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Was that strike two?Am I even up to bat yet? I didn’t get the words out this time before she struck me down. I don’t remember being this bad with women. In the past, I simply said “Let’s have dinner,” and nine out of ten times, they said yes. Okay, maybe seven out of ten times. But still, it wasn’t this hard.
“Can I help you find something?” I jump, hearing a whispered voice behind me. Spinning around, I come face to face with the head librarian. “Officer Steele, right?”
“Please, call me Owen. I’m just trying to find something to read this weekend.”
“Oh? No plans then?”
“No. No plans. I tried, but I was shot down.”
She nods sagely. “Yeah, she can be clueless like that.”
“How do you even know who I’m talking about?”
“Please.” She laughs. “You moved to a very small town. Everyone knows everything around here, possibly even before you do.” I scowl at her, and she laughs again. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Sometimes,” she adds, leaning in as if she was plotting something sinister, “you can even use it to your advantage if you know how to work it right.” She leans back, flashing a grin. “Alright, let’s see what we can find to keep you company tonight.”
She turns and starts down the aisle, looking through the stacks. I shake my head in exasperation before following. Are all of the Caraway women this crazy? The two I’ve met so far are both beautiful and smart, but they’re as confusing as a goat on Astroturf. I’m not sure I used that right. I just heard that line earlier at the office and decided it was a keeper.
This town is full of idiosyncrasies I’ve discovered. The gossip I can do without, but I enjoy seeing the same people around town and being greeted by name. The fact that Austen seems to know enough about me to pull book suggestions that I want to read both fascinates and disarms me. Maybe that’s a recurring theme for the women in this town. Or maybe just Caraways.
With an armful of books, I follow Austen back up to the circulation desk. She chats away at me while checking out my books until a tall, blond man walks through the door. I watch her whole face light up. If only I could convince Eliot to look at me like that.
“Hey, babe.”
“Hey,” she responds. I stand awkwardly while they grin at each other. “Oh, Reed, this is Owen Steele.”
“Ahh,” Reed says, shaking my hand. “So, you’re the new guy in town? I’m Reed Campbell. I hear you’ve been chasing my girlfriend’s older sister around.”
“Uhh” is all I manage to say. Has it already circulated that I’ve been shot down twice by Eliot? Or one and a half times. I’m not sure about that last one.
“Word has it your sister has turned into quite the hellion. I heard from Raffe, who heard from old man Robbins, that Owen here had to arrest Eliot for setting off fireworks in the middle of the street the other night,” Reed continues.
“She did not!” Austen gasps.
She’s laying it on a little thick. I’d be willing to bet she knew all about it before the first rocket went up.
“And her initials are painted the size of a school bus in front of the high school. Chad told me about that one. I kept telling y’all she’d crack one day.” Turning toward me, Reed adds, ”Eliot and I graduated the same year. She’s been one of my best friends since...when, babe?”
“Mmm, freshman year?”
“Yeah, that sounds right. She’s always been wound a little tight. It’s about time she loosened up and let her hair down. Anyway, are you about ready to get some supper? I’m starving. You want to come?” I’ve been watching them like a tennis match. It takes a few minutes of them staring at me expectantly to realize the question was aimed at me.
“Oh, no thanks. I’m going to head home. It seems like I have a lot of reading to do.” I wave one of the books.
“Okay, maybe another time. Hey, a couple of us have a poker group that plays once a month if you’re interested in jumping in sometime. Just give me a call. You can find me around town most days,” Reed says.
“Is there anything else I can help you find?” Austen asks.
“No, I’m good. Have a nice evening.” With a nod at Austen and another handshake from Reed, I head toward my SUV. Setting the books on the passenger seat as I slide in. I watch the couple walk down the street to the small pizza place on the corner. I sigh as I start the truck. Pizza sounds good. I could always order one later while I’m reading.
I’ve finished the pizza, gotten a pretty good start on one of my new library books, and am brushing my teeth in the bathroom when I hear my phone ring. “Hello?”
“Owen, can you go over to Principal Hamby’s and see what’s going on? He reported someone lurking around his house. Ray’s out busting up one of the high school parties at the rock crusher.”
I learned when I first arrived that the rock crusher is the deep part of the river made when they dug out the rock needed to build the roads long ago. It has a cliff face where the kids jump off on one end and a beach-like area on the other. The kids liked to light a fire and hold parties on the sandy end.
“I hate to wake Sheriff Rogers.”
“No, don’t wake Wes. I’ll go take care of it.”
