Gunns & Roses Read Online Free PDF Page A

That’s why we nicknamed him Trace. Seems every time I’d ask where the boy was, someone would answer, ‘Haven’t seen a trace of him.’ Then we’d find him outside somewhere, digging holes or climbing a fence or tree.” Mike glanced out the window at Kailyn. “I’ve always hoped one of my children would want to work with me and then take over the store when I retire. I’ve finally accepted it isn’t going to be Trace. Never crossed my mind it might be one of my daughters.”
    Annie held back from grinning as wide as she wanted to and commented discreetly, “Kailyn seems very comfortable here.”
    “She is,” Mike agreed. “She’s almost as fast at finding things as I am now.” He pulled in a deep breath and pointed to the sporran. “Anyway, I haven’t seen this design either. If I think of someone who might be able to help you, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
    Annie tucked the sporran into her bag. “Thanks, Mike. I’d appreciate it. Say hello to Fiona for me. Tell her we need to get together and catch up.”
    “She’d like that.” Mike went ahead and opened the door for her. “So long, Annie.”
    Kailyn was emptying the rubbish she had swept and collected into a trash can by the curb. “Have a good day, Mrs. Dawson.”
    “I plan to, Kailyn. You too.” Annie paused, tilting her face to the warm sunshine. It was a perfect day for an iced coffee, The Cup & Saucer style. Across Oak Lane from the diner, the Stony Point Library caught her eyes. She considered popping in first to check the nonfiction section for Celtic design information, but the lure of a frosty java won. She stepped off the curb to cross the street at an angle toward the diner.
    As Annie approached the door, a tall man in precisely ironed gray pants and a blue oxford shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow strode across Oak Lane. “Hello, Annie!” Ian Butler’s call was as warm and cheerful as the August morning.
    “Hi, Ian!” Annie paused to allow the mayor of Stony Point to catch up to her. “I feel for you, having to spend the day in your office. This might be the most gorgeous day of the year.”
    Ian grinned. “I did take Tartan out for a long walk along the shore early this morning.” He opened the diner door and held it open for Annie. “And I sense another walk coming before dinner. Days like this are the best free advertisements for our fair town.”
    Annie gestured at the growing number of pedestrians strolling along Main Street before she stepped through the door. “The tourists do seem to be enjoying themselves. I just ran into Chief Edwards at Malone’s. Apparently the softball field has been getting plenty of use too.” She ran her gaze around the diner. “I don’t see Peggy; maybe she’s in the back.” Annie enjoyed any chance to see her younger friend. As a quilter, Peggy was a member, along with Annie and Alice, of the town’s Hook and Needle Club.
    Ian waved her over to a booth by the window. “Peggy will be taking a couple days off. She tripped over a loose board on the dock and twisted her right wrist when she landed.”
    “Oh, no!” Annie exclaimed. Peggy Carson and her husband, Wally, were hard workers, but the economic downturn had brought difficulty to their small family, as it had to so many. The family could ill afford the loss of Peggy’s income. “I’ll check on Peggy before I head home. One-handed cooking isn’t any easier than one-handed waitressing, even with little Emily to help.” She fixed her eyes on the mayor. “I do hope the dock gets repaired as soon as possible.”
    “The board has already been replaced,” Ian assured her. “As soon as Wally called me, I sent a crew over. We can’t have our citizens or visitors hurt while enjoying the waterfront.”
    “I appreciate your diligence, Ian,” said Annie. “I wonder how Lisa is going to handle the whole room during a tourist season shift?”
    Ian smiled. “Here comes the answer to your question, I think.”
    Annie