The Feed Store Floozy (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Read Free

take a walk,” he suggested as he wiped the table and stacked the placemats.
    “Where?”
    “Downtown.”
    “You want to see that you-know-what, don’t you?”
    “Aw, Nell, I’m a man.”
    “Believe me, I blessed know that.”
    “Not as well as I’d like for you to.”
    “Don’t start.” She switched off the light over the sink. “Mary Lynn is mortified.”
    “I’ll bet she’s not.” He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
    “Who are you if I run into anybody I know, and I probably will.”
    “Just Sam. Your friend from the Bronx.”
    Penelope rolled her eyes. “That’ll raise some eyebrows in a little southern town.”
    He held the screen door for her. “Don’t worry about it.”
    ****
    “They sure roll up the sidewalks around here, don’t they?” Sam asked as he surveyed the deserted square.
    “Everybody goes home at night—where they belong.”
    “I’m not criticizing the town. I sort of like it.”
    “I love it. It’s my home.”
    He squeezed her hand. “It’s solid. Like you, Nell.”
    “That’s it over there,” she said, pointing to the dark shape barely visible in the gathering dusk. “It’s been empty for as long as I can remember.”
    “Who is this Brice Dolan who bought it?”
    “He owns the Daisy Café and some other property around here, but he lives in Little Rock.”
    “Not a hometown boy then.”
    “Yes and no. He’s around my age. I think he graduated a year before I did, but he went off to college and never lived here after that. He inherit ed his parents’ house, sold it, and bought the café when Harry was trying to keep the town afloat, but it’s paid for itself.”
    “What does he do in Little Rock?”
    “He’s an antique dealer. A nice guy, as far as I know.  Married and has a couple of kids a little younger than Bradley.”
    They mounted the four wooden steps to the porch, where Sam tried to peer through the lone window. “Sure is dark in there.”
    “What do you expect? I’m sure the power has been turned off for years.”
    “I’d like to get a look inside.”
    “I’ll just bet you would, and I’m sure you will, but you’ll do it without me.”
    “That’s no fun.” He hugged her against him. “Sorry. On the bright side, maybe Harry can take the furnishings out of here and add them to the museum.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “It’s part of the town’s history, too.”
    “Can’t you just see it now—the Main Street Brothel display. Every minister in this town, including Fr. Loeffler, would rally against it. I wouldn’t like it much either.”
    “It’s the oldest profession, you know.”
    “Maybe so, but the idea of it flourishing here in Amaryllis goes against the grain.”
    “It’s still flourishing,” Sam said, his voice changing from teasing to terse. “It’s everywhere, and you wouldn’t believe…” He stopped. “Well, it’s not important. Let’s walk over to the park. I’ll push you in the swing.”

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    After lunch the next day, Penelope left Sam and Jake watching Gilligan’s Island and drove to the library. “Did you hear about the feed store?” Shana greeted her from behind the desk.
    “Mary Lynn died all over my kitchen table telling me about it.”
    “I’ll bet. This town’s secrets just get juicier and juicier. If Mayor Hargrove doesn’t let me write its history, I’m going to be really mad. Maybe I’ll be mad enough to ask for a raise.”
    “The Town Council would love that.”
    “So I’ll use it as a bribe to put pressure on Mr. Mayor.”
    “Have you looked in the card catalogue to see if there are any books on Arkansas history that might mention Amaryllis?”
    “The card catalogue went out with the twentieth century,” Shana said. “I have everything on computer now. Actually, Abigail Talbot picked up the database where I left off.”
    “She knew her business,” Penelope said, “but I didn’t want her marrying my son. I’m glad you’re back—for a variety of