A Change in Altitude Read Online Free Page B

due?”
    â€œThe first week in June.” Maggie smiled at the girl. She looked about twelve or thirteen. What did she think of being dragged across the country to a town in the middle of nowhere, to see an uncle she hadn’t seen in more than a few years?
    â€œWhen’s the wedding?” Sharon asked. She addressed the question to Jameso, but he looked to Maggie.
    â€œThe first week in June,” Maggie said.
    â€œCutting it a little close, aren’t you?” Sharon asked.
    â€œIt’s going to be a beautiful wedding,” Barb said. “At my B and B. Right before my grand opening. I’ll be sure you get an invitation, of course.” She put one arm around Alina and the other around Sharon. “I was just on my way out to Maggie’s place. You can follow me and I’ll show you where Jameso lives and you can get settled in. I’m sure you’re going to love it here.”
    â€œWhat about Jameso and Maggie?” Alina asked. “Maybe they want to come with us.”
    â€œOh, I don’t think so.” Barb’s gaze met Maggie’s, a look that telegraphed I’ve got this. Maggie almost smiled. “I’m sure they have a lot to talk about.”
    She escorted mother and daughter out of the saloon and suddenly it was quiet enough Maggie imagined she could hear the ice melting in the untouched glasses of water on the table. She moved to a chair and sat, hands folded across her stomach. “So.” She looked up at Jameso. “Why don’t you tell me what this is all about?”
    Â 
    Lucille Theriot couldn’t remember now why she’d wanted to be mayor of Eureka. Something about civic improvement—and maybe a challenge made to her after too many glasses of wine. Whatever the reason, after almost five years on the job, she had begun to feel she remained in the position because she was too stubborn to leave. She had a dangerous need to fix things and leave them better. Since small towns always had problems, she could never comfortably leave office.
    Which also meant she couldn’t do ordinary things like check a book out of the library without being accosted with more problems to solve. “Gloria quit,” librarian Cassie Wynock said by way of greeting when Lucille slid the latest best-seller across the counter to her.
    â€œGloria Sofelli?” Lucille looked around for Cassie’s wraithlike assistant. The woman hadn’t said three words to Lucille the entire time she’d known her. Then again, working for Cassie would cow almost anyone. “I was always amazed she stayed in the job as long as she did,” Lucille said. “What happened?”
    â€œShe eloped with that cameraman who was filming that cooking show.”
    â€œAh.” What’s Cookin’? USA, a popular cable show that featured offbeat places to eat around the country, had picked the local café, the Last Dollar, for a segment; though in the end the filming never took place. When the show left, Gloria had probably seen her chance to get out of town—and out from under Cassie’s thumb.
    â€œShe didn’t even give notice. She just packed up and left.” Cassie sniffed. “I told her she’d never get a good reference from me and she actually laughed. Young people these days.”
    Cassie and Lucille were near the same age—mid-fifties—but Cassie liked to assume the role of crotchety old woman, dressing like a matron and railing against “young people these days.” Maybe she thought she commanded more respect that way. “I guess you’ll have to hire someone else for the position,” Lucille said. Though who in their right mind would want to work for Cassie? The woman took bossiness to new levels.
    â€œAs if I have time to train someone right now,” Cassie said. “I’m much too busy.”
    Busy doing what? It was exactly the question Cassie wanted her to ask, so Lucille kept