Free Waiting For Eden (Eden Series) by Jessica Leigh Page A

the hulking shadow jumped a foot in unison. The mace vial clattered to the ground, useless.
    A small, heavyset man emerged from the darkness, huffing noisily, a large yellow hamper in his arms.  “Mouse, quit scarin’ off my customers!”  The hulk-creature hung its head at the rasping reprimand.  Alex noticed that its head was bald, and light from a restaurant window now bounced gleefully on the smooth pate.
    Still huffing, whether with anger or exertion - Alex didn’t know - the smaller man shoved the hamper at the creature called Mouse.  “Go throw this scrap in the woods a piece-way.  Far enough that it won’t bring the skunks in the yard.”
    Mouse accepted the hamper silently, and sneaked a quick glance at Alex.
    “Do you understand English, boy?” the man barked, and Mouse shuffled away, head down again, and Alex caught sight of a pouting frown on full lips.  “Don’t strain yer brain none, you’ll squash the pea!”   He turned to Alex.
    “S orry miss.  Mouse wouldn’t hurt you none.”  He chuckled.  “Looks scary, is all.  Ain’t quite got all his marbles up top, you know what I mean?”  He poked at his own scalp in demonstration.  The man knelt down and retrieved her mace vial.
    “Glad you didn’t mace him, though he prolly deserved it.  I need him tonight, it’s busy.”
    Alex nodded wordlessly as she accepted the explanation and the mace.  What could she say?  “I’m hungry,” she blurted.
    “I can take care of that little problem. I’ll show you right inside this fine establishment of mine.  Plenty to eat, and all of it good.”
    The man trundled up the stairs and Alex followed, the quavering in her legs slowly subsiding.  The barroom exuded the heavenly smells of food and drink, and was softly lit with several hanging lanterns.  A large fire roared in a stone hearth toward the back of the dining area. 
    The walls were ornamented with antiques, old logging tools, awls, blades of varying proportions.  Large wooden beams ran across the ceiling, giving the place an aura of rustic warmth.  Suffice to say, she was actually impressed.
    “Grab a table, I’ll send Ginny over right away.”
    Aware that many curious eyes were now upon her person, Alex scooted into the closest wooden booth, and busied herself with the menu.  It definitely wouldn’t help matters to stare back.  She might as well get used to the pointed glances, for she was an outsider in a small town, and an attitude about it wouldn’t score her any points. 
    Through the whole fiasco of the Mouse incident, Alex realized she had forgotten about James.  She flashed a quick glance around the large room, and found herself meeting the blatantly open and perusing stares of several young men at the bar.  Alex dropped her eyes again, oddly disappointed.  James had not among them. 
    A waitress in tight blue jeans and a tee-shirt that said “Do Something Wild” approached her table.  “Can I get you something to drink, honey?”
    “I’d like a Coors Light.”
    “Will do.  Friday night special is prime rib.”
    “That sounds wonderful.  I’m starving.”  The waitress, presumably Ginny, jotted the order down on a pad, and then looked at Alex with a quirky smile.  “You just visiting these parts, hon?”
    “No.  I’m, uh, new in “town,” I’d guess you’d say.  I just moved in today.”
    “Really?”  Ginny dropped her hands to curvaceous hips that seemed molded to the denim they were ensconced in.  “Wow.  Are you alone?”
    “Yes, I’m alone,” Alex responded warily.
    “Sorry for the questions, but you’re bound to stir up curiosity.  We’re just born plain nosy around here.”  Ginny flashed her a grin before sauntering away.  Alex relaxed against the firm wooden backing of the booth, and fiddled with her silverware. 
    The word alone skipped through her head gaily, repeatedly, mocking her.  “Shut up,” she muttered under her breath.  Alone was a word that had held her