Page 17 of Dying to Read

She turned and saw a short man dressed in khakis and a dress shirt with short sleeves. Suspenders held up his pants.This must be Arthur Wellings.Rarity held out her hand. “I’m a bookseller as well. I’m Rarity Cole and I own the Next Chapter in Sedona.”

“Well, isn’t this a nice surprise!” He shook her hand and introduced himself. “My first store was in Sedona. Back then we didn’t get all the tourists. A lot of hippies invaded the town, looking for a place to hang out and do nothing. The park was filled with their tents. Now, I hear your police department keeps a tight rein onthose types.”

Rarity didn’t know what Arthur meant by “those types,” but she gave the older man the benefit of the doubt. “I had heard you ran a bookstore there. Whydid you move?”

“Flagstaff had the university. More people buy books here. It was kind of a no-brainer. The people in Sedona want to hike and find those energy spots. Not read. I hope your store is hanging in there.” Arthur adjusted a shelf that had books out of order as they talked. “It’s always something around here. People come in and look at books and don’t put them back wherethey belong.”

“I get that too. And yes, the store is doing well. It took some time for the townsfolk to adopt us, but we do a lot of community service projects, which help to bring people inside.” Rarity thought that maybe Arthur would like it if no one came to his store and movedaround the books. “I’m always reorganizing the kids’ section. But then I get lost and start reading a book whileI’m working.”

He smiled then. “A bookseller’s dilemma. We all love the product we’re selling too much. What can I help you with today? Are you looking for something specific? Or visiting a fellow bibliophile?”

“I’ve already got a stack on the counter, but I’m looking for a few books to add to my personal collection. Something like the Nancy Drew books orCharlotte’s Web, but maybe a little less expensive? I’d love a first edition ofAlice in Wonderland, but that’s probably out of myprice point.”

Arthur’s eyes flashed as Rarity talked. Had it been because she’d mentioned theAlicebook? “Nothing by Lewis Carroll in stock, I’m afraid. Those books hold a lot of memories for so many people. But I do have a copy ofThe Hobbit. Not a first edition, but a lovely 1970s-era reprint that you might be interested in. Especially since you mentioned fantasy.”

“I’d love to see it.” Rarity followed him into another area where there was a matching glass case with books. This one held several Tolkien books as well as some C.S. Lewis editions. “You have a charming selection. It must have taken you years to collect these.”

“A lot of people come to sell me books. Sometimes, they’re not worth anything. Those, I sell at the front of the store and rotate if they don’t sell. I give them to local shelters. Probably a lot of what you sell as new. More popular and series books. But once in a while, I get a beauty tucked in those boxes people bring to sell.” He took out the Tolkien book he’d talked about. “I visit as many estate sales as possible. You never know what you’ll find in ahome library.”

As she paid for the books, she almost told him she’d think aboutThe Hobbit. If she was going to pay that much for a book, she wanted to make sure she was getting a fair price. And before today, she hadn’t even looked at rare or out-of-print books. But she set it down on the counter and offered him less. To her surprise, he took it. Now, she worried that she had still grossly overpaid for the book. But she’d loved the story as a teen, and this was a nicely bound copy. It would look wonderful onher bookshelf.

He wrapped up the book in paper then put it and the others into a bag for her. He moved the bag toward her but held on whenshe reached for it. “If you think you overpaid for the book, bring it back and I’ll pay you exactly what you paid me for the book. Minus the sales tax, of course.”

“That’s kind of you. I’ve never even considered collecting estate books. I have my keeper shelf, but I’m reading and rereading those. This one, I’m keeping safe.” She took the bag. “Thanks for your help. And if you hear about anAlice in Wonderlandbook, I’d love to hear from you.”

He peered at Rarity. “Leave me your card. I’m not sure it will be anytime soon. Those types of finds are few andfar between.”

Rarity pulled one of her cards out of her wallet. “You can call the bookstore and leave a message on my machine if it’s off hours. Thanks for this.”

As she waited in the line to exit the parking lot to drive back to Sedona, a familiar-looking Jeep pulled into the strip mall’s parking lot. She met the driver’s eyes. It was Archer. In the other seat was a woman. He nodded a greeting at her andkept driving.

Rarity thought about backing up so she could talk to him, but a car pulled up behind her and honked when she didn’t quickly turn out on the street. Instead of going back to talk to Archer, she drove back to Sedona. She thought about their brief encounter. He hadn’t looked embarrassed or scared when he saw her. Instead, Rarity thought she saw sadness in his eyes. She’d let him come and explain what he was doing. Right now, as much as not seeing him hurt, she knew that he had his reasons.

When Rarity got home, she put the books away. The Tolkien book she set on a stand in her living room. She’d move it later, but right now, she wanted to have it handy so she could start researching its value. If she was taking it back, she wanted to do it soon. Before Arthur changed his mind.

She put a serving of frozen lasagna in the oven to warm up and then opened her laptop. Time to research the rare book market and see how badly she’d been taken.

* * *

Tuesday morning, she felt almost confident in her purchase, but she’d also sent an email with pictures to an expert in books from the university. He had a side business that gave worth estimates for books and documents. She’d talked to Katie before she’d paid the fifty-dollar assessment fee and Katie told her that the professor was well respected on campus. He’d written books on collecting rare volumes. Rarity ordered the first of his reference books through the store. Maybe she’d found a new hobby. She could go to yard sales and consignment shops to search forantique books.

The professor had already responded to her message and assured her he’d have an answer in less than a week.

Now, she wondered what Archer and his friend had been doing at the strip mall. They could have been eating a late lunch, or early dinner. Or maybe they had been heading to the bookstore she’d just left.

Her life was filled with mysteries right now. And it was starting totick her off.

She swam, then ate breakfast with Killer. She texted Terrance and asked if he’d stop in and check on Killer during the day.

When he texted back, Rarity sighed and looked at him. “I guess you’re coming along with me today. Uncle Terrance has a full day rewiring the nursing home’s system.”

She responded to Terrance’s text, thanking him for letting her know and wishing him a nice day.

He sent the sad face emoji. Then he wrote,George is still in solitary. Shirley hates me. But yeah, I’ll have a nice day.

Then he wrote back quickly.Sorry, grumpy today. Didn’t mean to takeit out on you.

Rarity texted one word back.Hugs.

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