“Good day, ladies.” Frank Murphy stepped under their canopy. “A profitable day, I see.”
“Keeping tabs, Mr. Murphy.” Lou Anne put the cash in a metal cash box, out of sight of his prying eyes.
“Came to see if there was any more Stetson sauce.” His gaze flicked to the cash box.
“All sold out.” Lou Anne smiled, motioning her hand behind her back for Meredith to stay quiet about orders. As far as she was concerned, Murphy didn’t need any favors from them.
“Mrs. Scholtz, welcome.” Meredith stepped forward. “You’re just the person Lou Anne wants to see. Mr. Murphy, if you’ll excuse us.”
The man scowled, but stepped back.
“I’ll be into the bank first thing Monday morning to pay off the load,” Lou Anne said with a smile before turning to Mrs. Scholtz. “Please, sit here.” She offered the chair she’d occupied.
“I only have a few minutes. My husband will be waiting.” The woman sat stiffly on the chair, her purse positioned in her lap.
Lou Anne swallowed against the growing lump in her throat. “I, uh, we, thought it…that Aunt Betty’s house could be considered a historical feature in the town.” She forced a smile and willed her hands to stop trembling.
The woman thought, then frowned. “The house has fallen into disarray. We cannot approve it as is. Why would people want to visit the house? Did anything historical happen there?”
“I don’t know, but I can find out.” Hope leaped in Lou Anne. There were tons of journals and documents in the attic. She was bound to discover something of worth.
“What would the finished house look like? I need all of this information to present to the board, Miss Burgess. I can’t approach them on only your say so.”
“I understand. I’ll get this all to you, I promise.”
The woman stood. “Very well. Once you do, I promise we will take your proposal under consideration.”
~
“Need something, Murphy?” Stetson asked, approaching Lou Anne and Merry.
The man shook his head, face darkening, and scurried off.
Up to no good. Stetson sighed and turned to Mrs. Scholtz. “Please, one more minute.”
“I really must go.”
“I have drawings of what the house, barn, and surrounding area will look like when it’s finished. I heard your concerns. While we don’t know about anything in history, we can at least give you these.” He handed photocopies of the drawings he had made last night to her.
“Thank you.” She tucked them into her purse. “I will show these to the committee and await the rest of the information. Good day.”
Stetson heard her say the same to Murphy. The fool was eavesdropping outside. Stetson wanted to punch his fist through the canvas wall and into the man’s face. He put a finger to his lips. “Let’s get this stuff loaded up. The truck is out back.”
Footsteps pounded away.
Lou Lou’s eyes widened. “Was that Murphy?”
“Afraid so. The man now knows how you plan to keep your land. My guess is he’ll do anything he can to thwart those plans.”
“Let him try,” Merry said, lifting a box. “No one can win against us three.”
“Four,” Betty said, joining them. “What are we talking about?”
Stetson explained the plans for the house and how Murphy eavesdropped. “Sorry we didn’t consult you first, but you’re running out of time.”
“We have enough to pay off the debt,” Lou Anne said. “The rest is income toward upkeep and bills.”
Betty stared at him, then Lou Anne, then back at him. “I don’t want my home to be a museum, Stetson. What were you thinking?”
“We’re trying to save your home.”
“Paying off the debt and having a steady income is all I need.” She crossed her arms.
“But this is one more avenue, Auntie. You asked for my help. I want to make sure you don’t have this problem in the future.” Lou Anne carried a basket of crocheted doilies out of the area.
Betty glared at Stetson. “What happens when she goes back to the city? What about when you return to work? What then? I’m too old to care for a barn full of horses, especially if you plan on expanding.”
“By then, you can hire the help you need.” Lou Anne didn’t have plans to stay in Serenity? One more reason for him to not let his emotions get out of control.
“There goes my money.”
“You’ll have some saved by then. If you don’t want this, say so now.” He folded his arms. He could be just as obstinate if he wanted to.
