Letters From Al (7 page)

Delicate, pale yellow wallpaper with small roses covered the walls. Very feminine. The open window allowed a gentle breeze to billow the filmy, sheer curtains in and out. She loved her aunt's taste even if it was old fashioned. If she hadn't worried that Leland Lancaster might catch her in bed, she would have pulled the covers up and gone back to sleep.

The solid, old, four-poster bed was comfortable. The massive bedposts stood slightly higher than her waist, thick, round and smooth. A tall dresser and dressing table with stool and mirror matching the bed stood in alignment. A small, delicate woman's writing desk sat next to the window.

Her frustration was mostly Deputy Alec McKay's fault. Maddy realized she'd let what that darn deputy think influence her, even when she didn't realize it. He had a lot of nerve. After letting people boss her for so long, she was not going to put up with it anymore. When she got home from this meeting she knew what she wanted to do. Explain a few things to a certain deputy sheriff. She'd do it quickly and then head back to Chicago and away from this know-it-all who thought he could charm her with his handsome face and sexy smile. Yes, that's just what she would do.

"There better be enough hot water for a shower after all this." She was pleased to find there weren't any problems with the hot water heater.

The bathroom had been remodeled into a rather large, lavish bath with space enough for a comfortable chair and small armoire chest full of towels. An old, claw-footed bathtub stood at the far end, with, thank goodness, a showerhead.

At quarter to nine, Maddy emerged wearing a flattering navy blue sundress and matching spectator pumps. She wanted to look especially sophisticated and professional just in case Leland Lancaster did try and take advantage of her. She'd be ready

While wandering around inside waiting for Leland, Maddy pulled several more sheets from the lovely antiques and found a small, portable TV which she wheeled into the kitchen and turned on. A voice in the big, empty house made the surroundings more homey.

There were a few things to eat in the freezer, dried goods in the pantry, a well-stocked laundry room in back. No more Laundromats came to her mind. The thought of all the clothes in those awful machines that had eaten or been shrunk into nothingness back home made her feel victorious, at least momentarily.

That was the most practical solution. Sell everything, pay the bills, and get her car out of hock and the dentist off her back and then what?

"Come on, Leland. Let's get this show on the road already." She knew she was okay when she began talking to herself. The thinking was getting to her. Snapping off the TV, Maddy went outside to wait. It was a beautiful day. Hands clasped behind her, she walked slowly around the house looking at the grounds.

Mentally Maddy found herself reseeding here and re-caulking there. The challenge excited her more than she had thought anything could again. Perhaps, just, perhaps but a toot of a car horn interrupted her thoughts.

Leland Lancaster drove a big car so white it almost hurt her eyes. He and the car were a fine match, both were overpowering. This morning he wore a tan suit and light blue shirt.

"Well, Miss Morris. Good morning. Did you sleep well in that old house last night?" Not giving her a chance to answer he continued, "I'm sure it's nothing compared to what you are used to in Chicago. Small town living is quite different from the big city, huh? I'm sure we can get things settled quickly enough and you can get back to your life, with a nice inheritance to help you along."

His attitude irritated Maddy. But he was right.

"The house was anything but drafty. Mrs. Smith from next door has been keeping things up nicely." She looked him squarely in the eye. "Luckily I had visitors last night to welcome me to town. I was just fine there."

"You had visitors? Last night?" Leland Lancaster frowned and gave a shrug, "Imagine that. I bet I know, Aunt Polly for one, am I right? That deputy sheriff probably showed up too. Anything you want to know, ask Aunt Polly. Oh, I mean that in the kindest way, of course."

"Deputy McKay and I are old schoolmates. They were kind enough to check in on me. I guess since I'm alone and everything. Oh, and by the way," watching for his reaction she added, "the utilities were all on. Someone had to be paying the bills to have them on this long."

Without missing a step, he shrugged and said, "Well, yes, I see, that's one of the things I want to discuss with you this morning. It seems we have been keeping the utilities up, authorized through your aunt's attorney, of course. My secretary forgot to tell me, but she has been taking care of it. We'll get into all that later."

