Boo (38 page)

“Hi. Sorry to interrupt your conversation.”

“What are you doing?” Garth asked quickly.

Wolfe turned to Garth. “Well, I think you were right on track earlier when you said you just ask someone about a rumor instead of believing it.”

“What rumor?” Ainsley asked.

“Well, Garth heard that you want me to take you to New York City.”

Ainsley laughed. “What? That’s absurd. I’ve never wanted to see that place. It seems like one chaotic nutty bin.”

Wolfe smiled. “What about always wanting to be, um … hooked up, as Garth puts it, with a novelist?”

Ainsley’s eyebrows rose as she stared at Garth. “Well, I’ve only known one novelist in my life, and thank the good Lord he’s not writing what he used to anymore. So no, I don’t guess that’s true, either.”

Wolfe sighed in relief and turned to Garth. “You’re right, Garth. The direct approach is definitely the best.”

Garth smiled, but he didn’t look happy. Miss Peeple said, “Rumors are nasty old things, aren’t they? Where they come from nobody knows. But thank heavens they eventually are stopped in their tracks.”

Ainsley smiled and patted Wolfe on the knee. “Well, I’d better go get the dessert ready. Want to help?”

“Sure.”

Wolfe followed Ainsley into the kitchen but stopped near a window. The snow was so beautiful, falling in sheets of delicate flakes onto the already white ground. Wolfe suspected the temperature had dropped several degrees in the past hour, and he was thankful for how warm and cozy it was inside the house.

He glanced down and noticed his shoe was untied, but as he bent down to tie it, the engagement ring he had removed from the box and put in his pocket had somehow worked its way up and out. It chimed as it struck the tile, and Wolfe gasped, scooping it up quickly and tucking it away before glancing over his shoulder to see if Ainsley had noticed. She was at the oven, pulling out what smelled like a pecan pie. He stood and sighed with relief.

He turned away from her and nearly knocked Miss Peeple over.

“I’m … I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you, I mean I didn’t know … How long have you been there?”

She winked at him as she leaned on her cane. “Long enough, deary, long enough. Don’t you worry your pretty little self. These lips are sealed. There’s nothing worse than a flapping tongue out of control to terrorize the community.” She smacked her lips shut.

“Oh, thanks. It’s not for sure. It’s just in my pocket. I mean, this probably isn’t the time, or maybe it is, I don’t know—”

She waved her hand at him. “Don’t worry. It will work itself out.”

Wolfe caught his breath and realized how much he’d babbled and what he’d revealed. He stared at the ground, rubbing his temples.

“Wolfe! Come look at this pecan pie I just pulled out of the oven.”

“Excuse me,” Wolfe said. He quickly turned to the kitchen, where Ainsley was hovering over her newest pie.

“It’ll have to cool for a while, but that will give everyone time to digest round one, and”—she looked at the guests crowded around the pies she’d already set out—“it looks like they’ve got a good start over there!” She looked at him and frowned. “Are you okay? You’re white as a ghost.”

He tried to smile. “I’m fine. The pie looks incredible. And the food was incredible. You’re incredible.”

Ainsley looked surprised and pleased all at once. She set her oven mitts down and stared into his eyes. “I like you more and more every second I get to know you.”

“I feel the same about you.”

“I have a lot to be thankful for, but most of all that I know a man as sincere, genuine, kind, and honest as you are.” She lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get to know you. It should’ve been sooner.”

He grabbed her hands. “Let’s just believe the timing is perfect.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

A throat cleared, and they turned to find Sheriff Parker and Butch
standing near the kitchen counter. “Sorry to interrupt,” Butch said with a brotherly smirk on his face.

“You’re not,” Ainsley said, eyeing both of them carefully. “How’s the dessert?”

“Great, as always,” her father said.

“Then we’d better try some before it’s all gone,” Wolfe said, and with boldness that he never knew he had, he took her hand and guided her between Butch and Sheriff Parker to the dessert buffet. She was smiling from ear to ear.

