Read Online Barbecue and Bad News by Nancy Naigle - Free Book Online Page B

Tripp had asked her out on their first date when he was bagging her groceries at the Hoggly Woggly. Momma had been more excited than Savannah had that day, insisting on stopping for Diet Coke floats on the way home to celebrate Savannah being asked out on her first real date. Momma had loved to celebrate every little thing.
    One time Momma had pulled her right out of school and taken her shopping for what she decided to call MD Day. Mother-Daughter Day. They bought carnations to match their outfits and had lunch at a fancy tea shop.
    Savannah balanced the diner bag in her arms.
    “I thought you were in a hurry to get out of town yesterday.”
    She froze at the sound of the male voice. Was he going to pop up over her shoulder everywhere she went? She spun around and met Sheriff Calvin’s gaze. Any other time her mouth ran in overdrive, but at this moment it opened and nothing happened. Not a hello or even a witty comeback. She blinked to break the lock from his hazel eyes. The flecks of gold didn’t go unnoticed. She shook off a tickling feeling, like he had pulled her into his space without so much as the whisper of a touch.
    Lara sauntered up with the coffeepot and a heavy ceramic mug. “Hey, Sheriff,” she said, letting the words linger in the air. She filled the mug to the brim and pushed it his way on the counter.
    Savannah felt her lips twinge a little as she smiled. Guilt? Maybe for the topic of the article she was getting ready to write. “Change of plans. I’m sticking around for a little while.”
    “Really? The parade was that impressive?”
    “It was pretty good. Those bear claws are definitely worth a second look, though.”
    Did he just give her a nod, as if she was worth one too? Or was she imagining things? His scrutiny had her feeling as warm as the bacon sizzling next to a heaping mound of hash browns on the open grill.
    “Lara, here, hooking you up with her famous apple butter?”
    “Yeah, she is. Got my coffee to go.” Why did she even say that?
    “Can’t start the day without my coffee either.”
    “I was just reading the police blotter while I was waiting. You’ve been busy. I had to laugh. It said . . . Wait a second.” She reached for the paper and swung the page back. She ran her finger down to the spot. “Yeah. Here it is.” She held it out in his direction. “See. Resident on Valley Drive saw male duck.” She let out a hearty laugh. “That just cracked me up. I’m sure they meant a male subject ducked below a window or something, not a quack-quack duck.” She laughed again, but he wasn’t smiling. Clearly he didn’t see the humor in it. He looked like she’d just said his momma wore combat boots or something. “Anyway, it’s not that big of a deal that it wasn’t clear.” I should have stuck to the weather.
    Sheriff Calvin looked rather stoic. “Actually, it’s right just the way it is. Misty Johnson saw a male duck. As in waterfowl, or of the quack-quack persuasion, in your words.
    “Oh.” She pressed her lips together, unsure whether to apologize or just let it go.
    “One of our 4-H’er’s projects flew the coop, and Misty was reporting that she’d found it in her backyard.”
    “Sorry, I—”
    “Yeah. We rescued the runaway duck. It’s a small town. Everything is not peepers, perps, and bad guys around here, but it’s all important to the people of this community.”
    “I didn’t mean to—”
    “I know what you think, but that kid would have lost out on the opportunity to show at the county fair if we hadn’t helped locate that duck. I don’t consider that a waste of resources. In fact, I’m glad this town has so little real crime that we have time to support our neighbors in things like that. It may not seem like newsworthy to read over your coffee, but it’s important around here.”
    Geez. Had she hit a sore spot or something? She totally should’ve stuck to the weather. What a grump.
    “My apologies for making light of your work.” She