Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher Read Free Book Online

right didn’t bother to look up from the papers before her. The younger woman behind a long counter smiled in welcome.
    â€œMay I help you?” she asked.
    He walked toward her. “Yes. I’m Trevor Reynolds. I have an appointment about the maintenance position. But I’m early and can wait.”
    â€œI’ll let Ollie know you’re here.”
    Trevor had barely taken a seat on one of the chairs before a man came out of the office in the back. He was a big man, in both height and width. With the exception of the plaid jacket he wore over a blue shirt above boots and jeans, the man borea striking resemblance to a character in an old movie about mountain men.
    â€œMr. Reynolds.” The man’s bushy white-and-gray beard brushed against his collarbone. He thrust out a hand. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Oliver Abbott.”
    Abbott? His meeting was with the mayor?
    Trevor stood. “Nice to meet you, sir.” He took the man’s hand and they shook.
    â€œCome into my office so we can talk.” The mayor motioned toward the open door beyond the counter.
    On what planet does the mayor interview for a maintenance position? Trevor swallowed a chuckle and followed Mayor Abbott into his office.
    The next half hour was interesting. Ollie, as he insisted on being called, didn’t seem interested in Trevor’s skills with a hammer, screwdriver, dust mop, or snow blower. Especially not after he learned Trevor had made his living as a musician for the past thirteen years.
    â€œI love country music, and I love to sing,” Ollie said, leaning back in his chair. “But I never had a knack for playing any musical instruments. I envy people like you. You know, we had a young fella here in Kings Meadow who—” Abruptly, he stopped talking. His eyes narrowed, then widened again as he put two and two together. “Brad Cartwright was your drummer.” His affable smile was gone.
    â€œYes.” And there goes the job.
    â€œDoes Rodney know you’ve come to town?”
    Trevor nodded. “I was out at his place a couple of days ago.”
    Ollie steepled his fingers in front of his mouth, the pads of his index fingers tapping slowly. His eyebrows, as bushy and white as his beard, drew closer together.
    Trevor heard the muffled voices of the two women in the outer office, then the closing of a file drawer. A large clock ticked off the seconds on the wall behind the mayor. Maybe he should leave. Why draw out an interview that would go nowhere?
    But before Trevor could rise from the chair, Ollie lowered his hands and gave an abrupt nod of the head, as if having made up his mind on something. Trevor wished he’d left of his own volition before the mayor could dismiss him, but it was too late now.
    â€œCan you start work on Monday?” Ollie said.
    Trevor was tempted to knock the side of his head a couple of times and ask the mayor to repeat himself. He managed to subdue the impulse, instead saying, “Yes. Yes, I can.”
    â€œGood.” Ollie stood.
    Trevor followed suit.
    â€œWe’ll have some paperwork for you to fill out on Monday, and then Yuli Elorrieta—Yuli’s the public works supervisor—he’ll show you the ropes.” Ollie put out his hand once again. “Welcome to Kings Meadow, Trevor.”
    â€œThank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
    A short while later, he stood on the sidewalk in front of the mayor’s office. His gaze went toward the heavens. What were the odds, in a town this size, that he would find a place to rent the same afternoon he arrived and then get the firstjob he interviewed for? He was no mathematician, but he was certain the odds were great against either of those things happening. And for both to happen to one guy?
    I guess You really did mean for me to come to Kings Meadow, God. Brad always said You care about the small details as well as the big. I guess that’s true. Now if You could