“Why are you two glaring at each other like junkyard dogs?” Lou Anne squeezed past them. “Are Merry and I loading everything ourselves?”
“I’m trying to talk sense into your aunt.”
“Sorry. Waste of time.” Lou Anne grinned and kissed Betty’s cheek. “Let’s talk about this at home. Have you been drinking water today?”
“Just finished a bottle this morning.”
“Have another.” She dug in a small cooler and tossed Betty a cold bottle.
Back at the house, by the time they unloaded, they were too tired to do much of anything. Stetson ordered pizza and the four of them sat in the living room discussing the house.
Lou Anne kept glancing at the ceiling.
“What are you looking at?” Stetson followed her gaze. “I’m going to paint over the water stain.”
“Not that. I’m itching to go through those papers in the attic. I’m sure I’ll find something useful.”
“Just old family news. Nothing of interest to anyone.” Betty wiped her mouth with a paper napkin and grabbed another slice of sausage pizza. “Did y’all hear that Frank Murphy is in good standing to be our next mayor? His ratings are rising, I’ve heard.”
“That’s too scary to contemplate.” Stetson shook his head. “What is wrong with the people of this town? Yes, his father made a good mayor, but this is not a case of like father like son.” Frank Murphy was nothing more than a crook.
“Back to the original topic,” Merry said. “I for one can’t wait to help Lou Anne in the attic. I love old journals.”
Betty shrugged. “I’ve heard the family has some scoundrels. I don’t care that you dig through them. I just doubt you’ll find anything to sway the historical committee.”
She didn’t seem to care either, Stetson thought. He’d better focus on enlarging the barn for more animals in case Betty shut down the historical angle.
He watched Lou Anne and Merry giggle together, looking so much like they had as teenagers. He’d thought himself the important college man and hadn’t made either of them the attention he now wished he had. Who could have known that a young man’s standoffishness ten years ago might affect him losing the woman he now realized he loved?
“Stop ogling,” Merry whispered in his ear on her way to the kitchen. “Want coffee?”
“No, it’s getting late and I’ve a lot of work to do tomorrow before church. I’m turning in.” He pushed to his feet, his face heated at Lou Anne’s searching look. She’d obviously caught him staring. “Good night, ladies.”
“There’s no need to sleep in the barn, Stetson. We’ve plenty of rooms upstairs and plenty of chaperones,” Betty said with a wink.
He glanced at Lou Anne and before he could change his mind, blurted out, “I’ll get my stuff.” He rushed out the door, feeling every bit the fool. He wasn’t worried about anything improper, he’d been raised better than that, but he doubted his heart could take seeing her face first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
Chapter Five
Lou Anne opened the cracked leather journal and started to read. Tale after tale of shocking behaviors, family secrets, and unlawful activities filled the pages. Soon, she was laughing out loud at the escapades of the ancestors of Serenity’s citizens. Namely, on Leroy “Bootleg” McGee who happened to not only be related to the Burgess family, but also the Murphys. Bingo. “I know why Frank Murphy wants this house.”
<
br /> Merry pushed her bangs out of her eyes. “Why?”
“This.” Lou Anne handed her the journal. “If he’s running for mayor, he wouldn’t want these stories made public.” They would make a wonderful book and could make Auntie’s future secure.
“Wow,” Merry said several minutes later. She glanced up from the journal. “What’s going through your head?”
“Turning these stories into a book.” Lou Anne closed up the box of journals and handwritten pages to organize later. “This is a true treasure not to be locked away.”
“I agree, but I’m not sure the folks in this town will want that dirty laundry aired.”
“Maybe not, but I intend to try.” She carried the box to her room and slid it under her bed. Now to convince Auntie it was a good idea.
“Where did you find this?” Auntie tossed the journal on the kitchen table.
“In the attic with some handwritten letters.” Lou Anne picked up the journal and wiped off the condensation from a nearby glass it rubbed against. “I think it’s fascinating and very funny.”
