Gunns & Roses Read Online Free Page A

miscellany.”
    “I’ll pop into the hardware store tomorrow and see what Mike can tell me.” Annie lifted the sporran closer to her eyes, examining both sides thoroughly. “Now that we have the sporran and bands gleaming, let’s head to the attic.”
    Alice cradled the computer in her arms to return it to the library on the way upstairs. “Right behind you. Hopefully, the attic will provide us with another piece of the puzzle.”

3
    Annie had always been one to awaken by the sun, rather than by an alarm, which made for some early rising in August. That would be rated disgustingly early by Alice’s standards and on the late side for those who manned the many Stony Point lobster and fishing boats, which had already left the harbor for the Gulf of Maine. To Annie, her body timed it just right and gave her the joy of watching the world stretch its arms and shake off the night. It also gave her plenty of time to care for her vegetable garden and her roses. It was a glorious morning, so Annie decided to walk into town to see Mike Malone as soon as he opened his hardware store.
    At the top of the rise on Maple Street, the crossroads at Main Street just ahead, she paused long enough to turn and take in the lupines as they festooned the sides of the road with riotous color. No wonder Gram had incorporated the wildflowers into many of her cross-stitch designs; they were as heart-lifting as she had been. Shifting her project bag, which contained the sporran and its contents, to her other shoulder, Annie turned again toward downtown and resumed her walk.
    Within minutes she rounded the corner and stepped onto the sidewalk, passing Magruder’s Grocery as Mike Magruder was flipping his door sign from “Closed” to “Open.” Annie always thought of this section of Main Street as the M&M Way with one Mike owning the grocery store and another Mike the hardware store next to it. Mike number one lifted a hand to greet her through the plate glass window of his store before turning his attention to other chores.
    Annie heard the door to Malone’s Hardware being unlocked, and a girl in her late-teens opened it, broom in hand.
    “Good morning, Kailyn,” Annie greeted her. “Is your father in this morning, or are you and Trace manning the store?”
    “Hi, Mrs. Dawson,” Kailyn answered, her voice cheerful. “Dad’s here. Good thing, too, because Trace is M.I.A. Probably stayed up too late playing Skyrim .”
    Annie tilted her head to the right. “ Skyrim ?”
    “It’s a video game. Gaming is just about the only thing that will keep Trace in one place for more than two minutes. Otherwise, he’s outdoors.” Kailyn brandished the broom. “And he’s missing the one store chore that would take him outside.”
    Annie patted Kailyn’s shoulder, taking care not to snag her ring in the girl’s straight, cinnamon-sugar–color hair. “I’m sure your father appreciates your help. And enjoy the sweeping; this morning is as perfect as they come.”
    “Thanks, Mrs. Dawson.” Kailyn opened the door for Annie.
    As Annie’s eyes adjusted from being in the bright summer sunshine, she heard a door in the back of the store close and a voice call, “You’re my first customer of the day, Annie. How can I help you? Boots hasn’t shredded any more screens, has she?” As Mike came closer she could see his brown hair—not as thick as it used to be—and friendly eyes.
    Annie’s green eyes danced. “No. Boots has moved on to more interesting acts of minor destruction.” She pulled the project bag from her shoulder. “My most important reason for coming today is to see if you can help me identify something I found in the attic.”
    “Another Grey Gables mystery?” Mike’s eyebrows rose. His hand reached up to tug on his left ear.
    “I’m not sure yet,” admitted Annie.
    Mike waved her over to the front counter. “Well, let’s have a look.”
    Mike made sure his front counter was kept tidy and clean, which was no easy task