Reservations for Murder - Tim Myers [29]
“If that’s your plan, do you really want her husband with you?”
Armstrong shrugged. “He raised the alarm, and I doubt I could stop him from coming if I wanted to.”
Craig came back out with his keys clutched in his hand. “Let’s go.”
Alex stepped in. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay here? The sheriff will call you the second he finds anything out.”
“It’s not the same as being there, Alex. I’ve got to go.”
There was no way he was going to change Craig Monroe’s mind, so he stepped out of the way and let the man pass.
In a minute, Craig and the sheriff were driving back toward town. Alex saw another car meet them as both vehicles passed going too fast for the narrow lane.
It was Mor and Emma. Good. He could use a couple of friendly faces after all he’d been through that day.
“Did you two come all the way out here to baby-sit me?” Alex asked Mor and Emma with a smile after they got out of the car.
“Somebody had to do it,” Mor said, returning his grin. “We figured it might as well be us.”
“Don’t believe a word he says, Alex. We just thought you could use some company,” Emma said.
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m a big boy; I’ll be fine by myself.”
Mor said, “I told you we didn’t have to come out here, Emma. If we hurry, we can still make it to Mamma Ravolini’s for dinner.”
“Mor Pendleton, is that all you ever think about, your stomach?”
Mor hugged her in his bearlike arms. “I can think of a few other things that occupy my thoughts from time to time.”
Alex couldn’t believe it, but Emma actually blushed. Mor certainly had an effect on her since the two of them hooked up. Alex suddenly felt like the odd man out being in their presence.
Emma said, “Alex, Elise called me this evening and came up with a splendid idea. She suggested I fill in for her here while she’s gone. I’d be glad to help out until she gets back.”
“Have you given up finding any more emeralds on the land?” Alex asked her.
“No,” Emma admitted, “but I could use a break. The geologicals are giving me fits. Working with you at the inn sounds like fun.”
Fun? Alex thought of the cleaning, the laundry, the whims of his guests and the thousand other tasks that came with running an inn, but he wasn’t about to bring any of them up. Honestly, Alex could use her help. She’d find out soon enough what she’d gotten herself into. Then he realized he had to be fair with her.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “It’s a great deal of work.”
“It couldn’t be much worse than taking care of Mr. Sturbridge, and I did that for more years than I care to remember.”
Alex offered his hand. “It’s a deal, then. When do you want to start?”
“I’ll be here first thing in the morning. How does five a.m. sound?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t been up that early since I was a kid. I usually don’t get started until six-thirty, Emma.”
“Tell you what, let’s split the difference. I’ll be here at six, with bells on.” She turned to Mor and said, “We’d better head back into town. I’ve got a full day ahead of me tomorrow.”
Mor winked at Alex, then complained loudly, “I knew I’d end up being the one who suffered from this arrangement.”
Emma started scolding him. “Mor Pendleton, you can certainly spare a few hours of my company—”
She caught the smile the two men were sharing, then turned her back on them both. “Mor, I’ll wait for you in the car. Alex, I’ll see you in the morning.”
After she was safely ensconced in the car, Alex said, “You two seem to be getting along well.”
“Yeah, well, Emma kind of grows on you after a while. She’s really something.”
“Spare me the details. I’m just glad you’re doing all right.”
Mor punched Alex gently on the shoulder. In a rare moment of seriousness, he said, “Don’t worry about Elise, Alex. I know she’s coming back.”
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Alex said. As