“This is personal family history, meant for private eyes only. Why would you want to get the folks in town riled up?”
“Surely most of them would enjoy the town’s history.”
Auntie shook her head. “Not when one of their family is a bootlegger or a prostitute or a bank robber, they wouldn’t. Especially Frank Murphy.”
“He can jump in the lake. These are true stories about this town and I intend to have them published. It’s called leaving a legacy.” Why did she meet with opposition at every turn? “All I want to do is help.”
“You’ve helped enough. You’re helping me clean, you’ve got the boarding business up and running…I don’t need anything else. Plus, the stories aren’t real. They’re fiction.” Auntie pushed to her feet and stormed outside.
Lou Anne tossed up her hands and glanced at Merry. “Is it really that wrong?”
Her friend shrugged. “It does belong to Betty until her death. Even then, you’ll have a town to fight is my guess.”
“Do you believe they’re fiction?”
“Maybe.” Merry poured them both a glass of iced tea. “If they really are fiction based on fact, you might be able to change the names and get away with publishing the book.”
That’s a possibility. Lou Anne took the tea and added sugar. She’d read books that said based-on true facts but names were changed. She glanced up when Auntie entered, several roses in her hand. “What about if we change the names?”
Auntie sighed. “Let it go, girl. No one will be interested. You’ll be wasting time better spent elsewhere.”
“I could work on the book in the evenings when I go to my room.” She stirred her drink. “Just think how this is payback to Frank Murphy for his heavy-handedness about the loan. Which I paid off this morning.” She grinned. “The documents are locked in a safety deposit box.”
“That is the best news I’ve heard all day.” Auntie pointed a pair of pruning shears at her. “There’s no more to be done.”
“You’re not even going to think about payback? Even with changing the names, Frank will know who Bootleg is and be personally mortified. It won’t matter one iota if anyone else knows.”
“That is tempting.” Auntie snipped the roses to fit a small vase, then set them on the table.
“What is?” Stetson entered and poured a glass of tea, downing half in one gulp, then refilling his glass.
“Writing a based on fact, fictional book of the town’s history,” Lou Anne said. “I found this in the attic.” She pushed the journal toward him.
He flipped through it. “Some people won’t like this.”
“That seems to be the popular opinion right now. Don’t you think it’s worth printing?”
“It’s definitely entertaining.”
“But…” Lou Anne narrowed her eyes over the rim of her glass.
“I think you might stir up a hornet’s nest.” He met her stare with one of his own.
“Maybe.” A change of subject might be in order. It looked as if the others would need some time to get used to her idea. “You were up awful early this morning.”
~
Stetson choked. Yes, he’d been up and out of the house before daybreak, not wanting to catch a glimpse of Lou Anne just out of bed. “Sorry. Yep. Lots of work.”
“I’ve some time this afternoon. I’ll come help.” She grinned and set her glass down before getting to her feet. “Daffy needs exercise. I’m guessing the other horses do too.”
He nodded, reaching over and removing a cobweb from her hair. “Are you sure you can leave your work in the attic?”
“It’s too hot up there in the afternoon.” She stood. “I’ll meet you outside.”
“Oh, you have it bad, big brother,” Merry said, giving him a wink.
Stetson glanced to where Betty was occupied with the pantry. “Hush.”
“A secret.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Stop it.” He stood. “Nothing can come out of Lou Anne and me. She has her mind made up to return to the city.”
“Minds can be changed, brother of mine. See you later. I’ve some property to look at.”
“Thinking of moving here?”
“Maybe.” She smiled, tossed him a wave, and left calling out a goodbye to Betty.
Betty mumbled from within the pantry.
Stetson laughed and went to help. “What are you looking for?”
She yelped and jumped back. “How many times have I told you not to startle an old woman?”
“The other day you said you weren’t old.”
“Today, I’m old. I can’t find the cornmeal.”
He reached up and pulled a canister from the top shelf. “This?”
