Read Optical Delusions in Deadwood for Free Online Page B

“Really?” Millie leaned forward, her hands no longer fidgeting, but rather clutched so tight her knuckles were turning white. “That soon?”

          “Most likely, yes.” I glanced at Wanda, who was frowning at something over by the stairwell. I looked to see what had her attention. The large Corn Plant? The brass umbrella holder? What?

          Millie stood. “Would you like to see the rest of the house?”

          “Yes.” Curiosity had me hooked. I rose, still a bit distracted by Wanda’s odd behavior. “Will your mother be joining us?” If not, I planned to ask about the state of her mental well-being. Wanda needed to be coherent enough to claim ownership, or Millie was going to need a power of attorney before we could put the house on the market.

          I meant, IF I were even going to consider taking the listing. Which I wasn’t.

          “Yes, of course. Mother, come on.”

          Wanda smiled shyly again at me and followed us up the carpet-lined stair steps.

          Fifteen minutes later, we stood in the kitchen, which oozed old-style charm with an apple theme and was trimmed with white modern appliances, and a shiny green porcelain sink. I didn’t see a single drop of blood or any other evidence of the gruesome events that might have taken place within these walls.

          I was in love. And I knew in my heart that while none of the locals wanted anything to do with this gem, some out-of-towners, like the hundreds of thousands passing through over the next couple of weeks, would jump at the chance to call it their own. Especially if it was priced low enough.

          “So, Miss Parker,” Millie was back to fidgeting with that same thread. “Will you help us sell it?”

          “Well...” There was that sticky bit about me telling Doc I probably wouldn’t list their house—not to mention Ray’s bellows, Mona’s reprimands, and Harvey’s snorts of disgust. I hadn’t even mentioned anything about it to my boss, Jane, yet.

          “We’d be willing to give you three percent more than your normal rate.”

          On the other hand, Layne’s feet were growing faster than I could keep them contained in expensive canvas, and Addy needed to be able to read the board in school without squinting all day.

          “You’d need to have someone paint the outside this weekend,” I told them both, making sure Wanda was focusing on me, not something behind me. She’d been touch-and-go upstairs, skittish almost, jumping when one of the curtains swayed in a breeze.

          Wanda’s nod of acceptance was slight, but her gaze stayed on my chin. Progress.

          “The paint is in the garage,” Millie said. “It just needs to be stirred.”

          Millie gave new meaning to “motivated seller.”

          “What color?” I wasn’t going to get burned at the last minute with purple and pink Barbie townhouse colors.

          “Butter cream. Chocolate brown for the trim.”

          “Wonderful.”

          “Does that mean you’ll help us, Miss Parker?” Millie asked.

          I hesitated, considering telling Millie I’d think about it and get back to her. The Carhart ladies’ well-being wasn’t my responsibility. I had enough trouble already just caring for the two little people under Aunt Zoe’s roof.  

          Wanda lifted her milky gaze to mine. Tears rimmed her lower eyelids. “Please, help us,” she whispered.

          Oh, hell. Not tears. Anything but tears.

          Sighing, I held out my hand. “I’ll bring the necessary paperwork by tomorrow.”

          Millie’s handshake felt like squeezing a damp Kleenex.

          I turned to Wanda, my smile softening, my hand extended. “I look forward to doing business with you, Mrs. Carhart.”

          Wanda’s focus shot upward, above my head, her watery eyes wide, round, and bulging. She opened her