Sweet Town Love

by Maggie Ryan

  “My name is Elsie Wintock, and I’m not breaking in.”

  “I see. Is there a reason you’re not using the front door, like most people, or maybe the back door? Does your key not work, for some reason?”

  She sighed again. “Look, I’m not breaking in. Well, okay, I guess technically I am, but it’s not what you think. I do belong here. Grandma wouldn’t care, I’m sure. I’ll call her as soon as I get in. I didn’t think of her not being here, because she’s always home. I was planning on surprising her, but I guess maybe I should have called first.”

  “Little lady, I’m trying, but my patience is just about shot. Who is your grandmother and what does she have to do with you breaking into this house?”

  “Apparently having brains isn’t a requirement for being a sheriff around here. This is my grandmother’s house. Now, would you please help me in?”

  “All right, that does it,” Matt said, as he reached up and pushed the window a bit higher. He then lifted her around her waist, and brought her back out of the window, standing her up on her feet. In one smooth movement he turned her around, pulling her hands behind her, and fastened a pair of handcuffs on her wrists.

  “Hey, what are you doing?”

  “Unless you have a better explanation, I’m arresting you for breaking and entering.”

  “But I told you, this is my grandmother’s house. I came to visit her for a while.”

  “Is your name really Elsie Wintock?”

  “Yes, of course it is. I’m not a liar.”

  Matt had to chuckle. “This coming from a lady who’s breaking into a house she claims is her grandmother’s, that is actually owned and occupied by a single man.”

  Elsie swung around to look at him. “A single man? Are you sure? I was positive this was my grandmother’s house. It’s a different color, but I figured she painted it. It’s the last house on this road.”

  Matt narrowed his eyes as he looked at the little lady. “What’s your grandmother’s name?”

  “Louise Prescott. Are you sure this isn’t her house?”

  “I’m positive. I live in this house next door, and I suggest we go there and sit down. Maybe we can sort this out.”

  He left her car in the driveway and walked her down to his house, where he sat her down at the kitchen table. “If I take these handcuffs off will you behave yourself?” She nodded, and he took the cuffs off, and sat down across from her. “Now, describe your grandmother to me.”

  She looked at him, confused. “Why?”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. “Do you ever do as you’re asked? You claim the house you were trying to break into is your grandmother’s, and her name is Louise Prescott. If that’s true, describe her for me. Tell me what she looks like, or what she’s like.”

  “She’s wonderful. She’s about the same height as me, and her hair used to be about the same color as mine, but it’s a real pretty white now. Her hair turned from brown to white, never gray, which she was happy about.”

  “You don’t have any idea where she may be right now?”

  “Not really. I mean, she always goes down to Florida to spend the winter with my Aunt Maxine, but not until November.”

  “Tell me again why you thought that house was hers.”

  “Because I remember it was a ranch style house, and was the last house before the woods. We went up there to the woods a couple times to have a wiener roast. She always kept an extra house key under a big rock in her yard, in case she ever locked herself out, but she told all of us about it, too, so if family ever came to visit and she was out getting groceries or something. I saw the big rock in her yard, but there was no key. I have no idea why.”

  “I do.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You do? Why?”

  “Because that’s not her house. Her house is up beyond that one. Like you said, it’s the last one before the woods.”

  She looked shocked. “You mean there’s another one past that? I didn’t see any others.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve been to her house?”

  Matt watched as her face turned a delightful shade of red. “About ten years. I moved away from this area after college and haven’t been back. We talk on the phone all the time, though, and I’ve seen her several times at Aunt Maxine’s or Uncle Joe’s at holidays.”

  “Well, that explains why you didn’t notice her house. When Mr. Winston, the man who owns the house you were trying to break into, bought it, he had some trees planted along that side of his property. They’ve grown up enough now that you can’t see her house until you get past them.”

