Delectable Mountain Quilting by Debbie Mumford

Author:Debbie Mumford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WDM Publishing

15

Tuesday Late Afternoon

The work day was nearly at an end when Jason delivered Kristi back to her home. All things considered, the day had gone about as well as could be expected. Kristi unlocked her front door and stepped inside, then paused to turn and wave at Jason. He touched the brim of his Stetson and backed the Trail Blazer out of her driveway.

Between trotted to greet her, his tail high and purring his happiness that she was home. Stitches followed at a more sedate pace, but she also purred loudly.

“Glad to see you too, kids,” she said, bending to scratch each cat behind the ears, “but I can’t stay. I’m just here to drop off my travel mug and jump in the Subaru.”

Striding to the kitchen, she placed the now empty travel mug in the sink and wished she could simply collapse on the sofa. She was exhausted. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to even sit down, let alone collapse.

She’d fielded a call from Stacy Akins on the drive home from the casino. The realtor had asked Kristi to meet her at Roasted Beans at five, and Kristi had agreed. She barely had time to make that meeting.

It was a minute or two past five when Kristi stepped through the door into the fragrant interior of Roasted Beans. The stimulating aroma of coffee permeated the small shop, and Kristi’s flagging energy revived just from breathing the air. Spotting Stacy at the counter, Kristi waved and joined the petite brunette.

Kristi felt positively dowdy in her jeans and Icelandic sweater as she joined the perfectly groomed realtor.

Even at the end of the day, Stacy looked fabulous in a wine red pencil skirt, pale pink shell top, and deep maroon blazer. Her dark, chin length hair was cut in a fashionable, no-nonsense style, and her black stiletto heels gave her a bit of additional height. Kristi couldn’t imagine how the woman could endure such tortuous footwear, but had to admit the heels provided the finishing touch to Stacy’s polished, chic appearance.

No one would ever consider Kristi’s dark leather hiking boots polished or chic.

“Kristi,” Stacy said with a smile. “I’m so glad you could meet me.”

“I am too,” Kristi replied. “I was a little concerned we wouldn’t make it back in time.”

The two young women placed their orders with the barista at the counter, and then chose one of the glass-topped tables overlooking Main Street. They chatted companionably while they waited for their beverages. When Stacy’s caramel coffee and Kristi’s chai latte had been delivered, the conversation became more serious.

Stacy sipped her coffee before setting the mug on the table and curling the fingers of both hands around it. “This may be inappropriate,” she said quietly, “but I was wondering if you’d heard anything about Gary Stebbings? About what happened to him?”

Kristi stared, barely managing to keep her jaw from dropping. Why in the world would Stacy ask her about Gary Stebbings? But before she could ask the question, the answer came to her: because Stacy didn’t have another source of information.

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