Читать книгу White Wedding For A Southern Belle - Susan Carlisle - Страница 10

CHAPTER THREE

ASHLEY DROVE HOME well after dark. She’d got Mrs. McGuire settled in the hospital, but not happily so. Her only hope was that Mrs. McGuire would stay long enough to get the care she needed. Now having the clinic in the neighborhood, the older woman would have a place to go to for care. The clinic was already making a difference.

If only it had been around that day for Lizzy.

As she drove by the front door of the clinic she saw a couple of boys on either side of it. They were pushing over the urns. Ashley honked her horn and their heads jerked up. She recognized them as members of Marko’s gang. Rolling down the window, she hollered, “Hey, stop that!”

That was all it took for them to take off running.

With a sigh, she parked and climbed out. She walked over to see how big a mess had been made. It was late, she was tired and didn’t feel like cleaning it up. But if she didn’t do it now, what was left of the flowers would be dead by morning. She reached the door just as it was opened. She almost fell but Kiefer’s strong hands gripped her shoulders and steadied her. Her heart beat faster. She wasn’t sure if it was from surprise or from the jolt of having him touch her.

“Y-you scared me. I d-didn’t expect you to still be here,” she stammered.

He let her go. Disappointment washed over her. Not a feeling she should be having.

Kiefer stepped out. “I was finishing up some paperwork and getting ready to head home when I heard something going on out here. I came to check it out.”

She waved her hand around. “A couple of kids have been busy.”

“More like Marko trying to make a point.”

He was right but she wasn’t going to let him know that. “I’d like to just consider it a prank. I’ve got to get this cleaned up.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“The flowers could die overnight.” Ashley started picking up the plants.

“Ah, a woman and her flowers.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just that women have a thing for flowers.” He handed her part of a plant.

“You sound pretty cynical. Someone used flowers against you?”

“Something like that. Why don’t you get the broom and dustpan?” Kiefer began picking up pieces of the broken urns and putting them into a pile near the wall of the building. “I’ll get started cleaning this up.”

It was nice of him to offer to help. “You’ve had a long day. Go on home and I’ll see to this.”

“I’m not leaving you out here by yourself after this happened. So forget it. Get the broom and dustpan.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so hardheaded,” he retorted as he continued to work.

Ashley put her hands on her hips and glared at him. It gave her little satisfaction because he wasn’t looking at her. “I am not hardheaded.”

“You’re sure acting that way. I’ve made a simple offer of help and you’re still standing there.”

“Are you always so bossy?” Ashley glared down at the top of his head.

He looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you?”

With a huff, she stomped through the door and down the hall. Kiefer’s chuckle followed her. She hadn’t enjoyed growing up with a father controlling her every move and she sure didn’t like Kiefer telling her what to do. It was time to make that clear to him. She snatched the cleaning supplies out of the closet along with a bucket and returned to the front door. Kiefer had all the pieces picked up and the flowers laid off to the side.

“I tried to save your flowers but I’m not sure they’re going to live.”

He really was making an effort at being helpful. Maybe she could cut him some slack. “Thanks. I was afraid of that. Would you like to do the honors of sweeping or holding the pan?”

“I’ll take the pan.” His hand brushed hers as she handed it to him. A shiver went through her.

“I rather like the idea of you at my feet,” Ashley said as she swept the dirt into a pile.

“Don’t get carried away with the idea.” Kiefer held the pan while she moved the dirt into it then dumped it into the bucket. “Maybe if we put the flowers in here they might make it.”