Read Online The Big Cat Nap by Rita Mae Brown - Free Book Online Page A

Too much sitting.” He smiled again. “You slimmed down.”
    They walked to her back porch, screened in as most back porches were in this part of the world.
    “Did. Tending to Didee put me off food.” She poured tea from a cooler she kept on the table when she worked outside. “Herb, it’s easy to have faith when everything’s going your way. Watching my sister die, well, I asked painful questions and I have no answers.”
    “None of us do. You were wonderful to your sister and she was grateful. You have a deep capacity for love and hard work, Miranda. You endured George’s passing with similar fortitude.” Herb mentioned her late husband.
    “That was so long ago,” she said almost wistfully. “And mercifully quick.”
    “I pray for a heart attack.” He held up his hand. “It’s up to the Good Lord, but why linger?” He paused. “Is there anything I can do, sweetie?”
    “Your friendship is healing. You, Harry, Susan, and the girls.” She referred to BoomBoom and Alicia as the girls. “I have such wonderful friends.”
    “Because you’re a wonderful friend.”
    They drank their tea, both in rocking chairs, pushing away.
    “Recovered?” she asked him.
    “From what?”
    “Finding that body at ReNu.”
    “Poor fellow didn’t have a chance. It was gruesome. But somehow I can’t stop thinking”—he shifted his weight—“that if only I had walked in a few minutes earlier, I might have been able to stop it. Rush forward, yell, anything. Know what I mean?”
    She nodded her agreement. “I understand.”
    They rocked some more. A soft breeze lifted the wisteria climbing over the back porch and onto the roof, yet another chore Miranda would attend to in time: taming her wisteria.
    “Herb, to change the subject. You picked up your truck from ReNu.”
    “Finally, yes. The sheriff’s department wanted to examine every vehicle on the lot.”
    “Are you satisfied with the work?”
    He put his glass down. “Sure, but I just got the truck back. Hopefully I won’t have further problems.”
    “Safe and Sound gave me a list of acceptable repair garages. ReNu is the only one in our area. Now, that doesn’t seem right. I’m not paying to have my Outback towed to Richmond. But Latigo Bly says ReNu does good work at good prices.”
    “Any idea how long it will take for your car to be repaired?” Herb asked.
    “Once I get on the schedule, it should take a day. Of course, they cover themselves by making me sign a paper saying if more damage is discovered they will not perform the work until Safe and Sound agrees to it. Herb, this goes on and on.”
    “Well, it does. I went through the same thing. Everybody is covering their butt.”
    She changed the subject. “I bought a Dell. Lots of good stuff for a good price. Well, there’s another company. You try getting something fixed or help from a so-called geek at Dell. What a nightmare. I’m learning about more than computers!”
    “I’ve heard Dell’s support is dreadful.” He fished the mint out of his tea to chew. “Comes down to service. As long as everything works, you’re fine. Those great online deals make you feel like you’re smart. I’d rather pay more for a product and know the people that sold it to me will stand behind it.” He smiled at her sideways. “You know I stand by my product.”
    She laughed. “You stinker. Did you come over here to try to get me to leave the Church of the Holy Light? I know you think I’m a Holy Roller.”
    “Did I ever say that, Miranda? Even once?”
    “You didn’t have to. You high-church people can be such snobs. You aren’t, though.”
    “Well, now, I am a Lutheran pastor and I will always be a Lutheran pastor, but I believe we can all work together. I guess where I havetrouble is reaching out to the fanatics, at least those whom I consider fanatics. The folks who preach about a God of vengeance.”
    “Yes.” She sighed. “Sometimes Reverend Paisley gets carried away with the fire and