Grave Consequences by Debra DuPree Williams

Author:Debra DuPree Williams [Williams, Debra DuPree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Firefly Southern Fiction
Published: 2020-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

After getting the number from Mama, I called Ned Cecil. He wasn’t available, so I talked to his mama who assured me she’d have him meet me at Rose Haven later that morning. Glad to finally have some much-needed muscle power and a pick-up truck to boot, Fee and I headed to the outbuildings.

Fee pulled her long red curls into a hippie-cool head scarf. I’d secured mine earlier with a headband. I’d also come armed with two pairs of heavy-duty yard gloves and a can of bug-killer. “When is he supposed to be here?”

“I didn’t want to make it too early. I told him nine. High-school kids like to sleep in, especially during summer break. I figured that was late enough, even if his summer break is almost over.”

Both of us wore old jeans and tees. This was dirty, heavy work, so I’d chosen my cemetery-hopping Army boots. At least Fee hadn’t worn fancy sandals. Instead, sensible, but fashionable tennis shoes donned her feet. We arrived at the first building at the same time as a mud-splattered, late-model pick-up truck pulled into the yard, Roy Acuff’s “The Wabash Cannonball” blaring out of the opened windows. Figuring it to be the Cecil boy, I waved him over.

“Glad to know he’s punctual.” I pulled on the door of the first building and heard the truck door slam behind me.

“Yeah. That’s niiiiii—yai-yai.”

“Good mornin’ ladies. I’m Ned Cecil.” He touched his hand to the brim of his western-style hat.

Cecil boy, indeed. No wonder Fee suddenly found herself speechless. This certainly was no boy. Nope, this was a full-grown Viking. Broad shoulders. Long reddish-blond hair. Tall. Taller than Uncle Angus. And that was saying something.

Have mercy.

His blue eyes seemed to bore straight into Fee. Had he even noticed me? No way. He was lost in Fiona and vice versa. Well … it was about time.

Fee extended her hand and Ned took it in his. “Fiona Campbell.” She grinned like a silly schoolgirl carrying her first crush. Then, she indicated me. “This is my cousin … uh, Charlotte—umm—Charlotte Graves.” Her hand remained within Ned’s grasp.

He acknowledged me with a “Ma’am,” but his eyes never left Fee’s face.

Never, ever had Fee reacted to a man like this. Never. Always wrapped up in being that rare breed—a businesswoman—she seldom dated. I calculated, and to the best of my knowledge, Fee had been on only one date since I’d come back home.

I hated to break this up… this whatever it was, but we had work to do. I walked over and extended my hand. “Charlotte Graves.”

Fee pulled her hand free of Ned’s. He took mine, shaking it quickly. “Sorry to be a bit late. I had to help with feeding the livestock. It won’t happen again.”

“No worries. In fact, I’d say you’re right on time.” I glanced at Fee and spread my mouth into a huge grin. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you what I have in mind getting done around here.”

***

By the end of the day,

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