“I love when you do that!” she said.

“I
T
’
S NOT MY FAULT
!” Garth exclaimed.

Miss Peeple flapped her hands and said, “Sssshhhh! Keep your voice down, you moron.” Luckily everyone was gathered around the dessert buffet.

“I did my job. He didn’t bite. Obviously your plan, whatever it was, didn’t work either, so stop pointing fingers,” he said, pointing his own long, skinny one in her face. “And don’t you forget, I’ve got a certain little recording that I’d be happy to use as entertainment on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day.”

“Don’t you threaten me, you little beanpole. You have no idea what you’re up against.”

“You? You’re like two hundred years old and your back’s curved like that cane of yours. How am I supposed to be frightened of you? I’ve got evidence of your craftiness that would blow this little town away. And I’ve made fifteen copies of that tape just in case you get any funny ideas. So don’t think you can push me around with that marmy schmarmy ‘I’m so wise and deceitful’ business. You don’t
know
wise and deceitful, Missy.”

She shook her head at him and laughed. The poor lad tried hard, but at his best he was just a lot of hot air blowing out a few not-so-impressive words. Sure he was tall and physically much stronger than she. But he was no match for Missy Peeple. Few were. And so for a moment she stood silently, quietly, allowing him to think that in some way he’d affected her. The more she let him float, the bigger the bubble would become. She loved to pop big bubbles.

“Well?” he finally said. “Are you just going to stand there and pout, or are we going to come up with a plan?”

Miss Peeple knew long before this moment that Garth Twyne was
a desperate man. And she knew desperate, lovesick men were capable of just about anything. This man’s world was about to be turned upside down, and she would count on his desperation to stir up something akin to the storm of the century. But first she was going to have to put him in his place.

“I know about Thief.”

Garth’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“I know you botched the job. I know Thief, in fact, is
not
neutered.”

She actually heard him gulp. “What’d you do? Sneak into my office?” He gasped. “Did you look at my files?”

“It doesn’t matter, does it? The truth is, you botched the operation and told the sheriff he was neutered. You and I, dear Garth, know exactly why this town is overly populated with cats. And that’s one too many to know such a thing.” She smiled sweetly at him.

Garth was processing all this, and Missy let it sink in for a moment before saying, “It’s too late, besides.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s hopeless now.”

“What are you talking about?”

In barely a whisper, one that was so quiet she was sure he would only be able to catch every third word, she said, “Boo is going to ask Ainsley to marry him. Today.”

He lurched, as if someone had punched him in the gut. Apparently he’d gotten sufficient information from her feeble whisper. She tried not to smile.

“How do you know this?” he asked in a high-pitched squeak.

“Boo told me. And I saw the ring. Beautiful.”

“This can’t be! They’ve only dated a few weeks!”

“I’m sorry, Garth. I know how this must break your heart. But listen, you and Melb make a fine couple. At least you won’t be alone.”

“No!” Garth said, and this time a few people over by the desserts turned around. He smiled and waved, but he was growing pale and looked as if he was going to throw up.

“Oh, honey, listen. It’s not as bad as it seems. And Melb is enamored with you. Haven’t you seen the way she looks into your eyes?”

Garth’s face twisted, and she thought he might scream. But in a low, controlled, and very angry voice he said, “You know Melb hates my guts. She’s in love with
Wolfe
.” He looked at her with a harried expression. “They’re
not
in love. Ainsley is a dreamer. She always has been. One of these days she’s going to realize that what she needs is a stable breadwinner like myself. She’s too caught up in the lovey-dovey feelings.”

Miss Peeple watched as Garth’s loathsome eyes roamed the room. He was like a bull looking for some poor soul to gore. He was right where she wanted him. She was a little sad she’d played the Thief card so soon.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” he said. “When did he say he was going to do this awful thing?”

“Sounded like very soon, but he wasn’t specific. I’d say soon, though.”

