Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (i am reading a book txt) 📗

"Is that true, Maddy? Oh, sorry, if you're not ready to talk about it, it's none of our business." Buffy blurted out then covered her mouth. Maddy patted her hand when Skip glared at her.

"It's okay. I've met a lot of nice people here. But I decided to stay long before I realized there was someone special here." Larry smirked at his correct guess.

"You can't have fallen for someone so quickly." Marie said sarcastically, "And you're certainly not thinking of your friends right now."

Later Maddy took them upstairs to their rooms. Coming down the stairs by herself, she could only shake her head at the way things came to a head. Part of the blame was hers for allowing Marie and Larry to manipulate her the way they did. It had always been easier to give in than fighting with them.

He'd changed to khaki's and a neat white polo shirt and looked quite nice. But this time she wasn't impressed. He followed her into the kitchen where she began arranging cut flowers from her garden.

"So, you're really going to try it." It was a statement not a question. "I just never pictured you as a country girl, or even small town for that matter. As I recall you used to love the bright lights and excitement of the city."

Moving in close behind her, his breath blew softly across her neck when he spoke. Placing a hand on either side of her, he pinned her neatly to the counter.

"I recall a few other things you used to like. Certain things like when we kissed, what we did and said."

"If you want to keep thinking about it, I can't stop you, but I'm not going to marry you and I'm not going to let you talk me out of this. It's over, Larry."

She couldn't stand being so close to him, hearing Larry say things that had been true at one time but no longer. Now his nearness made her queasy. With a well-placed elbow she poked him in the stomach, making him gasp for air and double over as she slipped away from his grasp.

"You are such an egotistical jerk. I can't believe I ever thought I loved you much less could marry you, but it's over."

"It's over when I say it's over." Larry growled rubbing his stomach. "Since becoming a country girl you like to play rough, huh?" A sinister look came over his face. His eyes were dark and nostrils flared.

"If you come near me again, I'll punch your lights out, Larry." She kept the kitchen table between them and looked directly into his dark, angry eyes.

"And if she doesn't, I will." A voice made of steel and ice joined their conversation. Maddy looked up to see Alec's stern face peering at them through the screen door. He must have heard everything.

Larry straightened up. Clenching his teeth he looked at them both with a venomous stare. None too gently, Alec yanked open the screen door, letting it bang shut behind him as he faced his adversary. Skip and Buffy along with Marie entered the room just then.

"Jeez, Larry, what did you do to have the law here already?" Buffy spoke up and Maddy had to grin at the misconception.

"What an entrance, deputy. Your timing is perfect." Maddy spoke under her breath as she moved closer to Alec. "Alec, these are my friends from Chicago. Well, three of them are. This is Buffy and Skip and Marie. That is Larry."

"Oh, he's the one who's leaving?" Alec spoke menacingly and took a step in his direction. Larry gave them all a malevolent look, jerked away from Marie's protective hand on his arm and went upstairs without a word.

Alec turned to the others after Larry left and nodded politely, his familiar grin returning. Skip held out a hand and Alec shook it, which seemed to break the ice.

"Guys, this is Deputy McKay, Alec McKay."

Buffy's eyes were wide and admiring, "Gee, a lawman, Maddy. That's nice and safe." Buffy had a habit of always speaking from the heart and usually without thinking, but no one took offense and even Alec joined in the laughter.

"Well, just for the record. Maddy didn't call. I was just passing by and saw all the cars. She said she wanted me to meet you though." He winked at her. "No time like the present."

Recalling their squabbling over names, Maddy blushed, but was so glad to see him she didn't care. She'd never seen Larry act the way he had, and to be truthful, she'd been a little frightened of him.

"Well, I'll go see how Larry is." Marie gave Alec a stiff nod and disappeared upstairs. A short time later, he and Marie came down with their suitcases and announced they were leaving.

"He asked me to drive back with him. Buffy and Skip can take your rental back and you'll have your own car here. He needs someone. I'm going. No hard feelings, Maddy. I never meant to make trouble, just fix things. Sorry." Shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other, her friend shrugged off Maddy's protests.

"I can't believe this." Skip said to no one in particular.

"He won't be good for her either. Poor Marie, if he sticks around a month, she'll be lucky." Buffy predicted with a sigh and joined Skip in the other room.

The lace curtains swayed briefly in the wind at the abrupt departure. Alec came up behind Maddy, his hands rested on her shoulders in a comforting gesture.

"It's like the end of a friendship when she walked out that door, Alec. Worst part of it is I know she'll get hurt. Larry's a user. He'll use her up and then leave her."

"You tried to warn her, Maddy. Come on. You've still got a couple friends that are staying." He bent down and hugged her from behind. "And you know what? I think I'm going to like that old Skip. And Buffy, she's sure cute."

"Oh, you think so, huh?" She wiggled out