Maya’s Triple Dare(Divine Creek Ranch 6)(59)

Kendall was busy at the ranch and had highly approved of her putting out feelers for a permanent position in Divine. He and his brothers went to Dr. Guthrie, and he’d lasciviously pointed out that he’d gladly submit to Nurse Maya’s tender loving care anytime he had a boo-boo.

Dr. Guthrie had welcomed her into her office, and they’d chatted informally for a few minutes about Maya’s qualifications as a registered nurse specializing in obstetric and pediatric care. At the doctor’s request, Maya promised to submit her resume and references. The opportunity for a job there was promising. Outside the doctor’s office she’d texted Grace to let her know.

Her phone vibrated in her hand a moment later, and Maya read the reply. “See? Now you have to stay!”

Maya walked out to the rental car she’d picked up that morning and drove to the grocery store. When she pulled up, she noticed several people congregated near a newspaper vending machine. Several of them looked up, and one of them did a double-take then looked away. Maya didn’t hesitate as she walked through the door, merely smiled and continued on. Maybe he’d thought she was someone he knew for a second.

Batson’s Grocery was quiet except for the occasional sound of grocery carts being stacked together and the elevator music playing through the public address system. The faint scent of bleach filled the air as she walked up and down the aisles of the small, locally owned grocery store pushing a shopping cart. She glanced out the large plateglass windows at the front of the grocery store and noticed the crowd was dispersing. Two women remained, looking into the grocery store, staring straight at her and whispering to each other.

In the checkout line, a little woman with reading glasses perched on her nose stood behind Maya. In a kindly voice she said, “They’ve put two and two together, young lady. Or three and one as the case may be.” The little woman had to be in her seventies and could not have stood much over four and a half feet tall.

“I’m sorry, ma’am? Were you speaking to me?”

“Yes, dear.” The woman held out her small hand to shake Maya’s. Her grip belied her age. “I’m Evelyn. A friend of Grace, Juliana, and Teresa’s.” She gestured to the window. “Those busy-bodies out there. They know why you are in town and who you are with.”

“You’re a friend of Grace’s?” Maya asked as she placed everything on the conveyor belt for the cashier.

“Yes. Both Grace and Teresa used to work at Stigall’s with me. I was the bookkeeper for many years. Of course, I know about their family situations,” she said in a confidential whisper, “and I thought you should be warned.” Evelyn pointed at the women, who were still staring in the window. “If those two should try to be friendly with you, be wary. They are very vocal and unkind in their opinions of the way Grace and Teresa live their lives. Rosemary Garner, too, I suppose, but they’ve learned to steer clear of her. You should avoid them if you can.”

“Oh. Well, I’ll bear that in mind, ma’am.” Maya paid the cashier after the total for her groceries was rung up.

The older woman smiled at her and said, “Call me Evelyn. I’m practically family to Grace and her bunch. I wish you well, Miss Daire. Oh! And I’m so glad you’ve suffered no ill effects from the rattlesnake bite.”

Maya smiled at her, remembering the small-town newspaper reporter who had shown up at the hospital the day of the rattlesnake bite. That must be how Evelyn had known her name. Word got around fast in this small town, even over mundane things, it seemed. Could she have been the topic of discussion at that newspaper vending machine? She bid the helpful woman good-bye and took her bags to the car.

After placing them in the trunk, she went around to the door. A piece of notepaper was folded and wedged between the molding and glass of the driver’s side window. She looked about as she slid it free. No one was standing nearby, but she felt a tingle go up her spine. She wondered if someone was watching her. She unfolded the paper and read it.



You would do well to return to the city from which you came, Ms. Daire. We have no need for more women of loose moral character infecting our beautiful town. What you are doing is wrong, immoral, and disgusting. You should be arrested along with all the other women living in bigamous and polygamous marriages in Divine for leading men of integrity onto the path of destruction. This is the only warning you’ll get. If you stay, you’ll regret it.



Maya’s first impulse was to wad the note up and throw it into the air over her shoulder, disregarding the threat. This was America and she and her men weren’t hurting anyone. She knew as long as they conducted themselves with decorum nobody could do anything to them. That didn’t mean the stranger who left the note wouldn’t act alone though.