happened to her?”
“Car accident.” Myrna pushed a code into the front door. It buzzed and she pushed it open. Laura followed her through the door.
“That’s terrible.”
Myrna stopped on the sidewalk. Her light hazel eyes caught and held Laura’s. “It’s a tragedy that has touched several lives.”
Laura didn’t know what to take from that. Didn’t know what Myrna wanted to tell her. Rather than asking the questions, she got in the car and Myrna cranked the engine to life.
Their first stop after the nursing home was the garage where Laura’s car had been towed. The mechanic walked over to Myrna’s car and leaned in the driver’s-side window.
“It doesn’t look good, Myrna.” He wiped his face with a rag and slipped it back in his pocket.
Myrna shook her head. “Will, I thought you said you could fix anything.”
“I usually can, but sometimes fixing is more expensive than the car is worth.” He offered Laura an apologetic smile. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“Well, then, you see what you can find to replace it.”
Laura put a hand on Myrna’s arm. “No, Myrna, it’s okay. I can save up money and buy something pretty cheap.”
“Nonsense. Will, you see what you can find. Something decent and dependable, not a lot of miles.”
He saluted and backed away from the car. “You’re the boss, Myrna.”
“Don’t you forget it.” Myrna shifted into Reverse and backed out of the parking lot. “How about coffee and pie at the Mad Cow? It’s Wednesday. Vera has coconut cream on Wednesday.”
“That sounds good, but I should probably get back to work.”
“Nonsense. Jesse already said he wants you to take it easy for a few days. You need to listen to him.”
A few minutes later they pulled into the black-and-white-painted building with Mad Cow Café painted on the front in red letters. Laura hadn’t been in the restaurant but had eaten the meals that Jesse had had delivered.
“Here we are.” Myrna parked the car in an empty space at the side of the building. “You coming in?”
Laura nodded and unbuckled her seat belt. “Of course.”
Cowbells clanged to announce their arrival as they walked through the door of the restaurant. Although it was well past lunchtime, there were several full tables. A group of ladies took up the long center table. Two tables were taken by older men.
“Men gossip more than women ever thought of,” Myrna announced as she walked past the group of men. She touched the shoulder of one man and he smiled up at her. Myrna took off his ball cap and hung it on the back of his chair. “Take your hat off when you’re inside.”
“It’s the Mad Cow, Myrna,” he grumbled as he ran a big hand through thinning gray hair. “I tell you, women are a lot of trouble. Who’s your friend? Is she as ornery as you?”
“Of course she is. And her name is Laura.”
A woman walked out from the back of the restaurant. Her dark hair was shot through with gray and pulled back in a neat bun. Her white blouse and jeans were hidden behind a red apron.
“Well, look who came in for coconut cream pie.” The woman hugged Myrna. “Here, sit back here away from these men.”
“Thank you, Vera, we will. And I’d like for you to meet Laura.” Myrna pulled Laura forward.
Vera nodded and then she smiled. “You’re Jesse’s housekeeper. How you feeling, honey? Did my chicken soup help?”
“It did.”
“Good, well, the coconut cream pie will make you feel even better. You girls have a seat. I’ll be right back with pie and coffee.”
Laura squeezed into the corner booth, sitting opposite Myrna. Vera returned a few minutes later with three pieces of pie and the coffeepot.
“I brought another piece of pie on out. I saw Jesse pull in a few minutes ago. I figure he’ll want pie.”
The bells clanged and the glass door opened. Jesse pulled off his cowboy hat as he walked in and ran a hand through his dark hair. He glanced around the room and when he saw Laura and Myrna, he smiled. Laura choked a little on her coffee and Vera gave her a sympathetic look.
“There’s definitely something going around.” Vera smiled as she made the comment. “I hope it isn’t too contagious.”
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