The Emerald Hills Collection

by Judith Post

  "The stories are short enough, we should be able to hear the end of a few before we stop for lunch."

  Sheri was surprised to find the anthology was made up of urban fantasy stories. The man must not have much use for reality.

  By early afternoon, they were both hungry and ready to stretch their legs. Morgan spotted a BBQ place just off the highway, so he pulled off there. The aroma of sizzling pork made Sheri drool the minute she opened the van's door. She stood still and inhaled deeply. "Smell that?" she asked. "That's the scent of heaven."

  Morgan slipped an arm through hers and tugged. "Then let me lead the way."

  He made a great lunch companion, full of interesting stories and little-known facts. Sheri found herself enjoying his companionship more than she ever expected to. When it came time to pay the bill, he reached for it, but she shook her head. "Our agreement, remember? We go Dutch."

  He didn't argue. They even split the tip.

  For the next stretch of the trip, they turned the radio off and enjoyed the scenery. The landscape grew hilly, sometimes rugged, everything lusciously green. When they got closer to Pikeville, Morgan's GPS showed that Lee didn't live in the city. His address was a few miles outside of town. Morgan turned onto a country road to search for it. A few turns later, they found a brick, ranch-style house perched on the edge of a hill. A rusted pickup sat in its dirt driveway. The yard looked like it had never seen a lawn mower.

  Morgan pulled in behind the pickup and shook his head. "I hope your girl's not here. It doesn't look promising."

  It looked pretty damned close to what Sheri expected. She straightened her shoulders and opened her car door. "I'll just let Wendy know I'm in town for now. I'll stop by to visit with her later."

  Morgan nodded and rolled down his window. "If you need me, call."

  Sheri walked to the front door and knocked. Wendy opened it, saw Sheri, and looked like she might faint.

  "Miss Hudson!"

  Sheri smiled her brightest. "Hi! I told your mom that I was traveling through Kentucky for a road trip, and she said that you were staying in Pikeville this summer, gave me your address, so I thought I'd stop by to see how you're doing."

  Wendy glanced to the van and nodded at Morgan. "Who did you come with?"

  "That's Ethan's uncle, he's moving to Emerald Hills."

  Wendy stared. "You're traveling with a man?"

  "It's not like that. He's a musician, makes guitars. He wanted to see more of the area." Sheri shrugged. "We have a lot in common. But we're not together."

  Wendy fidgeted with the hem of her summer shirt. "Mom probably told you that I broke up with Ethan…and that I'm not going to college."

  "Yes, she did."

  "Is that why you're really here?"

  Sheri stayed silent until Wendy stopped fidgeting to look at her. Then she held her gaze. "Yes, it is."

  Wendy raked her hands through her thick, dark hair. "You won't understand any more than Mom does!"

  "It's none of my business. Not everyone's meant for college. I thought you were a perfect candidate, though."

  Wendy sighed. "My dad needs me right now."

  "Life's like that. Sometimes, it jostles our plans aside. I was worried about you, though."

  Wendy fixed her gaze on Sheri's sandals. "Dad thinks he's dying."

  "I'm sorry to hear that. Has he seen a specialist, gotten a second opinion? How much longer does he have?"

  Wendy frowned, unsure. "I haven't asked him."

  "There are some great hospitals not far from here. He might want to see some experts in their field, see what they say. Is it cancer?"

  "He thinks so."

  Sheri shook her head. "If you really care about your dad, he needs some solid answers. Doctors can do a lot more than they could in the past."

  "Dad doesn't have much money."

  "Every city has one hospital that's not for profit. Or a health care clinic. Why suffer if he doesn't have to?"

  Wendy went back to torturing her shirt. She glanced toward the back of the house.

  Sheri gave another bright smile. "I won't keep you. You have plenty to deal with right now, but I'm going to be in Pikeville for a few days. I'd love to stop by again to see you before I leave. The day after tomorrow?"

  Wendy wanted to say no, Sheri could tell, but she was a nice girl, so gave a quick nod instead.

  "Great. See you then." Sheri turned and walked back to Morgan's van. She got in and gave a quick wave as they left.

