Whispers of Danger and Love by Janis Lane Read Free Book Online

of yellow and red. This is followed by a perennial showing of purple alliums, columbine in blues, and old-fashioned bleeding hearts in arcs of rosy pinks. In July, her gardens are a riot of color that starts with Asiatic lilies, oriental, then trumpet. And so on it goes with a final curtain call of colorful mums. When one show fades, another is in the wings waiting its turn. Bulb planting in the fall generates the excitement of waiting for the blossoms to show color in the spring when weary winter eyes welcome the bright colors.
    Cheryl wiped the sweat out of her eyes and considered going inside to an air-conditioned room. The temperature had climbed too far into the 80’s for her taste. If she’d wanted to swelter, she’d have moved to Florida, for heaven’s sake. She had a good start on her weekly column and tons of work to do inside. Done . You talked me into it. She had closed her laptop and twisted her body toward the back door when she heard a car beep its horn. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted a redhead waving gaily at her as she approached with a definite bounce in her step.
    “Jane! Hi. I was thinking of calling you this afternoon. You must have ESP. It’s good to see you.”
    “Dunno about that, but I do know I have donuts.” She held up a bag already greasy with sin from the bakery.
    Her friend Jane was like a torch lily with her slender figure and flaming hair with a jubilant personality to match. It would be difficult to maintain a dour attitude around her. She was a welcome sight any time.
    Cheryl wondered what tidbits of gossip and news gleaned from her job at the local town newspaper Jane would share today. Jane thought Cheryl lived an exciting life, but, in truth, it was she who kept in touch with the outside world. Cheryl’s good friend Beverly Hampton was the owner and editor of the paper now that her father was semi-retired.
    Cheryl winced as she remembered promising Beverly to call for a luncheon date. She’d need to postpone until this job was finished. Two weeks was a very short window for a job that size.
    “I thought you’d be working today. Didn’t you have a new lucrative job offer?” Jane handed over the donuts.
    They settled around the kitchen table, and Cheryl poured them both glasses of frosty iced tea. Without any more delay, they dug into the donut bag with gusto.
    “I do. A man named Sam Toledo and his significant other hired me to transform their gardens for a big blowout party. I have some soil being delivered today and other maintenance work on-going. I was there for three hours early this morning, but I can’t do anything more until they finish. What are you up to today?”
    “Oh, this and that. I’m having an errand day, but thought I’d take a break and catch up on gossip with you.”
    “I was thinking you might like to go on an adventure.” Cheryl glanced at her obliquely. “I’m on a rescue mission this evening right before dark.” She laughed when Jane clapped her hands and welcomed the news with an eager smile.
    “Well. What is it? Do I need to dress a certain way? Do I need a bucket this time? Last time you boosted me over a wall and we snitched armfuls of lilacs from that old meatpacking plant. God knows who planted them there in the first place, but we didn’t have a thing to hold water.” She laughed at the memory. “Security guard almost caught us too.”
    “Old fuddy-duddy.” Cheryl shook her half-eaten donut in the air. “Like anyone cared about those lilacs. He was just bored and needed something to do. That place has been closed for years.” She munched down on a grape jelly donut, loving how it squished down her fingers. Good thing she got lots of exercise.
    “You need to be careful, Jane. I’m safe because the calories are half as potent if you haven’t paid for them, but you, dear lady, are in trouble.” She laughed again at the shocked expression on her friend’s face.
    “No really, Cheryl. It’s not true, is it?” She looked