Sweet Tibby Mack. Roz Fox Denny

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СКАЧАТЬ you by three.”

      “But, Tibby. That’s not what I—” Tibby moved very fast, and Justine was left looking bewildered.

      All the way to the Pulaski house, Tibby fumed. A testament to how upset she was, she fed the hounds canned food, instead of the kibble Ariel had requested. Darn. Too late now. Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great licked their dishes clean and looked as if they’d start on her toes next. They wouldn’t, though; Tibby knew the dogs were lovable. “Good boys. Tonight we’ll run,” she promised, refilling both water bowls.

      Every time she fed and exercised the hounds, Tibby thought about getting a pet for herself. Evenings, especially this past year, seemed unbearably lonely.

      Escaping two large dogs who hadn’t laid eyes on a human all day wasn’t easy. Tibby tossed tennis balls across the yard and quickly ran out through the gate. Still panting, she started her car and drove the four blocks to Mabel’s neat double-wide mobile home. So help her, if Mabel mentioned Cole even once on this trip, no matter how innocently, she could darn well walk to the airport.

      “Sorry I’m late.” Tibby hopped out and opened the back of the station wagon. She brushed aside flower petals before stowing Mabel’s suitcase.

      “You’re not late, child. It’s sweet of you to do this. I don’t know what any of us would do without your selfless generosity.”

      They buckled up and Tibby drove off. “Are you kidding? You set up my school curriculum and taught me how to read. Everyone in Yaqui Springs contributed to my education. If I gave back twenty-four hours a day, I could never repay half of what I owe.”

      Mabel gazed at her with kind eyes. “It’s not a debt, Tibby. Don’t you know? You gave us purpose again. You needed skills we had that we thought no one would want again. Retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Joe Toliver didn’t ask to quit the chemical-engineering firm he worked for. He was forced out. Teaching you math and chemistry was a boost his ego needed. Just ask Winnie. And Rosamond’s arthritis kept her from playing concert piano. Giving you music lessons made her feel worthwhile. The same with Justine. In teaching you art, she realized she still had enough talent to begin selling her work again.”

      “I guess I always thought you did those things as a favor to my grandmother.”

      “Lara did us a favor by sharing you, sweet Tibby.”

      “I don’t know about that.” Embarrassed, Tibby stam-hered. “I…I was homely as a mud turtle and twice as awkward.” Quite suddenly she saw herself as Cole O’Donnell must have seen her.

      “You were a duckling, all arms, legs and eyes.” Mabel smiled. “We knew some day you’d be a beautiful swan.”

      “Pul-leez!” Never one to field compliments well, Tibby drove in silence for the remaining miles. While searching for a parking place, she brought up Mabel’s return trip. “If you stay past Sunday, call me. Otherwise I’ll be here at nine.”

      “Then you aren’t planning a move to San Diego while I’m gone?”

      Tibby gasped. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

      “Someone saw you poring over college brochures.”

      “I’m looking at correspondence courses in nutrition.” Tibby set Mabel’s case on the scale at the check-in counter. Idle chatter fell off as the reservations agent stamped Mabel’s ticket and gave her a boarding pass. During the short walk to the concourse, Tibby picked up where they’d left off. “Organic foods and fresh herbs are a start toward good health, Mabel, but I’d like to provide the residents with more. I want all of you to live to be a hundred.”

      “You already take good care of us, Tibby. It’s time you gave some thought to taking care of yourself.”

      Tibby blinked. “I do exercise and try to eat right.”

      “Oh, dear, they’re calling my flight.” Mabel patted Tibby’s smooth hand with her wrinkled one. “Longevity stems from more than a healthy body, dear. How long has it been since you’ve enjoyed the company of anyone your own age? Someone like that nice-looking Cole O’Donnell, for instance.” She winked. “Goodness, last call already? Look after yourself, Tibby. I’ll see you Sunday. And Tibby? Don’t forget the two essentials of happiness—something to do and someone to love.”

      Mabel’s words nagged at Tibby on the drive home. It seemed a curious statement for anyone who knew her to make. When had she ever had companions her own age? Occasionally, during the summers, if any of the residents’ grandchildren visited. Mostly the girls had been silly and giggly, the boys cocksure and pushy. All except Cole, who at four years her senior, had let her tag along sometimes. Him she’d worshipped. Then came the year she’d desperately wanted him to notice she’d grown up.

      Which, of course, he never did.

      Speaking of the boy wonder—as she passed Yale’s cedar ranch-style house, she saw him amid a cluster of colorful mopeds. The women of Yaqui Springs seemed entranced, watching Cole’s teeth flash white in the afternoon sun.

      Tibby snorted in disgust. No wonder Henrietta, Mabel and Justine were smitten, watching him ooze charm. He seemed to be going out of his way to enchant them.

      Why, Tibby wondered? It wasn’t as if he intended to join the community.

      Her whole body was tense by the time she reached the store. Fortunately Justine was too busy to ask questions, and Tibby was soon able to forget Cole O’Donnell and Mabel’s provocative exit line. In between waiting on customers, the mail came. Tibby hefted the bags, dashed to the post office, sorted and tucked mail into the residents’ boxes. Justine had taken off shortly after Tibby returned.

      Around four—still two hours to closing—she found a minute to sit down with a cup of blackberry tea. The aroma soothed her and the sweet flavor took the edge off her hunger. Normally she ate a piece of fruit for lunch. Today there simply hadn’t been time. Now it was too close to dinner.

      She’d just taken a sip when the bell over the front door jingled. Tibby glanced up, then all but choked on the hot tea. Cole stood in the entryway shrugging into a T-shirt Her lungs threatening to collapse, Tibby caught a glimpse of bronzed corded muscles and a line of dark silky hair that disappeared under low-riding jeans.

      Before he finished tucking the shirt into his jeans, Cole spoke. “I’ve just surveyed my grandfather’s land. Are you aware that your outbuilding—the post office I understand Lara had built—sits squarely on his property? Er…my property.”

      Tibby saw him carelessly muss his sweat-damp hair. Heat pooled in her stomach. Obviously her tea needed more time to cool.

      He stalked toward her. “Well, don’t you have anything to say?”

      “Would you like a cup of blackberry tea?” she offered breathlessly.

      Cole scowled. “I’d like to discuss this problem.”

      “There isn’t any problem. Coffee’s around the corner if you’d rather have that. Soft drinks and water in the front case. Consider it my treat.”

      Leaning both arms on the coffee bar, Cole forced her to look up. “When you have a structure a good twenty feet onto land belonging to me, I call it a problem.”

      “Your СКАЧАТЬ