Free Letters From Al by Kathleen Pieper Page A

she, will come back. It's a simple rule that works."
    "I agree." She said firmly.
    They both sat silently, listening to the wind slide through the branches. The people Maddy had been around the last 24 hours were something more than just passing faces. They were starting to mean something to her, she could identify with them. She found herself interested in their lives and hopes and problems as if it mattered to her. Complete strangers and it mattered.
    "Everybody needs to feel appreciated, Tim, Bubba, me. We all work hard. But we all like to know there's someone who cares about what we do." Alec said, leaning back, turning his head to gaze at her intently.
    "Even you?" She asked, and felt the heat of the look without opening her eyes. He chuckled and his arm slid around the back of the bench.
    "Especially me, you know, even men need understanding."
    "Even rough, tough, lawmen?" She countered.
    "Yes," he answered patiently. "You know, you're quite a girl."
    "I was a girl a long time ago." Maddy said softly, feeling the heat of his arm touching hers. Suddenly the bench seemed awfully snug. She pulled herself forward, "I should get going. After a morning like this it just seemed the right place to come."
    "Was it rough going with Leland and the Omaha attorney?" Alec's voice was sincere.
    "How did you know? I mean I didn't even know the attorney was coming in today?" She was astounded.
    "Small towns are like party lines, word gets around fast. I heard it from two people and then Tim." He chuckled at the surprised look on her face.
    "Well, did everyone tell you what was in the will, too?" She was a little miffed and stuffed her aunt's letter in her purse. Digging for her keys, she tried to keep her temper under control. She didn't know why she was upset. It was a good guess everyone would assume she was Aunt Madeline's heir. She just wasn't used to people knowing everything personal about her.
    "No. Not really, a lot of guessing going on, though."
    "I'll bet. Where are my darn keys?" She kept fumbling until he tapped her on the shoulder and handed them to her.
    "They were under the bench, you must have dropped them."
    Grabbing them in frustration, she shook her head and sighed, leaning forward. She shouldn't be mad at him or anyone. It was human nature to wonder. He sat quietly with legs outstretched, deep in thought.
    She remembered something just then. He'd always been like that, intent. The look on that suntanned face, his blue eyes so expressive as he looked at her. He really hadn't changed a whole lot, she thought to herself, still rugged and stubborn and so darned handsome. It appeared since getting into law enforcement he's become more assertive, at least now she knew how sensitive he was, how he wanted and needed emotional support too.
    "A whole lot of things make sense now, especially about my parents and the family stuff. My folks kept in touch with Aunt Madeline and they never said a word. She said she didn't want to depend on anyone or bother anyone. But she could have called on me, I would have come. She must have been so ill and she still didn't call."
    "Aunt Polly asked her if there was anyone we could call and she said no, that her lawyer would take care of it. Just bury her where she could look down on the town. So, we did."
    "I guess it's my turn to thank you for looking after her. She was lucky to live here, have friends like you. The whole town, it was more than her blood relatives gave her. I feel like I let her down." Suddenly the tears she'd held back let loose. "I feel like I should have done more." She blurted out and sniffled, accepting the white handkerchief he handed her. "Thank you. I hate it when I cry. It doesn't do any good," she said between tears.
    Here she had come to have a talk with her great aunt and try and explain how she felt. Instead, she wound up confiding in Alec again. How was this happening? However it was playing out, she was glad he was there.
    Alec gently drew her close until his