The Orchard at the Edge of Town Read Online Free Page B

lock herself in Rose’s house for a few days. Alone.
    Because alone was where she’d spent most of her childhood, hiding out at the little schoolhouse her parents had built for the community, because it was the one place none of her siblings ever seemed to want to be. “It’s okay. I can walk back.”
    â€œI’m sure you can, but should you? We’re talking three miles, and you’re in bare feet.”
    â€œI spent the first sixteen years of my life barefoot. I think I’ll survive.”
    â€œI’ll walk with you. Just to make sure you do.” He stepped into place beside her. He had a confident air, an easy smile. The kind of looks that took a second glance to really appreciate. She didn’t plan on giving him a second glance, because she was done with men. Forever.
    â€œFine. You can give me a ride,” she said because she didn’t want him to have to walk her to the house and then return for his car. She also didn’t want to spend a whole lot of time with him or any other man.
    Heck, she didn’t want to spend time with anyone!
    â€œRelax, Apricot. It’s just a ride to Rose’s house. Not a ride to jail, and the only one who lives close enough to see you in my car is Dusty. Since he’s out in the fields, I think your reputation is safe.” He opened the cruiser door, and she slid into the passenger seat. Obviously, he thought she was worried about being seen in a police car. She’d been seen in a lot worse places, but she didn’t think he needed to know about that.
    â€œIt’s Anna,” she told him as he slid into the driver seat. “Not Apricot.”
    â€œYour friends call you Anna?”
    Only her LA friends. Her Pennsylvania friends called her Apricot. But then, they were the people she’d grown up with, and they’d only ever known her as Apricot.
    â€œMost of them.” She answered truthfully, but the truth wasn’t quite as easy as she wanted it to be. Life had gotten busy, she’d gotten caught up in her work, in the need to create a successful, structured life. She’d gotten caught up in Lionel too. He’d been handsome and charming, and when she’d been with him, it hadn’t seemed like she’d needed anyone else. Obviously she had, because here she was, sitting in a police cruiser, in a town she barely knew. Alone, because she’d spent the past five years being part of a couple that spent most of its time with Lionel’s friends. She’d made some time for her friends—the ones from college and work—but obviously not enough time. Seeing as how the only one who’d tried to call her during her twenty-four-hour drive from LA had been Lionel.
    â€œBastard,” she whispered.
    Â 
    Â 
    Simon heard Apricot clear as day, and he found himself smiling again.
    â€œI see we’ve moved up in our insults,” he remarked as he pulled up to the old Shaffer place. It needed painting, the old clapboard siding dingy gray rather than the bright white it had been when he’d moved to town six years ago. Not surprising. Rose visited the property once a year, stayed for a couple of weeks and then took off. As far as he could tell, she didn’t put any time or attention into the property. He’d heard murmurs about irresponsibility and selfishness. The place was, according to the town historical society, one of the oldest in Apple Valley, and it needed to be cared for and cherished.
    Seeing as how Rose owned the property, paid her taxes on time, and didn’t cause any kind of trouble, it was her choice whether or not she put money into the old house. That was Sheriff Cade Cunningham’s official comment when townsfolk filed complaints. Simon knew his boss felt differently. He’d heard him discussing the Shaffer place with his grandmother. Ida Cunningham was president of the town historical society, mayor of Apple Valley for more years than Simon had