The Ranger's Passionate Love Read Online Free PDF

so on. It was pretty much the talk of the town for months, from what I hear.
     
    "Anyway, I was born first, and, of course, my mom named my Caitlin. C-a-i-t-l-i-n. Not to be outdone, K's mom also kept the name, but she named her daughter K-a-i-t-l-y-n, insisting that it was totally different. Our moms basically haven't spoken since. But, obviously we wound up going to the same school in the same grade, and we became basically inseparable. It still drives our mom's crazy to this day."
     
    Kyara let out a little laugh, both of the other women now working on the patch across from them looking up. Kyara gave them a shy smile, and admitted,
     
    "Something like that happened in my father's church. Except the two women both wanted to call their daughters 'Yazmeen.' I'm guessing that name doesn't get as much competition up here."
     
    There was a beat, followed by laughter all around.
     
    This could be okay, thought Kyara, tugging at the branches in front of her, the girls still laughing at the names. I think this could really be okay.

 
    "Kyara, someone wants you in the dining area?" called Crystal.
     
    Oh, no. Did I screw up the food for my only customer? wondered Kyara, quailing inside.
     
    "Tell them I'll be right out," said Kyara taking off her work apron.
     
    Kyara hustled into the dining room, the door swinging behind her.
     
    Mrs. Waite sat alone at a table in the dead center of the dining area. The woman was tiny and hunched. She sat, looking like nothing so much as a little bird, her beady little eyes darting around the room. A plain chicken breast, rice, and some peas sat virtually untouched on her plate.
     
    "What seems to be the trouble, Mrs. Waite?" asked Kyara as she approached the table.
     
    Mrs. Waite looked up at her, wisps of snow white hair bouncing as she did. The old woman's eyes stayed on Kyara's lips, watching them carefully when Kyara spoke.
     
    Her hearing must be going Kyara realized.
     
    "You are," announced the old woman, he quavering voice managing to sound definitive despite its age. "Now have a seat."
     
    "Excuse me?" asked Kyara, taken aback.
     
    I am about to get cussed out by a walking mummy in my own restaurant.
     
    "Have a seat," said Mrs. Waite. "I want to talk to you, but looking up at you strains my neck and voice."
     
    "I really should get back to the kitchen," said Kyara, but Mrs. Waite just snorted.
     
    "To do what? Focus on your other customers? I'm here and I already have more food than I could eat in three days. Also, I'm old and cranky and pretty much get what I want, so have a seat."
     
    Well, points for honesty thought Kyara, starting to be a little amused by the tiny woman's audacity. Kyara sat down across from her. Mrs. Waite nodded once sharply, as if a decision had just been made.
     
    "Good. Now, Crystal tells me that you don't think people around here are very friendly." Mrs. Waite's eyes glared at her accusingly.
     
    I'm really going to have to talk to that girl about the difference between private and public conversations.
     
    "Oh, well, I wouldn't say that exactly," said Kyara.
     
    "I would," interrupted Mrs. Waite. "Most people aren't. A good number of them aren't very bright, either. I should know, I watched most of them grow up."
     
    Kyara stared at her. This woman is completely insane, isn't she?
     
    "Don't look at me that way, dear. It makes you look like a fish," said Mrs. Waite, her eyes sparkling. "In any event, I managed to walk myself all the way over here, which at my age is no mean feat, just to talk to you, so you should at least ask me how my day was."
     
    I give up. I officially have no idea what's happening right now.
     
    "How was your day?" asked Kyara, bewildered.
     
    "Terrible," said Mrs. Waite. The old woman seemed thoroughly in her element now, rapping her fork against the table like a gavel to punctuate her points. "My grandson only stopped by for a few minutes, we've got a summer storm coming in which is making my joints ache