Colder Than Ice by MAGGIE SHAYNE

real meal staying warm in the oven for you for the past hour.” She glanced at Beth. “Join us, dear?”
    â€œNo way, Maude. I eat one of your meals, I’ll be crawling home instead of running.”
    â€œOh…you’re going home?” Bryan asked. He sounded a little…off.
    â€œThat’s the plan, Bry.”
    He shot his father a look, and Beth got the feeling their earlier argument was suddenly the furthest thing from the young man’s mind. “Well, why don’t you stay? You can, uh, talk to my dad about that tutoring thing.”
    Something had certainly snapped Bryan out of his petulant state. “I already did that,” she said. “Was kind of surprised you hadn’t done it yourself by now.”
    He nodded, all but admitting he probably should have clued his old man in.
    â€œI gotta go. See you at noon, Bryan?” She reached for her tea to finish the cup.
    â€œUh, yeah, about that…” Bryan began. He sent his father another quick look, as if uncertain whether to speak.
    â€œWhat is it, Bry?” Josh asked.
    â€œIt’s probably nothing. I mean, one summer in the city and all of the sudden, I’m paranoid, you know?” He offered a half smile and shrugged. “Can’t help it, though.”
    Beth frowned at him. “Paranoid about what?”
    â€œIt’s just…there’s been a car parked up the road a little ways for a while now. I can just see it from my bedroom window.”
    Beth’s hand jerked, and the still-hot tea sloshed onto herbare legs. She sucked air through her teeth and wiped it away with her hand.
    Maude handed her a napkin. “Oh, it’s probably someone bird-watching or checking on the progress of the foliage,” she said. “We have a lot of nature lovers living in these parts, and this time of year every leaf-peeper in the country seems to show up. Was it a red Blazer, Bryan? That would be my nearest neighbor Frankie Parker. Loves to watch the birds, that one.”
    â€œNo, it’s a brown sedan. Chrysler, I think.”
    â€œBrown Chrysler,” Maude repeated to herself. “Maybe I should give Frankie a call.”
    When they all looked at her oddly, Beth clarified for them. “Frankie’s the police chief.”
    â€œOh.” Bryan nodded. “Right next door, that’s handy.”
    â€œWell, right next door is a half mile, but still…” Maude said.
    Beth dabbed the tea from her thighs and tried not to notice Josh’s scrutiny, until he forced it. “Call me a paranoid city slicker, if you want, but, um…why don’t you let me take you home, Beth? Just to be on the safe side.”
    She looked up at him, crushed the damp napkin in her hand and shook her head. “I may not look like much, Joshua, but trust me, I can handle myself.” She glanced at Bryan. “Oh, and I almost forgot.” She dug into her shorts pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “You’ll need these books for our session today. You can pick them up at Books Ink, in town.”
    â€œCool. I can pick them up right now and drop you off on my way,” Bryan said.
    What was with these two? You’d think she was made of glass, the way they were acting. “And miss out on the great breakfast your grandmother made you?” Beth asked. “No, I don’t think so. Besides, I live in the opposite direction. And Irun for a reason. I’m not messing up my daily routine by taking the lazy way home.”
    Bryan looked at his father. Joshua sighed and glanced at Maude.
    Maude frowned. Then she lifted her chin. “Joshua, go change your clothes. She won’t let you drive her, so you can run with her. And, Beth, don’t even begin to argue with me. I’ll worry myself sick if you go off alone.”
    â€œSince when is there anything in Blackberry scary enough to worry you, Maude Bickham?”
    â€œSince you got so scared