Page 4 of Clashing Moon

I shrugged. “Sure. Since you’re here, it’ll save me a trip to your office. He’s gotten more and more obstinate about our appointments.”

“Let me grab my bag from the truck. Go on in. It’s cold out here.”

He was right. Even in my wool sweater, I was starting to shiver. “I’ll pour you a cup of coffee.”

“Appreciate it.”

I glanced up at the sky. Dense, dark gray, low-hanging clouds made the atmosphere feel even heavier and closer than it had earlier. The air felt eerily still, with no wind at all. “The calm before the storm” was a saying for a reason. No sooner had I thought this than a snowflake landed on my nose. Seconds later, snow began to fall in earnest.

I hustled back into the kitchen, debating if I should go on my planned ranch visits. I’d hate to get caught in the weather and leave Dad alone for too long.

Dad remained at the table, eating his toast, as docile as a lamb.

“Who’s here?” Dad asked.

“Dr. Moon. He was on his way out to see the Morrises’ new baby and stopped by to check on you.”

“What for? Nothing wrong with me.”

I didn’t say anything. Rafferty rapped on the door and then came inside, stomping his boots on the mat. “Morning, Mr. Collins.”

My father merely grunted his greeting, watching Rafferty with a distrustful glare as if he’d never seen him before.

I poured Rafferty a cup of coffee and set it on the counter while he shrugged out of his heavy jacket. “Do you want cream or sugar?”

“No thanks. Black’s fine,” Rafferty said, taking the mug between two hands. “It’s a cold one out there this morning. You staying warm enough?”

“Sure we are,” Dad said. “Got enough wood in the shed to last me several months and a furnace when we need it.”

While that was true, my father failed to mention that the heat in this old house only came on when it felt like it.

Had Rafferty noticed how cold the house felt? Even with the woodstove going in the other room, it felt chilled in the kitchen.

“Our furnace has been acting up,” I said.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Rafferty said. “Seems they always go out right when you need them. You want me to take a look before I go? Pop taught me a few things about furnaces. No guarantee, but I can certainly try.”

“It’s better than waiting for Ralph. So yes, thank you.” I doubted he’d know how to fix my furnace, but it was worth a try. Rafferty’s father was well known in town for being a master at remodeling and flipping houses. “If you have time.”

“I can spare a few minutes.”

“They’re saying a bad storm is coming this afternoon, but I think it’ll be here earlier than that,” Rafferty said. “I’m going to head back to town after I visit the Morrises and walk to theoffice.” Rafferty rented a house a few blocks from his medical practice. “You might think about getting home early, too.”

Why was he being so nice? Usually, our interactions were strained, with mutual contempt just below the surface.

“I can show him where the furnace is,” Dad said, interrupting. “This is still my house, if you recall.”

“No, stay and finish your toast,” I said quickly. “I’ll take him down to the basement.”

For once, my father didn’t argue.

2

RAFFERTY

The truth of it was this. Mama had insisted I stop by the Collins place this morning. Apparently, Arabella hadn’t been to church in “a month of Sundays,” as Mama put it. She’d felt sure there was something afoot and wanted me to check it out for myself. Thus, I’d come by unannounced, which I knew wouldn’t be exactly welcomed by Arabella. Our dislike of each other was so deeply embedded that I couldn’t even remember what I didn’t like about her. Other than she was smarter than me.

That was just the truth.

---