Read Heartwishes for Free Online Page A

but then we’re an old-fashioned town—and our budget is limited.”
    “Do you think it’s malicious, meant to frighten her, or is it a robber . . . or worse?”
    “No robberies, no outlet to her backyard, but it’s scared the daylights out of Tara. She’s having surveillance cameras installed.”
    “And you offered her a place to stay,” Gemma said.
    “Yeah, we mostly use the guesthouses for anyone who needs them. Ellie’s waving at us. Our sandwiches are ready.”
    Gemma followed him to the back and waited as Ellie handed him a white bag.
    “Did you talk to Tara?” Ellie asked.
    “Yeah,” Colin said. “Whoever’s doing it doesn’t seem to mean any harm, but I’m going to be cautious.”
    “You always are. Oh, by the way, Taylor took the boxes out to Merlin’s Farm this morning, so you don’t need to go. Did you meet our newest resident? Dr. Burgess?”
    “Not yet,” Colin said, “but I’ve heard of him.” He turned to Gemma. “A retired professor of English history has moved here. He wants to be near Williamsburg, and he used to teach at Oxford.”
    “Sounds interesting. I’d like to meet him.”
    “I don’t think he’s in good health, poor man.” She looked at Gemma. “If you two are planning to eat outside, you should know that there’s a playgroup out there. Colin will be swamped.”
    “Thanks for warning us,” he said, then moved aside for Gemma to go ahead of him toward the front. There was a big refrigerated cabinet full of fruit juice drinks near the registers. “Take your pick.”
    “Anything with raspberries,” Gemma said as Colin held the door open. “What about you?”
    “I’m a lemonade man.”
    “Pink or yellow?”
    He gave her a look.
    “Yeah, right. My boys won’t touch anything pink either.”
    “So now I’m one of your boys?” He led them to the end register where the girl greeted him by name. Colin held up their food, she nodded, and they left. It looked like he had an account there.
    “If I say that you are one of my kids, will it get me the job?” she asked as they got to the door.
    “Why do you think I brought you to the most public place in Edilean?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “By now at least three women have called someone in my family to say that you should be hired.”
    “Why would they do that? They don’t know me from the other applicants.”
    “Ha! By now they not only know your name but probably your Social Security number.”
    Gemma laughed. “This town couldn’t be worse than a college campus. We know who’s researching what before the first book is opened.”
    He was standing by the front door and looking out. To the left, under the deep roof overhang, were several little tables, and they were full of young mothers with their children. One of them was the woman whose baby both Colin and Gemma had held. “That sounds like a scary place,” he mumbled.
    “And you look scared.”
    “Terrified. They know I can change diapers.” Obviously, he wasn’t talking about the academic life.
    “Give me your car keys.”
    He looked at her. “What?”
    “Give me your keys and I’ll drive to the back and pick you up.”
    “My Jeep is a standard shift.”
    “Gee whiz. With a clutch and everything? However will I manage?” She batted her lashes at him in mock helplessness.
    Colin gave her a one-sided grin and handed her his keys. “See you in a minute.”
    Gemma gave a nod, then sauntered out the front door. She could feel the eyes of the mothers on her, but she didn’t turn to look at them. When she reached Colin’s car, she quickly got inside and started it. The man her mother had hired to teach her to drive had insisted that she learn on a standard shift, and now she was glad of it.
    The moment she put the Jeep in reverse, she knew that something had been done to the engine to escalate its power. Colin might say that he wasn’t involved with his family’s car dealerships, but he owned a vehicle that was far from being standard