Read Mayhem in Christmas River: A Christmas Cozy Mystery (Christmas River Cozy, Book 2) for Free Online Page B

stepping on and snapping any twigs lying on the dusty, dry forest floor. 
    I stopped and stood still again for a moment. Listening. 
    Nothing.
    I shivered.
    It must have been the dream. It had set me on edge. The noise I had heard coming from the woods had probably been a deer. Or a skunk. They were common enough back here and it was easy to mistake them for something else.
    I started walking back to the house. My mind going right where it had left off before I fell asleep.
    Daniel.
    If he only knew how much I loved him.
    If he only knew that I’d do anything for him. Anything but stand with him at the altar and say vows to him that meant nothing more than the paper they were written on.
    If only I could make him see it my way. 
    I walked back on the deck and realized that the Johnny Cash record playing inside was skipping. I went for the door. A sudden, sharp pain cut through the ball of my foot.
    I let out a whimper and crumpled into the Adirondack chair, cradling my bleeding heel stuck with a piece of jagged glass.
    Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
    Just what I needed.
     

Chapter 14
     
    I flinched at Warren applied Neosporin to the wound.
    He ripped open a Band-Aid packet.
    “I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure this will hold it. It doesn’t look like too bad of a cut,” he said, securing the bandage.
    “Thank God.”
    “But stay off of it tomorrow if you can,” he said.
    “No chance of that happening,” I said. “Busy day at the shop.”
    “Well, at least get yourself a tetanus shot,” he said. “Lockjaw is no laughing matter.”
    “Ha, ha,” I said, laughing at his pun.
    I took my foot back and propped it up on the side table. Warren went inside and came back out with a fleece blanket. He draped it over me.
    I smiled.
    “I just cut my foot. I’m not dying of influenza,” I said.
    He shrugged.
    “Everyone could use a fleece blanket every now and then,” he said.
    “Well, I guess you’re right at that,” I said, pulling it around me.
    “So, are you gonna tell me what’s troubling you?” he said. “Or are we gonna tip-toe around it?”
    He glanced at my bandaged foot and laughed.
    “Well, as you can see I’m in no condition to do that,” I said.
    “Then what’s the deal, kiddo?” he asked. 
    “You mean why did I finish off a carton of ice cream and half a bottle of wine before passing out?”
    “I don’t know if I’d phrase it quite like that, but that’s the general idea, yeah.”
    I let out a sigh.
    I was already tired of explaining this. Of thinking about it.
    “You heard about Kara’s store this afternoon?” I asked.
    He nodded solemnly.
    “Sure did. Harold was talking about it down at the tavern. What a terrible thing to happen to such a nice lady. How’s she holding up?”
    I shrugged.
    “I’m not sure. She’s with John right now.”
    “So is that what’s bugging you?” he asked. “Kara losing the shop like that?”
    I could have said yes and been done with it, but Warren could always tell when I was lying.
    “Well, that, and…” I took a deep breath. “And the fact that Daniel proposed to me last night. And I’m a fool and didn’t say yes, and now we’re barely speaking.”
    I rubbed my face.
    “That’s why I’m out here drinking myself to sleep tonight,” I added.
    Warren didn’t say anything for a few moments. The silence was about all I could bear.
    I scanned his wrinkled face, looking for some inkling of what he was thinking. But I couldn’t tell anything one way or another. He just stared out into the dark woods, stroking his white beard.
    “He told me he was going to ask you,” he finally said. “Even showed me the ring.”
    “You knew about it?” I asked.
    He nodded.
    “He wanted my permission,” he said. “Kind of took me by surprise. Not too many fellas are that old-fashioned these days. Evan certainly didn’t give a damn what I thought about the two of you getting married.”
    I let out a long sigh. Daniel had even gone through the