Free Ms. Miller and the Midas Man by Mary Kay McComas Page B

together, I swear. Where are you?”
    “Never mind,” he muttered softly, closing his eyes. “Just let me die here.”
    “I mean it, Scotty Hammond. We’re going to have this out here and now. Show yourself or I’m going inside.”
    “I can’t.”
    “What do you mean, you can’t? Come out this instant. I want to know what all that business was at school this morning. Is nothing sacred to you? I’ve had time to think about it, and if you dreamed this whole scheme up just to get to me, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
    He was taking his life in his hands, he knew, but there was a principle involved here. He wasn’t totally devious.
    “That’s pretty bigheaded of you, don’t you think?” he called to her. “It just so happens that the idea for the senior class play came to me long before I ever saw you. I admit, I was leaning heavily toward A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but all things considered, The Wizard of Oz is a much better idea.”
    Your involvement notwithstanding, he failed to add.
    “Then why did you wink at me this morning? You did that on purpose, just so I’d think you were up to something, didn’t you? Just to annoy me.”
    He wondered how long it would be before buzzards found him.
    “Yes. I did it to annoy you. I enjoy annoying you.”
    “Where the hell are you?”
    He hesitated. “I don’t think I want you to know anymore. I’m beginning to like it here.”
    “What?”
    “I’m on the roof.”
    “What?”
    He took a deep breath then clipped out each word, clear and concise. “I’m on the roof of my house. I was patching a leak. I’ve lost my ladder.”
    “You’ve what?”
    He thought a moment, then decided he’d rather swallow shredded glass than repeat himself. He folded his arms stubbornly across his chest and listened as the squeaky gate to his backyard opened and closed.
    Bert barked once. He’d intended it as a gracious greeting, but he could see the woman took it as an intruder alert. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why the woman was so afraid of him. He always wore his best, most friendly face when she was around. Still, some humans were a little more standoffish than others—so it fell to him to bridge the gap. Perhaps she’d enjoy a good joke today, he thought, standing and pointing to the man with his nose.
    Gus approached the giant dog slowly, only half-sure he wouldn’t eat her. She kept turning her head to get a good look at the roof, but could see nothing until she was standing next to Bert.
    “Oh my,” she said, laughter gurgling in her throat but not crossing her lips. Bert heard it and knew he deserved a reward for making her happy. He slipped his big head under her hand and scratched an itchy spot on his left hip by rubbing it against her leg.
    Scotty raised his head to scowl down at her. His heart twisted and sank in his chest. She was completely beautiful. Standing there in the shade of the old oak, a sunbeam filtering through the leaves to dance light in her dark hair, to sparkle in her eyes. She was smiling, happier than he’d ever dreamed of seeing her. So incredibly beautiful, she took his breath away.
    “Oh my? That’s all you’re going to say?” he asked, knowing that despite his elevation he didn’t look as lofty as he sounded.
    “No. I’m sure I have more to say. Just give me a second.”
    “You know,” he said solemnly, cherishing the sight of her. “It would be very unkind of you to enjoy this too much.”
    “Would it? I don’t think so,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her and shifting her weight to get comfortable. “I think this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I think I should slow down, smell a few roses, savor the moment.”
    “All right,” he muttered, resting back on the roof to ease the strain on his neck. He knew women better than he knew metric conversion tables. He wouldn’t be leaving his present position till she was good and ready to let him.
    Bert laid down on the