  Again Matt watched as that lovely red returned to her face. She looked embarrassed, and even apologetic. “I owe Mr. Winston an apology. I really was going to call Grandma when I got in the house. When the door was locked and there was no key, I walked around and checked the windows. That one wasn’t locked, but I couldn’t reach to get in it, so I went to what I thought was her garage. I found that old bucket, so I borrowed it. I’ll put it back. I’m sure if I’d have gotten inside I would have realized it wasn’t Grandma’s house. I swear I didn’t hurt anything inside it, though.”

  Matt had to smile now. “Oh, I believe you. You obviously never actually made it inside.”

  She was looking down, slowly shaking her head, when her head suddenly snapped up to look at him, with her eyes wide. “Are you really going to arrest me? I swear, I wasn’t trying to break into anyone’s house.”

  “Relax,” he said, reaching over to pat her arm. “I believe your story. Louise lives in the next house up, which is indeed the last one before the woods. We’ll call her at her daughter’s house and talk to her. As long as she verifies your story, I won’t arrest you. I will have to hear her say it’s okay for you to stay there, though, before I can allow that.”

  “What do you mean before you can allow it? She’s my grandmother.”

  “And I’m the sheriff. As long as she says it’s okay for you to stay there, that’s fine.” She started to say something, but he held up his hand to stop her. “Before we fight over this, let me call her. If she agrees to your staying at her home, which I suspect she will, we won’t have an issue.”

  She nodded, and he got his wallet out and found a slip of paper, and dialed her number. “Is Louise there, please? Yes, this is Matt Byler, her neighbor.” After a pause, he smiled. “Hi, Louise. It’s good to talk to you, too. Are you enjoying Florida? Good. Louise, I have someone here with me who claims to know you. Hang on a minute, I’m going to put you on speaker. Okay, can you hear me?”

  He smiled at her answer. “Yes, I can hear you fine. Who have you got there with you?”

  Before he could say a word, Elsie spoke up. “Hi, Grandma. How have you been? You went to Florida early this year.”

  “Elsie, my girl! I haven’t heard from you in too long. Are you okay, dear? Did you go to visit me, and I missed you?”

  “Yes. I didn’t know you were leaving early this year.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry I missed you. I came down to see Steve. He’s being sent to Germany for almost a year and I wanted to see him before he left.”

  “Tell him I said to be careful and stay safe.”

  “I will, my dear. Now, tell me what’s up with you. Why did you come visit me?”

  “Do I have to have a reason to come see you?”

  “No, you don’t, but something’s wrong, I can tell by your voice. What is it—is it that boy you’ve been seeing? Did you break up with him?”

  Matt was listening to Louise, who he knew pretty well, and Elsie. He could tell they were pretty close, even if they didn’t see each other in person often. Elsie was quiet after the last question, though, and he knew she wasn’t comfortable answering the question with him sitting there. “Louise,” he broke in, “I’ll leave the room in a minute here and let you and Elsie talk privately, but I have to ask you something first. I’m sorry, but I have to hear your answer, then I’ll give you two some privacy.”


  “Okay, Matt. What could you possibly have to hear my answer to?”

  Elsie frowned, but spoke up. “Grandma, I was hoping I could visit you a little bit, and then I was going to ask you if I could stay here a few weeks while you’re in Florida.”

  “Well, you know you’re welcome to stay there as long as you need to, honey, but the fact that you’re asking me that worries me a little. I know you, and if you want to stay there that means you need some time alone to do some thinking, or some recovering and regrouping. This has something to do with that boy, doesn’t it? I never did like him, you know.”

  “Yeah, Grandma, I know, and I should have listened to you.”

  “Yes, you should have. Grandma knows best. Now, what did he do that has you so upset? Whatever it was, did you tell him to kiss your ass, and kick him to the curb?”

  Elsie and Matt both smiled. “Now I know where Elsie gets her language, Louise. I never noticed you talking like that before,” Matt said.

