like you’ve been burned.”
Josy didn’t reply. Corinne studied her cool, closed face with knowing sympathy. “In case you change your mind, you should know we’ve got a herd of handsome cowboys in this town.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. This is strictly a working trip.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
Josy hesitated. She’d already lied about being from Chicago and not New York. It was highly unlikely that any of Ricky’s enemies, whoever they were, would trace her to Thunder Creek, and she probably could tell the truth about her job at least without risking discovery, but . . .
An inner voice advised her to play it safe. “I’m an assistant to an interior designer,” she said.
At least the assistant and designer part was true.
“I’m working on some sketches for an important client. He’s moving into a new penthouse in the Loop and I’m coming up with a range of ideas for the home.”
“Wow.” Corinne stared at her. “That sounds so exciting. It really does. Maybe you can give me a few tips—I’m redoing Roy’s house now that it’s going to be our home. We’ve been living together there for over a year,” she explained, “but with us getting married and everything, I want to make it more . . . well,
ours.
”
“Oh . . . yes. Of course, I’d be glad to help.” Josy wanted to crawl into a hole.
“Thanks. Actually, though, the house is the least of my worries at the moment. I’m about to get married without a wedding gown.” A sweep of forceful May wind danced around them. “I swear if I don’t have a nervous breakdown before this wedding, it’ll be a miracle. I honestly think Roberta’s going to kill me if I don’t get her my list for the shower.”
“She does sound pretty desperate.”
“I’ve got to get caught up—I don’t mean to make it hard on her. I really appreciate her throwing the shower for me. Actually Roberta and Ada are hosting it together—it’s going to be at Ada’s house. Sweet of them.”
Josy stopped walking.
Ada’s house.
Ada Scott? She shifted, trying to relax her suddenly tense shoulders. “Who’s Ada?” she asked, trying to sound no more than casual. But she held her breath as Corinne replied.
“Oh, sorry. Ada’s the woman I told you about—she works the cash register at Bessie’s Diner. Bessie Templeton owns the place and Ada—Ada Scott—is her best friend. Roberta works with both of them, and with Bessie’s granddaughter, Katy Brent, who helps out once in a while and does the books. They’ve all become really good friends of mine in the past year or so.”
“So . . . it’s Ada and Bessie who are away in Las Vegas?” Josy asked slowly. “Roberta told me they were away, but she didn’t mention their names.”
“Yes, that’s right. Actually, they’re coming home tomorrow. And if I don’t have the invitation list ready by then, Ada will be on my case too.” She laughed. “I’d better get my act together. Look, I don’t know if this working vacation of yours includes socializing or not, but my boss, Elam Lowell, over at the Tumbleweed Bar and Grill, is throwing a good-bye party for me there tonight. I’ve been waitressing there for years, but now that Roy and I are getting married, I want a day job, so he and I can spend all of our evenings together. So I’ll be working weekdays at Roy’s real estate office. Tonight’s my last night at the Tumbleweed. Want to come?”
“Oh . . . thanks . . . but . . .”
“Think about it.” Corinne smiled, and gave a small shrug. “No big deal. If you want to get out, have a few drinks, meet some people, come on by. I’ve got to run over and meet Roy at the office real quick, but . . . maybe I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, maybe. Thanks.” Josy stared after her as Corinne stamped out her cigarette and hurried down the street.
So. Corinne’s Ada is my Ada. Ada Scott. And she’ll be
home from Las Vegas tomorrow,
Josy mused as she walked slowly back up Main Street.
If she
Josy didn’t reply. Corinne studied her cool, closed face with knowing sympathy. “In case you change your mind, you should know we’ve got a herd of handsome cowboys in this town.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. This is strictly a working trip.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
Josy hesitated. She’d already lied about being from Chicago and not New York. It was highly unlikely that any of Ricky’s enemies, whoever they were, would trace her to Thunder Creek, and she probably could tell the truth about her job at least without risking discovery, but . . .
An inner voice advised her to play it safe. “I’m an assistant to an interior designer,” she said.
At least the assistant and designer part was true.
“I’m working on some sketches for an important client. He’s moving into a new penthouse in the Loop and I’m coming up with a range of ideas for the home.”
“Wow.” Corinne stared at her. “That sounds so exciting. It really does. Maybe you can give me a few tips—I’m redoing Roy’s house now that it’s going to be our home. We’ve been living together there for over a year,” she explained, “but with us getting married and everything, I want to make it more . . . well,
ours.
”
“Oh . . . yes. Of course, I’d be glad to help.” Josy wanted to crawl into a hole.
“Thanks. Actually, though, the house is the least of my worries at the moment. I’m about to get married without a wedding gown.” A sweep of forceful May wind danced around them. “I swear if I don’t have a nervous breakdown before this wedding, it’ll be a miracle. I honestly think Roberta’s going to kill me if I don’t get her my list for the shower.”
“She does sound pretty desperate.”
“I’ve got to get caught up—I don’t mean to make it hard on her. I really appreciate her throwing the shower for me. Actually Roberta and Ada are hosting it together—it’s going to be at Ada’s house. Sweet of them.”
Josy stopped walking.
Ada’s house.
Ada Scott? She shifted, trying to relax her suddenly tense shoulders. “Who’s Ada?” she asked, trying to sound no more than casual. But she held her breath as Corinne replied.
“Oh, sorry. Ada’s the woman I told you about—she works the cash register at Bessie’s Diner. Bessie Templeton owns the place and Ada—Ada Scott—is her best friend. Roberta works with both of them, and with Bessie’s granddaughter, Katy Brent, who helps out once in a while and does the books. They’ve all become really good friends of mine in the past year or so.”
“So . . . it’s Ada and Bessie who are away in Las Vegas?” Josy asked slowly. “Roberta told me they were away, but she didn’t mention their names.”
“Yes, that’s right. Actually, they’re coming home tomorrow. And if I don’t have the invitation list ready by then, Ada will be on my case too.” She laughed. “I’d better get my act together. Look, I don’t know if this working vacation of yours includes socializing or not, but my boss, Elam Lowell, over at the Tumbleweed Bar and Grill, is throwing a good-bye party for me there tonight. I’ve been waitressing there for years, but now that Roy and I are getting married, I want a day job, so he and I can spend all of our evenings together. So I’ll be working weekdays at Roy’s real estate office. Tonight’s my last night at the Tumbleweed. Want to come?”
“Oh . . . thanks . . . but . . .”
“Think about it.” Corinne smiled, and gave a small shrug. “No big deal. If you want to get out, have a few drinks, meet some people, come on by. I’ve got to run over and meet Roy at the office real quick, but . . . maybe I’ll see you later.”
“Yes, maybe. Thanks.” Josy stared after her as Corinne stamped out her cigarette and hurried down the street.
So. Corinne’s Ada is my Ada. Ada Scott. And she’ll be
home from Las Vegas tomorrow,
Josy mused as she walked slowly back up Main Street.
If she
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