Plain Dead

Plain Dead Read Free Page B

Book: Plain Dead Read Free
Author: Emma Miller
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sister-in-law Miriam called him a thickheaded English mule. Even if Bill didn’t get the exact translation, he got the message.”
    â€œYou know, I’ve had it with him,” Rachel said, her temper rising. “He’s lived here how many years? And how many times has he been told that the Amish don’t permit photographs? It’s rude to invite them to our town festival and then try to take advantage just to sell a few more papers.” She glanced around, trying to pick out the local newspaper’s owner and editor in the milling crowd. “If you see him before I do, tell him that I’m looking for him.”
    â€œWish I could watch,” George said. He glanced at his iPhone. “But I promised to take a turn in the toddlers’ reading corner.”
    â€œJust don’t let Sophie bite any of the little kids.”
    â€œYou know she’d never do that,” George said. “She loves children. It’s Billingsly she hates.” George turned away toward the children’s reading section. “Call me later. I want to hear all about the showdown.”
    Rachel didn’t find Billingsly, but she did run into her best friend, Mary Aaron. She was down on her knees, pulling a crate of canned peaches out from under a table. Leaving the family egg, peaches, and treenware stand in the capable hands of her sister Elsie, Mary Aaron adjourned with Rachel to the cafeteria for coffee. Mary Aaron was wearing a new apple-green dress with a white kapp and apron and black stockings and shoes. Rachel thought she looked exceptionally attractive, but then Mary Aaron had always been the cutest one in her family. She was younger than Rachel, but the two had become fast friends since Rachel had returned to Stone Mill.
    â€œSo, is Timothy here?” Rachel asked. She had removed her coat and thrown it over a chair and was now devouring a raisin-cinnamon sticky bun and sipping strong Kona coffee. Timothy was the personable young Amish man who often squired Mary Aaron to singings and other young people’s frolics. Mary Aaron insisted he was just a friend, but Rachel suspected that Timothy wanted to court her cousin.
    â€œ Ne, he had to take his uncle’s place at the farm auction in Delaware today. His uncle had several teeth pulled and he didn’t feel like going. His cousins are teenagers and their father didn’t trust them to bid on the team of Percherons. Timothy’s staying over until Monday with another uncle, but he’ll be here later in the week.”
    â€œHow’s Timothy going to get the team back to Stone Mill if he buys them?”
    â€œHis uncle will arrange to have them trailered after the weather clears. Provided, of course, that Timothy—” Mary Aaron broke off in midsentence. “Look who just walked in.”
    Rachel had seen Billingsly come in to the coffee area at almost the same instant her cousin had. “He won’t get away from me this time,” she said, getting to her feet.
    Mary Aaron used her napkin to brush away the last crumbs of her cinnamon bun and grabbed the empty coffee cups. “I better get back to the stand. I’ll hope he’ll listen to reason.”
    â€œHe will.” Rachel stood as well. “Or I’ll give him and his paper more trouble than he knows what to do with.”

Chapter 2
    Billingsly was looking at his cell phone and didn’t see Rachel until he nearly collided with her. He stopped short inches from contact, and his face reddened. He knew he was in trouble. “Rachel.”
    She glared at him. “I called the office several times for you this week. I left voice messages and I emailed you. You haven’t gotten back to me, Bill.”
    â€œI’ve been busy. I get a lot of emails.” He made a dismissive gesture. “And I was out of town on business. It’s been hectic. You know. All the news that’s fit to print and so forth,” he joked.
    She

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