we didn’t say anything bad about her. You know who would love to make friends with—I just realized I don’t know her name. Do you know it, Makayla?”
I said nothing. Whether a hypocrite or a woman in denial that she had developed deeper feelings than she had supposed, for a man who obviously had not, I had reached my limit.
My best course of action was to stay quiet, lest I ring Allie Kate’s neck with the cape she wore. Such violence, Makayla, you might be thinking, and to that I say I am not nor will I probably ever be a sweet southern belle. I loved these women, all of them that I had become close to, but I would never be as gentle of spirit as they were with a hint of spite mixed in. So I can admit to thinking violent thoughts.
Then again, it was one of these people in Briney Creek who had committed murder not once but twice. So maybe I was of a higher moral code. Take that!
Allie Kate snapping her fingers before my face brought me out of my ridiculous musings, and I attended to the conversation.
“I said what do you think of her, Makayla. The ex, I mean. Pattie has just told us her name is Penelope Norwood while you were wool-gathering.”
“Norwood?” I repeated and looked at Pattie. She confirmed. I sat straighter. “I think she’s here to get her husband back.”
“Oh, no,” went up several cries.
I shrugged. “Listen, ladies, it’s fine. I came to Briney Creek to start a new life, focused primarily on my photography. I’m doing that. Business is very good, and I am mature enough to believe what isn’t good for me doesn’t need to be in my life. That’s fine too.”
Edna made a sound of disappointment. “Don’t you want to go tell her this town isn’t big enough for the both of you? I was going to be one of your posse.”
“Edna, sweetheart, when did this become the Old West?”
She smirked at me. “I’m used to fighting and taking no prisoners. I’ve had practice for years.”
“And losing,” Louisa said, “to Talia. So stay out of Makayla’s love life, Edna, and get over there and see if Connie can fix that head.”
Everyone chuckled, including me, and thank the heavens, the conversation moved on to less painful subjects.
Chapter Ten
Spencer stood before me with his broad shoulders and his smoky gray eyes looking into mine and said to me, “I need you with me.” The sincerity and earnestness stole my breath, and I know you’re thinking, yes! Finally, he comes to his senses and figures out that the lovely, if a tad too curvy, Makayla is the one for him and not that shallow perfect beauty he married. You would of course be wrong, but it was a good thought, and you’re not to be blamed for jumping to conclusions.
What Spencer actually said was, “I need you…with me on this, Makayla, so we can get this woman talking. I’m feeling a lot of pressure from above, and I need to wrap the case up before the news goes national.”
“Good luck, my friend,” I snarked, and I saw a muscle tick in his jaw.
“Makayla—”
“I’ve said I will help you, Spencer. Who are we talking to today?” I spoke the words as casually as I could and put distance between us. I wasn’t kidding about the smoky gray eyes. They were powerful.
He grabbed my arm before I could get too far. “This is important, but so is us talking.”
“There’s no time. Aren’t we late for the appointment?”
He grumbled and checked his watch. “We have five minutes before we have to leave.”
I smiled. “Generous.” He started to say my name again, but I cut him off. “I’m not ready to talk about it, Spencer. I want to, sort of, but not yet. Can you accept that for now? Please?”
He sighed, eyeing me. His shoulders were tight, and ordinarily I would make him take a moment so I could rub them and work out some of the knots. Not this time. I thought it better if we kept the touching to the bare minimum, and he had already used up his grabbing my arm. He just didn’t know
I said nothing. Whether a hypocrite or a woman in denial that she had developed deeper feelings than she had supposed, for a man who obviously had not, I had reached my limit.
My best course of action was to stay quiet, lest I ring Allie Kate’s neck with the cape she wore. Such violence, Makayla, you might be thinking, and to that I say I am not nor will I probably ever be a sweet southern belle. I loved these women, all of them that I had become close to, but I would never be as gentle of spirit as they were with a hint of spite mixed in. So I can admit to thinking violent thoughts.
Then again, it was one of these people in Briney Creek who had committed murder not once but twice. So maybe I was of a higher moral code. Take that!
Allie Kate snapping her fingers before my face brought me out of my ridiculous musings, and I attended to the conversation.
“I said what do you think of her, Makayla. The ex, I mean. Pattie has just told us her name is Penelope Norwood while you were wool-gathering.”
“Norwood?” I repeated and looked at Pattie. She confirmed. I sat straighter. “I think she’s here to get her husband back.”
“Oh, no,” went up several cries.
I shrugged. “Listen, ladies, it’s fine. I came to Briney Creek to start a new life, focused primarily on my photography. I’m doing that. Business is very good, and I am mature enough to believe what isn’t good for me doesn’t need to be in my life. That’s fine too.”
Edna made a sound of disappointment. “Don’t you want to go tell her this town isn’t big enough for the both of you? I was going to be one of your posse.”
“Edna, sweetheart, when did this become the Old West?”
She smirked at me. “I’m used to fighting and taking no prisoners. I’ve had practice for years.”
“And losing,” Louisa said, “to Talia. So stay out of Makayla’s love life, Edna, and get over there and see if Connie can fix that head.”
Everyone chuckled, including me, and thank the heavens, the conversation moved on to less painful subjects.
Chapter Ten
Spencer stood before me with his broad shoulders and his smoky gray eyes looking into mine and said to me, “I need you with me.” The sincerity and earnestness stole my breath, and I know you’re thinking, yes! Finally, he comes to his senses and figures out that the lovely, if a tad too curvy, Makayla is the one for him and not that shallow perfect beauty he married. You would of course be wrong, but it was a good thought, and you’re not to be blamed for jumping to conclusions.
What Spencer actually said was, “I need you…with me on this, Makayla, so we can get this woman talking. I’m feeling a lot of pressure from above, and I need to wrap the case up before the news goes national.”
“Good luck, my friend,” I snarked, and I saw a muscle tick in his jaw.
“Makayla—”
“I’ve said I will help you, Spencer. Who are we talking to today?” I spoke the words as casually as I could and put distance between us. I wasn’t kidding about the smoky gray eyes. They were powerful.
He grabbed my arm before I could get too far. “This is important, but so is us talking.”
“There’s no time. Aren’t we late for the appointment?”
He grumbled and checked his watch. “We have five minutes before we have to leave.”
I smiled. “Generous.” He started to say my name again, but I cut him off. “I’m not ready to talk about it, Spencer. I want to, sort of, but not yet. Can you accept that for now? Please?”
He sighed, eyeing me. His shoulders were tight, and ordinarily I would make him take a moment so I could rub them and work out some of the knots. Not this time. I thought it better if we kept the touching to the bare minimum, and he had already used up his grabbing my arm. He just didn’t know
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