Chasing Charity Read Online Free PDF Page B

They’re the only townsfolk I’ve met.”
    The man’s brows shot skyward, the pull on his eyelids widening his eyes. “Crazy Bertha?” He shook his head. “Mister, I can’t give you a rig on the weight of an association with her.”
    “Who?” Buddy’s mind scrambled to understand. “You mean Bertha Bloom? Why do you call her that?”
    The old coot twisted around and fired another shot at the slimy, stained pot. “Stranger, if you have to ask, then you don’t really know Bertha. But on account of you mentioning her daughter, maybe I can oblige.” A leer distorted his wrinkled face. “Just how well acquainted are you with that pretty little gal?” He winked and grinned, exposing a gap in his teeth.
    Buddy wanted to widen it. He stood taller and stared the man down. “How much do I owe you?”
    The little man shrank under Buddy’s gaze. He lowered his eyes and rubbed his stubbled chin. “Tell you what. Let’s settle up when you come for the horses.”
    “Fine by me,” Buddy said. “Get the buggy ready. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”
    At the hotel, Buddy found Lee and Jerry seated on benches in front of a long table laden with baskets of brown rolls and pitchers of frothy milk. The men waited their turns at huge platters piled high with sliced pot roast followed by steaming bowls of mashed potatoes and assorted vegetables. The smell of the room set off a fierce growl in the pit of Buddy’s stomach.
    He sidled up beside Lee on the bench, tucked a napkin into his collar, and nodded at the men. “Shovel it in fast, gentlemen. We need to get the Bloom womenfolk settled before nightfall. There’s more than a few roughs in this town.” He remembered the uncouth demeanor of the liveryman and scowled. “More than a few scoundrels, to boot.”
    Lee passed him a bowl of thick creamed corn. “Say, Buddy, what do you figure was stirring young Miss Bloom?”
    Buddy’s hand paused on the bowl. “You saw it, too?”
    “Saw what?” Jerry asked.
    Lee regarded him with one raised brow. “Son, I don’t expect you took much notice of Miss Bloom’s behavior. How could you? You were too distracted by her other attributes.”
    Jerry set down his mug with a bang. “High rickety, ain’t she a huckleberry?” The flush on his young face and the wide, milk-ringed grin told Buddy more than his words.
    “A huckleberry, is she?” Lee forked a serving of roast and smiled at Jerry. “Let’s see now. Two days ago you used that term while referring to an oil rig. The week before, I believe a newfangled motorcar earned the same accolade. I think Miss Bloom might consider herself lumped with unflattering company. Don’t you agree, Buddy?”
    “I do indeed. But what can you expect from an Oklahoman?” Buddy dropped his gaze and shoved a bite of food into his mouth to keep from smiling.
    Jerry sat up straighter. “By golly, I’m a Texan and you know it. Born and raised in Wichita Falls.”
    Buddy shrugged. “Same difference. You couldn’t slip a hummingbird feather between Wichita Falls and the Oklahoma border. They may as well claim you.”
    Jerry drew his mug and plate closer and turned away, offering them one bony shoulder. “There ain’t no call for that kind of talk.”
    Lee laughed aloud and pounded him on the back. “Aw, come on, Okie, don’t take on so. We’re just having some fun.”
    “Eat up, boys,” Buddy said. “We don’t have time for high jinks. We’re burning daylight.”
    Across the table, a thin, balding man leaned forward and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, gentlemen. Did I hear you mention getting the Bloom women settled? Something happen out at their place?”
    The three men exchanged uneasy looks. “No, sir,” Buddy said. “Nothing worth talking about.”
    Though no one sat near them, the little man looked to his left and then his right. “Does it have something to do with the wedding?” he whispered.
    “Wedding?” Buddy and his men asked together.
    “The wedding that