Special Delivery. Judi Lynn

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      He sniffed. “Your mom couldn’t have a boy. Just two silly girls. Weak.”

      “Women are every bit as strong as men, so shut it.”

      Axel’s lips turned down. “Are you sassing me, girl?”

      “Maybe. I sure don’t agree with you.”

      He moved slightly and winced, then rubbed his butt. “I think I’m gettin’ another bedsore. It’s starting to seep.”

      Every nurse’s nightmare. She went to lift his light blanket to check on him, and he reached forward, grabbed her skin, and twisted it, hard. She remembered that from when she was little. He’d pinch her until she cried. Without thinking, she pinched him back, harder, and he yelped. Not a smart thing to do. She was a nurse. If he reported her, she’d be in trouble. But he didn’t know that, and she’d be damned if he’d ever pinch her again. She held up a finger to get his attention. “Don’t ever hurt me again. I don’t like you, and I don’t have to be here, but you’re going to let me help you, whether you want it or not.”

      He looked stunned.

      She put her hands on her hips. “Do you have a bedsore or not?”

      He shook his head.

      Keagan threw back his head and laughed. “You deserved that, old coot! You’d better be on your best manners. I don’t think you’re going to be able to bully your granddaughter.”

      Axel’s shoulders stiffened and he turned away from them to look out the window.

      Keagan shook his head. “What now? I doubt you want to stay in this place tonight. This is the only room that’s tolerable—barely. What’s your next move?”

      “I saw a motel closer to town. I’ll try to get a room there, then come here early tomorrow morning and clean some place to stay in. I brought an air mattress, in case. I’ll set that up. There’s no way I’m using one of the beds.”

      Keagan gave a small nod of approval. “My mom’s going to send over a casserole tomorrow to get you started. I’ll drop it off when I deliver the mail.”

      “Thank you.”

      He grinned. “You won’t believe me, but Mill Pond’s a pretty friendly place except for him. Here.” He opened his cell phone and punched in the name of the local motel. “Nick and Meg own it. I hope they have an open room.”

      She was in luck. When she handed his phone back to him, she looked surprised. “They only had one vacancy tonight. They’re full for the rest of the week.”

      “Tourists. Mill Pond is a happening place. You’re lucky it’s not leaf season. We’re mobbed when people come to the National Forest to see the trees in their glory.” Keagan grabbed an empty carton of microwaved mac ‘n cheese off Axel’s TV tray and carried it to the kitchen to throw away. “Good luck with everything. If you need something, holler.” He gave her his cell phone number.

      She watched him drive away, then went to make a slow inspection of the house. The refrigerator was clean inside, stocked with Axel’s Ensure and cottage cheese. As for the rest of the house, she might as well have signed up to be a charwoman. She returned to the back room and noticed the TV remote on Axel’s cluttered tray. The house might be ready to fall around his ears, but the flat screen mounted across from his bed took up most of the wall.

      He glared at her. “The sooner you leave, the better.”

      “Then find a nice nursing home, and I’m out of here.”

      “Never gonna happen.”

      She smiled. “Then it sucks to be you. Until you show me that you can take care of yourself, I’m going to be in your business.”

      His hand shot out to pinch her again, and she raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead. Make my day.” A Clint Eastwood quote, but appropriate. He folded his arms over his chest, and she said, “Let’s get you cleaned up before I go to the motel.”

      “Keagan takes care of that.”

      “It looks like you need to be washed again.”

      “That’s not gonna happen. No woman’s touching nothing of mine.”

      “I’m a nurse.”

      “You’re a girl.”

      She could argue, but he wouldn’t change his mind. He’d been living alone and taking care of himself this long. Another day wouldn’t matter. She started for the front door. “See you tomorrow.”

      “Not if a semi hits you first.”

      “You’re not that lucky.”

      Chapter 2

      At night, in her motel room, Karli called other motels around the area, hoping to find a place to stay, but Keagan was right. Mill Pond was a happening place. Every room was taken. Seems tourists came in November to buy handcrafted items for their Thanksgiving tables and to hike the trails in the National Forest before the snows fell.

      She’d never been to the shops in Mill Pond. When her parents came to town, they drove straight to Axel’s farm, stayed as short a time as possible, and then left. Even at its best, the farm had been nothing to brag about. Eloise kept the house clean, raised her children, and cooked food that filled bellies. End of story. Karli wondered if her grandmother had always been so dispassionate or if being married to Axel had drained her of all hope and stamina.

      When hunger struck, Karli drove to a McDonald’s. She usually avoided fast foods, but she didn’t have the energy to engage with anyone at the local diner, and she had a feeling people around here were friendly. Probably far friendlier than she was.

      Her room at Nick and Meg’s Hotel had a pamphlet that listed local attractions, and she was amazed to read about the trendy resort on the lake, Harley’s Winery, a microbrewery with specialty hot dogs, and the many shops on Main Street. Art’s Grocery caught her eye with a long list of local offerings available in his Olde Time Store. The butcher’s counter stocked ducks, Guinea hens, and fancy cuts of meats—all organic. She paused when she saw Handmade Dinnerware on display by Keagan Monroe. How many Keagans could there be in Mill Pond? Was it Grandpa’s neighbor, the mailman? He did strike her as artistic.

      She glanced at her watch and was surprised to see that it was already eight-thirty. It had been a long day. She called her mom on her cell. “Axel hasn’t improved with age,” she told her.

      Her mom sighed. “I didn’t expect him to.”

      “You never told me what a nice, little town this is.”

      “Mill Pond? We hardly ever interacted with anyone, except for school. Even there, we were sort of the odd kids out.”

      “I can see that. Is that why you always drove home to see your youngest brother?”

      “I felt sorry for Charlie. Everyone left as fast as we could, and he was stuck there with Dad until he graduated. Then he left, too.”

      Karli wondered if Axel would be worse or better to the last kid in the family. СКАЧАТЬ