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

Maddy paused, not sure how much she wanted to share about her business. "Yes, back in Chicago. Don't worry. I'm not an impulsive type, Mr. Lancaster. No Las Vegas trips for me."

“You didn’t strike me as the impulsive type, Miss Morris, but never hurts to be careful.”

"Well, thank you for the warning, Mr. Lancaster. But, after living in the city, being mugged twice and burglarized three times, I think I can handle myself or, anyone else for that matter."

"Well, just trying to help. I know it must be difficult coming back to town after so long." He said in a businesslike manner. "All part of my service. Mr. Drake and I have been taking care of your aunt's interests for a while and I just thought I should warn you. Knowing your dear aunt the way I did, she'd have wanted me to look out for you."

The temptation to repeat the warnings she'd had about him was hard to resist, but just then they pulled into a large, neat-looking truck stop, and the conversation ended.

"Not much atmosphere but the food is good and we can hear ourselves think without noise and interruption." Leland declared, pulling his massive car in an empty space. Eager to get things going Maddy nodded and followed him in.

Leland hurried to open the door and escort her in. Maddy took note, he was polite. The big neon sign read, "Truckers Heaven" and along with several big rigs and a bevy of pick ups, sat one, lone, deputy sheriff's patrol car.

"Who would have thought," Maddy muttered to herself. "On your toes, girl."

"Morning, Leland. Hi, Miss." A pretty, black-haired waitress greeted them, grabbing menus and a coffee pot, and showing them to a back table. Maddy's heels clicked on the clean, tile floor and she noticed the group of men just about the same time they noticed her.

"Welcome to Nielsen, Miss." The waitress's nametag read "Dixie" and her smile was genuine. "Say, Honey, I hear you're related to Miss Madeline. She was a really, fine lady. We sure miss her."

"I see the town gossips didn't waste any time spreading the news about your arrival." Leland sighed, "Sometimes small towns can be a bit intrusive."

"I think it's nice that everyone loved my great aunt so much."

"Well, it is small town living at its best." He agreed. They ordered a couple of specials with coffee and Maddy soon caught Deputy McKay staring and waved, giving a little salute. His smile was dazzling and made her smile back even though Leland frowned.

With a slight nod, she pretended to listened to Leland while watching the other men at the deputy’s table. They straddled chairs or stood casually about, laughing and talking, looking over at her and smiling broadly. Wishing she could hear their conversation it had to be more interesting than the information Leland was dutifully giving her about the town and her inheritance in general. He was serious and she turned her attention back to the realtor.

He seemed well versed in real estate and determined to give her thorough, well-rounded approach to her situation.

"Here you go, Miss Morris, a large orange juice." Dixie sat a huge glass in front of her. Maddy hadn't ordered orange juice and looked up, puzzled.

"Oh, it's courtesy of Deputy McKay, over there."

They all glanced over and the deputy raised his juice glass in a salute. "Yeah, he said you city girls need lots of Vitamin C, something about smog and such." Dixie patted Maddy's arm, "He's just funning with you, he's a real sweetheart." Leland shook his head and sighed at the interruption.

"Yes, tell him thank you for me. He keeps saying how wonderful small town life is. I'm beginning to believe him." She held up her glass when he looked over at her and took a big sip.

"That deputy is really something. He seems to forget his job and always flirting with the girls. Sometimes I wonder if he's fit to wear the uniform," he fumed.

Things settled down after that and they finished their meal in peace. What Leland Lancaster didn't know was she had gone through the same thing with her parent's estate. Granted, it wasn't as big as this one, but she knew the ups and downs of settling an estate. Maddy knew what she needed to do.

"Now, if you wish I can dispense with any further bothersome paperwork, just sign these papers and I'll take care of everything for you. You can go back to Chicago and I'll just call or email everything to you."

He sounded like Larry Preston, so self-assured and smug she had trouble not laughing in his face. Leland Lancaster thought he had most likely pulled one off on the new kid in town. Maybe he did it innocently, maybe not. Maddy thought it was what both Alec and Aunt Polly warned her about, not really dishonest but close to it.

"Well, that would be okay, except I want to read everything thoroughly, first, Mr. Lancaster." She reached for the papers, brushing aside the outstretched hand holding his ink pen. She glanced at the papers, tapped them straight and put them beside her purse.

He cleared his throat. "Oh, of course, that is a good idea. However, I merely was trying to save you time and money. I thought you wanted to get back to Chicago, your job and all." His inference puzzled her. She'd never mentioned anything of the sort to him.

"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Lancaster but I'll wait to meet with Mr. Drake." Looking intently at him, Maddy sat back with a deliberate air of confidence, "You know things may change. I may just decide to stay. I find Nielsen a very nice town."

She could see it was a comment he wasn't anticipating. "Stay? You mean, here in Nielsen? What in the world would you do that for? It'd be a welcome addition, I must say, but a puzzle."

"Well, when I woke up in the house this morning, I don't know, something just felt right about it. I