The Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries 1-3 Read Online Free Page A

daughter.  I loved how her green eyes would flash at me
when I teased her.  I had brought with me some clothing I found that would suit
her figure well.  It was very hard to fit Noelle.  Her impressive top digit was
one thing, but with a trim waist and boyish hips buying clothing for her was a
trial.  I had picked these outfits out from Victoria’s Secret.  Modesty aside,
sometimes a girl ought to show her assets.
    The gift shop at the rest stop was unimpressive unless you
liked lurid fiction.  The American fast food chain restaurant there seemed to
assault my senses, so I didn’t spend much time in the building.  I stood
outside taking in the brisk temperature and boarded the coach as soon as the
doors opened.
    The front of the coach’s second story was all windows.  When
I first sat down I felt a bit dizzy, but soon I was lost in the scenery.  The
fields that bordered the highway were gold, and I wondered what the farmers
were growing.  Hedgerows blooming in purples and pinks cut geometric paths
through the landscape of Devon.  The A38 brought us out of the fields and into
the hills.  The coach stopped in Plymouth and a few people left the bus but
more got on.  From now on the coach would be a local and would stop in
Falmouth, Bodmin, St. Ives and Penzance. I gave up my empty seat to a very
talkative housewife from St. Buryan, who introduced herself as ‘Ann no e,
nothing as fancy as that.’
    She positively bubbled when she found out that I was not
only an American, but I was going to be staying with a member of her parish. 
Her father had worked the land at Bathgate, but she wasn’t too sure of whom, if
anybody was leasing it now.
    I watched the landscape while listening to her running
commentary of the sights as we passed them.  I didn’t need to ask one question,
as she just loved the role of tour guide.  If she got anything wrong, a woman
named Marjorie, who was sitting within earshot, corrected her.  Sometimes they
got into a bit of a row, but all in all I loved it. 
    “How are you going to get out to Bathgate?” Marjorie called
down the aisle.  Ann turned, and her face lit up when I said taxi.
    “No, you won’t.  You will ride with Marjorie and me.”
    “I don’t want to make a pest out of myself...”
    “Nonsense!”  Ann turned around.  “Marjorie, she thinks she
is making a pest out of herself, imagine.”
    “Completely odd, considering we go right by the place.”
    I was contemplating if they meant I was completely odd - I
didn’t know it showed - or if it was the situation that was.  Anyway, I sat
back and listened to Ann’s explanation of how Marjorie and she were chums from
childhood.  Ann married a constable from St. Just and Marjorie a farmer who was
doing quite well with “the soybeans.”
    “I couldn’t help noticing that you’re not sporting a wedding
ring.”
    “No need any longer.”
    “So are ya a widow or a divorcé?”
    “Not a widow.”
    “Hmm...So, do you have a boyfriend?” Ann whispered.
    “Ann Cayne, you should be ashamed of yourself.  Asking such
a personal like question.  Well?”
    “Well what?” Ann spouted back.
    “Well does she?” Marjorie snapped.
    I looked over the seat and noticed Marjorie was halfway back
in the coach.  Some ears!  I was certain as I surveyed the other thirty or so
faces turned my way that the whole top of the bus wanted to know the answer.
    “Ahem,” I cleared my voice, “I don’t have time for a
boyfriend, thank you.  I play in two concert bands, and I have been, up to this
year, busy raising two children.” 
    “I could have told you that,” piped up an old gentleman in a
tweed coat, “she doesn’t have the jewelry to be a tart.”
    “Go to Bath, Andrew Morgan.  Who asked you?”
    “Pardon me.  Hello.  Thank you, Mr. Morgan.  Yes, I don’t
have the jewelry. So you’re saying I would get better jewelry if I had a
boyfriend?”
    “Depends.”
    “Depends on what?”
    “Now if he were a