Finding The Road Home. Tina Radcliffe

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СКАЧАТЬ around four and six, played on the grass beneath a big oak tree.

      “Morning,” he said to the oldest children. “I’m Chief Rainbolt.”

      “I...I...I’m Seth and this is my sister Grace.”

      “Pleased to meet you. Are your parents here?”

      The children exchanged looks that Mitch couldn’t decipher before the boy spoke up.

      “Aunt D is inside.”

      “Aunt D. Got it.”

      Crossing the yard, Mitch stopped to further assess the house. Though the old place held a special spot in his heart, plenty had changed in twenty years. The reliability of the porch steps for starters. They seemed dubious at best. He tapped his boot on each step before putting his weight on them. When he got to the landing, a scream echoed out to him from inside the house. The screen door flew open, banged against the clapboard and a whirlwind of strawberry-blond hair and blue jeans burst across the porch and straight into his arms.

      “Whoa, there.” Mitch stumbled back down the steps to the concrete walk, managing to keep both himself and the woman upright as he grabbed the rail with one hand while his other wrapped around her waist. She smelled like sunshine, cinnamon and apples, an alluring scent that had him captivated.

      “I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “I saw a mouse.” The woman blinked and disentangled herself from his arms. She blinked again, her jaw sagging and her face paling. “Chief Rainbolt?” she sputtered, blue eyes wide. Red splotches of embarrassment covered her cheeks as she stepped back.

      Mitch did a double take. “Officer Anderson?” She looked the same as in the Skype interview except...well, different. During the interview, her hair had been tamed and pulled back severely. Now it floated long, loose and curly around an oval face. A scattering of freckles stretched across her cheeks.

      He found himself staring at the beauty before him.

      “Are you here on official business?” she asked.

      “Your neighbor up the road called in a report of trespassers.”

      “What?” Daisy’s blue eyes rounded. “I bought this house.”

      “No worries. Mrs. Shupe doesn’t see too well.” Mitch raised a hand. “She uses a set of fancy binoculars, but it can’t be easy looking across the field with those redbud trees in her line of sight.”

      Daisy’s mouth dropped open, and then she began to laugh. It was a sweet sound that warmed him from the inside out.

      “Everything okay out there, Daisy?” a female voice called.

      A mature, gray-haired version of Daisy Anderson appeared from around the other side of the house with a watering can in her hand and a redheaded baby on her hip. The woman’s steel-colored curls framed her face in a short bob.

      “Gran, this is my new boss. Chief Rainbolt, this is my grandmother, Alice Anderson.”

      “Ma’am.” Mitch offered the woman a polite nod.

      “Pleased to meet you, Chief.” She placed the watering can on the ground and offered him her free hand. “I rarely go by ma’am. Alice will do.”

      He took her hand. “Yes, ma’am. I mean Miss Alice.”

      “Gran, would you please keep an eye on the kids while I chat with the chief?” Daisy asked.

      “Of course. That apple pie has cooled. We’ll have a little snack.” Alice turned to Mitch. “Care for a slice of caramel apple pie, Chief? Daisy made it just today.”

      He looked at Daisy. “Pretty ambitious, baking a pie while you’re still in the process of moving in,” Mitch said.

      Alice laughed. “Daisy’s always ambitious. And she bakes when she’s stressed.”

      “Gran!” Daisy’s face was rosy with embarrassment when she turned to Mitch. “Baking is a constant in an often chaotic world. I’m sure the chief gets that.”

      Mitch nodded, silently enjoying the exchange between the women.

      “About that pie?” Alice continued.

      “No, thank you, but I do appreciate the offer.”

      A moment later all four children filed quietly into the house, followed by their great-grandmother who held the baby.

      Mitch’s eyes went to Daisy Anderson’s left hand. No ring. When he looked up, the blue eyes were assessing.

      “Welcome to Rebel,” he said.

      “Thank you.”

      “So you bought the Kendall place.”

      “Sight unseen, which explains quite a bit,” she said. “Like the mouse who thinks I’m invading his territory.”

      “Where there’s one, there’s a dozen. A cat or two will eliminate your mouse problem.”

      “Good idea.” She met his gaze. “Right about now, you’re probably wondering how you managed to hire an officer who’s afraid of mice.”

      “No judging here. We all have our issues.”

      She narrowed her eyes as though pondering his words, but said nothing.

      “Looks like the place needs some work.” Mitch nodded toward the house. “It passed inspection?”

      “Mostly.”

      “Mostly?” He raised his brows.

      Her gaze met his and she shrugged. “I waived a few things to lower the price.”

      Mitch’s glance skipped from the weathered railing of the porch to the questionable steps. “Not important things, I hope.”

      “I’ve got a carpenter coming out to fix the necessary items.”

      He nodded and gave the house another slow assessment. “House has sad central air and a few ceiling fans, as I recall.”

      “We’re putting our hopes on that sad central air.”

      “Ever spent a summer in Oklahoma?”

      “No. I guess this will be a trial by fire, won’t it?”

      “Oh, nothing that bad. The good news is everything grows here. Accidentally drop watermelon seeds on the ground, and they’ll have produced enough for a harvest before you realize it.”

      “That is good news since we have plans for a garden.” She beamed. “My first garden.”

      Mitch couldn’t help smiling at her response. “The kids called you Aunt D.”

      Daisy took a step away from the house, concern shadowing her face. “I’m their legal guardian,” she said quietly.

      Mitch СКАЧАТЬ