Hens and Chickens

Hens and Chickens by Jennifer Wixson Read Free Book Online

Book: Hens and Chickens by Jennifer Wixson Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Wixson
one of my Tweeps,” said the girl. Her voice held a hint of boredom. “One of my followers on Twitter,” she added, as an explanatory note.
    Hobart felt his masculine hackles rising. She had pre-judged him and dismissed him! She thought he was a clodhopper who chopped wood (well, he did chop his own wood) and lived under a rock (he did not ) and who didn’t know anything about social media or smartphones or designer coffee (he did know all about it, and that’s some of why he lived in Sovereign). Hobart’s pride was nicked, and for a moment he wanted to play the doofus . But the carpenter’s better nature prevailed and he shrugged the slight off. Unfortunately, some of the shine dissipated from the young woman, as well.
    Hobart felt himself sinking back down to earth. The sparkling light seemed to get sucked out of the shop. He even noticed a dust bunny that had eluded Ralph trying to sneak under the nearest shelf.
    Hobart turned away from the waif to address her much more pleasant companion. “I’d take Miss Hastings a bag of black oil sunflower seed if I were you,” he said, kindly. “Matilda loves bird seed – and Miss Hastings loves Matilda, as do most of the children in town.”
    “You know her?” the woman asked.
    “Everybody knows Miss Hastings.”
    “Of … course.”
    “I hear she has about 4,000 followers on Twitter, now.” Hobart couldn’t resist letting the girl know that he wasn’t a complete idiot.
    “Hmmm,” said Lila, with the faintest interest.
    “Sounds perfect,” interjected her friend. “Bird seed it is – OK, Lila?”
    Without waiting to hear Lila’s reply, Hobart strode over to the ‘Seed and Feed’ aisle, and hefted a 50-pound sack of black oil sunflower seed onto his shoulder as easily as though it was a small child. He carried the bag up to Ralph Gilpin, who was now awaiting them at the check-out counter.  
    The girl, Lila, reached the counter next, and pulled out her wallet to pay for the birdseed. “How much?” she asked Ralph, ignoring Hobart. She smiled sweetly at the apron-clad shopkeeper.
    “Twenty-five dollars,” replied Ralph, grinning, a bit foolishly.  Hobart noticed he altogether neglected the register.
    “Plus tax,” Hobart added.
    “Right—plus tax,” said Ralph, hastily. “ ‘Twould make it $26.25.” The shopkeeper rang the sale into the register and the drawer chinked open.
    Lila pulled two twenties slowly from her wallet. Hobart waited patiently, shifting the heavy weight of the birdseed on his back. As the girl reached over the counter to hand the money to the skinny shopkeeper, he caught a whiff of some kind of natural soap scent. Hobart took the opportunity as she leaned closer to examine her face. Her smooth skin was pale and wan, and dark shadows ringed a set of pretty hazel eyes. So, things were not as they appeared on the surface!
    Transaction complete, the girl pocketed her change. She smiled again at Ralph, this time more naturally, and Hobart, who was still assessing her, caught the edge of her smile and felt the sun burst through the clouds. She moved toward the glass door with the grace of a white tail deer, and Hobart felt his innards tighten and his hopes begin to rise again.
    Wake up, Mike , he cautioned himself, feeling bedazzled. Don’t do anything stupid.
    Behind him, Ralph slapped the register drawer shut, breaking Hobart’s heady trance. The carpenter waved a parting salutation at the shopkeeper, and exited the store.
    The girl reached the car first, and pulled her navy wool jacket closer against the dampness of the evening. She shivered slightly. “You can put it in the backseat,” she said. “Our stuff is in the trunk.”
    Hobart shifted the birdseed to his left shoulder and opened the car door with his right hand. He tossed the 50-pound bag into the back seat, straightened up and brushed off his front. “Tell Miss Hastings I’ll stop by in the morning and unload the bag for her,” he said.
    Lila started to

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