Trinity Harbor 3 - Along Came Trouble (17 page)

“Is that so? You and Richard planning on getting around to having a family one of these days? Neither of you is getting one bit younger.”

“King Spencer, that is an incredibly personal question, even for you,” she said indignantly.

“Maybe so,” he agreed. “But it’s a fair one. You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to, but if that is what’s on your mind, you should be talking it over with your husband.”

Suddenly, to his absolute astonishment and dismay, her eyes wel ed up with tears. “I can’t,” she whispered. She drew in a deep breath and then the words came pouring out of her. “Richard flatly refuses to discuss it. Al those years he was a foreign correspondent in those awful places left him absolutely convinced that he would never bring a child into such a world.”

“The man’s an idiot,” King said fiercely. “I know I’ve said that before, because we’ve had our share of disagreements over the way he likes to poke his nose into everything around here, but I always thought he had at least half a brain. Now I’m not so sure. I’ve never heard such poppy-cock in al my life!

This is Trinity Harbor, not some hel hole on the other side of the world. Can’t he tel the difference?”

Anna-Louise swiped ineffectively at her tears, grinning at King at the same time. “I should have known you’d use this as one more excuse to disparage my husband.”

“I’l have a talk with him,” King said, ignoring her comment. “We’l get this straightened out.”

Dismay spread across her face. “King, you cannot talk to Richard about us having a baby.”

“Why the devil can’t I?”

“Because it’s my problem, not yours.”

“I’m making it mine,” he said, ready to fix this just the way he had to fix everything else in this town. Besides, he thought of Anna-Louise as a daughter, even if she did annoy the daylights out of him from time to time. Come to think of it, maybe that was exactly why she did feel like family.

“Don’t you dare!” she said as he slid out of the booth. “Where are you going?”

“To find your husband.”

“If you do, I swear I’l use every bit of my influence to get your soul consigned to hel ,” she said with what sounded like total sincerity.

That stopped King in his tracks. He’d never heard her say such a thing before.

“Sit,” she ordered.

King sank back down with a sigh. “Okay, it’s your problem,” he conceded grudgingly. “How are you going to fix it?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

“You could just do what women have been doing through al eternity,” he suggested, but even as he said it he knew that she’d never go for that solution.

“King!”

“I know. I know,” he said, backpeddling. “Be direct, then. Lay it on the line. Make him talk it out. If ever a woman was meant to be a mother, it’s you.

As for Richard, he won’t be half bad as a father. The man has an honorable streak, I’l admit that.”

“I’m sure he’l be pleased that you noticed,” Anna-Louise said wryly. She reached across the table and patted his hand. “Thank you for listening. It real y did help. I hadn’t let myself admit to anyone, least of al myself, how much this was weighing on me.”

“Any time,” King told her. “Just don’t forget that I’m the one who gets to hear the news first when something comes of this.”

“I imagine I’l want to tel my husband first,” she teased. “But you’l be second. I promise. Who knows? Maybe I’l even consider naming you godfather.”

“I’d be honored. And in this case, coming in second wil do,” King told her. “But make it soon. I’m not getting any younger.”

“Who are you kidding? You’re going to live forever. You’re too ornery not to.”

“I hope you’re right. I have big plans.”

“Oh?”

He winked at her. “I’m not talking.”

A grin spread across her face. “I’l bet I know. I saw Frances leaving here earlier.”

He laughed. “Come to think of it, you might, but keep it to yourself. She probably ought to know about this before the rest of the world finds out.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“A surefire one,” he said.

“Then I’l pray it works out,” Anna-Louise promised.

“You concentrate on your own plan,” he advised. “I’ve got this one under control, and I don’t want His attention diverted from you.”

“Oh, I think He can keep an eye out for both of us,” she assured him. “In fact, I’m counting on it.”

“Then throw in a prayer for Tucker while you’re at it,” King requested. “That boy can surely use al the divine help he can get, especial y since I’ve got other fish to fry today.”

“Done,” Anna-Louise said. “Good luck.”

“Luck’s got nothing to do with it. Confidence, that’s the ticket. Keep that in mind.”

She laughed. “I surely wil . In fact, I think I’l go track down my husband right now.”

