“What did you tell her?”
“That I did.”
“So did you get a dinner invitation?”
“I reckon I will.”
“Oh, Daddy.”
“Now, Nellie, you know I’m not going to do anything silly like go courting, not at my age. Besides, I never loved anybody but your mother, and that’s just the way it is.”
“I guess you’ve got a right to your life.”
“You wouldn’t put me in the old folks home?” Jake fastened his seatbelt and cackled. “A man never gets too old to be flattered by a woman’s attention, especially one who can cook.”
Penelope eased into the street. “Daddy, when you were growing up, did the kids from Possum Hollow ever come into town? Ever participate in anything?”
“Not that I can remember. Why?”
“I just wondered. Mary Lynn’s thinking about a Christmas pageant for the town kids when the community center opens. It seems kind of mean to leave out the ones from the Hollow.”
“The Hollow’s the Hollow, Nellie. Nothing’s changed.”
“It just seems a shame, don’t you think?”
“I think the school out there is doing everything it can for the children. More than most would.”
“So maybe things will change eventually?”
“Honestly? I doubt it.”
“It’s a shame.”
“Right. It’s a shame.”
****
Rosabel and Bradley showed up about the time Penelope was taking the roast out of the oven. “We’ve been smelling that all the way from Eureka Springs,” Rosabel said, kissing Penelope’s cheek.
“What’s for dessert?” Bradley asked.
“Peach cobbler.”
Amaryllis’ chief and only detective lifted his eyes heavenward and licked his lips. “You did good, Mother.”
“She produced you,” Rosabel said. “That’s good enough for me without the peach cobbler.”
Over dinner the conversation drifted to the community center. “Mary Lynn is meeting with some of the elementary teachers this afternoon to talk about a Christmas pageant for the opening in December,” Penelope said. “I asked her if the Possum Hollow children were being included.”
“Why would you ask that?” Bradley helped himself to more green beans with bacon bits.
“Why not?”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” he said. “I just meant they’ve never participated in anything before. The school is lucky to keep them through sixth grade.”
“I didn’t realize that,” Rosabel said. “So they just ignore the compulsory attendance laws?”
“Pretty much, Rosie,” Jake replied. “Always have.”
“That wouldn’t happen in Nevada.”
“Difference is, they can’t hide on the plains like they can in the backwoods of Arkansas,” Bradley said.
Rosabel buttered her second roll. “You’re right, they can’t.”
“What do you hear from Tammy Turney, Mother? Isn’t Jack due home any day now?”
“That’s what Tammy said last time I talked to her. I don’t know what the school is going to do without her.”
“She won’t be easy to replace.”
“I wouldn’t mind helping out on my days off,” Rosabel said.
Bradley frowned. “I wouldn’t mind you helping out either if it was anywhere but Possum Hollow.”
“It’s safe enough as long as you stay at the school,” Penelope said. “Mary Lynn and I never have any problem when we do Christmas boxes out there. Besides, Bradley sends Parnell Garrett out there with us.”
“I guess the school’s safe enough,” Bradley said, “but it’s not secure. There’s a difference.”
“I’m a police officer. That should count for something.” Rosabel patted his arm.
“You can’t take a weapon on school property,” Bradley said. “But they’re going to need help when Tammy leaves. If you’re willing to give up your time off, that’s up to you.”
Rosabel patted him again. “We’ll talk about it.”
****
Rosabel tried to help Penelope clean up, but Penelope waved her away. “You two go on. You’ve got to unpack and get ready for work tomorrow.”
“I want to stop by the station and check in,” Bradley said, slipping his arm around Rosabel. “And you can check your shift.”
Rosabel hugged her mother-in-law. “Thanks for a wonderful welcome-home dinner. I can’t wait to cook some traditional Lebanese fare for you and Jake.”
“You just get settled in, and then give us a call.”
Bradley fished his keys from his pocket. “We’ll see you soon, Mother. Pawpaw, take care.”
“Of what or whom?” Jake asked.
“Daddy, don’t start.”
Jake’s eyes rounded with innocence. “Who, me?”
Penelope heard the young people laughing all the way down the flagstone walk through the garden to the driveway.
CHAPTER THREE
“We’re going to do a traditional Christmas play,” Mary Lynn announced a few mornings later when she stopped by for coffee. “As in the Nativity.”
“Sounds good to me.”“
And we’ll have a good old-fashioned sing-along with carols and some fun songs.”
“Okay.”
“The children who want to be in the program will practice after school, and their parents will be responsible for costumes. We’ll put out a call for help with props and sets.”
“I’ll bet Mike and Millie would let you borrow their donkey.” Penelope scooped up Abijah and began to stroke him. He flicked his tail in Mary Lynn’s direction.
“Caleb? I don’t know what possessed them to take in that mangy mule, but I don’t want him on stage, thanks. No sheep either.”
“Poor thing was going to be put down after old Mr. Bigelow died, and they’ve got plenty of room on their property. He’s living a fine life these days.”
“He can live a fine life without becoming an actor at this late date.”
