by Kit Morgan
“He’ll be along,” Aldrich said as he scanned the room. “Don’t worry, he’ll fix this mess.”
No sooner had he said it than Benny walked in, looking thoroughly chastised.
“Benny?” Tory said softly. She looked at Aldrich.
He shrugged. “I believe your brother has something to say to you.”
Tory looked at Benny and waited.
He wiped blood from his mouth. “Sorry I trashed the house.”
Aldrich sent him a glare. “And?”
“And blew through all the cash I had,” he said with an extra allotment of guilt. “And letting Ronnie and Ed move in.”
“You did what?!” She spun to the two passed-out figures behind them.
“I had to,” Benny confessed. “I … couldn’t pay the bills.”
“Benny!”
Aldrich clasped his hands behind his back. “Aaand?” he prompted.
“And I promise to …” Benny ran his tongue across his fat lip. “… to work harder from now on.” He looked defiantly at Aldrich.
Aldrich, of course, didn’t care a whit. “I’m sure your brother speaks true,” he told Tory. “Don’t you, Benny?”
Benny swallowed, nodded, then did something neither of them expected. He went to Tory and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, sis – I should never have done it!” He looked her over. “You’re all right, aren’t you?”
She looked surprised. “Sure I am.” She glanced around the house. “Just don’t do this again.”
Benny’s shoulders shook. “No, really, I did a bad thing. Please forgive me?”
She stepped back and stared at him a moment. “Of course I forgive you.”
He wiped at his eyes. “Thanks.”
Tory glanced between Benny and Aldrich. She’d obviously never seen Benny apologize like that before. But Aldrich surmised that her brother often turned things around and put them on her. Having another man around would change that. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You’re going to be good for him.”
“I still think a year or two working the fields on my estate would do him wonders,” Aldrich whispered. “Are you sure we can’t contact Mr. Mosgofian?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “We have other things to take care of first, remember?”
“Oh, yes,” he said with a smile. “Quite right. When shall we commence our duties?”
“Duties – is that what you’re calling it?” She smiled again. “As soon as we check into the Hyatt in San Francisco, if must know.”
“Then we’d best get going, hadn’t we?”
“What are you two whispering about?” Benny asked.
“Benjamin,” Aldrich said before turning to him.
“What?” Benny grumbled.
“I suggest you find a broom.”
Tory bit her lip, trying not to smile again. “We’ll be back in five days.”
“Five days?”
“The broom, Benjamin,” Aldrich said.
“You’ll have this place cleaned up by then?” Tory asked her brother.
He glared at Aldrich again. “Yes.”
Aldrich smiled, put his arm around Tory and steered her to the door. “Good man.” He stopped at the door and turned around. “Tell me, do you fish?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” Benny said.
“Splendid. We should go when your sister and I return.”
“Fishing?” Benny said in disbelief. “You and me?”
“Why not?” Aldrich said.
“Well … I …” Benny shrugged. “I don’t know.” He almost smiled. “Why not?”
“Good, then it’s settled. I shall see you upon our return.” Aldrich and Tory walked out the door.
Benny waved goodbye, his face still frozen in disbelief, then went to get the broom.
THE END
More Fun
If you’d like to read more about Dallan and Shona’s adventures, not to mention meet the Muirarans, you can check out their books on Geralyn Beauchamp’s website or check out the series on Amazon. There you’ll also find what really happened to Duncan and Cozette when they met, (including when Duncan fainted) in Time Masters 4, First Assignment. Kitty Morgan also wrote about Duncan and Cozette, the super sugar-coated version, in His Prairie Duchess, book three of the Prairie Bride Series. Please note that while Kit Morgan’s books are PG rated, Geralyn Beauchamp’s are PG13.
For the next installment in the Matchmaker’s in Time Series, check out Dancing with a Prince (Matchmakers in Time Book 3) coming in April.
If you’ve not read the first book in the series, Christmas with the Cookes, find it here.
About the Author
Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, has been writing for fun all her life. When writing as Geralyn Beauchamp, her books are epic, adventurous, romantic fantasy at its best. When writing as Kit Morgan they are whimsical, fun, inspirational sweet and clean stories that depict a strong sense of family and community. Raised by a homicide detective one would think she’d write suspense, but no, Kit likes fun and romance. Kit has plenty of both in her books. Books often described as Green Acres meets Gun Smoke! Kit resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in a little log cabin on Clear Creek, for which the fictional town from her Prairie Brides and Prairie Grooms series is named.
And yes, Kitty Morgan (Kit) has written about Dallan and Shona’s assignments. If you’d like to read Kit’s other books you can check them out on Kit’s amazon page in the Prairie Bride and Prairie Grooms series. And if you’d like to find out more about Dallan and Shona, you can check out the Time Master Series on Geralyn Beauchamp’s amazon page.
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