The Ruth Valley Missing by Amber West Read Free Book Online Page B

in mine. “I’m so glad to see you! You don’t
mind me walkin’ with you, right?”
    “Not at all!” I laughed. “It’s nice
to see a familiar face.”
    “You haven’t met too many people
from town yet?”
    “Not really. I mean, a couple of
shopkeepers, but I haven’t said much more than a ‘hello’ to them.”
    “Well, most everyone is real nice.
I’ll introduce you around.”
    I loved Emma’s sweetness. She was so
genuinely pleased with everything. It was refreshing after months of hanging around
Dylan’s friends, who seemed to complain about everything, including each other.
    It was another odd, yet really
welcome, change.
    “So, Emma, what do you like to do
when you aren’t working at the diner?”
    Emma scrunched up her face,
thinking. “Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes I volunteer at the church. In the spring
there is always a lot to do in the garden, and I love flowers, so I like to
help out there. And I spend time with my momma. She isn’t in the best health,
so I read to her and keep house.”
    “She must be happy to have you
around to take care of her.”
    She shrugged. “She says it’s what
I’m ‘spose to do.”
    For the first time, I saw a sad look
cross Emma’s face, but in an instant, she perked up. “How did your photos from
the diner look?”
    “I liked them. I sent off for some
prints, so I should have some to bring by the diner next week.”
    “I’m excited. I love pretty
pictures.”
    “You should come out with me one day
and take some yourself.”
    Emma hopped as we kept walking.
“Seriously?”
    “Yeah. Just let me know when you
have some time and we’ll go.”
    We were approaching the rummage sale
and Emma squeezed my arm. “Thank you, James, that is so sweet.”
    We walked into the sea of tables,
filled with old lamps, vases, and various knick knacks. Some tables had piles
of neatly folded fabrics, crocheted shawls, and knit scarves. A girl walked up,
about Emma’s age as far as I could tell, tugging at the sleeves of her sweater.
    “Hey Anne, this is my friend James,”
Emma said, making introductions. “She’s from New York.”
    “Nice to meet you, Miss James.” Anne
was thin, with light brown hair that fell to her waist. She wore wire frame
glasses and seemed considerably quieter than Emma.
    “Just James. It’s very nice to meet
you, Anne.”
    She smiled and nodded without looking
up at me. “Emma, the sisters wanted us to help set up the dessert table.”
    “Oh, I completely forgot.” Emma
frowned and squeezed my arm. “James, I have to go, I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s not a problem. I’m sure I’ll
catch up with you later.”
    Emma took off with Anne shuffling
behind her, leaving me to fend for myself. I lifted up my camera and started to
snap photos of some of the more interesting looking figurines on one table. I’d
smile and say hello to the ladies watching over the items as I snapped away.
Some would smile in return, while others would only stare.
    I had moved past several tables when
something caught my eye: an old camera bag. When I opened it, there was a
camera, a lens, and some old film still inside. I picked it up, fiddled around
with it a bit, and discovered it was in good working order. I placed the camera
back in the bag, threw it over the opposite shoulder of the bag I was already
carrying, and walked up to a table of ladies with a little locked box in front
of them.
    “Hi. I was wondering how much this
camera bag is?”
    One of the ladies looked over her
spectacles, perched precariously low on her nose. “That’s an orange sticker on
there. Twenty-five dollars.”
    I slid a wallet from the inside of
my camera bag out, and handed the lady a couple of bills. She counted them and
started to make change. While she did that, one of the other women spoke.
    “Are you the girl from the city
living out at Jack’s place?”
    “I’m renting the place behind
Sheriff Jack’s house, not living at his place.” I let out a nervous