Free Purling Road - the Complete Second Season: Episodes 1-10 by M L Gardner

looking at a broken down, white, clapboard house. The black shingles on the roof flapped in the wind. One of the windows was busted out.
    “You are looking at the new home of the Rockport Review,” he said, grinning madly. “If you’ll have it.”
    “Wh-what?” She tried to decide if he was joking, couldn’t, and went back to staring at the house.
    “I know it’s not much to look at now. But I’ll fix the window and the roof. We can paint and cut this grass jungle. It will be nice.”
    Muzzy’s mouth was agape, not sure what to say.
    “Listen. Your paper needs a home. And since you and I live with the paper, I thought I’d find a place that served everyone’s needs. There’s plenty of space here.”
    “I’d say. This place is gigantic!”
    “So, you like it?”
    “How did you…who are you renting from?”
    “One of the fish buyers, Mr. Whittley. I got to talking to him and found out he had this old place just sitting here, vacant. He agreed to let us…I mean, the paper, move in, and he’s even given a break on the first couple of months’ rent in exchange for the repairs.”
    It wasn’t an ideal location so far from downtown. But it wasn’t exactly isolated, either. In fact , she thought as she looked around, I make a lot of deliveries in this neighborhood. It might shave a few minutes off of my morning . She started walking, trying to imagine it clean and freshly painted. The stones of the cobbled path needed to be reset. She could see peeling wallpaper beyond the broken window. The porch was missing two boards. It had potential. With Peter’s help, this was possible. But wait. How was this possible with Peter in the first place?
    “What about all the scandalous talk? I’m sure he’s heard it. Isn’t he concerned?”
    “Well,” Peter shoved his hands in his pockets and avoided her eyes. “The thing is…he has heard, but he’s not overly concerned because…”
    Muzzy leaned forward. “Because?”
    “Because I told him a little lie.”
    She folded her arms, her expression demanded to know what that little lie consisted of.
    He hesitated and stumbled, and she took a few steps closer.
    “Ahem. Peter?”
    “I sort of told him we were engaged,” he said, physically cringing.
    “You what?” Muzzy’s hands flew from across her chest, out to the sides. “Why would you tell him that?”
    “Well, because he had heard! I didn’t want to lose the opportunity, and it just flew out of my mouth before I even realized what I was saying.”
    She stared at him. “I can’t believe this.”
    “Muzzy, the important thing is that the paper is able to stay alive. Have you found anywhere remotely suitable?”
    She dropped her eyes. “No.”
    “You need this house, and frankly, you needed that lie. Word will get around, and people will be more likely to leave you alone. It’s modern and unconventional in their eyes, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
    She mulled that over for a moment. “I suppose you might be right.”
    “Forget what I had to say to secure this place. There’s an opportunity standing right in front of you, and I think you should take it.” He searched her face, hoping she’d read more into his words. Then he looked over the house. “If you don’t, I’m going to have a hell of a time keeping up on it by myself.”
    “You’ve already rented it?” she asked.
    “Yes. I’ve already paid the first month, so either I have a home or we—and the Rockport Review, have a home. If you like it, I can start working on it today.”
    She peeked into one of the windows before turning to him. “I like it.”
    “I have more good news,” Peter said, leaning against the crooked porch post. “I think I found a contributing writer for you.”
    Now Muzzy’s eyes flew open. “Go on.”
    “Well, the same man who owns this house has a daughter, in her twenties. She likes to write. She’s crippled and still lives with him. She spends her days reading and writing, and Mr.