Read Online Cold Hollow (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 1) by Emilie J. Howard - Free Book Online
Authors: Emilie J. Howard
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complained from the backseat. “Books, that’s all she likes. She doesn’t even play with my toys anymore. She’s a bookworm. She should live in the dirt, and would if there was a library underground.”
Angus adored his son and twisted around the front seat with a smile on his face. He ruffled his son’s hair and asked if he wanted French toast for breakfast. He watched Liam’s eyes light up, and soon the worms and books were but a distant memory.
It took ten more minutes before Layla came breezing out of the library with two thick books tucked under her left arm. She was waving her new library card in her right hand. Sophia grinned and examined the books when Layla handed them to her. They were young adult thriller novels. As they drove home, they soon got over the oddity of the town hall summons.
CHAPTER 5
Sophia ran her usual five miles and returned home. She guzzled down a tall glass of orange juice and sat at the kitchen island going over the “till bill.” As promised, it was itemized, including the upkeep of the running trails and the weekly pay for the forest ranger. She ran down the list to see landscaping costs, seed costs, flower costs, road repair, and cleaning expenses for both the bakery and their new home. Street sweeping was included, as was garbage disposal. When they’d lived in Connecticut, they did many of these things themselves and had to pay state taxes on top of it. She saw the total at the bottom and thought it was fair enough. She could not complain. There was an explanation for everything. She pulled out her checkbook and wrote out a check to cover the cost. She would deliver it to the town hall on her way to the bakery on Main Street.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, she was off. Angus had already rounded up the children and taken them to the town beach, which was located near the waterfalls made from the melting snow atop the mountains. It was said to be beautiful and Sophia hoped to see it soon. She was sure Angus would take pictures for her to see that night.
She pulled up in front of the town hall, climbed the steps, and entered. She found the proper counter to pay taxes and slid the elderly woman the bill and the payment. The woman’s hands shook as she reached for the check and bill. Her voice trembled, but not out of fear. Sophia thought she had Parkinson’s or something similar. She had her gray hair tightly wound in a bun and wore thick glasses. Her old, blue eyes glanced up at Sophia as her wrinkled lips formed a thin line. She said, “Nazar does not like out-of-town checks. He likes people to do their banking here in town.”
Sophia blushed and explained, “I am sorry, but we just moved here and have not gotten to that yet. Please explain to Mr. Nazar that we will do it soon.”
“It’s Nazar…just Nazar.”
“What do you mean? He prefers to be called just Nazar?” She wanted to say Nazar is so bizarre , but she didn’t think the woman would appreciate the humor in it.
“Yep.” She swiped the check, stamped the bill “paid” with a mighty thud of an antiquated device, and slid the bill back to Sophia.
Sophia thanked her and just about ran out of the place. That old crone seemed to be missing some marbles.
She was more than grateful to see Myrna waiting for her in front of the bakery. That reminded her of something. She wanted to get a key made for Myrna so she could let herself inside the bakery if she were ever early. After popping the hatch of her vehicle, the two women pulled the canvas prints from the back and went to work inside the bakery.
“Myrna, what’s the story with the old lady at the town hall?”
Myrna wore a mischievous grin and asked, “You mean the salt shaker? Her name is May Belle. Did she give you the business?”
Sophia laughed and explained what had happened. Myrna shrugged it off and said the old woman was too old to be working, but would not allow anyone else in town to have the job. She was a stubborn
Angus adored his son and twisted around the front seat with a smile on his face. He ruffled his son’s hair and asked if he wanted French toast for breakfast. He watched Liam’s eyes light up, and soon the worms and books were but a distant memory.
It took ten more minutes before Layla came breezing out of the library with two thick books tucked under her left arm. She was waving her new library card in her right hand. Sophia grinned and examined the books when Layla handed them to her. They were young adult thriller novels. As they drove home, they soon got over the oddity of the town hall summons.
CHAPTER 5
Sophia ran her usual five miles and returned home. She guzzled down a tall glass of orange juice and sat at the kitchen island going over the “till bill.” As promised, it was itemized, including the upkeep of the running trails and the weekly pay for the forest ranger. She ran down the list to see landscaping costs, seed costs, flower costs, road repair, and cleaning expenses for both the bakery and their new home. Street sweeping was included, as was garbage disposal. When they’d lived in Connecticut, they did many of these things themselves and had to pay state taxes on top of it. She saw the total at the bottom and thought it was fair enough. She could not complain. There was an explanation for everything. She pulled out her checkbook and wrote out a check to cover the cost. She would deliver it to the town hall on her way to the bakery on Main Street.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, she was off. Angus had already rounded up the children and taken them to the town beach, which was located near the waterfalls made from the melting snow atop the mountains. It was said to be beautiful and Sophia hoped to see it soon. She was sure Angus would take pictures for her to see that night.
She pulled up in front of the town hall, climbed the steps, and entered. She found the proper counter to pay taxes and slid the elderly woman the bill and the payment. The woman’s hands shook as she reached for the check and bill. Her voice trembled, but not out of fear. Sophia thought she had Parkinson’s or something similar. She had her gray hair tightly wound in a bun and wore thick glasses. Her old, blue eyes glanced up at Sophia as her wrinkled lips formed a thin line. She said, “Nazar does not like out-of-town checks. He likes people to do their banking here in town.”
Sophia blushed and explained, “I am sorry, but we just moved here and have not gotten to that yet. Please explain to Mr. Nazar that we will do it soon.”
“It’s Nazar…just Nazar.”
“What do you mean? He prefers to be called just Nazar?” She wanted to say Nazar is so bizarre , but she didn’t think the woman would appreciate the humor in it.
“Yep.” She swiped the check, stamped the bill “paid” with a mighty thud of an antiquated device, and slid the bill back to Sophia.
Sophia thanked her and just about ran out of the place. That old crone seemed to be missing some marbles.
She was more than grateful to see Myrna waiting for her in front of the bakery. That reminded her of something. She wanted to get a key made for Myrna so she could let herself inside the bakery if she were ever early. After popping the hatch of her vehicle, the two women pulled the canvas prints from the back and went to work inside the bakery.
“Myrna, what’s the story with the old lady at the town hall?”
Myrna wore a mischievous grin and asked, “You mean the salt shaker? Her name is May Belle. Did she give you the business?”
Sophia laughed and explained what had happened. Myrna shrugged it off and said the old woman was too old to be working, but would not allow anyone else in town to have the job. She was a stubborn
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