Page 87 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
“After you were court-martialed, left the Coast Guard and were forced to become the town librarian.” As Lilith remembered Kateri’s fall from grace, her stride lengthened as if satisfaction fed her energy.
Merida envied Kateri’s serenity whether it was real or feigned… Lilith was so annoying that with very little provocation,Meridacould have shouted at Lilith.
They reached downtown and the concrete building with a sign beside the door proclaiming, VIRTUEFALLSLIBRARY.
Kateri ushered them in.
Lacey raced toward Kateri, barking in ecstasy, and danced around her, front paws in the air.
Kateri murmured endearments.
A dozen strange women sat around the quilting frame, a dozen strangers’ faces turned in their direction.
Merida shrank back.
One woman stood at a library table wearing an eccentric all-black outfit with half capes over the long black sleeves, a half skirt over capri leggings and black woven flats with a sparkle of silver. She was thin, elegant and European, and she rolled a rotary blade along a broad wooden straight edge, cutting perfectly straight strips of red cloth that she lifted from the table and set aside. She glanced over her shoulder. Her cool gaze met Merida’s.
Elsa Cipre.
Animosity swept Merida. Fear, too.How were these people everywhere she went?She backed out the door and retreated to the sidewalk out of sight of the open door and the quilters.
Why had she come tonight? What had she been thinking? She didn’t like strangers. She had been lured by the pleasure of a few moments spent with Kateri, and by the knowledge that Kateri needed her to help handle Lilith.
Friendship and compassion, both guaranteed to destroy her. Would she never learn?
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Lilith and Kateri joined Merida on the sidewalk.
Lacey came out of the library and stood on the top step of the porch, head cocked.
“What’s wrong?” Kateri asked.
Merida stood shook her head and pointed inside, then shook her head again.
Lilith answered for her. “It’s Elsa Cipre. She and her husband are staying at the B and B with us. He’s a visiting professor at Washington State University. Wherever that is.”
“In Pullman, across the state,” Kateri said.
“I stand shoulder to shoulder with our friend Merida when I say—the woman is truly obnoxious.” Coming from Lilith, that comment was either funny or a damaging indictment.
“The Cipres are very superior people,” Merida signed, and if signing could be sarcastic, this was.
“Except when it comes to fashion?” Kateri muttered.
Merida gave a twisted smile. “She takes a special interest in me.”
“I’ve seen evidence of that interest. Elsa Cipre seems almost motherly toward you.” Lilith frowned, her brow knit in confusion. “Why would any woman feel motherly toward another woman? You’re obviously capable of taking care of yourself.”
Merida and Kateri again exchanged sideways glances. Lilith was so completely unself-aware in her judgments and of her own personality, they didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.
“She is”—Merida seemed to search for the word—“tiring.”
“We don’t have to stay,” Kateri said.
Lacey gave a bark, ran down the stairs, did her dance around Kateri, around Lilith, around Merida, then put her paws on Merida’s leg and looked up enticingly.
Merida stroked her soft head and felt the return of her courage. She signed, “I can shake it off. Let’s go in.”
