Read Online Home to Walnut Ridge by Diane Moody - Free Book Online Page A

hoarsely. “If you’re asking if I have a
crush on him—”
    “ No! I just thought maybe
you and he might have gone out for dinner or a movie or
something.”
    Alex laughed. “Who are
you, Cupid?” Then, after glancing through the back door to make
sure no one was listening, she said, “No, little sister, I do not
have a crush on him, and we have not been out on a date together.
He’s a wonderful guy who’s survived an unspeakable tragedy.
Sometimes a guy like that just needs a sense of security and
friendship. The last thing he needs is
romance.”
    “ Oh no,” Tracey croaked,
grabbing her arm. “Look out front.”
    Deacon Stone was making his way up the
front steps, his signature mustache and aviator sunglasses in
place.
    “ Quick, Trace! Lock the
door!”
    “ I would but there’s no
lock. Want me to body-slam it shut?”
    The town’s self-appointed unofficial
boss man stepped inside the smokehouse, took off his sunglasses,
and looked around the room. “Ladies, ladies, what have we
here?”
    “ Gee, Deacon, I don’t
recall asking you to stop by,” Alex said, brushing her bangs aside
then planting her hand on her hip. “To what do we owe this
pleasure?”
    He tucked the glasses in his shirt
pocket, taking his time as he nosed around the large room. “Oh, you
know, just stopping by to say hello, Miss Collins.”
    His saccharine tone irritated Tracey,
but she tamped down a burning desire to spit on his fancy leather
boots. She’d never liked his Tom Selleck mustache, especially since
everyone had long told him he resembled the older actor. Tracey
didn’t see it, forever distracted by a rather large mole just below
his left nostril. Plus, Deacon’s personality certainly didn’t match
that of the famous actor. She let out a huff. “What do you
want?”
    “ I heard you were back in
town, Tracey Jo.” He chuckled, still glancing around. “I’ve always
found it amusing how our national politicians vote themselves big
fat salaries, then find every excuse they can to take a vacation.
Not just our elected officials like your boss, Morgan Thompson. But
staff like you as well. Must be nice.”
    “ Tracey asked you a
question,” Alex said, stepping closer to him. “What do you want?”
    “ Well then, I’ll get right
to it. I couldn’t help but notice all the commotion around this old
building. You’re obviously not tearing it down. Looks to me like
you’re into some kind of renovation or such?”
    “ Could be,” Alex said.
“But I sure don’t see how that concerns you, so if you don’t
mind‍—‍”
    “ Actually it does concern
me. As a member of the City Council, I don’t recall seeing any kind
of paperwork about this particular building. I inquired of our City
Manager as to whether you’d applied for a building permit. Faye
said she’s seen nothing of the kind. So I suppose you could say I’m
here on official city business. Because if you’ve got any plans
whatsoever for this ol’ shack, you’d best stop right now. Nothing
happens in Jacobs Mill without approval of our City Council.” He
plastered a smile on his face and waited for a response. “It would
be wise to remember that.”
    Tracey saw anger smoldering in her
sister’s eyes. Not tears‌—‌more like Vesuvius on the brink of
eruption. She stepped between them. “Deacon, why don’t you just
cart yourself down to Faye’s office and have you a nice little pow
wow. We’re busy here.”
    His gaze moved slowly to hers. Another
fake smile. “Did your sister here tell you the School Board had to
ask for her resignation? She flagrantly broke school rules and
wasn’t the least bit shy about it. She’d been warned about it
before. She knew she was in violation of‍—‍”
    “ Are you done?” Tracey
snapped.
    Alex pushed Tracey out of the way.
“Deacon, so help me, if you don’t get out of here this
minute‍—‍”
    “ What? What exactly are
you going to do, Miss Collins?” He stretched himself to his