"Christine W. Murphy - Through Iowa Glass" - читать интересную книгу автора (Murphy Christine W)

bother. We had a dinner here at the Senior Center before the graduation
ceremony at the high school and there's some food left. It never fails, we
either make too much or not enough. The weather was a bit unsettled. It kept
some people away." Skye glanced again at the debris that covered the Mustang's
front seat and wondered if she was talking too much.
Alex followed her into the Center and stopped a moment to watch
Christy, who ignored them and continued coloring. "Well, if it's already
made... Is there some place I can wash?"
After Alex disappeared down the hall, Skye slipped into the chair
across from Marvin. "Where are you taking him?"
"Me? I take care of cars, not people. Besides, Sheriff Harley said
you'd know what to do with him."
Skye's jaw dropped. What was Harley thinking asking her to take in a
stranger? She had known Harley her entire life. During high school, he'd
practically lived at her grandparents' house. He'd been best man at her
wedding and gave the eulogy at her husband's funeral, but this was a lot to
ask.
Marvin dug into his pocket and slid a crumpled bit of paper across the
table. "Sheriff Harley said you'd take Alex to the Old Jackson place. You're
still keeping an eye on it for Miss Lorraine, ain't you?"
She nodded, her mouth still open.
"Alex was real friendly with the Sheriff. From the way they were
talking, they must know each other pretty well."
She moved to stand where she could see Christy, and pressed the
wrinkled paper smooth against the side of the open door.
_Skye, I would take Alex home with me, but I'll be working all night
and don't want to bother Jenna. If you'll take him to the old Jackson place,
I'll send someone for him in the morning. Harley._
Not much of a note considering he wanted her to put up a stranger in a
house she didn't own, but she understood Harley's reluctance to bring company
home. His wife was seven months pregnant with their first child, and as
everyone at the senior center agreed, she was much too old to have a baby.
Harley treated his wife as if she were a window on display at the Iowa Glass
Window Factory, with great care and more than a little awe.
Skye slipped the paper into her pocket and looked for Alex. He stood in
the front room watching Christy color her picture of Santa Claus, torn from an
out-of-date coloring book.
"Alex seems a nice enough guy," Marvin continued, "and you've got all
that room at the Jackson place. You know Harley wouldn't ask if this guy
wasn't safe."
Skye agreed Alex looked harmless. Sweet even, despite his disheveled
clothes. Maybe Harley knew Alex from the service; although, with his
shoulder-length hair, Alex didn't look like an ex-marine.
"I can take Christy to her grandma for you. She should be home from
work about now. That way you won't have no excuse."
Skye shrugged agreement. She couldn't escape being imposed upon. The
people of Close knew her like they'd known her husband Ben and her
grandparents. If something needed doing, you went to the Devries or the
Bergens.
When she walked to the store front to stand beside Alex, he was