11

L
iz was sitting on the deck with her second cup of coffee trying to work up the energy to tackle the cleaning she intended to do when Frances came around the side of the house.

“I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this, but I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay al alone out here.” She glanced around. “You are alone, aren’t you?”

Liz chuckled at her worried expression. “Tucker’s not hiding in the bushes, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I was thinking more about him strol ing out here half-dressed,” Frances retorted, then blushed. “Sorry. I have no right to say such a thing, but you two do seem to be getting close again. I suppose it’s just wishful thinking on my part. You made such a lovely couple once.”

Liz wasn’t ready to discuss her relationship with Tucker, even with someone who’d been as kind to her as Frances had. “Could it be that you have romance on your mind?” she asked. “How are you and King getting along?”

“We’re going to bingo tonight,” Frances said without much enthusiasm.

“I thought you loved bingo.”

“I do, and the first time he asked me, I’l admit I thought it was charming, since I knew it was about the last place on earth he wanted to be. Now, I just wish he’d get on with things.”

Liz regarded her with surprise. King Spencer wouldn’t be her first choice for a woman as lovely as Frances, but there was no accounting for taste.

And even though the man riled the daylights out of Liz lately with his harsh, judgmental attitude, she had once been able to see his good points. In fact, she had to acknowledge to herself, she had adored him.

“Is this relationship more serious than I realized?” she asked Frances. “Do you want to marry him?”

Frances’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Do I sound like an old fool?”

“Absolutely not. The great thing about love is that it’s never too late to find it. At least that’s what I want to believe,” Liz said, regarding Frances sympathetical y. “So what’s the problem with you and King?”

“I wish I knew,” Frances said, her frustration evident. “We seem to be stuck in a rut. I tried to shake him up by changing my hairstyle and color, and by losing a few pounds, but al that did was make him grumpier than usual.”

Liz considered the implications of that. Frances had done so much for her the last few days, she wanted to be able to return the favor…even if it did mean matching her up with a stubborn old coot.

“Does King have any competition?” she asked.

Frances looked shocked by the question. “Do you mean am I seeing anyone else?”

“Exactly.”

Frances’s expression turned thoughtful. “Wel , there is Mr. Mayberry. He’s relatively new in town, and he has shown some interest in getting to know me, but I’ve been putting him off.”

Liz grinned. “There you go. Why not see him? He could be a better match for you than King. And if he’s not, wel , maybe a little gossip about you seeing another man, wil get King’s attention.”

“You’re a clever girl, Mary Elizabeth. I just might do it,” Frances said with some evidence of her usual spunk. “Perhaps I’l mention to Mr. Mayberry that I’m going to bingo tonight. King wil be there and I’l get to see if Mr. Mayberry is any quicker than King to take a hint.”

Liz uttered a little sigh of satisfaction as she watched her friend bustle off. Definitely two birds with one stone. She’d helped Frances realize there was more than one fish in the ocean, and with any luck she’d redirected King’s energy toward his own love life…and away from her relationship with Tucker.

Tucker breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted his father leaving Earlene’s just as he approached. He’d cal ed Walker the night before and suggested they meet there for coffee. He hoped that seeing them together would put to rest any notion in the community that his integrity or his role as sheriff were in question.

Earlene met him at the door. “We don’t usual y see you in here at this hour not wearing your uniform,” she said, an icy nip in her voice. “I’m not sure I like it.”

“It’s just a temporary situation,” Tucker assured her.

“You see that it is. I like Walker just fine, but he’s not one of us the way you are. Trinity Harbor counts on having a Spencer keeping us safe.”

“Earlene, aren’t you one of the first people to tel my father that he does not run things around here?”

She grinned. “I do, and I take great pleasure in it, but that’s not the same thing at al . Sit down over there with Anna-Louise and I’l bring your coffee.”

“I’m meeting Walker.”

“Is there some reason he can’t sit with her, too? With al the tourists around, we’re crowded at this time of the year. I like to make good use of the space I’ve got.”

He held up a hand. “Okay. I get it. I imagine Walker wil enjoy getting Anna-Louise’s perspective on things as much as I wil .”

