Diana Palmer - Lawman

So he got up earlier than usual, made biscuits, fried bacon and scrambled eggs. He phoned the Collier house and only then recalled that the phone was out of order. He climbed into the car, dressed in city clothes and drove over to get Grace and Miss Turner.

They were dressed, just coming down the steps. Grace was wearing jeans and the floppy sweatshirt again, with her hair in a bun. They both looked surprised to see him.

“I made breakfast,” he said without preamble. “Let’s go.”

“But you didn’t have to do that,” Grace protested.

He started to take her arm, to herd her out the door, but she stepped back in an instant, her eyes wide, her cheeks rosy.

He glowered at her. “It’s only breakfast. I’m not proposing,” he added sarcastically.

Her eyebrows went up. “Well, thank God for that,” she replied carelessly. “I’ll consider it a lucky escape.” She hesitated when he gave her a blank stare. “Or shouldn’t I have said that until after breakfast?”

He didn’t smile, but his eyes did. He made a rough sound in his throat, avoided Miss Turner’s amused gaze and led the way out to the car.

Grace ate with apparent enjoyment, but she was wary of her big, taciturn neighbor. She’d never met anyone quite like him. If he had a sense of humor, it must be very deeply hidden.

“It was very nice,” she said when she finished the last strip of bacon. “Do you mind if I use your phone to call the hospital?”

“Help yourself,” he said. “There’s an extension in the hall.”

She got up, wiping her mouth gently, and went to find the phone.

“How’s she doing?” Garon asked Miss Turner.

“She’s going to take it badly,” she replied. “Mrs. Collier is a nightmare of a mother substitute, but Grace has lived with her so long that I think she just overlooks the bad attitude.”

“I noticed that the old lady seems to dislike her.”

Miss Turner grimaced. “It’s even worse than it seems. Mrs. Collier failed Grace at a time when she needed her most. I think it’s guilt that makes the old woman treat her so hatefully.”

“What happened?” he asked curiously.

“It’s not my business to talk about Grace’s business,” came the terse reply.

He sighed and finished his coffee. Apparently secrets were part of small town life.

Grace came back subdued. “She’s in ICU,” she said as she sat back down at the table. “He didn’t tell me that last night.”

“I’m sure he had his reasons. Are you going to work?”

“I have to,” Grace said baldly. “Granny’s social security check barely pays for the utilities. I have to get in as many hours as I can.”

“No ambition to go to college or learn a profession?” Garon asked.

Grace gave him a bald stare. “And where would I get the money to do that, even if I didn’t have to take care of Granny? She’s been an invalid since I graduated from high school, and I’m all she has.” She scowled. “You know, for a man who wants everybody else to mind their own business, you sure spend a lot of time prying into other people’s.”

His eyebrows arched. “See here, I’m loaning you my housekeeper…”

“Miss Turner doesn’t have to be loaned,” Grace replied. “She has a heart.”

He glowered. “So do I.”

“You must keep it put up in a safe place, so that it doesn’t get used much,” she returned. She got up. “Thanks for breakfast. You’re not a very pleasant person, but you are a good cook.”

“Thank you the hell for small favors,” he gritted.

“You’re nasty, I’m nasty,” she returned. “If you ever develop a pleasant personality, I’ll even smile at you.”

Miss Turner was trying very hard not to smile. She did like this job, despite the odd behavior of her boss.

“I won’t hold my breath,” Garon assured her. “I have to go. I’m up to my neck in meetings today. The keys to the Expedition are on the key rack by the front door,” he told Miss Turner. “Use it as much as you need to.” He hesitated. “Try not to run over her with it unless you absolutely have to,” he added, nodding toward Grace. “She’d probably puncture a tire with her attitude.”

“It’s no surprise to me that you’re not married,” Grace observed. “But thank you for the use of your vehicle. I’ll see about getting mine fixed.”

“Most mechanics won’t work for free,” he pointed out.

She glared at him. Her eyes sparkled when she was mad, and her soft complexion took on a pretty blush. “I can trade eggs and cakes for a tune-up with Jerry down at the filling station,” she told him.

“Bartering?” he said, astonished. “What century are you people living in?”

“A better one than yours, I guarantee,” she replied. “Around here, we’re people, not numbers in a case book.”

“I’m amazed you’re not a number in a home for the unbalanced,” he said under his breath.

“We’ll go when you’re ready, Grace,” Miss Turner interrupted, sensing an explosion.

“I’m ready now, Miss Turner.”

Garon glanced at her disapprovingly. “You go to a job looking like that?” he exclaimed.

She frowned, glancing down at her neat, clean jeans and spotless white sweatshirt. “What should I wear to work in the back of a florist’s shop, a ball gown?” she asked.

He shook his head. “The women in my office wear pantsuits and makeup.”

“That’s probably because they think you’re eligible, and they want to impress you,” she retorted. “My boss is a woman and she dresses the same way I do.”

His eyebrow jerked. “To each his own. I’ll be home late tonight, Miss Turner. Just put some cold cuts in the fridge for me.”

“I’ll do that, boss,” she replied.

He turned at the front door. “I hope your grandmother improves,” he told Grace quietly.

“Coals of fire?” she muttered.

“Glad you noticed.” He went out and closed the door.

Grace felt an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach. She hoped she wouldn’t have too much more contact with her taciturn neighbor. And she really hoped that Granny would get better as the day wore on.

JUDY, in the florist shop, was all kindness and compassion. She offered to let Grace off, with pay, to stay with her grandmother.

Grace shook her head. “Thanks, but Dr. Coltrain would have a cow,” she murmured as she constructed a wreath for a funeral. “He doesn’t want me hanging around ICU. I can’t go in, you know, except for a few minutes three times a day. She’s really bad, Judy. I’m afraid.”

“She’s been your family for a long time,” Judy agreed. “But there’s a whole world out there that you’ve never seen, Grace. You have to think ahead.”

She moved restlessly. “I don’t know what I’d do, if she…well, I mean, Cousin Bob in Victoria would let me come and visit, but he’s in bad shape himself and he has a nurse who stays with him. I’d be alone, here in Jacobsville.”

Judy reached over, patted her hand, and smiled. “You’ll never be alone in Jacobsville. We’re your family, Grace. All of us.”

She managed a smile through a mist of quick tears. “Thanks.”

Judy shrugged. “You’ll get by. We’ll all look out for you. Not that you need it anymore,” she added. “You’ve become very independent over the years. I’m proud of the way you’ve handled yourself. You’re an inspiration.”

“Not me.”

“You.” Judy smiled. “Not many people could come back so well from what happened. You’ve got guts, girl.”

Grace didn’t like to talk about the past. She moved some more red roses closer to where she was working and started Judy talking about the new water rates. That was good for an hour.

MRS. COLLIER was still in the coma when Grace left her about dark. Miss Turner had come in the Expedition, probably at Coltrain’s urging, and insisted that Grace come home.