“I’ll be right back,” Aunt Irene said. I watched her walk back to her cottage and return in a few moments with a rifle in her hands.
“What the heck are you doing?” I couldn’t believe I was looking at my petite aunt carrying a rifle.
“Your grandpa taught your dad and me how to shoot these as soon as we could hold one. He believed women, as well as men, should be able to hunt and protect their families. Your dad gave me one of his hunting rifles before he left. I’ve gone out and practiced with it. I’m still a darn good shot. If a lunatic shows up, I’ll take him out.” She sat down, leaned the rifle next to her chair, and picked up her sandwich.
I’m not sure what is scarier. A lunatic trying to kill me or my Aunt taking one out. I think she watches too many police shows, but for some odd reason I feel safer.
I smiled at her and took a sip of my tea.
#######
I heard a car door slam and looked up to see Georgie walking toward my patio. She stopped, and the raised eyebrows and open mouth let me know she is trying to figure out why my aunt is eating lunch with a rifle.
“Hi,” I said smiling. “Sit, have a cup of tea, and let me tell you about the latest threat. I’ll explain about the rifle.”
Georgie sat, listened, and shook her head. “Well, at least you’re protected with two attack dogs and a little old lady with a rifle.”
“Hey,” Aunt Irene retorted. “Who are you calling an old lady? I’ll have you know I can out shoot you any day Georgianna Roberts.” Aunt Irene sat back and stared at Georgie.
Oh oh, she called her Georgianna Roberts. Her full name. I’m staying out of this. Georgie’s on her own.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect. Honest. I was just…umm,” Georgie stammered.
Aunt Irene’s eye’s twinkled, and she began to laugh. “Gotcha, Georgie. You should have seen your face. I’ll clean up here and watch the dogs. You should head to the mansion while you still have a lot of daylight. I heard it’s going to storm late this afternoon.”
I said, “That may only give us a couple of hours. We’ll see what we can find.” I stood and hugged Aunt Irene. Yummy usually whines when I get ready to leave. He was so busy playing with Peanut; he ignored me completely.
Georgie called out, “My car’s behind yours. I’m driving.” She jogged toward my driveway.
#######
She pulled up in front of the mansion. “Where should I park? Which door would you like to use? This place looks bigger in the daylight. Are you going to live here? We could all live here.” She laughed. “Paul could finally have his own bathroom. Since Beth Ann is at college, he’s been using the guest bathroom, but next month he’ll be back to sharing one with me.” She looked out the windshield at the mansion craning her neck to look up to the third-floor windows.
“I can’t afford to live here. It must cost a fortune.”
“Inga managed,” Georgie quipped.
“She was rich.”
“So are you.”
I sat staring at the house. Am I rich enough to live here?
I glanced at Georgie, “I could never feel comfortable. It’s too big. I still think it would be too expensive.”
“Didn’t Lucas say you inherited everything?”
“I don’t remember. I was shocked when he said I inherited the house. He said a few other things. Something about the land up north and financial holdings. Then Mags passed out. It’s sort of a blur.” I bit my lip and leaned back in the car. “Do you think I have money, too?”
“Yeah, that’s what the financial holdings must include. It’s how Inga afforded to live here. Who knows what she had invested in or owned? Now you have all that.” Georgie’s eyes were big as she stared at me. Then she wiggled her eyebrows and said, “Let’s go see your vast holdings Miss Rich.”
I squinted at her. “Hmm, Miss Rich. Thanks. Don’t call me that in public. It’ll be all over town like fireflies on a warm summer’s night. I have all the keys. They’re labeled. There’s one for the front door, back door, garage, and storage.” I looked at the color coded keys in my hand.
“We could have used that storage key last night.” She opened her car door.
“Right,” I smiled. “How were you going to open a lock on the outside with a key when you’re locked inside?” I climbed out of her car and looked up at what caught her attention.
“You have a point there,” Georgie answered.
“What were you looking at on the house? I thought you were going to break your neck.” I still couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
“The attic,” Georgie bubbled. “Haven’t you always wanted to explore an attic? You never know what kind of treasures might be forgotten in an attic.”
“I think the entire house is full of treasures. I would like to check the study first. Maybe we can figure out what those men were looking for last night.” I walked up to the door and stopped before I slid the key in the lock.
“What’s wrong,” Georgie said standing right behind me.
I jumped. “Don’t sneak up on me. I feel as if I’m trespassing. I can’t believe all of this belongs to me.”
“Us,” Georgie corrected me. “We promised in grade school that we would always share. I would enjoy being a little rich.” She leaned around me to smile at me. “Remember?”
“Of course I remember. I think I might end up giving the house to the city to keep it from the developers. I can’t afford the taxes on this place. I’m not sure I have as much money as you think. I’ll have to ask Lucas. If you see something you like, you can have it. There are vases, knickknacks, paintings, and who knows what else. Lucas told me it all belongs to me, and if I want,