"Just when do I get to meet this, Mr. Drake?"

"He was in court this morning in Omaha, but, I'm sure he'll make a trip out here today. He said he’d call."

Maddy climbed in and sat back in the plush passenger seat and smiled confidently. He better believe they'd get into all of this. Mr. Lancaster looked cool and calm this morning as he drove down the street, chatting with Maddy.

"I hope that old Mrs. Smith didn't bother you too much, she can be such a busybody sometimes. That deputy too, he's forever interfering, calling about every little thing. Trying to be helpful I'm sure, but a bother all the same."

"No, everyone's been very kind. I'm finding Nielsen a very friendly town. In fact, it hasn't changed much since I lived here. A little more modernized, but still a very charming and friendly town."

The small town bustled with activity with people going about their business as they drove down the main street.

"That's nice of you to say, Miss Morris. We all like to think our town is special, friendly. Nice place to visit after a long absence, how long has it been?"

"A long time, I was fourteen or fifteen, I think." Maddy said absently.

"I hope you won't think me presumptuous to give a little friendly word of warning. I mean, you being away for so long, a lot of things do change. People, for instance. You think you know them, but you really don't."

"I suppose that true sometimes." She stared at him.

"Well, you're an attractive young woman with a wonderful personality, and, I'm sure you'll be quite well off after the estate is settled. You must be careful, you know, a young woman with a lot of money is temping to some people. Do you have someone to advise you?"

Maddy paused, not sure how much she wanted to share about her business. "Yes, back in Chicago. Don't worry. I'm not an impulsive type, Mr. Lancaster. No Las Vegas trips for me."

“
You didn’t strike me as the impulsive type, Miss Morris, but never hurts to be careful.”

"Well, thank you for the warning, Mr. Lancaster. But, after living in the city, being mugged twice and burglarized three times, I think I can handle myself or, anyone else for that matter."

"Well, just trying to help. I know it must be difficult coming back to town after so long." He said in a businesslike manner. "All part of my service. Mr. Drake and I have been taking care of your aunt's interests for a while and I just thought I should warn you. Knowing your dear aunt the way I did, she'd have wanted me to look out for you."

The temptation to repeat the warnings she'd had about him was hard to resist, but just then they pulled into a large, neat-looking truck stop, and the conversation ended.

"Not much atmosphere but the food is good and we can hear ourselves think without noise and interruption." Leland declared, pulling his massive car in an empty space. Eager to get things going Maddy nodded and followed him in.

Leland hurried to open the door and escort her in. Maddy took note, he was polite. The big neon sign read, "Truckers Heaven" and along with several big rigs and a bevy of pick ups, sat one, lone, deputy sheriff's patrol car.

"Who would have thought," Maddy muttered to herself. "On your toes, girl."

"Morning, Leland. Hi, Miss." A pretty, black-haired waitress greeted them, grabbing menus and a coffee pot, and showing them to a back table. Maddy's heels clicked on the clean, tile floor and she noticed the group of men just about the same time they noticed her.

"Welcome to Nielsen, Miss." The waitress's nametag read "Dixie" and her smile was genuine. "Say, Honey, I hear you're related to Miss Madeline. She was a really, fine lady. We sure miss her."

"I see the town gossips didn't waste any time spreading the news about your arrival." Leland sighed, "Sometimes small towns can be a bit intrusive."

"I think it's nice that everyone loved my great aunt so much."

"Well, it is small town living at its best." He agreed. They ordered a couple of specials with coffee and Maddy soon caught Deputy McKay staring and waved, giving a little salute. His smile was dazzling and made her smile back even though Leland frowned.

With a slight nod, she pretended to listened to Leland while watching the other men at the deputy’s table. They straddled chairs or stood casually about, laughing and talking, looking over at her and smiling broadly. Wishing she could hear their conversation it had to be more interesting than the information Leland was dutifully giving her about the town and her inheritance in general. He was serious and she turned her attention back to the realtor.

