Read Online Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena B. Miller - Free Book Online Page B

had passed, Joe Matthews had been outside engaged in some sort of project. He had patched a cabin roof, weeded the large vegetable garden, mowed the yard, and cleaned out all the fencerows surrounding the home. At one point, she had seen him picking the final apples from the small orchard beside the house. He had even carried away the heavy sign she’d left lying in the grass beside the fence. The man was a working machine and obviously desperate for a place to stay.
    She knew that she should be relieved to have all those chores off her to-do list, but she was more concerned about Joe’s presence in her aunts’ lives than ever. She knew them well. They would be so thrilled with him after today that they would probably offer him a key to the house. Not that they ever remembered to lock the doors anyway—or saw the need to. No matter how many times she reminded them.
    “What are you doing?” Kim Whitfield said from directly behind her.
    Rachel disliked having someone read over her shoulder, but Kim had been a real help today. Her quick dispatch work in getting the ambulance to the middle of town had kept Rachel from having to deliver a baby.
    “There’s a man staying at my aunts’ place. I’m trying to find out who he is.”
    “Did you get his name?”
    “Yes.” Rachel paused. “He gave me a name.”
    “You don’t believe him?”
    “I don’t know.” Rachel clicked a button, and a list of Joe Matthewses from across the country filled the screen. “Maybe. Maybe not. That’s the problem.”
    “I can help if you want. What’s he done?”
    “The only thing he’s done is spit and polish my aunts’ farm today.”
    “And that’s a bad thing?”
    Rachel swiveled around in her desk chair. “It’s a bad thing when my aunts believe in ‘entertaining angels unaware.’”
    Kim cocked an eyebrow. “This guy is no angel, huh?”
    “Who knows? Perhaps I’m being prejudiced because he has a beard, long hair, no money, and no transportation.”
    “That describes my last two boyfriends,” Kim said. “I tend to fall for losers.”
    “I wouldn’t exactly describe him as a loser—he has a confidence about him that is at odds with his situation. There’s something ‘off’ about this guy, though. I can feel it.”
    Kim grabbed a notebook and pen. “Tell me everything else you know and I’ll see what I can find.”
    “He has a child with him named Bobby, and his wife died awhile back. Her name was Grace. He’s wearing old work clothes, but his tennis shoes are top-of-the-line.”
    “That’s it?”
    “That’s it. Except for one other thing.”
    Kim stopped scribbling in her notebook. “What’s that?”
    “He uses his fork in his left hand and his knife in his right. That tends to be something only people from other countries do.”
    “Is he European?”
    Rachel stood up and leaned back against the desk. “He doesn’t have an accent. I can’t detect a trace of any particular locality at all. That in itself bothers me.”
    “We don’t have a terrorist right here in Sugarcreek, do we?” Kim looked troubled. “That sounds a little nutty.”
    “I doubt it’s anything that exotic, but I’m not going to relax until I know who this guy is.”
    Kim sat down in the chair Rachel had vacated. “I’ll noodle around with it and let you know if I find anything.”
    For the first time, Rachel decided that Kim had possibilities.

    It had been years since he’d done any yard work. Back in LA, he’d had gardeners to do all that. But it was worth all the sweat and blisters to see Bobby so contented and happy. During supper, Joe got to hear about Bobby’s day and playing with Anna. His son showed him all the pictures he had colored. Anna wanted Joe to admire her pictures too, upon which he lavished praise.
    It felt good to be part of a little community of gentle people, especially people who expected nothing more from him than repairs and yard work.
    It would be nice to stay here awhile longer, but he was