No Place Like Home by Debra Clopton Read Free Book Online

abrupt halt.
    â€œI heard you were here! Hello, hello, helllooo, ” she laughed, vaulting out of the car and wrapping Dottie in a bear hug. Tightly. “I’d have come last night but I couldn’t…we got tied up delivering the cutest little baby calf you ever laid your eyes on. But I told Clint, first thing this morning I was jumping in the Caddy andzooming right on over here to see about these two gals who decided to check out our little town. I’m hoping you’re going to stay awhile. How are you? Did they get you set up good? Do you need anything?”
    The woman paused her chattering, released Dottie and took a step back, hand extended. Dottie took it, staggered by the exuberant greeting. Thankful she hadn’t had a Gummi Bunny in her mouth. She’d probably choke on it.
    â€œLacy Brown,” the woman started again, then laughed, holding up her left hand and wiggling her wedding-banded finger. “I do that all the time. Lacy Matlock would be my name.”
    Lacy giggled and Dottie joined her, breaking her daze. She got the impression that around Lacy, laughter would be unending.
    â€œLacy, this is Dottie Hart,” Brady said. “Dottie, Lacy has the tendency to talk a person to death if one isn’t careful to escape when given the chance.”
    â€œSo, Dottie, I hear Brady rescued you yesterday. That’s our sheriff. Always rescuing someone. Never to be rescued himself.”
    â€œYou can go home now, Lacy,” Brady called down.
    â€œHey, no need to get mean.”
    â€œI just thought Clint might be missing you. That’s all I meant.”
    â€œUh-huh. And my hair is straight as a board.”
    Dottie looked at Lacy’s nearly white hair sticking from her yellow hat in wild loose curls.
    â€œI think he’s pulling your leg,” she said.
    â€œYou think?” Lacy asked, plopping a hand to her jutting hip.
    â€œHas to be, because your hair is most definitely not straight.”
    Lacy chuckled. “I like you.”
    Dottie liked her, too. Who wouldn’t? No wonder the town looked like it did with all its crayon colors. Lacy Matlock epitomized the phrase “colorful character.”
    â€œAhh-hemmm.”
    Dottie looked up to see Brady holding a wicker chair over the edge of the RV for someone to take. “You girls going to stand there bonding all day, or are you going to give a poor fellow a helping hand.”
    Dottie looked at Lacy. “I guess we should help him.”
    â€œIf you say so,” Lacy sighed. “But I’m all for leaving him up there when we finish and us girls hanging out for a while.”
    Dottie agreed, then reached to take the chair and almost dropped it when Brady winked at her.
    â€œI saw that, Brady Cannon,” Lacy said.
    Dottie knew she was pinker than the Caddy sitting behind her. A wink. What was that all about? He’d done the same thing in the diner, but she’d ignored it. But this time…she realized he was smiling down at her, almost laughing.
    The man was playing with her, which she could take. The trouble was Lacy Brown-Matlock!
    She’d witnessed the wink and she was smiling. Big.
    And Dottie wasn’t sure what, exactly, that smile meant…
    Â 
    Drawn by the pink Caddy, Cassie came running. Lacy made an instant friend by offering her a spin in her retro car. With the top down. Dottie had visions of Cassie coming back with her hair standing out like a rock star’s.
    â€œThose two will get along like peanut butter and jelly,” Brady said, coming to stand beside her as she watched them driving off. Their arms touched and Dottie stepped away, startled at the sudden warm contact.
    â€œI hope so,” she said. “Cassie’s going to need a friend.”
    â€œHey, she’s going to be fine. As a matter of fact, the morning’s gotten away from me, so I’m going to head to the office and start sending out some feelers. I’ll let