Garth slapped his forehead with his hand. “This can’t be happening. He knew. He
knew
.”

“Knew what?”

“That Ainsley was falling for me. That’s the only reason he’d do something so insane as to ask her to marry him
now
. I’ve got to tell her how I feel about her, tell her how she feels about me. Make her see.”

“I doubt that will work. Love can make people blind, Garth.” And apparently nonsensical as well.

“You’re right.” Then he stopped, and by the look on his face, Miss Peeple knew Garth had a plan. “But if I make her see the real Wolfe Boone … expose him for what he truly is …”

“And what exactly is that, dear?”

“I don’t know yet. But I’ll come up with something.”

With dessert over, the crowd had gathered by the fire for a wonderful, creamy pumpkin drink that Ainsley had made. Outside the snow fell more and more heavily, and Wolfe worried for a moment about how people would get home. But as far as he was concerned, getting stranded here was not a bad thing.

Ainsley was busy in the kitchen with something, but Wolfe was, nevertheless, enjoying the fire and the company. Garth’s and Alfred’s antics aside, he found this crowd fairly amusing. Miss Peeple, whose date was Alfred Tennison, was sitting on a cozy love seat with Mayor Wullisworth listening to him tell war stories about an unspecific war. Alfred seemed content next to Ainsley’s friend Marlee, who was wedged between Alfred and Butch and enjoying the close company. Wolfe studied Butch and decided he was the perfect antithesis to himself. His sweater was tied neatly around his neck, his short blond hair perfectly spiked. He seemed to know what his smile did when he flashed it, so he flashed it a lot, laughed heartily, and told jokes with perfect timing. Wolfe didn’t hate him, though. In fact, he appreciated him, because with all the attributes also came a sincerity that Wolfe could easily recognize. These all came easily for Butch, and his charismatic personality just liked to show them off.

But Wolfe could only devote half his attention to studying how to be the perfect male. The other half went to a conversation with Melb, whom Wolfe had decided was a lovely lady with a heart of gold. It was rare to find someone as attentive to a conversation as Melb was, and soon he found the conversation shifting from his novel
Black Cats
to his newfound faith. Melb seemed happy to listen, and so they talked about the Lord in front of the roaring fire, sheltered from the storm.

“How’s my peach fuzz?”

Melb and Wolfe glanced up to find Garth standing above them, grinning. “Garth.”

He scooted her over on the couch and put his arm around her neck, though Melb might have been a football player for all Garth’s sensitivity. Melb tried to smile graciously.

“What’re you two over here chattin’ about?”

“Jesus Christ,” Melb said, looking at Wolfe with joy.

“It’s true,” Wolfe said.

“Oh … for a moment I thought you’d just taken the Lord’s name in vain, but you’re actually talking about Him, are you?”

“Yep! Wolfe is quite knowledgeable about the Bible.”

Wolfe shook his head. “I just know a few things. I have a lot to learn.”

Garth turned to Melb. “Your eyes look watery.”

“What?”

“Watery. And red. Are you having allergies again?”

Melb blinked. “Allergies?”

“You
are!
Why didn’t you say something? Before you know it your face is going to swell like rising bread, and you’re going to start coughing. You know how that phlegm tends to gag you. Did you bring your inhaler? Of
course
you didn’t.” Garth looked at Wolfe. “She’s always in denial about this. Her doctor tells her to bring her inhaler everywhere, but does she listen?
Noooooo.”
He pinched her cheek. Melb looked a little dazed. “Wolfe, will you do me a favor?”

“A favor?”

He stood and motioned for Wolfe to do the same. His hand guided Wolfe aside. “Listen, it’s the cat. Melb unfortunately loves cats and wouldn’t ever mention it, but she’s allergic to them. And if she has a full-blown attack, she might have to go to the hospital.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, I wish I were. Would you mind seeing if you can find Thief and putting him out in the garage?”