Read Online Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls) by Linda Goodnight - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Linda Goodnight
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best.”
If ever Austin doubted anything, he doubted that. He’d been down a road where nothing worked out, where evil prevailed and no amount of prayer or begging God made a bit of difference.
Uncle Digger gestured toward the pie case. “I guess you’re wanting some of Evelyn’s pie.”
Relieved to move past the uncomfortable subject of prayer, Austin nodded. “Milk, too, if you have it.”
“I surely do. Anything in a package or a can, I probably got it.” With the pace of a snail, Uncle Digger slid a presliced pie from the pie case. Three slices were already gone and the perfectly browned crust oozed cinnamon-scented apples. “Too bad that sister of yours can’t cook.”
“She can. A little. But she won’t.”
“Never find a man that way.”
“She’s not looking.”
“Sure she is. She just don’t know it. You are, too. A man without a good woman is only going through the motions.”
Austin pointed a finger. “Now wait a minute, Uncle Digger.”
Uncle Digger waved a spatula at him. “Simmer down, son. I didn’t mean no harm. Tell me all about her.”
“Cassie?”
Uncle Digger snorted. “That pretty gal you found under Whisper Falls. Exciting tale, right there. Reckon she’ll give us a testimony for the website?”
News traveled fast in small towns, but Austin had no intention of sharing Annalisa’s problems with anyone. He sure didn’t want anybody knowing about his.
“Not much to tell. Her name’s Annalisa Keller. She’s alone and looking for work. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Work, you say? Well, let me think.” Uncle Digger paused with spatula hiked in the air like a fly swatter while Austin’s mouth watered at the sight of that crusty pie, so close and yet still several minutes away. There was no use rushing Uncle Digger. Only Miss Evelyn could do that.
The door opened again and an unfamiliar family of four came inside. A man in khaki shorts asked, “When is the next train ride?”
“Tomorrow morning, ten-thirty sharp. Just like always.” Uncle Digger motioned the spatula toward the cash register. “You want to buy tickets today? You get a little discount for buying in advance.”
“Might as well.”
Austin’s hopes for pie dwindled as Uncle Digger left the pie case in favor of a ticket sale. He considered retrieving the slice for himself, and then he thought about going down to the drive-in restaurant instead. Before he could make up his mind, other customers filtered in and behind them came the energetic, rosy-cheeked Miss Evelyn. In a whirlwind of activity, she bustled into the snack shop. That was Miss Evelyn’s way. Where Uncle Digger moved as slow as a sloth, Miss Evelyn fidgeted and hurried, buzzing around like a bee after honey.
She breezed behind the counter, pecked a grinning Uncle Digger on the cheek, and asked, “Is he getting you some pie, Austin?”
“I keep hoping.”
Evelyn cackled at his attempted humor and headed for the pie case to scoop out the slice he’d been dreaming about. “Milk, too?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“I was getting it,” Uncle Digger hollered, although he appeared rooted in one spot next to the ticket window.
“Never you mind, honey. We don’t want the boy to starve to death. You go right on with what you’re doing.” She gave Austin a conspiratorial wink.
“Thanks, Miss Evelyn. Uncle Digger tells me you and Cassie are hard at work cleaning up Whisper Falls.”
“We’re doing our best. Your sister is a bundle of energy, and she has a thumb almost as green as mine.” Evelyn slid the pie and milk in front of him along with a fork and napkin before moving on to the next customer. She could have a roomful of people served before Uncle Digger got his hands out of his pockets.
“I met your pretty visitor,” she went on. “Annalisa. Isn’t that the prettiest name, Digger?” The old man bobbed his head but didn’t get a chance to speak. “Poor little thing with that broken arm.
If ever Austin doubted anything, he doubted that. He’d been down a road where nothing worked out, where evil prevailed and no amount of prayer or begging God made a bit of difference.
Uncle Digger gestured toward the pie case. “I guess you’re wanting some of Evelyn’s pie.”
Relieved to move past the uncomfortable subject of prayer, Austin nodded. “Milk, too, if you have it.”
“I surely do. Anything in a package or a can, I probably got it.” With the pace of a snail, Uncle Digger slid a presliced pie from the pie case. Three slices were already gone and the perfectly browned crust oozed cinnamon-scented apples. “Too bad that sister of yours can’t cook.”
“She can. A little. But she won’t.”
“Never find a man that way.”
“She’s not looking.”
“Sure she is. She just don’t know it. You are, too. A man without a good woman is only going through the motions.”
Austin pointed a finger. “Now wait a minute, Uncle Digger.”
Uncle Digger waved a spatula at him. “Simmer down, son. I didn’t mean no harm. Tell me all about her.”
“Cassie?”
Uncle Digger snorted. “That pretty gal you found under Whisper Falls. Exciting tale, right there. Reckon she’ll give us a testimony for the website?”
News traveled fast in small towns, but Austin had no intention of sharing Annalisa’s problems with anyone. He sure didn’t want anybody knowing about his.
“Not much to tell. Her name’s Annalisa Keller. She’s alone and looking for work. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Work, you say? Well, let me think.” Uncle Digger paused with spatula hiked in the air like a fly swatter while Austin’s mouth watered at the sight of that crusty pie, so close and yet still several minutes away. There was no use rushing Uncle Digger. Only Miss Evelyn could do that.
The door opened again and an unfamiliar family of four came inside. A man in khaki shorts asked, “When is the next train ride?”
“Tomorrow morning, ten-thirty sharp. Just like always.” Uncle Digger motioned the spatula toward the cash register. “You want to buy tickets today? You get a little discount for buying in advance.”
“Might as well.”
Austin’s hopes for pie dwindled as Uncle Digger left the pie case in favor of a ticket sale. He considered retrieving the slice for himself, and then he thought about going down to the drive-in restaurant instead. Before he could make up his mind, other customers filtered in and behind them came the energetic, rosy-cheeked Miss Evelyn. In a whirlwind of activity, she bustled into the snack shop. That was Miss Evelyn’s way. Where Uncle Digger moved as slow as a sloth, Miss Evelyn fidgeted and hurried, buzzing around like a bee after honey.
She breezed behind the counter, pecked a grinning Uncle Digger on the cheek, and asked, “Is he getting you some pie, Austin?”
“I keep hoping.”
Evelyn cackled at his attempted humor and headed for the pie case to scoop out the slice he’d been dreaming about. “Milk, too?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
“I was getting it,” Uncle Digger hollered, although he appeared rooted in one spot next to the ticket window.
“Never you mind, honey. We don’t want the boy to starve to death. You go right on with what you’re doing.” She gave Austin a conspiratorial wink.
“Thanks, Miss Evelyn. Uncle Digger tells me you and Cassie are hard at work cleaning up Whisper Falls.”
“We’re doing our best. Your sister is a bundle of energy, and she has a thumb almost as green as mine.” Evelyn slid the pie and milk in front of him along with a fork and napkin before moving on to the next customer. She could have a roomful of people served before Uncle Digger got his hands out of his pockets.
“I met your pretty visitor,” she went on. “Annalisa. Isn’t that the prettiest name, Digger?” The old man bobbed his head but didn’t get a chance to speak. “Poor little thing with that broken arm.
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