Jolly Dead St. Nicholas by Carol A. Guy Read Free Book Online Page B

advice, Reverend , worry about yourself now. Because by the time I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to find a job in a car wash!”
    “You’re talking like a fool. I have work to do,” Reverend Underwood said tightly.
    She heard a door close. Obviously the minister had gone into his study, shutting Jerry out. She heard footsteps. Drawing back out of sight, she prayed Jerry wouldn’t come down the main stairs. To her relief she heard his footsteps fading, so he must be going into the sanctuary and out one of its side doors.
    Well, this isn’t good. Not good at all.
    Personally Adelaide liked the minister. He had charisma. Plus, he delivered a great sermon every Sunday. In the year and a half since his arrival, he’d brought a new kind of energy into the congregation that seemed to give the members a boost when they needed it the most. Even some members whose attendance had been sporadic seemed to be coming more regularly now. Of course, his extreme good looks had perked up the women. Therein was the problem, evidently. If indeed there was something going on between Susan Hatfield and Reverend Underwood, it would have to be dealt with quickly, decisively. This sort of thing couldn’t be ignored.
    Does Fran know? Suspect? That could explain her melancholy mood this morning.
    “Are you all right?”
    The voice startled Adelaide. She looked up to find Brenda Collier staring at her quizzically from the open office doorway. “I wanted to speak with Reverend Underwood, but I don’t think now is a good time.” Adelaide said. She felt a little disoriented. Her head was still reeling from the scene she’d just overheard.
    “Why? What’s going on?” Brenda glanced up and down the main hallway.
    “That’s what I’d like to know,” Adelaide said. Before the young woman could question her further, she hurried down the stairs.
     
    * * * *
     
    By the time the box lunches were served, the social hall was packed. Adelaide got a cup of coffee and took a seat across from Ethel at one of the tables. Again, in her mind, she replayed the scene between Jerry Hatfield and Douglas Underwood. If Jerry’s accusations were true, several reputations could be ruined.
    “This is the best bazaar ever. We’ve practically sold out of baked goods, it looks like.” Ethel nodded toward the nearly bare table in the back corner.
    Before Adelaide could answer, Fran Underwood entered the social hall, nearly running into Susan Hatfield who was just leaving with a pie box balanced in one hand.
    Since Adelaide was facing the main doorway, she got a good view of the two women.
    Fran stopped in the doorway, blocking Susan’s way. Although Adelaide couldn’t see Susan’s face, she did see the woman’s back stiffen. Fran looked Susan up and down slowly, a disdainful expression on her face. Her pale green eyes narrowed as her lips formed a thin line. The two women stood there immobile for what seemed like minutes but could only have been seconds. Finally, Susan stepped back to let the minister’s wife enter the room, then scurried up the stairs.
    “What are you staring at?” Ethel asked. She turned around to look. “Oh, Fran. She’s barely spoken to a soul this morning. I still can’t figure out how she ever landed Reverend Underwood. He’s got so much personality. Poor Fran just seems to melt into his shadow.”
    Adelaide watched as the woman headed their way. “Well, here she comes. By the way, I think there may be something to that argument you heard last night between the Hatfields.”
    Ethel perked right up. “Of course there was. I told you that already.”
    Fran approached the table, her gaze focusing on Adelaide. “I’m sorry, Adelaide, but I need to go home. I know I was supposed to take another shift in an hour, but I have a horrible migraine.” Without waiting for a reply or comment, she turned and walked away.
    Adelaide noticed that when she exited the social hall, she turned right, which meant she would be leaving