He seemed well versed in real estate and determined to give her thorough, well-rounded approach to her situation.

"Here you go, Miss Morris, a large orange juice." Dixie sat a huge glass in front of her. Maddy hadn't ordered orange juice and looked up, puzzled.

"Oh, it's courtesy of Deputy McKay, over there."

They all glanced over and the deputy raised his juice glass in a salute. "Yeah, he said you city girls need lots of Vitamin C, something about smog and such." Dixie patted Maddy's arm, "He's just funning with you, he's a real sweetheart." Leland shook his head and sighed at the interruption.

"Yes, tell him thank you for me. He keeps saying how wonderful small town life is. I'm beginning to believe him." She held up her glass when he looked over at her and took a big sip.

"That deputy is really something. He seems to forget his job and always flirting with the girls. Sometimes I wonder if he's fit to wear the uniform," he fumed.

Things settled down after that and they finished their meal in peace. What Leland Lancaster didn't know was she had gone through the same thing with her parent's estate. Granted, it wasn't as big as this one, but she knew the ups and downs of settling an estate. Maddy knew what she needed to do.

"Now, if you wish I can dispense with any further bothersome paperwork, just sign these papers and I'll take care of everything for you. You can go back to Chicago and I'll just call or email everything to you."

He sounded like Larry Preston, so self-assured and smug she had trouble not laughing in his face. Leland Lancaster thought he had most likely pulled one off on the new kid in town. Maybe he did it innocently, maybe not. Maddy thought it was what both Alec and Aunt Polly warned her about, not really dishonest but close to it.

"Well, that would be okay, except I want to read everything thoroughly, first, Mr. Lancaster." She reached for the papers, brushing aside the outstretched hand holding his ink pen. She glanced at the papers, tapped them straight and put them beside her purse.

He cleared his throat. "Oh, of course, that is a good idea. However, I merely was trying to save you time and money. I thought you wanted to get back to Chicago, your job and all." His inference puzzled her. She'd never mentioned anything of the sort to him.

"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Lancaster but I'll wait to meet with Mr. Drake." Looking intently at him, Maddy sat back with a deliberate air of confidence, "You know things may change. I may just decide to stay. I find Nielsen a very nice town."

She could see it was a comment he wasn't anticipating. "Stay? You mean, here in Nielsen? What in the world would you do that for? It'd be a welcome addition, I must say, but a puzzle."

"Well, when I woke up in the house this morning, I don't know, something just felt right about it. I guess you just can never tell about some people." Maddy replied glibly, sheer coincidence that her eyes came to rest on Alec McKay, chewing a soda straw and gazing back at her thoughtfully. "And to tell you the truth, I've thought the house might do well as a bed and breakfast inn. It's just a thought, but there's enough room."

"Well, you certainly have been thinking about things, haven't you? It's entirely up to you, but, I would advise you to move slowly. No one's lived in it for a while. It might need more renovation for a plan like that. In any case, we better get back to the office, Miss Morris."

Another big laugh came floating across the room from the deputy and his friends. So, while Maddy waited for Leland to pay the bill, she decided to beard the lion in his den and casually sauntered over. If she could handle Leland, she thought she could handle Alec.

"Thanks again for the orange juice. I feel invigorated, Deputy McKay." Clutching her purse under her arm, Maddy approached the table full of men. She looked at them, seeing an assortment of shapes and sizes.

"Good morning, gentlemen." A nod to them all caused a brief silence then suddenly the table erupted with warm greetings.

A bushy-bearded man with a
GO BIG RED
cap and deeply tanned complexion spoke first.

"Now Miss, you got to tell me why you'd sit over there with old Leland when you could have been at a table of good old boys like us?" He snapped suspenders that were pulled taut over an ample beer belly. "Our fearless lawman would have been right here to protect you or," and he winked, "we would have been here to protect you from him, since he's been paying more attention to your table than ours since you got here."