“Yep. Thank you. Now out of my way. I’ve work to do.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed his hat, then, spotting Lou Anne’s, took it too and joined her outside.
Daffy and Buster already trotted around the enclosed pasture and Lou Anne was leading out one of the boarding horses. A small furry dog ran from under the barn, yapping furiously. Before Stetson could act, the horse reared, yanking the lead rope from Lou Anne’s hands. The horse darted away, knocking Lou Anne to the ground with its muscular shoulder. A breeze caught her hat and blew it into some long grass.
Stetson leaped over the fence and hurried to Lou Anne’s side. By now, the horse was clear on the other side of the pasture, the little dog licking Lou Anne’s face. “What is that?”
“A dog. A stray one from the looks of its matted hair.” She giggled, then gasped and clutched her stomach. “I might have a couple of cracked ribs. Help me up.”
“Should I call an ambulance?”
“Take care of the horse, first. He’s a bit shaken up. Hand me the dog, please.”
He ran his gaze over her. Her breathing was evening out, color returning to her face. He doubted anything was cracked or broken. Most likely, she’d had the breath knocked out of her. He glared at the mutt yapping around his legs and scooped it up in one hand. “Nuisance.”
Lou Anne smiled. “That’s a great name.” She started pulling burrs from its wiry coat.
Shaking his head, Stetson slowly approached the skittish horse, talking softly until he got a hold of the rope. “Easy boy. It’s just a little yapper. It looks as if you’d better get used to it. I think Lou Lou plans on keeping the poor excuse for a dog.”
Once the animal quieted and began grazing, Stetson led the other horses from the barn, then went to join Lou Anne. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“Let me see your hands.” He took them in his and turned them palm up. A nasty red rope burn cut across her right palm. “That needs tending to.” He stood and helped her up. He led her back to the house, the dog hopping around their legs threatening to trip them with each step.
“What’s this?” Betty asked when they entered the kitchen. She stooped to gather the dog into her arms.
“That’s Nuisance,” Lou Anne said. “Isn’t she adorable? She doesn’t have any tags.”
“We’ll still have to make an attempt to find her owner,” Stetson said. “Sit.” He pointed at a kitchen chair before fetching the first aid kit from the top of the refrigerator.
“I’ll have her cleaned up in no time.” Betty turned on the kitchen faucet.
“In the sink?” Stetson’s eyes widened. “She’s a dog.”
“And she fits.”
Didn’t sound right to him, but he had more important things to tend to. He pulled a chair close to Lou Anne, then opened the kit. “Put your hand palm up on my leg.”
He tried to ignore the sensation of her touch. It seemed intimate as he softly spread ointment into her burn. From the flushed cheeks and heated look in her eyes, he’d guess the action affected her the same way it did him.
He yanked his gaze away and bent over her hand, blowing on the burn. “Better?”
“Yes.” Her voice, low and husky, sent his pulse into overdrive.
Maybe he should have had Betty tend to the burn and he wash the dog. He wrapped her hand with gauze, then scooted back. “There you go.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze stayed on him. She looked confused, as if she’d recently discovered something and wasn’t quite sure how to act.
He gave a curt nod and got back to his feet. “I’ll, uh, clean out the barn and get your hat.” He almost ran out of the house.
After fetching her hat, he headed for the barn and hung the hat on a nail before grabbing a shovel. Nothing cleared a man’s mind more than shoveling manure.
Who could have guessed applying ointment on a woman’s hand could be so…sensual? What was the look in her eyes? She’d stared at him as if she’d never seen him before.
He filled a wheelbarrow and headed out to dump it on the compost pile at the far end of the property. By the time supper came around, he was hot, tired, smelly, and confused about where his friendship with Lou Anne might be headed.
“Wash up before coming to the table,” Betty yelled as he entered the house.
“Be out in ten minutes.” He ran up the stairs and barged into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
Love Draws Near Page 21