“So I guess camels are out, too.”
“Be serious, Pen.”
“Okay. How can I help?”
“Supervise some rehearsals. Help me decorate the center.”
“That’s easy enough.”
“I’ll talk to Hal Greene about publicity.”
“Things get around town before he can print them in the newspaper.”
“I mean posters and things like that.”
“Oh. Sure, that’s a good idea.”
“We’ll have a ribbon-cutting, too. You know, make the opening real formal.”
“How about refreshments?”
“I’ve never known any event in Amaryllis to lack for volunteers to provide refreshments.”
“That’s true.” Penelope nibbled a kolache. “So did you mention the Possum Hollow kids?”
“As a matter of fact, I did, and Miss Maude Pendleton said it might encourage them to want to come into town for junior high and high school.”
“What was Miss Maude doing there? I know she’s been helping with the labels for the pictures in the museum upstairs, but she hasn’t worked with kids in at least ten years.”
“She came with her great-niece Prissy.”
“She’s still here?”
“She’s back. Seems Miss Maude wants a companion, and Prissy’s between acting jobs and is going to work as an aide at the elementary school. And, she—that’s Prissy—wants to start a children’s theatre group after the new year.”
“Oh, I like that idea.”
“I took her to see the auditorium yesterday, and she fell in love with it.”
“Well, well.”
Mary Lynn got up and refilled her coffee mug. “So, did the Gray Ghost depart?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Now it’s my turn to say well, well.”
“Oh, stuff it, Mary Lynn.”
The mayor’s wif
e sat down at the table again. “It’s serious, isn’t it?”
“No.”
“Yes, it is. You have that look.”
“What look is that?”
“All starry-eyed.”
“That’s ridiculous. Actually, at my age, it’s totally insane.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I still get starry-eyed over Harry sometimes.”
“That’s different.”
“Not really. So how long is Mr. G. Ghost going to be here?”
“He says another couple of days.”
“Then I guess we can expect another body to turn up. It happens every time he’s here.”
“It does not!”
Mary Lynn grinned. “Oh, Pen, you’re so transparent. You’re nuts about the guy, and you don’t even know his last name.”
“Hush up, Mary Lynn, or I’ll turn Abijah loose on you.”
“That cat couldn’t catch a mouse if it played dead in front of him.”
“He’s a good cat.”
Mary Lynn reached for her purse. “Gotta go.”
The phone on the wall behind Penelope rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she mouthed, “Shana,” and hit the speaker button.
“I’ve got some really bad news,” Shana said. “Tammy Turney came in this morning to pick up some books one of the teachers had reserved and told me her fiancé had been wounded.”
“Oh, no. Did she say how badly?”
“He may lose both legs.”
Mary Lynn closed her eyes and shook her head.
“I’m so sorry.”
“He’s being shipped home next week, and she’s going up to be with him.”
“Up as in?”
“She isn’t sure yet where they’ll send him. Anyway, she said she told George Harris she’s outta there.”
“She’d already resigned contingent on Jack’s assignment.”
“She’s worried about the library out there. I told her we’d work something out.”
“Of course, we will. I’ll call her tonight. I can help, and Rosabel said she didn’t mind going out on her days off.”
“What does Brad think of that?”
“Well, he doesn’t think much of Possum Hollow, obviously, but he doesn’t care if she helps out.”
“She was one gorgeous bride.”
“I thought so.”
“Well, I’ve got to go do story hour for the preschool set, but I wanted to tell you about Tammy.”
“Thanks, Shana. Come by for supper sometime.”
“Let me know when you’re making lasagna. Bye now.”
“Oh, poor Tammy,” Mary Lynn said. “I guess that ends Jack’s military career.”
“I don’t know, but they’ll be okay. It sounds awful to say, but a leg, even two of them, isn’t a life.”
“No, it isn’t.” Mary Lynn set her mug in the sink. “Keep me posted. I’ll talk to you later.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Sam suggested a walk after supper. “I’m leaving tomorrow,” he said as he tucked her hand through his arm and patted it.
“I see.” I’m not going to cry. I won’t let him know how he gets to me.
“I don’t do this on purpose, Nell.”
“How do you always manage to read my mind?”
“You’re pretty transparent.”
“I don’t think that’s a compliment.”
“It’s part of what makes you the woman I—the woman I care about.”
But do you love me? Do you til-death-do-us-part-and-forsaking-all-others love me?
“I guess that’ll have to do.”
“For now anyway.” He turned down South School Street and headed for the old school. “I guess you haven’t heard from Jessie Ruth again.”
“Hush up, Sam. She was there, and you know it. You heard her wailing and felt that floor roll just like I did.”
He shrugged and urged her toward the broken concrete steps, settling her in his arms as he leaned against one of the porch arms.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“It’s more private than the front or back porch at the B&B.”
“It’s spooky.”
“No, it’s not, not anymore.” His lips moved from her forehead to her chin and slid to her throat.
“When will you be back?” I didn’t mean to ask him that. I don’t want him to think—
“I wish I knew. Christmas maybe.”
