The Secrets of Rosa Lee by Jodi Thomas Page A

know the sisters?” She didn’t turn around.
    â€œMaybe I grew up here and they were my teachers?” he offered.
    â€œNope,” she answered as if being tested. “ I grew up here and they were my teachers. You’re definitely a transplant.”
    â€œThat obvious?”
    She grinned over her shoulder and pointed with a spatula. “It’s the shoes.” When he didn’t answer she added, “No man from West Texas wears shoes with tassels. Those are for the big cities like Dallas and Houston. And whileI’m at it, any self-respecting working man lets the mud on his shoes dry, then stomps it off.”
    â€œAnything else?”
    She set two plates filled with eggs and steak on the table. “In my line of work I’ve learned to read people. You’re not married, but you were. Divorced, maybe with a kid, grade school probably. You see him often.”
    â€œWidowed. One child, seven.”
    â€œSorry.” She met his eyes. “I’m the same. My husband was killed in an oil-rig accident a few years back.”
    â€œCancer took my wife.” He wanted to change the subject. “How’d you guess so much about me?”
    She opened two beers without asking if he wanted one and sat down across from him. “Wedding band you didn’t try to hide. Socks that don’t match. No woman would let you out of the house like that.”
    Micah stared at his socks. They looked like a matched pair to him. But, one might be more gray than black now that he studied them.
    â€œAnd I sat on a coloring book in the back seat of your car so either you’ve got a kid, or you’re not quite as bright as I thought you might be. A boy, I’d guess, since girls usually don’t color Spider-Man.”
    He smiled. “I made it too easy, Sherlock.” He cut into his steak. “Now for the big question: why did you invite me in? I could be a serial rapist for all you know.”
    She laughed. “Not with those shoes.” She took a bite, then added, “I knew you were safe, first because you were a friend of the Rogers sisters. They’re not the types to hang around with dangerous men. Second, you turn red every time I get within waltzing distance. That doesn’t sound like a trait a rapist would have. You’re safe all right, Micah Parker. Safe as a crosswalk.”
    Micah wished he could think of a funny comeback, buthe was too busy eating. She’d cooked what he was sure must be the world’s best steak.
    Randi picked at her food. Every time he raised his gaze from his plate, she watched him. He always turned away first. He didn’t want to think about what else she’d be able to guess about him.
    After finishing his steak, Micah started on hers. She moved her plate toward him without comment. He stopped to take a drink of the longneck, then made himself slow down as he ate the rest of her breakfast. She probably thought he was homeless by the way he consumed food.
    â€œI’m on a committee with the Rogers sisters. Though, I knew who they were. Everyone does.”
    â€œThe committee that got interrupted by a flying drill bit this morning?” She leaned closer.
    Micah nodded. Clifton Creek didn’t need a paper. News spread faster than butter on lava.
    â€œI heard a few of the oil guys talking about it, but I didn’t pay a lot of attention. When the sisters came in, they wanted to talk about everything but what frightened them.” She wrinkled her forehead. “One of the oilmen said there’d been a little interest in the Altman property as a drill site, but no oilman would send a drill bit as his calling card.”
    Micah leaned forward and lowered his voice. “What kind of interest?”
    Randi shrugged. “Just rumors. The men in the bar are always talking about where to drill next. Most of it’s speculation and guessing. Since the old house sets on a rise, it would be the prime spot to