gave the waitress his order and laid his menu aside. “And bring us each a glass of wine to celebrate Loni’s new venture,” he said.
“Oh, no wine for me,” Loni said quickly. “But I’d like some coffee right away.”
Dee cast Loni a strange look. “Since when do you not drink wine?” she asked.
“I just don’t feel like any tonight,” Loni hedged, not meeting Dee’s eyes.
Matt raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. “Dee and I will have a glass anyway,” he said.
Well, they were welcome to celebrate the sale of Dee’s business to her. But she wasn’t taking a chance of drinking wine again. One scary black-out was enough. But she didn’t want to explain about that to Dee. Her aunt would be leaving in th
e morning to care for her sick sister. She didn’t need any more worries, especially those she could do nothing about.
* * * *
“Where were you living before you moved here, Loni?” Matt asked, thinking that was a safe topic of conversation.
She glanced at him sharply, and then said vaguely, “Chicago.”
Dee put in, “Loni lived here in Canton all her life until she went off to college, Matt. She knows most of the natives already. She’ll be staying in my house. I’m trying to convince her to buy it, since I’ve decided to sell it. It’s silly for me to keep it and have to worry about taxes and upkeep when I’ll be living so far away.”
Loni smiled at her. “I’d love to buy your house, Auntie, but I think just keeping up with the payments on the business will be all I can handle for a while.”
Dee smiled and patted her hand. “Then I’ll hold off putting it on the market until you decide whether you want to buy it. But you’ll do fine in the shop, dear. I just know it. You’re a natural, so polite and good with the customers.”
“Thanks, Auntie.”
Loni looked at her aunt with genuine warmth in her hazel eyes, but Matt saw the wariness return when she met his gaze. Why did she distrust him on sight? Her guarded behavior made him want to protect her from whatever she was afraid of. Something definitely had her on edge.
* * * *
Loni swallowed at hearing her aunt’s words of confidence and she stared out at the sunset over the lake. If only she had as much confidence in herself. Oh, she did, in her business abilities. But her personal life was in a shambles.
Too bad, because she could definitely get interested in a delicious hunk like Matt. He was tall with dark brown hair and eyes. His facial features were a little too rugged for classic good looks. However, this was no time for her to notice a man. Men were trouble.
She pushed her thoughts away from herself and joined into the conversation. “How did you get into selling office supplies?”
Matt shrugged. “It seemed a safe sideline after I left the military.”
“Matt is a licensed PI, too,” Dee put in. “So his assistant runs the store some of the time.”
