Not much. In fact, Grace knew so little about him that she’d prefer he never come back. Life was more peaceful without Captain Lucien Flynn. Just look how placid the past weeks have been. Even the dogs had been calm.
As if wishing to prove her wrong, the pair rushed to the front kitchen door and set up a chorus of barks, shattering her thoughts.
When a loud rumbling noise, increased the cacophony, she put the pen down and went to the door. Through the glass, a red motor car was visible, stopping in front of the house.
A man got out. Grace recognized him immediately and hurried to get her rifle. Once armed, she let the dogs out then followed them before the man could knock. “Git. Down.” Guidry waved his arms as Mars and Mercury harassed him with leaps and growls.
Good boys.
“Call off your mutts,” the tavern owner hollered.
Grace considered ordering the half-grown hounds to attack. She refrained. Such an order could cause more trouble than it prevented. Guidry was someone she never wanted in her house. Had she a choice, she’d never have to speak to him.
“Heel,” she ordered. The dogs raced to her side but remained standing, ready to launch at her signal.
Guidry took a step forward.
She shouldered the rifle. “Stop right there.”
“Certainly, Miz Thibodaux.”
“What do you want?” she barked.
“I’m here at the request of your land manager.”
“You’re the telephone agent?” Two days ago, the manager had told her she needed a telephone. He worried that if the men, or herself, should have an emergency, help wouldn’t get toSweet Dreamsin time to do any good.
“Among other things.” A smug sneer traversed the tavern owner’s mouth.
“Did you bring a proposal?” If the man were a saint, she’d still ask for an estimate.
“No. I ain’t doing all that work until I know exactly what you need.”
“I need a telephone line. It isn’t complicated.” Grace gestured with her rifle.
“Mebbe. How many phones do you need? That’s a big house. You want to run down all those stairs every time you get a call?”
“I doubt I’ll get that many calls.”
“Then whenever you want to call out, you’ll have to use the stairs.”
“I won’t mind.”
Guidry shrugged. “If you say so. I still need to go inside and check for the best entry point for the wires.”
That wasn’t going to happen.
“You can work from structural drawings. I’ll have my attorney send some to you.”
There was no way this man was having access to her house, ever.
“If you insist, Miz Thibodaux. I’ll appreciate those drawings. However, I’m also the local tax assessor. You done made a number of improvements to the house and property. I’ll have to examine the house to make sure you pay the right taxes.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Hire someone to do that for you. I do not want you in my house.”
“Not even if I apologize for my rude behavior when we first met?”
His behavior had been beyond rude.
