.
"I didn't mean to scare you like that, Ronilyn," Ben said, as he rubbed the back of his head.
Ronilyn Huntley turned from the kitchen sink and handed the deputy a wet washcloth. "And I didn't mean to hit you with my purse, Ben." She shut off the faucet as he gingerly placed the cold compress on the bump he could feel forming on his head.
"What the hell is in that thing?" Ben asked. He inclined his head in the direction of the offending purse, felt pain, and slowly straightened it.
"Well, you know us women," Ronilyn said with a smile. "We pack all sorts of things. Just be glad that I didn't hit you with my makeup bag. They'd be peeling you off the kitchen floor." She brushed dust off one of the kitchen chairs and sat down. "Aren't you suppose to announce yourself before busting into someone's house?"
"Believe me, I'd rather not bust into anyone's house," he said, wincing as he removed the washcloth and slapped it down on the table. "Neighbors thought you were a prowler or something. Maybe *you* ought to think about announcin' yourself."
"Well, maybe I wanted to get settled in before I made a grand entrance."
"Settled in? You gonna be stayin' long?"
She shrugged. "Maybe. I've got some... family business to take care of. It may take awhile."
"Lucas know you're here?"
She eyed him. "I think maybe you should go see a doctor and get your head checked out," she said, rising to her feet. "I nailed you pretty good."
"He doesn't know then."
Ronilyn sighed. "No, Ben, he doesn't. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything to him yet. I'd consider it a personal favor."
Ben stood and held up a hand. "No, that's alright. I'd rather stay away from the whole 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours', if it's all the same to you," he said. "Some of those scratches can get mighty deep."
She examined her fingernails. "Not with me, Ben," Ronilyn said and glanced up at him. "I've got a light touch."
Ben paused and stared at her for a moment. She smiled innocently at him. Then he snatched his hat, saying, "Well, since everything's alright here, I'll just be headin' on back to the station."
"Drop by anytime," Ronilyn said, still smiling.
"Uh, yeah."
"Just knock first."
After Ben left, she glanced at her watch. It was mid-afternoon and she still had a lot to get done today, including unpacking. Everything had been left the way it was since the last time she'd stayed in the house. It had been filled with people then, offering food and condolences after the funeral service.
Food. She would have to buy food. Her stomach growled in agreement. She missed breakfast due to the flight and those six complimentary peanuts on the airplane didn't do much in the way of satisfying her hunger. Her lunch had consisted of coffee at the car rental agency in Ascension. Yes, indeed, food was high up on her priority list.
Ronilyn placed a hand on the refrigerator and nodded when she felt it vibrate. She'd made arrangements after the funeral to continue all utility services at the house, so everything would be in working order should she return. She blew dust off the stove and started choking on the cloud that formed. "I'll think I'll eat out tonight," she said between coughs while waving her hands frantically to clear the air.
Ronilyn hauled the rest of her luggage upstairs into her old bedroom and made a mental note to also pick up some cleaning supplies at the store. She grabbed her purse and dashed out of the house, waving at the neighbor across the street sweeping her porch steps. There was one visit Ronilyn wanted to make before Lucas learned she was in town. She pointed the car toward Juniper House.
"I didn't mean to scare you like that, Ronilyn," Ben said, as he rubbed the back of his head.
Ronilyn Huntley turned from the kitchen sink and handed the deputy a wet washcloth. "And I didn't mean to hit you with my purse, Ben." She shut off the faucet as he gingerly placed the cold compress on the bump he could feel forming on his head.
"What the hell is in that thing?" Ben asked. He inclined his head in the direction of the offending purse, felt pain, and slowly straightened it.
"Well, you know us women," Ronilyn said with a smile. "We pack all sorts of things. Just be glad that I didn't hit you with my makeup bag. They'd be peeling you off the kitchen floor." She brushed dust off one of the kitchen chairs and sat down. "Aren't you suppose to announce yourself before busting into someone's house?"
"Believe me, I'd rather not bust into anyone's house," he said, wincing as he removed the washcloth and slapped it down on the table. "Neighbors thought you were a prowler or something. Maybe *you* ought to think about announcin' yourself."
"Well, maybe I wanted to get settled in before I made a grand entrance."
"Settled in? You gonna be stayin' long?"
She shrugged. "Maybe. I've got some... family business to take care of. It may take awhile."
"Lucas know you're here?"
She eyed him. "I think maybe you should go see a doctor and get your head checked out," she said, rising to her feet. "I nailed you pretty good."
"He doesn't know then."
Ronilyn sighed. "No, Ben, he doesn't. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything to him yet. I'd consider it a personal favor."
Ben stood and held up a hand. "No, that's alright. I'd rather stay away from the whole 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours', if it's all the same to you," he said. "Some of those scratches can get mighty deep."
She examined her fingernails. "Not with me, Ben," Ronilyn said and glanced up at him. "I've got a light touch."
Ben paused and stared at her for a moment. She smiled innocently at him. Then he snatched his hat, saying, "Well, since everything's alright here, I'll just be headin' on back to the station."
"Drop by anytime," Ronilyn said, still smiling.
"Uh, yeah."
"Just knock first."
After Ben left, she glanced at her watch. It was mid-afternoon and she still had a lot to get done today, including unpacking. Everything had been left the way it was since the last time she'd stayed in the house. It had been filled with people then, offering food and condolences after the funeral service.
Food. She would have to buy food. Her stomach growled in agreement. She missed breakfast due to the flight and those six complimentary peanuts on the airplane didn't do much in the way of satisfying her hunger. Her lunch had consisted of coffee at the car rental agency in Ascension. Yes, indeed, food was high up on her priority list.
Ronilyn placed a hand on the refrigerator and nodded when she felt it vibrate. She'd made arrangements after the funeral to continue all utility services at the house, so everything would be in working order should she return. She blew dust off the stove and started choking on the cloud that formed. "I'll think I'll eat out tonight," she said between coughs while waving her hands frantically to clear the air.
Ronilyn hauled the rest of her luggage upstairs into her old bedroom and made a mental note to also pick up some cleaning supplies at the store. She grabbed her purse and dashed out of the house, waving at the neighbor across the street sweeping her porch steps. There was one visit Ronilyn wanted to make before Lucas learned she was in town. She pointed the car toward Juniper House.