Page 26 of Cold Winter Nights

No he’s not. And his name is Bo.

“After Ben died—God rest his sweet soul—Stone cut himself off from everyone. He stayed in his cabin for a whole month before he finally came out, then when he did, he worked like a madman.” Myra sighed, “It was heartbreaking.”

Royal kept his eyes down on his lonely little carrot but he was laser-focused on Myra’s words.

She rambled on while she put together sandwiches and fruit salads into the row of containers she’d lined up on the prep table.

“After a couple years had passed, several of us tried to play matchmaker. And every single one of us failed. Even my son Roderick gave it a try. He invited his frat brother, Jason, to come to the festival one winter, thinking he was Stone’s type.” Myra made a swoony expression. “Royal, I tell ya, that was a whole lotta man. Six-four, big muscles, jet black hair and full beard. Whew, if that boy wasn’t gay, and half my age…and I wasn’t already married. I would’ve pounced on him myself.”

Yikes. Royal cringed.

“But that obviously wasn’t what Stone wanted for because I’ve never seen a person give a harder brush-off than that.” Myra nudged Royal in his side when she walked by. “Who knew he’d be into a small, clean-cut man like you.”

“Excuse me?” Royal bit out. “I amnotsmall. Since when is six feet considered small?”

Myra waved off his annoyance. “You know what I mean. You’re no lumber-hauler, Royal.”

He didn’t think what he and Stone had been waiting on had anything to do with looks. What they felt for each other transcended what was on the surface.

Royal didn’t wanna hear anymore gossip. This town was worse than a tabloid. If he wanted to know anything else about Stone, he’d ask him himself.

“What are you doing with those containers,” he asked, changing the subject.

“Oh, I’m gonna call Roderick to come run these lunches over to the city hall building. The Mayor called an emergency meetingwith some of the department managers to discuss the start of the winter festival. The forecast is calling for some weather so…”

“The festival is really a big deal, huh?”

A sparkle of joy flared in her big doe eyes. “Absolutely! It’s a third of the town’s revenue for the last quarter. So, it’s a huge deal.”

“Wow.” Royal drank some of his water as numbers intuitively began to bounce around in his head.

“All twelve rooms are booked from Friday to Sunday, Royal. We get the occasional traveler passing through town, but we rely on this time of year. So be prepared. It’s gonna get super busy around here.” She began packing the containers into two large totes. “Feel free to come down and help me in this kitchen anytime you want.”

Royal smiled. “I um, I already have plans this weekend, but I will help if I have some time.”

“Oh really,” she crooned. “Do tell…what plans might they be?”

Royal made a show of zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

“You’re no fun,” she pfft’d, then pulled out her cellphone from the pocket of her paisley apron.

“Hold on.” Royal stopped her. “The city hall building is at the end of Main, just past the book store, right?”

“Yeah.” She cocked her head. “Do you need something?”

“No, no.” He stood and went over to the table and began gathering the totes. “I’ll take them. No need for Roderick to stop whatever he’s doing when I’m just sitting here enjoying his mother’sinformativecompany.”

Myra laughed, then swatted him with her trusty dishtowel.

“I’m going to the bookstore anyway. It’s time for a new mystery.”

“Thanks Royal. You’re such a sweetheart. “

Myra may say some off-the-wall things and make prying comments, but Royal enjoyed her company. It made him think of his own mother, and how much he wished he’d done this with her.

He’d yet to get a response from the postcard he’d sent his parents a couple of weeks ago, but he hoped he did soon.

Royal

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