Now and Always by Lori Copeland Page B

tea,” Tottie ordered. “I’ll fix a cup for Janet, and then I want to talk to you.”
    Katie sipped her tea, thinking it would be easier to simply buy a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, but Tottie’s tea worked, and using the remedy kept the housekeeper happy. In the spring, summer, and fall, she kept the shed in back of the house filled with the fragrance of drying herbs as she replaced her supply of medicines.
    The shelter was quiet, and Katie sat half dozing over her tea until Tottie returned. She stretched and yawned. Not enough sleep last night. Too much time spent lying awake worrying, with nothing to show for it.
    Tottie knelt beside her, her expression serious. “There’s something I want you to see.”
    The gravity of her tone alerted Katie that something was wrong. “What now?”
    She shook her head. “This
isn’t something I can tell you about. You have to see it for yourself.”
    Rising, she moved to the back door, and a puzzled Katie followed. Suddenly fear jolted her as she remembered last night and her near certainty that someone was prowling around the house.
    Tottie swung the door open and pointed to fresh scratches in the wood around the lock. “Someone tried to break into the house last night.”
    The scratches stood out conspicuously against the painted wood. Obviously someone had tried to jimmy the lock. The hair on Katie’s arms furred. So there really had been someone prowling around last night. She hadn’t imagined it.
    Tottie must have realized something was wrong. “What is it? Tell me.”
    â€œI woke up last night and looked out the window. I thought I saw someone, but when I came downstairs and looked around, I didn’t find anything.”
    Tottie’s expression turned forbidding. “Did you go outside?”
    â€œDo I look like a fool? I went back to bed convinced it was my imagination. But there are too many things happening for these things to be ‘my imagination.’ Who could be doing this?’’
    â€œI guess Ed could be out of prison by now. He was mighty peeved at you a few years back.”
    â€œIt wasn’t Ed Mathis. The authorities would have notified us when he was released. Then again, who knows? Maybe we’re on edge and making a big deal out of everything, but sure as I’m standing here, somebody tried to jimmy this lock. Either last night or maybe weeks ago, and we’re just now noticing.”
    â€œWe’d have noticed anything that apparent.”
    Tottie’s brow settled into a concerned frown. “Listen to me, now. Never go out of this house at night by yourself. You come and get me, and I’ll go with you.”
    Katie started to protest, but there was no disputing the wisdom of Tottie’s warning. “That holds for you too. No going outside on your own. We go together. We’re a team.”
    Tottie returned to the sink followed by Katie, who drank the last of her tea.
    â€œI’ve got typing to do. Let me know when Meg wakes up, please.” Katie walked through the living room to find Ruth sitting alone, crocheting. “Oh, good. At least you’re not sick.”
    â€œWrong. I’m sitting here so I’ll be close to the bathroom. It’s become my home away from home. Lucky it’s such a comfortable one.”
    Katie shook her head and laughed. “At least you’ve retained your sense of humor.”
    â€œNot for long. I heard you talking to Tottie. Are you going to take Meg to the doctor?”
    â€œThat’s right. Do you need to come along?”
    â€œNo, but I think it’s a good idea for her to go. You don’t want to take a chance on inducing an early labor.” Ruth hastily put her crocheting aside. “Excuse me. I have to run.”
    Ruth made a dash for the bathroom. Katie hoped Ruth had not been in the living room when she and Tottie were discussing their nocturnal visitor. Katie didn’t want