Free Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman Page A

just . . .” He thought for a second trying to put into words what he thought his role was. “I guess I just think a town needs a paper. A community has so many small things that happen that need to be reported and no one else will do it. Like the baseball scores. Or the club meetings, the little accomplishments, the births, and deaths, and marriages. It’s important for the people of the community to feel connected to each other and that’s the role I think we play. We try to broaden horizons a bit beyond just this little town too. I don’t know. Maybe it gives the kids an idea of what else is out there.” He shook his head at that. “Although with the Internet it’s so much easier. I don’t think kids feel as isolated today as we did.”
    â€œPlus they can access porn whenever they want.”
    Elliott laughed out loud. “Literally no filter. It just falls out of your mouth.” He shook his head, amused. “So yeah, other than porn we pretty much cover the life around here. Someone had to do it. The paper had been out of print for a few years before I came back and opened it up again.”
    Thinking back on all of the history in this town reminded me of something that Mrs. Chatham had said. “Do you know anyone around here named Rutledge?”
    He nodded. “The Huntley Rutledges?”
    â€œYou’re the second person that has referred to them as the Huntley Rutledges. What does that mean?”
    â€œThey were an old family in the area, some of the founders. There’s even a Rutledge Reading Room at our club. I don’t think there are any of them left, though.”
    â€œActually, we’re back. My mom was a Rutledge.”
    He ran his hand through his hair then he looked at me. “Really, now that’s interesting. We love articles about the old families. Maybe I can help you dig up some family history and we could see if there’s a story there.”
    â€œYou mean for the paper?”
    â€œI wouldn’t print anything without your permission, of course.”
    My cell phone pinged. It was a text from Logan: can u get me food
    I showed the screen to Elliott. He said, “It drives me nuts the way they write when they’re texting. All those abbreviations and lack of punctuation.”
    I teased Elliott as I typed a note back to her. “Okay Grandpa. Do you have a hard time keeping those whippersnappers off your lawn too?”
    Elliott tilted my rocking chair back hard and I almost fell over. “Whoa!” I laughed. “Quit it.”
    Logan sent me her response: can cu from here. STARVING! stop flirting w/E.
    Elliott said, “You know I’m right. What did she write this time?” He tried to lean over to see the text but I shut the phone off quickly to hide the message from him. She was being ridiculous.
    â€œApparently she’s starving and she can see me from the inn holding this bag of food. I better get going.” I stood up. “So, can Logan and I come back to start researching? You really don’t mind?”
    â€œI don’t mind at all.” He seemed to be thinking of something. “Actually, let’s meet at the library. They open at eleven and their computers are faster than mine.”
    I stood up. “And your cell phone doesn’t work there?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    â€œSounds good. And thanks again for helping us with this.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” He looked a little guilty. “Although, I’m actually being a little selfish. Anything about the drowned town, especially involving one of the founding families, is always so interesting.” His voice took on a tone of apology. “It sells papers.”
    My family, and especially my mother, were a lot of things, but interesting was never really one of them. “Well then, mutually advantageous research.” I held my hand out and he shook it.
    Elliott said, “Besides,