Page 37
She nodded, agreeing even though she knew she’d really been at her happiest when with Burke.
Frizzle barked and bounced onto Burke’s boots. He grinned down at her. “Good morning, Frizzle. I’ll pet you once we get these books up to the inn.”
Rissa studied Burke. While he looked as gorgeous as ever, shadows under his eyes told a different story. “Did you sleep at all?”
He grinned. “Not much. I got sucked into a mystery.”
She held up her stack of books. “I’m guessing these are part of it.”
He nodded as they walked. “All of it. You know that our grandfather’s brother, Jay, left us the farm.”
She nodded. “He’s the great-uncle you didn’t know existed before you found out about the farm. Family was so important to Fox; it’s a little surprising.”
“Exactly. I don’t have all the answers, but I have information I’ve gleaned from these books. I want to show you and the others what I’ve found. I’m hoping we can put your puzzle-solving strengths to work.”
Her heart warmed. The family mystery bothered all the Malssums. She hoped Burke was on the right track. Anything they learned could help them all.
If Jay were anything like his brother and his descendants, he would have been a good man. Whatever tore them apart, she was sure there was a lot of regret on both men’s parts. “I bet this wasn’t the first night you stayed up all night studying or researching.”
His laugh boomed, showing more excitement than exhaustion. “You’re right. And I know you’ve done the same.”
“Only a few dozen times.”
They shared a grin and then moved into the inn’s mudroom. It still amazed her that she had her own labeled slot here and in the farmhouse with her very own moccasins. She hadn’t talked to Nimii about recording a session, but now that she wasn’t hurrying away before Christmas, there wasn’t the same urgency. Next time she was in the No Fail Diner, she would ask Ginny to pass along her request to her wife.
Rissa was surprised at the lack of panic she felt at the thought of staying in one place. Since the tornado had wiped out the science center and Dan had proven himself to be an abusive jerk, she’d been on the move.
This was a place she could stay. Frizzle loved the farm, the people, and the animals. If she could arrange a monthly payment that would cover her meals and use of the lot and facilities, she’d gladly stay forever.
Inside the dining room, Frizzle barked her morning greetings to the people and then bounced over to where the dogs gathered in the corner. Her Yorkie could be swallowed whole by some of the largest ones, but they all enjoyed her presence. Boomer, always the most alert, booped noses with Frizzle before she greeted the rest and found a spot to settle in on top of one of Bibi’s giant paws.
Soon, the dining room was full, and everyone sat at the table. Lawson lifted his coffee mug in Burke’s direction. “What’s going on?”
Jolie nodded. “And what does it have to do with the stack of books you set on the side table?”
Charlie grinned. “Dad said you wouldn’t answer anyone’s questions on the Apple Gang chat.”
Rissa assumed that it was a group text for the family or maybe the entire group that lived on the farm.
Burke grinned. “I wanted to do a show and tell about what I found last night.”
Amber frowned at him. “Did you sleep at all?”
Burke shook his head. “Not really. I was going through the books Jay left in the farmhouse library.”
Knox leaned forward. “I flipped through those when I first got here. Always meant to go back to study them, but I got caught up in the farm and forgot.”
Jolie laughed. “We’ve all seen them and flipped through them. None of us noticed much. What did you find?”
Amber smiled softly. “Maybe they were meant for Burke to find.”
He grinned. “I don’t know about that, but I think we can put some clues together to figure out more about what happened in the past.”
Jolie looked at Rissa. “I’m so glad you’re here for this, Rissa. You’re the best puzzle solver I know.”
Rissa’s cheeks flushed as she smiled at her friend. “I’ll help however I can.”
Burke squeezed her hand and warmed her from the inside. He didn’t release it as he moved his gaze around the table. “I know some of you never met either our grandfather Fox or his brother Jay, but I wanted to give you a chance to be here when we have a look through the books. If you’re not interested, that’s no problem.”