  “I’m sorry, Matt. I forgot you were there. I don’t often speak like that, but she was dating a young man who would probably make a preacher swear. I just never did care for him. What did he do, Elsie?”

  Matt interrupted once more. “Louise, I’ll give you privacy, but first I need to ask, do I understand that you’re okay with Elsie staying in your home while you’re away?”

  She paused a moment, then chuckled. “Now I see why you’re asking. Yes, Sheriff Byler, my granddaughter absolutely has my permission to stay in my home as long as she would like to. Are you happy now?”

  “Yes, I am. Thank you. That’s exactly what I needed to hear, and that’s exactly why. Okay, I’ll leave the room now and let you two discuss the gentleman Elsie was dating.”

  “Thank you, Matt, but he was no gentleman. He was a bum, and a no good bum at that. Thank you for watching my house for me. Would you do one other thing for me, please?”

  “Sure, if I can,” Matt said sincerely. “What would you like me to do?”

  “Watch out for my granddaughter. I don’t know how you two met, but since you said she was using that type of language, it must not have been under the best of circumstances. Give her another chance, though, please. She really is a wonderful girl, but she’s tender hearted. Watch over her for me while she’s there, please. Make sure she’s eating.”

  “Grandma,” Elsie interrupted.

  “Oh, don’t grandma me, young lady,” Louise said seriously. “I know you. You have a good heart, but when something or someone breaks it, you don’t take care of yourself. You don’t eat properly and you become a hermit. Matt, make sure she eats and gets out once in a while, would you, please?”

  He glanced over at Elsie and was touched by her red face. She was obviously embarrassed, and he felt sorry for her. “I’ll do that, Louise. I’m going to go downstairs to the family room now and give you ladies some privacy. Elsie, when you’re done, yell at me downstairs and I’ll take you up to Louise’s house and make sure you get inside and have a key.”

  Louise spoke up again. “Matt, there should be a key under the rock in the front yard. If not, do you still have the key I gave you?”

  “I do, Louise. I’ll make sure she gets in your house and has a key. I’ll turn the water back on for her, as well.”

  “Thank you, Matt. You’re such a good neighbor.”

  Matt went downstairs, but heard the ladies talking as he went down the steps. He turned the television on, hoping the noise would make them feel free to talk, but he couldn’t get too interested in the show. His mind kept wandering back to the little lady talking on his phone.

  His first vision of her was of her bottom wriggling in the window. It was a good first view! But now that he could see the whole lady, he wasn’t disappointed. She was very pretty, and now that he knew she was not a thief, she seemed nice. Louise obviously thought a lot of her, and he thought a lot of Louise, so that meant something to him. Louise, bless her heart, had just given him the perfect opportunity to get to know her better, when she asked him to watch out for Elsie. He may owe her a big favor. Time would tell.

  He was still thinking about her, and her pretty auburn hair she had up in a pony tail, and her expressive brown eyes, when he heard her at the top of the steps. “Sheriff?”

  “I’m coming. Are you done with your phone call?”

  “Yes. Thank you for calling her for me.”

  He chuckled as he started up the stairs. “I didn’t really have a lot of choice in the matter, considering we met when I found you dangling half out of my neighbor’s house, when I knew he wasn’t home.”

  “When will Mr. Winston be home? I owe him an apology, and I have to stop up there and return the bucket to his garage. I should also tell him his window isn’t locked.”

  Matt was happy to hear her concern for Mr. Winston. “We’ll return the bucket, but don’t worry about apologizing to him. He’s an elderly gentleman and just moved to an assisted living facility. He’s having some issues with his mind, so I think it would be better not to even mention it to him. No harm was done, and I’ll secure his window so no one else is tempted to climb in, so I don’t see any reason to worry him with it.”

  He watched as her face blushed again, then quickly changed the subject. “Let’s go do that now, so we can get you settled in at Louise’s house.”

