Simple Deceit (The Harmony Series 2) Read Online Free PDF

come or send a deputy, but it was clear he wasn’t happy about it.”
    Sweetie, already stirred up by Snickle’s antics, exploded. “That man’s a sharp-tongued, nasty-minded, side-winding snake in grass who—”
    “So something really interesting happened when I got into town,” I said quickly, hoping to pull Sweetie’s attention away from her newest source of contention, Sheriff Pat Taylor. As I told them about the abandoned baby and my subsequent fall, Sam’s mouth dropped open.
    “Grace, are you sure you’re okay? I can drive you to the emergency clinic in Sunrise. You should probably get X-rays.”
    I grinned at him. “Are you trying to tell me I should have my head examined?”
    “It’s not funny. Head injuries can be serious.”
    “Thanks, Sam, but Abel called John, and he came over and checked me out. I’m fine. Just a headache and it’s already better. Between the aspirin and the good food, I’m recovering nicely, thank you.”
    “John Keystone is not a real doctor,” Sweetie sputtered. “For cryin’ out loud. He sells meat. You’re not a side of beef.”
    “But he
was
a doctor,” I said gently. “He examined me thoroughly. No sign of a concussion. Just a nice bump on the head. Really, I’m fine.”
    “What about the baby?” Sam asked. “Is it okay?”
    “She seemed fine. She needed to have her diaper changed, but other than that, she looked healthy and well fed.”
    Thankfully Sweetie’s attention turned from my welfare to thebaby’s. “Oh my goodness gracious,” she said in a tight voice. “And no one knows who the mother might be?”
    “No. Abel’s wondering if it could be someone in his church. He wants to keep the baby for a while to see if the family comes to get it.” I shrugged. “I told him he should contact Child Services if he doesn’t find the mother soon. I wouldn’t want to see him get in any trouble.”
    I noticed that Sam had little to say about the abandoned baby. He seemed to be concentrating on his food.
    “It’s wrong to leave your child behind and take off,” Sweetie said. “Seems to me that mother ain’t much of a mother.”
    “We don’t really know what’s going on,” I said. “Hopefully Abel and Emily will find the right solution.”
    Sam finally broke his silence. “One thing I know. Abel Mueller will do everything in his power to make things come out right.”
    I nodded my agreement.
    “Changing the subject,” he said, “you mentioned something on the phone about some project that would help Harmony. What’s that about?”
    “It’s a developer. A new client of Grant’s. He’s thinking about building a retirement community down the road a few miles from here. He’s in negotiations to buy land he needs from some farmer. He believes Harmony adds charm to the area and his residents will find the town an appealing attraction.”
    Sweetie slapped her hand on the table. “We don’t need to be overrun by no fancified, rich retired folks who have nothin’ better to do than to come down here and gawk at us. Retirement community. What a daft idea.”
    I cleared my throat. If Sweetie couldn’t find anything to be upset about, she’d turn something as innocuous as a small retirement village into the invasion of the Huns. “There will only be sixty homes in the development. I hardly think a hundred peopleover fifty-five constitutes being ‘overrun.’ ”
    She scowled at me. “We like Harmony the way it is. Don’t need no hoity-toity strangers changin’ things. Besides, we only have around five hundred folks livin’ here now. Another hundred? My lands, girl! That’s a huge amount for this little town to support.”
    Sam held his hand up. “You know, this explains some of the rumors I’ve been hearing. Seems that your developer friend has already visited several people in town. Convinced them that his project will change their lives—bring more business in. Between the folks who actually live in the community and their friends and