Page 14 of Barry
“I won’t say a word to anyone. I’ll tell them you made a big scene about my picture, but it was just a blurred wild hog or something, and you proved it to me.” She gulped hard. “Will that work?”
“That would be just fine.” Ken nodded. “I’m going to need to see the rest of the pictures.”
“Sure, sure, I’ll give you my login for the program. Ken, I didn’t know. I thought that was finally my proof of a Bigfoot. It looks just like the other …” She stopped talking and stared at Ken. “Just like the other one.”
Ken made a face. “Nah, I don’t think the other one was like this, Edna.”
Her frown vanished. “You don’t?”
“No, ma’am. I knew what this was, the other one … well, there was a difference,” Ken assured her.
She nodded. “Okay.” She nodded again. “I only ask if you see anything that is … different from this, that you let me have that picture.”
“I promise.” Ken stood up. “I’ll walk you out and have JD run you to the church so you can cancel the state police call with the girls.”
Edna laughed. “Well, can you blame me? I had no idea what I had in my purse.” She stood up and looked at Barry. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. You did what you had to do.”
Barry nodded and gave a faint smile, accepting her apology, but his mind was racing with the implications of that ghillie suit and the date.
CHAPTER 6
Kathy loved teaching, but the last few days, with just the teachers and administrators, were a balm. She finished all her work, did her required administrative reports, cleaned her room, took down the decorations, and removed her personal items. The janitors would paint the room, polish the floors, and make any minor repairs that were needed to get the small school into shape. Kindergarten through high school seniors used the one sandstone building. She taught multiple levels, as did the rest of the teachers. The pay was adequate. She’d never be rich, but then again, what made a person rich wasn’t money. It was the relationships they had. Her parents had taught her that, and she believed it down to her toes.
She pulled her truck into the parking slot in front ofAllison’s bakery and headed in. “Hey!” she called to Allison, who wasn’t in the front of the store.
Allison came to the door, wiping her hands. “Hey, yourself! What are you doing here?” She looked at the large clock above the door. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
“The last day of school was yesterday.”
“Damn, how did I miss that?” Allison laughed. “Are you going to go to Bunco on Saturday?”
“I am. I love that game.” Kathy leaned against the counter. “But I love visiting with everyone more.”
“Speaking of love …” Allison raised her eyebrows. “How are you and Barry getting along?”
Kathy could feel her face heat. “He’s wonderful.” And yeah, her voice was breathless. She didn’t care. Allison was one of her best friends, and she wouldn’t tease her about how she felt about Barry.
Allison smiled at her. “I’m so happy for you. Is he … Hell, how do I ask if he’s not as uptight as he used to be without making it sound weird?”
“Just like that.” Kathy laughed at her. “He’s doing a lot better.” She was still floating about six inches off the ground from running into him that morning. “He’s been working hard over the last six months.”
“With Doc Wheeler, right? He’s really good.”
“He is.” Kathy laughed. “Barry fusses about the appointments, but he goes every Friday, and now he knows when he needs an extra session and calls for it. The change inhim has been nothing short of wonderful. Now everyone can see the sweet man that I always saw.”
“It was kind of hard to see at first.” Allison widened her eyes, and they both laughed.
“Maybe. He was kind of feisty.”
“Prickly, testy. A bit rude?” Allison added.
“Okay, okay, yes, but he’s nothing like that now.”
“Well, I’m glad. I need to get out of this bakery every now and then and see people.”
“You do! I haven’t seen you at the diner in … months.”
“Right? Oh, did you hear the latest tea?” Allison waved her back. “Let’s get some coffee.”