  On the drive into town, Morgan glanced her way. "Well?"

  "I'm going back in two days. I gave her a few things to think about. We'll see what happens."

  When he pulled into their hotel parking lot, he gave her a more thorough inspection. "I get the impression that you're a force to be reckoned with."

  She raised her teacher eyebrow. "I sure as hell hope so."

  He smiled, and they went to book their rooms.

  * * *

  They ended up placed next to each other. The hotel was nice, but not fancy—a double bed, an easy chair, internet, and TV. Clean, but standard. Sort of sterile. Sheri had packed her Kindle and a few magazines. She decided to go outside, in the little courtyard area beside the pool, to enjoy the late afternoon sun before she met Morgan for supper.

  She didn't want to sweat in her good sundress, so changed into a pair of baggy shorts and a tank top, grabbed her Kindle and slid into flip flops, then zipped down the stairs. A woman in a tiny bikini sunbathed in one of the lounge chairs, but except for her, Sheri had the pool to herself. It was one of the bigger pools, not pocket-sized like most, and it was empty. She was clicking through pages of Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts when a shadow darkened her screen. Frowning, she looked up.

  Morgan stood behind her chair. "Steamy romance, huh? Didn't peg you for the type."

  The familiar blush crept to her hairline. "I read a wide variety of genres."

  "Do you now?" He was in a pair of swim trunks, his bare torso muscled and tan. The bikini lady slid her sunglasses lower to get a good look at him. Morgan seemed not to notice.

  Sheri swallowed hard. She clicked the Home button on her reader and showed him the list of titles—a mix of mystery, urban fantasy, romance, and horror. Stephen King held his own against Nora Roberts.

  Morgan glanced at her shorts. "I was hoping to catch you in the pool. Do you swim?"

  "Like a porpoise." She loved the water, but there was no way Morgan was seeing her in a swimsuit. She felt awkward enough around him.

  "Maybe we can go for a late night dip sometime to cool off." He stepped out of his sandals and dove into the deep end of the pool. His swim strokes were strong and sure. He popped his head above water near her chair. "The water's perfect. You'll love it." Then he went back to swimming laps.

  Was he showing off, letting her know how many he could do? She mentally shrugged. She could easily keep up with him. As if he read her mind, his head popped up near her again.

  "We should swim laps together tomorrow morning before breakfast. What do you say?"

  The water did look inviting. It's not like he expected her to look like Esther Williams. He knew she wasn't model thin. If he saw her thunder thighs, maybe he'd lose interest. She gave a quick nod.

  "Good, that's settled then." He hauled himself out of the water, and her breath caught in her throat.

  Lord Almighty, he had a gorgeous body—long and lean with wide shoulders. That usually didn't faze her. But add that to his personality, and she could see why a dancer would snatch him up.

  He studied her casual clothes. "If you'd rather stretch your legs than go to a restaurant tonight, we could grab picnic food and head to the Pikeville Cut Through to hit the nature trail. Do you hike?"

  Did she hike? Had he been talking to Ethan? Sheri religiously walked half an hour a day, rain or shine, blizzard or blistering. She decided to do another sidestep, though. "A cut through?"she asked. "I'm not sure what that is."

  His eyebrow raised a notch. His eyes narro
wed, but he answered her question. "A former mayor literally moved a mountain, made a cut through to change the course of a river so that Pikeville wouldn't keep flooding. It created a steep canyon, and there's supposed to be great views and scenery."

  She loved nature—landscapes, the beauty of flora and fauna. "It sounds fun."

  "There's supposed to be a deli close by that sells box lunches and wine." He held out his hand to help her to her feet. She felt a little clumsy, lifting off of a lounge chair low to the ground. He pulled with more strength than she expected, and she stumbled against him.

  The timber of his voice almost made her toes curl. "Well, this is nice."

  As she jerked away, his fingers grazed her arm, callused from guitar playing. Talented fingers. She pushed the thought away, distracted, until another one niggled to the forefront.

  "You're not thinking of this as a vacation, are you?" she asked.

