The Alpha's Mail Order Bride Read Online Free PDF

with two squares of sticky delicious honey cake on it, and she wouldn’t say a word until Nashoba and Akala had eaten their reward for figuring out the first clue.
    “ And now I’m supposed to give you this,” said Mrs. Wilkinson.
    The woman removed a small object and handed it to Nashoba who looked it with a puzzled expression before handing it over to Akala.
    “It’s a roll of film,” she said. “I haven’t seen one of these in ages. You can tell its been exposed because the tail has been wound all the way into the canister. Does this mean anything to you?”
    “ Not a thing,” admitted Nashoba. He looked at Mrs. Wilkinson.
    “ Don’t look at me, dear. I’m under strict orders to let you two figure it out. Enjoy your adventure!” The woman squeezed Akala’s arm in a grandmotherly way and then went back to mind her stall.
    “ Wait, when we were in town yesterday I thought I saw an old photo developing place. Do you know the one I’m talking about?”
    “ Henry’s, I think?” Nashoba thought about it for a moment. “I don’t think he does film developing any more, but it’s the only camera shop for a hundred miles. I can’t think of a better place to go next.”
    They hopped in the truck and drove off into town, their conversation focused on speculation over what the mysterious roll of film might hold for them. It struck Akala along the way that the pleasant and easy flowing conversation was a complete turnaround from what they’d experienced on this same drive the day before, and she was again happy to have Haley on their side.
    They parked the truck right out front of the camera store and Nashoba held the door open for Akala.
    “ Hi there, can I help you folks with something?” asked a young man from behind the counter.
    “ Yes,” replied Akala. She placed the roll of film on the counter. “Can you help us with this?”
    The man grinned and picked up the roll. “I sure can. Why don’t you come in back with me? I’m Henry Jr.,  by the way.”
    He asked a young boy to mind the shop for him, and Akala marveled that a fourteen-year-old was able to man the counter in this town. That sort of thing just didn’t happen very often in bigger cities, and she found it charming and delightful. It spoke of a trust that the town folk had with each other, and it was hard for Akala not to be attracted to that.
    “ I’ve always wanted to see how film gets developed,” said Akala as they walked into the back room full of photo developing supplies.
    “ I only run this for a few private clients now, and I don’t usually let people back here, but it’s hard to say no to Haley when she asks for a favor. Now, you’ll have to be careful for this first part, as it needs to be done in complete darkness.”
    They squeezed into the small darkroom space, Akala and Nashoba pressing together to keep out of Henry Jr.’s way. They heard a series of small movements followed by several clicks and the sloshing of chemicals being poured into something. The light was only out for a couple of minutes, but there with Nashoba’s body so obviously close to hers, Akala was aware of almost nothing else.
    “There we go,” said Henry Jr., flicking the light back on. “Watch that clock, and turn the container over three times slowly every four minutes.”
    Akala and Nashoba chatted while Henry Jr. left them alone to tend to his shop. Unlike their lunch with its forced conversation that never really went anywhere, they now found it much easier to open up to each other and Akala talked freely about how she loved photography and had always wanted to learn to develop her own photos. As she spoke, she remembered telling the same story to Haley the first night she’d arrived at the B&B, and again she marveled at the woman’s cleverness.
    Henry Jr returned when the roll was developed, and with his help, they put it in the enlarger and developed a print that held their next clue. Akala and Nashoba followed this one to yet another