Barbara Levenson - Mary Magruder Katz 03 - Outrageous October by Barbara Levenson Read Free Book Online

clapboard houses facing the green.
    “We were just about to close,” the man behind the counter said glancing at his watch. His long frame was wrapped in a white apron which said “Welcome to the Upper Valley.” A name tag pinned to the apron told me he was Hal.
    “Hi, Hal, I’m Lucy Stern’s friend from Miami. I’m on my way up to her house to spend a week or so. Sorry to keep you from closing.” I sniffed the great smells in the little store. “Boy does it smell delicious in here.”
    Hal came out from behind the counter and extended his hand. “So you’re Mary. Al Shields told us to expect you. He’s got Lucy’s place all ready for you. We’ll get you squared away with some supplies. I do the baking and cooking here early every morning so you can stop by for coffee and cinnamon rolls anytime. I’ve got some left so I’ll just box those up for you, and some of this carrot soup I made fresh today. Hal started loading bags and boxes just as a round white-haired woman came in through a side door. She had rosy cheeks and wore a long skirt and what looked like a hand crocheted sweater.
    “Margaret, this is Mary, Lucy’s friend. We’re just getting her ready to go up to the house.”
    “We’ve heard all about you. You’re the lady lawyer from Miami. Welcome. Where’s that dog I heard you were bringing?” Margaret extended her hand and gave me a firm handshake. “I run the post office right next door. Will you be getting mail while you’re here?”
    “Probably not. The dog’s in the car. Thanks for asking,” I said. I couldn’t believe these people knew more about me than some of my neighbors in Miami did.
    “I’ll help you get these packages loaded in your car. I don’t mean to rush you, but you still have a bit of a ride ahead and it’s almost dark out. The roads are pretty dark up here and you don’t want to meet a deer or a moose. They can do you a lot of damage.”
    Hal and Margaret followed me out to the SUV and loaded the groceries They both patted Sam. Hal gave him a doggy treat which Margaret said she baked herself. They pointed me back to the River Road, and we were underway again.
    As the darkness quickly settled over us, I realized just how far I was from my comfort zone. I knew how to cope with rude drivers who signaled left and turned right. I knew to count two cars after the light turned green before venturing through an intersection. Those were Miami rules. I wasn’t prepared to watch for deer and moose and to find my way through a maze of dark roads that contained neither lights nor signs.
    “Well, Toto. It looks like we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I said to Sam quoting my favorite Wizard of Oz saying. The road was a series of sharp twists and turns. Once I almost hit a tree. Thank goodness there was hardly another car in sight. I counted the dirt roads that came into view as I passed them.. I missed the third road. With no one else in sight, I backed up and took the turn. Trees loomed over the car on both sides of the narrow gravel road. The friendly village seemed more like a horror movie. My heart was pumping hard as I climbed to the top of the hill. Suddenly the white farmhouse loomed in front of us. A gravel driveway led to the side and stopped in front of a red barn. A wooded area stretched from the left side of the house. A deck or a porch hugged the front and sides of the house. A row of rocking chairs dotted the porch.
    Lights shone through the front windows. Sam jumped out and followed me to the front door. It was unlocked just as Lucy had said. We walked into a large living room. The stone fireplace that dominated the room welcomed us with the heady aroma of a wood fire. I warmed my hands for a minute while Sam eyed the fire with suspicion.
    We walked through the dining room that contained a mahogany table and eight chairs. Through a swinging door we found the kitchen. A butcher block table was set for one with a glass of red wine in front of the checkered