Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

"Exactly, but I didn't say it that way." Maddy felt vindicated.

"There'll be plenty of time for you two to go out later."

Maddy swallowed hard. "I don't think I'll be here long enough for that distinct pleasure. But I'm sure there must be a lot of women wanting to go out with Alec."

Aunt Polly looked pensive but didn't speak.

"Well, it's awfully late, my dear. I wanted to apologize for staring at you this afternoon when you arrived. My eyes aren't as good as they once were, but you know I think Alec is right, you do look a lot like your aunt."

"Thank you, that makes me feel very good. I'm a little low on relatives at the moment, the few I have I don't like much." Maddy walked to the front door with her.

"Well, she knew you and loved you, young lady. I can tell you that, and more. But, it's getting late. I thought I'd drop by when I saw Alec's patrol car out front. See if you needed anything."

"By the way, Alec and Leland Lancaster don't always get on but don't let it bother you. Don't know why exactly. He's done some work for me and gets a little full of himself, irritates me sometimes too, but, we enjoy getting on each other's nerves. I think you just need to keep an eye on him." Aunt Polly finished with a knowing look. "I understand Alec's reaction." She chuckled under her breath.

"You don't know why?" Maddy wondered.

"Not really, just the way Leland does things. A lot of us don't see eye to eye with him. So, are you going to be okay?"

"I'm fine. I just need a place to rest my head tonight and then tomorrow I hope to know more about things."

"Seems like Alec wants to catch up where you two left off." Aunt Polly said knowingly glancing into the living room as they passed it.

Her new friend and neighbor waved a wrinkled hand and laughed. "Oh, he's got more virtues than vices. I imagine you'll find that out. Besides, there's plenty of time. One thing, though, your great aunt thought a great deal of your parents and you. Bless her soul. I still miss her."

"I miss her and I hardly knew her." Maddy said sadly.

"I just know Madeline told me she didn't ever want anyone from the old days to know where she was. Only kept in touch with your folks and they promised not to tell. Funny about the past, ‘It'll all come out one day,’ she used to say to me, ‘when it's time.’"

Aunt Polly shrugged and stepped out in the cool, summer evening. She wiped her eyes with a white handkerchief. "She had her reasons and I respected them. Maybe it's time now for it to all to be laid to rest."

Maddy leaned on the door, exhausted, suddenly overwhelmed by everything. "I hope so. Okay then, all in good time, Aunt Polly, good night."

"I still can't get over Alec," The spry little old lady with appropriately enough round granny glasses and spiffy white Reeboks on, chuckled as she went down the walk. "He let Leland beat him asking you out. He's got a good heart though, Honey. Good night.

"Good night, Aunt Polly. Thanks for the coffee cake." Maddy felt still felt conflicted.

"Give me a call when you get back from breakfast. Mind you, watch that Leland like I said. Don't let him talk you into signing anything until you sleep on it. It's best to keep your wits about you."

Maddy would have loved to ask why they both warned her about Leland Lancaster. This Leland didn't appear to be a ladies man, and they couldn't say anything bad about him, but one could never tell. Locking the door securely, she flipped off the outside lights, leaning wearily on the banister. She would just make sure she watched everything closely. What an odd assortment of people she had met this day.

Eyeing the phone, she thought about calling Chicago to let her friends know she had arrived safely but she wasn't in any mood to hear their list of concerns. Later the last thought skittering across her mind as she pulled the hand made quilt up to her chin consisted of wavy, light hair and big blue eyes staring at her. It had been a long time since she went to sleep dreaming about a man.

"Good night, Deputy Sheriff Alec McKay, wherever you are. I think it might prove interesting to stay around for at least a little while, just to find out what makes you tick," Maddy said yawning widely. Seconds later the soft feather pillow cushioned her into a dream world full of new thoughts and old memories.

Chapter 4

Jerking awake early the next morning, Maddy couldn't figure out why she felt so exhausted. Until she recalled dreaming all night of her and Leland and Alec in a boxing ring. The thought of sparring in person with either of them wasn't any more appealing now. Darn men. Plumping up the pillows, she sat back and looked around the room. She felt surrounded by her great aunt's personality as well as her personal possessions.

Delicate, pale yellow wallpaper with small roses covered the walls. Very feminine. The open window allowed a gentle breeze to billow the filmy, sheer curtains in and out. She loved her aunt's taste even if it was old fashioned. If she hadn't worried that Leland Lancaster might catch her in bed, she would have pulled the covers up and gone back to sleep.

The solid, old, four-poster bed was comfortable. The massive bedposts stood slightly higher than her waist, thick, round and smooth. A tall dresser and dressing table with stool and mirror matching the bed stood in alignment. A small, delicate woman's writing desk sat next to the window.

Her frustration was mostly Deputy Alec McKay's fault. Maddy realized she'd let what that darn deputy think influence her, even when she didn't realize it. He had