Earlene nodded approvingly. “You always were a sensible man, which is the only reason I’m not about to start lecturing you about watching your step with Liz Chandler.”

Tucker sighed. “Thank you for exercising such great restraint.”

She frowned at him. “Doesn’t mean I’m not worried sick about you, though.”

“Just bring my coffee, okay?” He moved to Anna-Louise’s booth and noted with relief that she seemed to be about to leave. “On your way out?”

“I can stick around,” she said, putting her purse back down and studying him intently. “What’s up?”

“Actual y, I’m meeting Walker to talk things over about the Chandler murder. Earlene directed me over here.”

Anna-Louise chuckled. “I guess she wanted to make sure I got my fil of Spencer men this morning. Your father just left.”

“No wonder you looked a little shel -shocked,” Tucker said with genuine sympathy.

“Don’t blame King for that. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. How’s Liz, by the way?”

“I haven’t talked to her this morning. I’l head out to Swan Ridge when I’m done here.”

“She went back there after the funeral?” Anna-Louise asked, clearly shocked.

“She insisted on it.”

“I’m surprised you went along with that.”

Tucker gave her a rueful grin. “Obviously you don’t know Mary Elizabeth al that wel yet. She’s not an easy woman to control.”

Anna-Louise studied him. “You’ve tried?”

“Not in years. I learned that lesson before I hit puberty.” Before she could pursue that, he said, “What are you hearing in here this morning? Are people talking about the murder or the funeral?”

“What you real y want to know is whether they’re gossiping about you and Liz,” she guessed. “I haven’t heard anything, but then I’ve been preoccupied. Ask Earlene.”

“Ask me what?” Earlene inquired as she set his coffee down in front of him.

“Are people obsessing about the Chandler situation?”

“They’re concerned about the murder, no question about it,” Earlene reported. “But they’re also talking about al the fancy food and fancy people at the funeral. And some people are speculating about who’l run for Chandler’s seat. The smart money’s on Ken Wil is. He’d already started campaigning at church yesterday. The vote’s evenly divided on whether that was tacky or timely.”

Tucker grinned at the summary. “Anything else?” he inquired dryly.

Earlene scowled at him. “Yes. They’re about to start taking bets on how long it wil be before you and Liz get back together.”

“I hope to hel King hasn’t heard that,” Tucker said. “He’l be al over me before the day’s out.”

“Your father has other things on his mind today,” Anna-Louise said. “But don’t get too complacent. The second he does hear, he’l find the time to tel you you’ve lost your mind. Now that Daisy and Bobby are happily settled, your love life is his top priority, and he’s clearly concerned about this latest turn of events.”

“I don’t have a love life of any kind, much less with Mary Elizabeth,” Tucker said emphatical y, hoping the sharp denial would put the sil y speculation to rest. His relationship with Mary Elizabeth was strictly—wel , almost strictly—professional.

Anna-Louise had the audacity to laugh. “It’s no better for a lawman to fib than it is for a preacher. Even I can see the sparks between you two.”

“Only because someone planted the notion in your head,” he argued.

Earlene shook her head. “Delusional,” she said in an undertone to Anna-Louise.

“That would be my cal ,” the pastor agreed.

Tucker scowled at the pair of them. “Don’t you think there’s something the slightest bit unseemly about speculating about my relationship with a woman who’s only been a widow for a few days?”

“From what I’ve gathered, her marriage was over long before that,” Anna-Louise said. “And nobody’s saying you’re doing anything inappropriate, just that al the elements are there for the sparks to start flying.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” Tucker grumbled. “Is it any wonder men wil never be able to figure out the female mind?”

“Certainly not my wife’s,” Richard agreed, appearing at the booth and leaning down to give Anna-Louise a kiss. “Where’d you disappear to this morning? I thought you wanted to talk.”

Color bloomed in Anna-Marie’s cheeks. “I did, but I needed to get my thoughts in order first.”

“So, what’s up?” Richard asked, starting to slide into the booth next to her.

“Not here,” she said, pushing him right back out. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“I just finished my run,” he protested. “I’m starved.”

“Earlene, fix him some coffee and a couple of doughnuts to go,” Anna-Louise instructed. “I want him in a weakened state for this.”