New Growth (Spook Hills Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free

the seat where he sat
stunned.  
    Mathew’s arm dropped to his side as he regarded John Henry
with a mixture of satisfaction and horror.   He belted the prick of a man with a robust right hook.   A little blood trickled from the corner of
John Henry’s mouth.  
    Time sped up again.   Steve jumped in front of Mathew, locking his arms to his sides.   Rick grabbed John Henry, pulled him to his
feet and hustled him into the house.   Steve remained with Mathew, regarding him sternly yet with respect when
he said.   “I think you should let Ivy
drive us home.   Give an apology to Sassy
on our way out.”
    As they left, Mathew glanced back over his shoulder at Callie as she hastened after Rick and John
Henry.   When she peeked over at him with
a worried expression, a little smile curved the corners of her refined
lips.   No matter what the man said,
Mathew was disappointed in himself that his rage over the insults to Callie
hijacked his judgment.   Why did she stay
with the man?   A sweet, feminine woman
like Callie should be loved and protected, not disparaged.

 
 
    Three hours later back at Spook Hills, the kitchen
overflowed with the tang of the homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce Ivy
simmered in the kitchen.   Scenting the air
with an earthy essence, the fragrance of basil, thyme and oregano floated through to the living room where Steve and Mathew hovered
over a game of Scrabble.   The rat-tat-tat
of the heavy brass doorknocker interrupted their concentration.   Since they expected Lenny to join them that
evening, opening the door to discover Sassy and Rick startled Mathew.
    “I am sorry,” he said shamefacedly .
    “Don’t be.   I wanted
to belt the guy myself today and many times before,” Rick said, giving Mathew a
little mock tap on the jaw.   “Pompous,
drunken professor.   I crammed his stuff
in his suitcase and put him on a plane back to San Francisco.   He is not welcome at our home unless he
sobers up, apologizes to us and treats Callie right.   Little hope of his becoming a decent man.”
    “Is Callie upset?” Mathew asked.
    “About you?   Don’t
think so.   She may drop by with
Susannah.   She gave John Henry an
ultimatum to check int o rehab and to seek counseling .   She’s to go back in a week to check on him.”
    “I’m not a man prone to irascibility.   The punch came out of I don’t know where,”
Mathew said shaking his head at himself, still puzzled by his uncharacteristic
behavior.
    Sassy reached up, kissed him on the cheek and
whispered.   “It came from your heart,
making it lovely to see.”
    They turned into the living room when Steve called out, “Hey
look who’s here!   Entertaining
get-together today.   We enjoyed the food, wine and company even with our bit of
drama.”
    “The drama made the festivities extraordinary to us!” Rick
said with a satisfied grin as he turned and clapped Mathew on the shoulder.
    Ivy came in from the kitchen, inviting them all to stay for
dinner as she wiped her hands on her bright red apron.   Mathew’s spirits lifted further when Callie arrived
with Susannah about a half hour later.   Callie’s face showed strain.   Nevertheless like her aunt, she kissed Mathew on the cheek and whispered
soft words of appreciation.   Right
afterward Lenny walked in from where he lived in a trailer near the barn.  
    Overhearing that Lenny liked to play backgammon, Susannah
led him to a small drop-leaf cherry table by the window set up with a leather
games board.   The late afternoon sun
streamed over them, but the fresh breezes flowing through the house kept the air
comfortable.   Susannah seemed to trust Lenny innately as the two of them
became engrossed in their game.   Her
little nine-year-old brow furrowed in a cute way when she assessed a move.   Crusty and grizzled as an old bobcat, Lenny
sat across from her more pleased than Mathew had ever seen him.
    Shortly before seven Ivy came out of the kitchen, “Mathew,
will