Free Love Finds You in Frost Minnesota by Judy Baer Page A

in like a storm system and planted herself in front of Merry’s till. Her face was dangerously red, and Merry wondered about the state of the woman’s blood pressure.
    Regina usually had her nose out of joint when she was distressed or offended, which was frequently. She was typically in a snit about one thing or another. Regina was a trying woman but also a good customer, one Merry didn’t want to offend.
    “Hi. Can I help you?” Merry sounded cheery even though the Olsdorf woman could put her teeth on edge. It took a lot to unhinge Merry’s cheerfulness, but Regina managed it with ease.
    “I certainly hope so. You’re the closest to him.” Regina’s chin quivered indignantly, as if she could barely hold back her irritation.
    “Him?”
    “That man who’s been staying here, of course.” Regina could barely disguise her distaste at the mention of Jack’s existence.
    “Mr. Frost? What about him?”
    “Is it true that he plans to take away people’s homes and farmland?” Regina’s face colored unattractively, in splotches. “That’s despicable!”
    Alarm bells went off in Merry’s head. She fixed a blank expression on her features. “Take them away? I’m sure he wouldn’t take anything that wasn’t already his.”
    Regina eyed Merry suspiciously.
    Abby hurried over with a cup of tea. “I’ve forgotten, Mrs. Olsdorf, do you take cream or sugar?”
    “Sugar, dear.” Regina beamed down upon Abby from her nearly six-foot height. Then she returned her gaze to Merry, the fire back in her eyes.
    “He’s snooping around at the courthouse in Blue Earth,” Regina informed her, “and people don’t like it. They’re on fire!”
    “Oh?” Merry kept her voice level. She was sure that Regina had talked to everyone she could get her hands on and fanned the flame.
    “The people at the courthouse say he’s very quiet, not friendly at all. I can’t get anything out of the receptionist at his lawyer’s office, but I know something is going on. Penny at the bank told me . . .”
    “Regina, Penny likes to talk. Sometimes she speaks before she has her facts straight. I’m sure when the time is right you will hear about anything that affects you.”
    None of this likely pertained to Regina. She was simply making it her business, as she did most everything in Frost. Maybe she’d meet her match in Jack Frost, who seemed very capable of keeping private things private.
    After a few more probing questions, which had disappointing results, Regina stuffed a handful of free peppermints into her purse and, without a good-bye, sailed out of the shop.
    “That was interesting,” Abby commented.
    “I’m glad there were no other customers in here.” Merry sank down on the stool behind the counter. “No one needs to hear speculation about my B-and-B guest.”
    “What do you think he’s up to?”
    “Who says he’s up to something? He’s inherited some land from his family. The Frost family. Seems to me he has a right to what’s his.”
    “I don’t know, Merry. I’ve heard some grumbling too. I hope there’s no trouble.”
    Merry chewed worriedly on her lower lip. The residents of Frost might be up in arms if Jack’s suspicions about his great-grandfather’s property were true.
    * * * * *
    The store was so busy that Merry didn’t even see Kipley Carson enter. Nor did she notice that he was carrying a single red rose.
    “Kip!” She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder and thrust the flower beneath her nose.
    “Busy day?”
    “Crazy.” Merry pushed away an errant curl and smiled at him. “You, obviously, are not busy enough or you wouldn’t be hanging around here. Is something wrong with the telephone company’s business?” She gestured to the tools hanging on his belt.
    “Who cares about business when I’m in Frost and I know you’re in the store?” Kip’s green eyes sparkled, and he ran his fingers through his rusty red hair.
    “You’re adorable, as usual, but you’ll have to leave.