Argosy Junction by Chautona Havig Page A

because you were there, a part of it, have firsthand information, and are who they’re talking about in the first place. This wasn’t Josiah talking about himself and those involved. This was half the town speculating and glorying in the discomfort of others, all baptized in a nice Christian sounding disapproval of something to make it okay to discuss wantonly.”
    Patience and Megan burst through the door. Interrupting any chance of further conversation, Patience raced to Lane’s side. “Can we—”
    “May you what?”
    She rolled her eyes at Lane before she continued. “ May we walk to the post office and get the mail? I know how. I can get the key from your key ring. Please !”
    Rose nodded at Lane’s questioning look and slipped into the front room to retrieve her own post office box key. “Here, Megan. Here’s the key, and here,” Rose grabbed an empty tote bag from her large tote, “…is the mail tote. Make sure you don’t drop anything, and don’t forget to take the key out of the door.”
    Before Lane could offer a similar admonition, the two little girls raced out of the gift store, almost running into customers. Rose started to call after them to come apologize, but sweet cries of, “Sorry” and “Excuse me!” drifted from where the girls had once been, bringing smiles to the newcomers’ faces.
    “I apologize for that.” Greeting her customers, Rose pointed at the girls. “Getting the mail is such a terribly exciting adventure…” Rose allowed her voice to trail off in mock despair.
    Lane watched as Rose helped her customers choose the perfect souvenirs and a few gifts. Each item left the store carefully stored in a brown craft bag with sheer aqua ribbon to keep the bag closed. A little tag hung from the handle shaped like a heart and read, “ Cottage Junction .” She loved the simple, but chic effect.
    “Did Matt’s afghan leave like that?”
    Rose nodded, smiling to herself. “Yes. He said he’d check his suitcase so he could have the bag as a carry-on. He seemed very pleased with the packaging—kind of like you.”
    Lane couldn’t avoid a slight blush, but she covered well. “His mom has probably never had anything so nice. From what I can tell, they don’t have much money. The home he described sounded a lot like the rough neighborhoods you read about in Los Angeles, Rockland, and Chicago. He lives in Rockland so it’s probably his neighborhood on the news.”
    Rose nodded thoughtfully. “It probably explains his reluctance to leave here. Argosy Junction is certainly unlike anything he’s ever experienced.”
    Somehow, Lane knew Rose was not talking about Montana, but Rose’s subtlety made it impossible to say anything without inviting more teasing. She wanted to be irate and offended that a girl can’t have a friend who happens to be a man without constant speculation, but she wasn’t. Having a friend to tease her again was nice.
    Before she could respond, Patience and Megan burst through the doors again. Rose took the tote bag from Megan and sorted junk mail from bills and orders, while Patience danced around a chocolate display. “Look! Matt sent us more letters! Want yours? Of course you do, here. I’m going to read mine to Megan. Can we write him right back?”
    Without waiting for an answer, Patience dragged Megan from the store to sit on the little bench outside and read her letter. “Listen, Megan. This is what Matt wrote.”
     
    “‘ Dear IMA a.k.a. Patience ,’ that means me. He calls me Impatience Martha Argosy. See? IMA.”
    Megan nodded excitedly and waited to hear the rest. Lane snickered at how exciting it seemed to be to read a letter from a grown man to her friend! Patience sat up straighter looking very important as she continued. “ ‘I am very pleased to get your letter. The gum was very good, and I chewed it while I read it. I am writing you from work. It is my lunch hour, and I am eating a soggy sandwich instead of nice hot pizza, so that I