  He spread his hands in defeat. "I have to admit, I sort of was. I mean, we're here. You're not going to be spending every minute with Wendy. Why not do a little sightseeing?"

  When he put it like that, it made perfect sense. "That's not why we came, though."

  "Agreed." He waited for her to process that, then tilted his head to study her. "You do like exploring new places, don't you?"

  As a matter of fact, she did. She loved to travel. "I feel a little guilty enjoying myself when Wendy's mom is so miserable."

  "Did you leave Emerald Hills to help Wendy?"

  "Yes."

  "Then you're doing more than anyone else. Give it your best shot, but in the meantime, there's a Cut Through to see."

  He was right, and she knew it. She was making a big deal about nothing. She finally sighed (again) and followed him up to their rooms.

  He grinned before shutting his door. "See you in half an hour."

  She somehow felt like Morgan was always a step ahead of her. How did he do that? Teenagers tried, year after year, to no avail. And he made it look easy. With a mental shake, she told herself not to make too much of it. She was taking herself way too seriously. She went into her room, changed into loose, cotton pants and waited for his knock on her door.

  * * *

  Box lunches, baloney! These were gourmet delights, packed to go. She could hardly control her drool factor.

  Morgan chose the turkey with cranberry on sourdough bread with a Greek salad on the side and a chocolate, chunk cookie. He added an expensive bottle of wine to go with it. When she looked a bit shocked, he grinned. "We're known as wine lovers in California. Will you have a glass?"

  "Sure, but I never spend that much on mine. Lindsay Newland owns a winery on the south end of Emerald Hills. I go there once a week."

  "See? We have a lot in common. Maybe you'll take me to Lindsay's sometime. I'd love to see it."

  Damn. She'd done it again, given him an opening. But she was being silly. If she could travel with him, she could drive him to a winery near town. But for now, there was a box lunch to choose. She picked—oh, be still her heart—the lobster salad on toasted bun with a fruit salad and macaroon. The deli packed it on ice so that she didn't have to worry about the mayo dressing. Sheri felt as though she'd died and gone to gastronomical heaven.

  Morgan chuckled at her as she cradled the box on her lap in the van. "I take it you like lobster?"

  "Lobster, shrimp, deep fried scallops…." She licked her lips.

  "I'll have to remember that next Valentine's Day."

  She snorted. Oh, please, don't make that a habit. "You'll meet someone who sweeps you off your feet by then, but Nate will buy me a box of chocolates, something from Tana's shop."

  He glanced sideways at her. "What makes you think I'll meet someone?"

  "You're ready. You're looking. And you're not trying too hard. That's when it happens."

  "You're an expert on this?"

  "I grew up in Emerald Hills."

  "And that applies…how?"

  She blinked, surprised. "Midu's produce, everyone knows that."

  "Let me guess. Full of magic, right?"

  "You can scoff if you want to. Doesn't matter. It's always right."

  "Have you had any recently?"

  She gave a self-satisfied smile. "No, the coleslaw was gone at the Fourth of July picnic."

  "So you don't have a definitive answer."

  "Have you had any?"

  He shook his head. "I was behind you in line. No coleslaw for me."

  "That's what you should do then." It was crystal clear in her mind. "When we get home, you should buy something from Midu's produce stand. Once you eat it and look at the right person, you'll know."

  "Maybe I've already met that person."

  She sighed, this time with exasperation. "Horoscopes aren't half as good as Midu's produce."

  "Maybe they'll have the same answer."

  She shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not."

  His glance conveyed a challenge. "All right, I won't decide until I've eaten coleslaw made from Midu's cabbages."

  "There. See? That will make everything easier."

  He pulled into the park entrance and gave her a long look. "If that's what it takes to convince you, why not?"

  She could feel the smug look on her face. They could relax and enjoy themselves. He'd eat Midu's slaw, and that would be that. Joy scampered through her veins. They could be friends now…until he met his one and only.

  * * *

  They had a wonderful evening—ate and hiked and swam in the pool when they got back to the hotel. It didn't matter if he saw her in her swimsuit now. A great burden had been lifted off her shoulders. He'd find out the truth soon enough.