  He took her to Mr. Winston’s house and they returned the bucket to his garage. Matt used the key Mr. Winston had given him, and he went to the unlocked window and remedied the situation. He also checked to be sure nothing had been disturbed with her struggle to gain entrance.

  Satisfied that his house was fine and all doors and windows were now locked, she got her car and followed him to her grandmother’s. She went to the rock in her front yard and came away smiling, holding up the key. She pulled two rather large suitcases out of her car, which he quickly took from her hands. She grabbed her purse and a smaller suitcase and he followed her to the front door. Once inside she led him to the guest room, where he deposited the suitcases.

  With that done, he turned to her. “Elsie, why don’t you take a quick look at your grandmother’s cupboards. Then I suggest you allow me to take you out for dinner. Afterward we’ll go to the grocery store and we can get what you’ll need for a few days, at least. I’ll show you around town. It’s small, so it shouldn’t take too long, but I’ll show you where you can get your groceries and other things you may need.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Sheriff. I just go out to the main road and turn right, don’t I? Doesn’t that take you into Springdale?”

  “Please call me Matt, and yes, it does.”

  “I’m sure I can find the grocery store.”

  “I told your grandmother I’d watch out for you while you’re here, Elsie, and I intend to do just that. I’d really like to take you out for dinner so we can get to know each other a little. We didn’t exactly meet under the best of circumstances, but I can tell your grandmother thinks an awful lot of you, so I’d like to get to know the real you; not the you I saw dangling out of Mr. Winston’s window.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Matt.”

  “Consider it my welcome to the neighborhood. Let’s check the kitchen and see what you’re going to need.”

  Before she could fully grasp what was happening, he was leading her to the kitchen with a gentle hand on her back. She’d seen that in the old movies and always thought it looked so considerate, but she’d never actually met a man who did it. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes to her about the kind of man Matt was. She remembered hearing her grandmother speak about the wonderful young man who lived a couple doors down from her. She knew she had to have been talking about Matt, and that meant she was safe going to dinner with him.

  Half an hour later she noticed the hand on her back again as he led her into the restaurant, after opening her door for her to get in the car, and being right at her door to help her out once he’d parked the car. She smiled, thinking a woman could pretty easi
ly get used to this.

  His voice brought her back to the present. “What’s the smile for?”

  She turned toward him and studied him a few moments, debating how honest she should be with him. She quickly decided if her grandmother thought a lot of him, she could trust him with her true, honest feelings. “I was thinking a woman could easily get used to being treated like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Opening my doors in the car, the hand on my back.”

  He smiled as he opened the door to the restaurant. “I’m glad you like it. It’s the way I am, but not all women feel like you.”

  “Really? Why wouldn’t they like it? What’s not to like?”

  “It’s refreshing to hear that, Elsie. I may be old fashioned, but I believe in treating a lady like a lady. I’ve been told on occasion that it’s sexist, that I’m putting them down, like I think they can’t open a door for themselves, and it’s degrading.”

  “Seriously? It reminds me of the old movies, and I always thought that was so mannerly and considerate. There aren’t many men around any more who do that, and I think it’s a shame.”

  “I think it’s a shame there aren’t many ladies around any more who can accept it for what it is and appreciate it.”

  “Accept it for what it is?”

  “Like I said, I believe in treating a lady like a lady. I like to open doors for her, and I like watching out for her, taking care of her. That includes things like putting my jacket over her shoulders if she’s cold, reminding her to take her phone with her when she’s driving in case she has car trouble. I mean it to be helpful, watching out for her, but not all ladies take it that way.”

  “Well, I like it,” she said as he seated her at the restaurant. He was standing behind her, so she didn’t see the big smile on his face.

  Dinner went by quickly. It didn’t take long for her to see that Matt was a very good conversationalist. He asked about her growing up years and how she got to be so close with her grandmother, since she didn’t get to see her all that often. By the time they were finished with their meal, she felt almost like she and Matt were good friends who had known each other much longer than a few hours.