As Melissa stepped through the door, she felt as if she’d emerged from a time machine. Not one thing dispelled the illusion she had entered a 19th Century home. The second shock was to realize that, except for her stoop, Maude neared Lawton’s height and he stood-six-foot two in his bare feet.
“Well, sit down,” Maude ordered. “How can I play the gracious hostess unless you cooperate?”
“Maude, do you really have it in you to be gracious? You sure could’ve fooled me.” Lawton grinned as he spoke, a twinkle Melissa had recently missed back in his eyes.
“Hell yes, I can be gracious! My mother didn’t raise me to be a completely manner-less hoyden! But what’s the use of trying with the likes of you?”
Lawton winked at Melissa as Maude bustled off, still grumbling. “Her father made the first sil
