Page 60 of Grady

“That is not encouraging at all.” Savannah laughed.

“He said he’d been thrown so many times, he lost count. Fred said horses can be unpredictable so you have to be alert. I love it now though. I wish I could get Rafe to go riding with me.”

“You are talking horses, right?” Savannah grinned.

“Either or,” Maggie said with a laugh.

The door opened again, and the women looked at each other, sighed, then laughed again. They both got up to help the group of customers entering the store.

Monday morning, Savannah unlocked the door and entered the shop. She turned the closed sign over to open, then made her way to the back room to put her purse in the filing cabinet. After unlocking it, she stuck her purse in it, then headed back to the front just as Maggie entered the shop.

“Good morning, Maggie,” Savannah said.

“Good morning, Vanna.” Maggie walked to the back room to put her purse in the filing cabinet, then locked it. She returned to the front of the shop. “Did you have a good weekend?”

Savannah smiled. “I did. I spent it with Grady.”

“Ah, I see.” Maggie grinned.

“I love being with him.”

“I’m surprised you can walk.”

Savannah burst out laughing. “Me too.”

They laughed then Maggie dusted the showroom and the back room where the dollhouses were.

An hour later, they were busy with customers. Savannah was so happy that it was that time of the year. She loved being busy. Most days.

As she rang up an order for a customer, the door opened, and she looked over and the blood drained from her face as she saw Kirk enter the store.

“Ma’am?”

Savannah looked at the customer, then back to Kirk.

“Vanna? Are you alright?” Maggie asked her in a whisper.

“Oh, uh, yes. I’m sorry.” She handed the customer her change and the woman left.

“Vanna?”

“I’m alright.” Savannah walked around the counter and headed straight to Kirk. “What are you doing here?”

“Can we talk?”

“No.” She turned to go back behind the counter when he grabbed her arm but let go when Maggie stepped up beside her.

“Get your hand off her.”

“This is none of your business.”

“Vanna, do you want him here?”

“No.”

Maggie looked at Kirk. “Then it is my business. Get the hell out of here.”

As Savannah stared at him, the door opened and Grady entered. He smiled at Savannah, but the smile left his face when he saw the look on her face.