“That long?”
“At least.”
“Sam, do you have a home anywhere? Some place you go whenever you’re not doing whatever it is you do.”
“I come here.”
“I meant somewhere else, a place of your own.”
“A little place big enough for me to hole up in when I need to.”
“But there’s nobody there?”
“Nobody, Nell.”
“Was there once?”
He leaned his head back against the bricks and didn’t answer her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I know you’re curious, Nell, but you’ll just have to trust me.”
“I think I trust you.”
“That’s a start.” He stroked her shoulders. “I want you so much, Nell. I want you forever.”
“I want you, too, but…”
His breath came faster. “Always the but.”
“It’s who I am, Sam.”
“I know.” Surprisingly, his hands didn’t wander as he scattered kisses along the curve of her cheek.
She didn’t pull away when his lips reached the V of her blouse. What could he do on the concrete porch of an old school? She slipped one hand around the back of his neck and felt the hair that always seemed to need a trim. Travis never made me feel this way. Oh, he got my hormones raging, but I always felt guilty about it…and after that night in the back of his car, I thought I didn’t have any choice but to marry him.
Sam’s sudden hard kiss sent a fiery jolt through her body. Why can’t I just give in? Nobody would know, not even Daddy. We could go back to the B&B to my room or even the front room and… “Oh, Sam, oh, Sam.”
As if he’d read her mind—again—he drew her against him, in a strange, roughly gentle way. Their hearts seemed to beat in sync—or was it the pulsing of their desire?
She opened her eyes and found them locked on his. “Love me, Sam, please love me.” As soon as the words escaped her lips, she regretted them.
His body stiffened, then went limp, and he held her away from him. Tracing her lips with one finger, he opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He held her against him again, caressing her hair with a tenderness that signaled the flight of passion.
They walked home in silence. At the top of the stairs, after a single brief kiss, he said, “I’ll leave before it gets light.”
“Take care of yourself, Sam.”
He nodded, letting his hand linger on her cheek before he turned and walked down the hall to his room.
****
When she woke the next morning, she felt the edges of a piece of paper beside her cheek. Fumbling for her reading glasses on the nightstand, she unfolded the single sheet.
I won’t say I’m sorry about last night, because I’m not. I want you more every minute I’m with you. Maybe what happened last night is good if you understand now I’m as wary of love and commitment as you are of sharing the sanctity of your body. Maybe wary isn’t the right word—maybe afraid would express it better. You’re never far from my thoughts, Nell, even when you should be out of them. I’ll try to get in touch when I can.
I know why I’m afraid, Sam, but I don’t know why you are. If I knew…if I understood…oh, Sam, how can I love you so much when I don’t even know who you are? Are you like Travis after all? He couldn’t love, couldn’t commit, couldn’t be a husband and father. I want you to be different.
She held the note against her cheek. I love you, Sam. I’d give you every minute of every hour of the rest of my life. But I have to have something in return. Maybe that’s wrong. Ma
ybe I should give you everything and expect nothing. But I can’t do it, Sam. I can’t.
CHAPTER FIVE
“It’s not the library I worry about so much,” George Harris said, running a hand through his thinning hair. “Tammy was a librarian all right, but she was also the school secretary, attendance clerk, teacher aide—good heavens, she did everything.”
Penelope nodded. “Look, we’ll figure it out. Shana said she’ll come out every couple of weeks to keep the library in order. Mary Lynn and I can ferry books from town, like Tammy did, to fill in the gaps.”
“I’ll come out a couple of times a week, too,” Mary Lynn added. “Maybe we can get some volunteer teacher aides.”
George laughed. “I’ll take all the help I can get, but nobody’s going to volunteer out here. We’re the black sheep of the school district. Pariahs, if you will.”
“That’s not true,” Penelope said. “Tad Rollins has always stood behind the Possum Hollow School, and he wouldn’t do it if you all didn’t measure up.”
“He’s a superintendent in a million. The state would’ve closed us down long before now if he hadn’t figured out how to fund us with local money. He gives us what he can, and we make do.”
“One salary for two teachers,” Mary Lynn said. “You and Carol, Pam and Paul Hollis…it’s not fair.”
“It’s the best Jack can do.”
“And Lizette and Sarah only get state minimum with no local supplement.”
“So did Tammy, but they didn’t sign on with us for the money.”
“You don’t get any extra money at all from the state?”
“In a round-about way. Textbooks for one thing. Jack adds a little to the budget every year, and the teachers in town give up some of their supply allotment to us. So far, no one’s complained.” He ran his hand through his hair again. “Tammy was a godsend. She had that trust from her grandmother and didn’t have to worry about a salary. In fact, she wasn’t even an official employee of the district.”
“You’ve saved a few children.”
“Not many.”
“One child saved justifies your being out here,” Mary Lynn said. “So let’s make it one more. What can we do today?”
****
“I’m glad you mentioned the Christmas program to the teachers at the meeting this afternoon,” Penelope said as she and Mary Lynn got in the car.
The Possum Hollow Hullabaloo (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Page 2