4:23

As Meredith stepped out of the cafe back in to the rain, she gave her head a little shake and felt a rueful smile crawl up her lips. Well, that was an experience, she thought. I swear old Crowley was just itching to make a beaver joke. I could see it in his eyes.

She took a quick look back at the truck and stepped off the landing and onto the wet sidewalk as she scanned the street. Nothing. Where could the beaver had gotten to? Was he gone for good? Why leave here, in the middle of town, when he could have wandered off anytime back at her place, close to the lake?

Meredith crossed the street and peered at the shrubs that lined the base of the old post office, then moved along the sidewalk towards the edge of town. I wonder if it was something I did? It was nice having someone around, even if he didn’t talk much.

She looked up the lane that ran to the alley along the east side of Main Street. God, what am I doing out here in the rain? I should have just stayed in the cafe and traded tales with Crowley and Esther. Given the little a guy some time to finish his business and then see if he was coming home or calling it quits. She looked up the street at the door of the cafe and snorted. But I guess that’s out now unless I want to make the front page this week. Like as not, the rumors of my sanity taking a hike are already halfway around town.

Meredith took a big step back as a tan-on-tan Chevy zoomed by, oblivious to the puddles, and it occurred to her that it was a hell of a lot drier in her own truck than it was standing out here in the wet. Mind made up, she crossed back onto the street and walked up the centre  to the old, ugly temple, her eyes sweeping both sides of the street as she splashed through the puddles.

As she slid behind the wheel she glanced up just in time to see the honourable Mayor of Magrath making a beeline right for her. “Great,” she muttered to herself. “I suppose he’s already heard and is coming to see if I’m all right.” Meredith briefly pondered the reaction to her locking the doors and pretending she couldn’t hear him before deciding that would most definitely make things worse.

She slumped down in her seat and waited for the inevitable.