Argosy Junction by Chautona Havig Read Free Book Online Page B

the counter to a scowling man on the other side.
    “Can you wrap that in some tissue or bubble wrap or something? I’m afraid it’ll get destroyed on the plane.” Matt turned to Lane and shook his head. “No, my Aunt Judy. I just hope she makes it another Christmas to use it. She loves Christmas.”
    “We’ve never celebrated it—” A derisive snort cut her off. Lane turned to the source and stood towering over a short squatty woman. “As you well know, Mrs. Peterson. Maybe we should try it this year.”
    Lane stalked out of the store as though angry, but Matt could see that she was not as immune to the snubs and subtle attacks as she pretended. He smiled at the woman before him, and reminded himself that being rude was no way to combat rudeness. “Do you know where I can find some snack foods?”
    The pudgy woman pointed to a corner of the store he’d not visited yet. Twenty minutes later, they wandered up the boarded sidewalks of Argosy Junction with bags of chips, nuts, and boxed donuts on one arm, and a few post cards and an ornament in a smaller bag on the other. “I need something for Mom. I just don’t know what to get. I’ll try to find Dad a sweatshirt at the airport.”
    “Oh! I forgot! That run-in with Mrs. Peterson unsettled me for a minute. Dad says we have lots of Argosy Ranch sweatshirts and t-shirts if you want one. They have a big sheep head on the front with ‘Argosy Ranch’ arced around it and then it says ‘Argosy Junction, Montana’ on the back. We’ve probably got a few hats like mine too if you want one.”
    Grinning, Matt nodded. “Thanks. It’ll be perfect. Dad can’t start on bison or buffalo when he’s wearing a sheep on his chest. Talk about making a guy feel sheepish—”
    “That was a very bad, yet predictable, pun. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
    “Not in the least, “Matt said nonchalantly, “I found it very apropos.”
    “An inner city thug who reads Shakespeare and uses words like apropos. What next?”
     
    ~*~*~*~
     
    After a stop at the local grocery store, Matt and Lane sat on Matt’s bed eating sour cream and onion chips dipped in cottage cheese. Lane protested at first, but after the first bite, grabbed the carton of cottage cheese, and held it hostage, allowing him only occasional dips. With the door and curtains open to protect Lane from any further gossip, they played rummy, war, crazy eights, and old maid.
    Josiah Gideon paced the courtyard for most of the visit until something in him snapped. He knocked briskly on the door and then stepped inside. “Mr. Rushby, may I have a word with you please?”
    Lane’s shoulders slumped. She climbed from the bed, grabbed her purse, and slipped between Josiah and the door. “It’s not worth it, Matt. I’ll go. Feel free to come out any time.”
    Glaring at Josiah, Matt tried to stop her, but Lane drove through the entrance before he made it outside. Josiah crossed his arms and tried to stare down his guest. “The Argosy family is not welcome here. I will have to ask that you refrain from allowing any more of that family in our cabins.”
    The temptation to remind him that a member of “that family” slept under their roof every night was keen; however, he refrained from yielding and kept his response civil. “That’s not in the terms of agreement that I signed. I agreed not to have any overnight guests without registering them, but nowhere did I sign anything saying I wouldn’t allow anyone in particular or in general in the cabin.” Matt’s jaw took on a hard edge as he worked it trying to keep his cool.
    “Then we’ll refund your money immediately and ask that you be out by five o’clock.” Josiah saw the involuntary glance Matt gave his cell phone, and shook his head. “I wouldn’t attempt to find another room in this town. I can assure you that they’ll be closed to you.”
     
    ~*~*~*~
     
    “He was right. I’ve called everywhere, and no one has a vacancy. One irate woman