A Star-Spangled Mayfair by Kassandra Lamb

Author:Kassandra Lamb [Lamb, Kassandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: misterio press LLC

* * *

It was after nine by the time I had taken Niña out for a short saunter through the woods near Mayfair. It was too hot, even in the morning, to do much else besides saunter.

Still, the slow swaying as she moved and the birds chirping in the trees soothed my nerves like nothing else could. And Buddy burned off some excess energy chasing the lizards that darted across the path.

Back at the stable, I hugged Niña’s neck for a moment, then hosed the sweat off of her and turned her loose in the pasture. Of course, she immediately rolled in the dirt.

Smiling at my horse’s antics, I headed with Buddy to the diner.

I stuck my head inside the door, the bell jangling above me. I’d hoped to flag the busy waitress and get her to bring my breakfast to the picnic table out back, since I had Buddy with me.

But there was no waitress. Or customers, for that matter.

“Jess,” I called out.

She came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. Her chef’s jacket was buttoned crooked and wisps of dark hair poked out around the edges of her hairnet. “You might as well bring him on in. There aren’t any customers anyway.” She sounded like she was struggling not to cry.

She went behind the counter and poured me a cup of coffee, while I settled on my usual stool. Buddy plopped down at my feet, panting softly.

“Has it been like this all morning?”

“I had a few of my really early customers. But even some of them just grabbed breakfast sandwiches to go and wouldn’t look me in the eye.”

“Did you send Lisa home?”

Jess nodded. “I was afraid I’d burst into tears in front of her, which wouldn’t have been very professional.”

“Under the circumstances, I think she’d understand.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t always keep things to herself. I don’t want to give the rumormongers the satisfaction of knowing they’re getting to me.”

I nodded and sipped coffee.

“You want your usual, scrambled with a biscuit?” She turned toward the kitchen.

“Yes, and can you put it on my tab?” I rarely had money on me when I came from the barn, but every few days, I squared up with her. I made a mental note to do that soon. Considering her lack of customers, she could use the income.

“No problem,” she said over her shoulder.

I finished off my coffee while waiting for my breakfast.

As I ate, Jess stood behind the counter, leaning on her elbows. “So now, I’ve got a farm that costs more money than it makes, cattle and bison I don’t want, and an empty diner.” The last words came out with a slight quaver.

“Hang in there,” I said, between bites of her delicious eggs and melt-in-your-mouth biscuit. “This will blow over eventually.”

“The farm costing money didn’t matter when Dan….” She shook her head slowly. “He paid the bills and was happy to do it. He said the farm was a life-long dream of his.” She choked up a little.

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