Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold by Joyce Magnin Page A

around the café. Her eyes darted everywhere but to Lily. She needed to think fast. She thought again about her visit to the Empire Gold Mine and what the tour guide said about gold in the mountains. Maybe she couldtake it slow. Maybe she could work out a deal that even Prudence and Henry would think was a good one.
    “I really hope Dad can find a partner. Old Man Crickets really likes him; he was career army and was my dad’s superior when he was in Afghanistan.”
    Harriet swallowed. She had always had a soft spot for vets.

Chapter Nine
    H ENRY SAT AT HIS DESK, TRYING TO WRITE THE NEXT sentence, but his thoughts kept leapfrogging from the baby to his mother, who was out in town with his car. He didn’t know which thoughts were more frightening. Actually, he did know. His heart sank like a lead balloon as he remembered how hard it was when Prudence lost the first two babies. Once was hard enough, twice was almost unbearable, but the thought of a third time was impossible. “I don’t ever want to go through that loss again,” he told Humphrey.
    Humphrey looked at him under his wiry eyebrows, through forever bloodshot eyes that were always sad even when the dog was not. Henry patted his head. “Not this time, old man. This time God is going to give us a baby—to hold.”
    Humphrey relaxed and settled back down on the floor.
    Henry turned back to his story. Another Turtle Creek saga. His fans had fallen in love with Cash and Polly. His author wheels turned as he read over the words he had written earlier. “Maybe, Humphrey, maybe it’s time for Cash to become a daddy.”
    And then with a burst of what Henry called amazing grace, he began typing. But he had only written a paragraph when his cell chimed.
    “Drat,” he said as he picked it up. “It’s Mom. Oh dear, she crashed the car. I knew it. She needs to stick to the Vespa.”
    He tapped Answer on his phone.
    “Mom? What’s wrong?”
    “Oh, Henry dear, why do you always think something is the matter?” Harriet glanced across the table at Lily. “I’m fine, the Beamer is fine. I … well, I’m at a most darling little café downtown, and I met a most charming gal. Her name is Lily and she—”
    “Mom,” Henry said, “can this wait? I’m in the middle of writing, and I’ve told you how hard it is to be disturbed.”
    “Oh, well, I wouldn’t want to disturb you, dear. I can make my own decisions. It is my money, after all.”
    “That’s nice, Mom. You buy whatever you want.” Henry continued typing. “I’m sure it will look just fine in the Grammy Suite. Oh, did you deposit that money?”
    “Yes, dear, I deposited the money this morning.”
    Harriet glanced at Lily and watched her eyes grow big.
    “Terrific. Thank you again, Mom. We really appreciate it. Now, you just buy whatever you want.”
    “Okay,” Harriet said. “I’ll buy whatever I want.”
    Henry tapped off his phone and continued typing. Humphrey scrambled to his feet and nudged Henry’s leg.
    “Oh, not you too. Do you need to go out?”
    But Humphrey only folded back down and closed his eyes.
    “Good boy. I’m sure whatever Mom is buying will be okay. And yes, I’m sure she’s bringing donuts home.”
    Harriet tapped off her phone. “Well, I doubt we can fit a gold mine in the Grammy Suite.” Then she smiled at Lily, who had just eaten the last bite of her sandwich. “Finish your fries,” Harriet said.
    Lily shoved three fries into her mouth and chewed beforesaying, “They say gold is a great investment for, and I don’t mean no disrespect, but for older people. Women especially.”
    “They do?” Harriet said. Having finished her own, she snagged one of Lily’s fries before Lily could actually finish them. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to talk to your dad.” Harriet took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe she just said that. “How much would you need? Can I see the mine?”
    “Dad will tell you all the figures. And of course we can visit the mine. Can’t