Maureen McKade by Winter Hearts

Author:Winter Hearts
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Forty-five cents.”

Libby paid him, ensuring her fingers didn’t touch his palm. “Thank you.”

He stuffed the coffee can in a sack for her. “Here you go, Miss O’Hanlon. You just let me know if there’s anything else you need. Anything at all.”

Libby’s stomach churned at the blatantly obscene offer. She grabbed the package from him, twirled away, and hurried out of the suffocating store. Outside, she paused, dragging in gulps of fresh wintry air. After regaining her composure, Libby scurried in the direction of Matt’s sheltered home.

The buggy in front of the cabin brought a groan to Libby’s lips. What now? On leaden feet, she nearly entered without knocking. She caught herself and rapped her gloved fist against the wood.

Dylan swung the door open and grinned. He grabbed her hand, pulling her inside. “Guess who’s here?”

“Hello, dear,” Lenore greeted, and wrapped her arms around Libby.

Briefly, Libby closed her eyes in relief. “What are you doing here?”

Lenore stepped back and planted her hands on her generous hips. “What do you think I’m doing here? I’m being neighborly.”

“She brought cookies and bread and soup,” Dylan said.

Libby brushed a few crumbs from the front of his flannel shirt. “I can see you haven’t been shy about helping yourself to the cookies. I hope you didn’t eat so many that your appetite is ruined for supper.”

“He could eat a whole barrel of cookies and still put away more than you and me for supper,” Lenore remarked. “He’s a growing boy.”

Libby laughed, knowing she couldn’t win a food argument with the chubby woman. She glanced toward the open door of the bedroom. “Has Eli examined Matt?”

Lenore nodded. “They’re just chewing the fat now. Why don’t you and me go warm up the soup?”

“I’m going in with the men,” Dylan said, and disappeared into the bedroom.

Steam from the coffee swirled upward to thaw Libby’s cheeks and nose. She sipped the hot liquid, which soothed her throat. Lenore sat across the table from her.

“Eli tells me you’ve been spending the nights here since Matt sickened,” Lenore said.

Libby narrowed her eyes. “That’s right.”

After a few moments of uncharacteristic silence, Lenore threw her hands in the air. “No reason for me to be beating around the bush. There’s talk, Libby.”

A fist to her stomach couldn’t have taken away Libby’s breath faster. “What kind of talk?”

“About you spending so much time here with Matt. Mind you, no one but Eli and I know about you staying the nights, but it’s bound to get out, the way peoples’ mouths flap and all.”

“Why can’t everyone just mind their own business?” Libby demanded. “My God, Lenore, Matt could’ve died and no one would’ve known.”

Lenore patted her hand. “There, there dear. I didn’t mean to get you all riled up, but I want you to know what you’re up against.”

Libby stood to pace.

“I should’ve realized it, the way Mrs. Olson treated me at the store. You’d think I was a leper the way she acted. And Mr. Pearson …” She shuddered with disgust.

“Mrs. Beidler’s bound and determined to get you fired.

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