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Chapter 198
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The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 199
VOLUME SEVEN: A SADDLE CREEK CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2Book 1: A New Diner for ChristmasSusan Malloy glanced at her longtime friend, Lori Witherite, sitting across from her at a glass table on the lanai. A warm morning ocean breeze flipped her hair off her face while she sipped an iced coffee."It sure is beautiful here in Florida. I love it." Susan pushed her hair behind her ears."Yes, it is, and you've worked so hard for too many years not to enjoy it year-round." Lori smoothed the tablecloth."But what about the summer? I'm not sure I'm cut out for such humidity for so long. Yesterday afternoon was too hot for me, and it's only May. I must have really thick blood." Susan grinned. "I'll be inside most of the year," she complained then took a long drink of iced coffee."Nothing wrong with looking at this view through the window, is there?" Lori beckoned to the tumbling ocean waves."No, that's true, but what about my lifelong friends in Saddle Creek? They're like family t
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 200
A week later, Susan opened the door to the Saddle Creek sheriff's office. When Mitch peeked around the corner of his office doorway, his face lit up. Susan opened her arms, needing a hug from a familiar face at home. After the embrace, she said, "It's so good to see you, Mitch. I was so excited to get back here, I almost got my first ever speeding ticket.""It's good to see you, too, Susan. Sorry about the ticket but it's for your own safety." Mitch smiled."And the cop reduced it to a warning since it was her first one ever," Lori interjected. "Suse, you have to tell the whole story. Good thing I was there with you or you'd still be bawling along the side of the road."Mitch, this loud-mouthed broad is my best friend since we were kids, Lori Witherite. we're ready to get back to work. Oh, Lori, this is Sheriff Mitch Rogers."Lori and Mitch shook hands."Are you going to sell the diner or revive it?" Mitch stretched his arms above his head."We're going to make it better th
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 201
John Davis, Mitch's uncle, sat on the porch, his foot touching the floor every so often to keep the rocker moving. The noise from the night bugs filled the cool air with a sense of peace, and the country farm smell of the horses in the barn was a relaxing elixir. He missed his wife Elizabeth of almost fifty years. She'd been good to him, took care of him, but they never had any children. He had no one to give his last name to, let alone any legacy. When he died, the Davis name would end.Their home, or his home in Montana was too lonely and had too many reminders of their long and mostly happy life together. Everywhere he saw her handicrafts: the curtains she made for the kitchen window, the embroidered pillowcases, the afghan she'd crocheted to cover her feet on cold winter nights.It had only been a few months since he'd laid her to rest, but it seemed like years. She'd died inside when she received the diagnosis of terminal cancer about six months ago. She'd said her goodbyes th
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 202
The banker, Janet Trumpey, did a double take and then waved to Susan. Susan knew her from years of banking with her. Janet was a small woman, dark brown wavy hair and hazel eyes. Always neatly dressed and very professional, Janet was also known for a kind heart but only after thorough scrutiny and jumping through hoops. She was very empathetic, Susan remembered and hoped she'd consider using the diner and property for collateral, otherwise-"Hi, Susan, come on in." Janet offered her a chair. Susan was always surprised by how clean and uncluttered they kept their desks. There wasn't even a sticky pad to take a note on."How have you been?" Janet closed her door and sat behind the wooden desk in a large leather chair."I've been good. You've probably heard more than I have about the diner's closure, so I've come back to do it all over again. The next time I sell it, it'll be to someone with a credible reputation." Susan twisted her purse straps."Yes, I did hear, and I must say e
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 203
"Sorry, I guess I got carried away." John turned toward the counter where he'd placed his clipboard."It's okay, I-it was good. It felt good. We're celebrating, aren't we?" Susan followed and stood beside him. "What do we do first?""I already have the wall down and the new one ready to go, so I need to figure out how much lumber I need and schedule the electrician. You probably know the best in town, so why don't you schedule him and a plumber. We want all the innards of the place to be clean and ready to go." John picked up the clipboard and moved over to where he intended to build the wall."Okay, I can make those calls. Any preferred time?" she asked."No, I'll be here all day, so anytime is fine.""When are you going to pick up the lumber?" Susan asked."I'm not. We'll have it delivered. Don't have a truck big enough anyway. I hope I can get it soon.""Yeah, me. too. Since we have the money it's work, work, work. I've been wanting to do a deep clean on the grill and
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 204
"We never had any children. How about you?" Susan stood and bent over at the waist. Her lower back was giving her fits today."We never did either. I guess we weren't parent material." John put his plate in the garbage and stood beside Susan."I guess so, but we'll never know what we missed then, will we?""You're right. But is it too late?" John extended his arms in dance position."What? What do you mean?""Is it too late to do the things you've always loved doing, like dancing?""No, I don't think so." Susan stepped into his embrace.He put his arm around her waist and hummed. He led her around the front dining area, twirled her under his arm through the open kitchen doors then into the room addition, which was wide open. Susan stared into his deep blue eyes. Mesmerized, stymied.Heat streamed through her veins, her breaths short and erratic. Then she realized he'd slowed, and they simply stood in place and swayed. She thought he was going to kiss her when he leaned
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 205
"Hi, there. I noticed you're doing some renovations, and I'm looking for some work for a little extra money. My wife's pregnant with our first baby and had to quit working, so we're a little short of cash right.""What's your name?" Susan knew almost everybody in town, since they'd all at one time or another eaten at her establishment. He sure did look familiar. The patterned blue shirt worn over dirt streaked T-shirt and knee-torn blue jeans indicated they'd already seen an eight hour or more day."I'm Ben Paige, my folks live at - "Susan said, "I know your folks, looks like you grew up when I wasn't looking.""Yes, ma'am, I guess I did," Ben answered."What type of work do you like to do?" John crossed his arms over his chest."I'm open to anything. I have a full-time job, so I could only work nights and weekends but, as you know, every little bit helps."Susan and John looked at each other. "Yes, we do know.""How's your balance, Ben?" John asked."It's fine, I wo
The Saddle Creek Series Chapter 206
John came by around seven p.m. with a pizza he'd driven all the way into Jackson to pick up. He knocked on Susan's apartment door and surveyed the surrounding buildings and plants. Susan deserved better than this.When Susan opened the door, John was dazed. She sure was pretty with her hair going every which way. The dark circles underneath her eyes stood out on her pale, almost luminescent skin. She wore blue jogging pants with a matching top in a pretty blue-green matching her eyes."Come on in." Susan took the pizza from him, stepped aside, heading to the kitchen.John admired her cute ass as he followed her, but he'd also observed her limp. He shook his head. "You should make an appointment with your doctor. You may need x-rays. You realize you're limping, right? You've got all those nerves riled up, too.""Yes, I know, and yes I need to see the doctor. But, I'm starving, so let's have dinner."They sat at the kitchen table and they talked a few minutes about the diner. B
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