Christmas Kisses (Romance on the Ranch Series #5) by Verna Clay Read Free Book Online

As
Cecelia passed by on her walk to work, the white-haired old woman had called
from her front porch, "I hear yer the new owner of that fancy coffee shop."
    Cecelia had paused and smiled. "Yes, I
am."
    Without returning her smile, the neighbor
replied, "Now, don't git me wrong, I like coffee; jus' not with all them extras.
Black was good enough fer my ma and pa and mamma and pampa, and it's good
enough fer me. Now, missy, what are you doin' livin' in that house with that
man who's about as friendly as a rabid dog? Why, I come over one day after he
first moved in jus' so's I could meet my neighbor an' he wouldn't even open the
door. Jus' called through it sayin' he wasn't up to meetin' anybody. Hell, I
can understand that, but I tried agin a few days later and got the same
treatment." She paused for breath and continued nonstop. "Now Sadie,
yer neighbor at yer other house, said you's rentin' that house, but I told her
you was also livin' here cause I seen ya packin' yer suitcases in. Don't make a
lick o' sense to us. After Mr. Unsociable refused all efforts by his neighbors
to welcome him to the neighborhood, we jus' let him be—some folk jus' ain't
friendly. But with you movin' in, and you both bein' from out of town, we're wonderin'
what's goin' on. You two ain't doin' nothin' illegal, is ya?" She didn't
wait for Cecelia to answer before forging onward. "Cause if ya are, we
don't want ya in our neighborhood. Now, Sadie said she talked with ya after tryin'
one of yer fancy frappes and said you seemed right nice. But I know looks can
be deceivin'; my first husband taught me all about that. A more handsome devil
was never born, but devil is the right word fer him, why he–"
    Cecelia had the feeling that if she didn't
interrupt, the woman would talk for hours.
    "Please, ma'am, let me introduce myself. My
name is Cecelia Brightman and I bought the coffee shop from Dixie Kosky because
I just love this town. My sister-in-law, Tooty Brightman, lived here most of her
life before marrying my brother. They now live in the next county."
    The woman interrupted Cecelia's interruption.
"Yeah, Sadie told me you was related to Tooty and her husband who writes
all them books. Why, ever-so-often we see Tooty and her man on them magazines 'bout
the movie stars. Usually, the stuff they write is hogwash, but sometimes they
hit the nail on the head, like when they talked 'bout the passel of kids she
and her hubby have."
    Cecelia interrupted again. "So, what is
your name?"
    "I'm Fannie Levinworth. I've lived in
Paxtonville since I was five. I–"
    "Well, Mrs. Levinworth, let me assure you
that there are no illegal activities happening in this house. And you're right
about the owner being reclusive. He simply likes his privacy–"
    "So he's got that mental disorder that don't
let him out of the house and–"
    "No, I wouldn't go that far. He simply
likes–"
    "So what are you doin' livin' there?"
    Cecelia gave Fannie a smile meant to comfort.
"I'm assisting the resident while he recovers from surgery. That's
all."
    "Does this resident have a
name?"
    "I call him Mac."
    Fannie tilted her head and studied Cecelia.
"You kinda' sorta' answered my questions, but you're still holdin' back.
However, I can take a hint when it's time fer me to mind my own bizness. I've
had five surgeries myself, so's I know how miserable a person can feel after
one. If'n you need any help with Mac, you jus' let me know. In fact, you
can call on any of yer neighbors fer help."
    Cecelia had a sudden liking for Fannie and
replied warmly, "I thank you, and Mac thanks you."
    Now, waiting for Dr. Hillsborough to open Mac's
car door, Cecelia turned her attention from Fannie peeking through her
curtains, to her patient. Her heart hammered. The doctor rounded the front of
the SUV, and said, "Hello. You must be Ms. Brightman. Nice making your
acquaintance. I'm Dr. Hillsborough." He opened the car door. "I'll
warn you, your patient isn't in the best of moods. Part of that, I'm sure,