Coming Home (The Winchesters of Legend Boxed Set) by Jan Scarbrough

Author:Jan Scarbrough [Scarbrough, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Saddle Horse Press

Chapter Eight

The tinkling sound of chimes welcomed Graham when he pushed open the door to Legend’s New and Used Book Store. A muscle moved in his jaw. How would he react to seeing Jane as Jane?

He was still annoyed—at her, at himself. He’d dropped her off at home this morning at six. Frustration consumed another non-productive day of writing. He wanted relief. Maybe speaking to Jane would finally force everything into the open.

“Graham Winchester how you’ve grown!” The only customer in the brightly-lit store greeted him with a warm smile.

“Mrs. Malone, isn’t it?”

“To be sure.” The woman patted him fondly on the arm. “Your mother must be so proud of you.”

Why did he feel like he was twelve? “Yes ma’am.”

Graham smiled at his mother’s old friend before glancing around the store. Copies of his book Grayhawk were stacked on a table near the front. The comfortable smell of books mingled with an aroma of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon cookies.

Graham spied the plate of cowboy cookies beside a coffee pot. They looked suspiciously like Aunt Harriet’s recipe. Nice touch. Jane didn’t mind living on the edge by flirting with her make-believe persona from this weekend. He had to smile at her willingness to take a risk.

But where was she? The store was quiet except for the gentle twang of country music from a CD player and Mrs. Malone’s chatter.

The older woman handed him a copy of Grayhawk. He pulled a pen from his pocket and signed it. “Where’s Jane?”

“Now of course you want Jane.” Mrs. Malone glanced toward an open door at the rear of the store. “She has a problem in back.”

Graham returned the book. “Please excuse me then.” He escaped into the backroom. “Jane?”

“Over here. I need help.”

Concerned, Graham found the woman who tormented him yesterday kneeling beneath the utility sink. He heard a strange crying sound.

“Are you okay?”

“Sure. Here, take this one.” Jane reached up and shoved a wadded towel into his hands.

“What’s going on?”

“Just a minor emergency.”

He stepped nearer and peered over Jane’s left shoulder. On the floor was a cardboard box containing shredded newsprint and a tabby cat. The animal made high-pitched wailing noises and furiously licked its tail. The small, squirming lumps in the box along with the calico were newborn kittens.

He was filled with awe. With care he opened the towel to discover a tiny, wet creature with pinpoint ears and slits for eyes. The little kitten meowed.

“I think that one’s okay now, but keep him warm,” Jane said over her shoulder.

Graham covered his small charge. “What happened?”

Jane glanced up at him for the first time. The urgency in her blue eyes and her look of concern impressed him.

“Someone dropped this cat at my backdoor last night.” Jane returned to her task. “The cat started giving birth a few hours ago, which is strange because cats usually have their kittens late at night when nobody’s around.”

“What’s wrong with these?”

“I’m not really sure. They weren’t breathing. I suspect the mother is young. Maybe it’s her first litter.

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