  The next day, they drove from one tourist spot to another. They decided to eat later that evening at a bar that was known for the musicians who gathered there to jam. She dressed in jeans and a funky, bright top. Morgan whistled when he saw her. "You'll be the prettiest girl in the place."

  He meant it. She laughed, enjoying the compliment. "I doubt that, but I'm looking forward to the music."

  The bar's specialty was wings, so they went with the flow. They'd almost finished their meals when musicians wandered to the stage and began setting up. Morgan nodded to the waitress for another round when one of the men looked up and noticed him. He immediately headed to their table.

  "Morgan? Morgan Nash? I bought my guitar from you."

  Morgan smiled a welcome. "Ned, this is Sheri Hudson. Sheri, Ned Draper."

  Ned took a minute to look her over, then gave a satisfied nod. "I heard about your loss. It's been a while now. Time for a fresh start. I like this one."

  "Then wish me luck. I haven't cinched the deal yet. She's not sure she'll have me."

  "Really?" Ned looked amused. "Maybe that's why you're chasing her. She didn't fall for your looks." Ned turned to Sheri. "I'm available, just in case he doesn't work out."

  She tilted her head, knowing she was being borderline flirty. "You're a little young, but I'll add you to my list."

  Ned slapped his knee. "I like you, girlie. Morgan here's not so bad. Has great hands."

  She couldn't help it. Thoughts of his calluses flashed through her mind. She burst out laughing. "I'll keep that in mind."

  "Care if we steal him for a while? Have him sit in and play with us?"

  "He's all yours." Ned tugged Morgan on stage and handed him a spare guitar. "Let's see if you've still got it, old man."

  They played song after song, and Sheri enjoyed listening to all of them. About eleven, though, she stifled a yawn. When she yawned again fifteen minutes later, Morgan turned in his guitar, said thank-you to the band, and came to take her back to the hotel.

  She waved him away. "I can call a cab. Stay and have fun."

  "That's not the way my mama raised me. You take a girl out. You drive the girl home."

  "It's been a long time since you obeyed your mama."

  He tapped his heart and his head. "She's always with me. I have to make her proud."

  "I bet she ha
d to close her eyes once in a while."

  He chuckled. "No mama wants to know everything."

  She had to fight to stay awake on the drive back. Morgan bent and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead when they reached her room. "I kept you out too late. What time do you want to see Wendy tomorrow?"

  She mumbled her answer. "After lunch. That way, Lee should be up and about."

  "You're thinking he sleeps off his binges every morning?"

  "I'm thinking he doesn't go to bed until four or five."

  Morgan frowned. "And you want to see him?"

  "Yes. Sometimes, people look different when you see them mix with someone else. Wendy might see him in a new light around us."

  He grinned. "I see what you're going for. What if we swim in the morning, have an early lunch, then drive out to their place?"

  "Perfect."

  He put his hands on her shoulders, turned her toward her bed, and gave her a gentle push. "See you around ten?"

  She nodded as he closed the door.

  * * *

  Sheri rubbed her hands on her pants legs on the drive to Lee's house. She squared her shoulders when she and Morgan walked to the door. Wendy opened it on the third knock.

  "Miss Hudson." Her voice sounded flat.

  Sheri smiled and pressed a folded piece of paper into the girl's hand with the name of their hotel on it, her room number, and her cell phone number. "Wendy, this is my friend, Morgan, Ethan's uncle. We've been enjoying all the sights around Pikeville. The Cut Through's gorgeous. Have you hiked there yet?"

  Wendy chewed on her bottom lip. "I haven't had a chance."

  A man with longish, pitch-black hair and a goatee came to stand behind her. He opened the door and motioned them inside. "Wendy said you came to check on her. I suppose Angie sent you."

  He sagged onto a sofa, letting the rest of them find their own seats. Morgan motioned for the women to take the two easy chairs while he went to the kitchen to carry in a chair for himself.

  Sheri glanced at Wendy. "I did come to check on her. Didn't you know? Every mother in Emerald Hills runs to a music teacher to track down their children. It's part of our job."