Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set (40 page)

“Whoa, you've had a lot going on,” Sam observed. “At least it wasn't deliberate sabotage—except for the cow contraption, maybe. I was having all kinds of problems with the ranch when I first opened up. Seems I had an enemy.”

“Really?” This was news to Grace.

“An old enemy. It's unbelievable how low some people will stoop to get even.”

Caleb, who rode behind Grace, brought his horse up beside her. “Do you have any old enemies?”

“Not that I'm aware. I don't even have any new enemies.” Unless she counted Lily. But she didn't want to think of Caleb's ex that way.

Sam called back, “When we get to the top of this hill, past that tree, how about we loosen the reins and let 'em gallop?”

Grace was about to say that sounded great when Caleb asked, “Will you be okay going fast?”

“I'll be fine.” His concern was unnecessary.

“Lean forward when the horse takes off.”

“I will...and I'll post when we trot, don't worry.”

Grace put her heels to her horse when they reached the designated tree and felt the wind lift her hair as Lightning leaped forward. The mare's gallop was effortless and steady. Caleb's horse easily kept up, but Sam reined in Marengo after about half a mile. He turned and signaled for everyone to stop.

“I thought you'd enjoy the view. This is the highest point on the farm.”

Hills undulated around them and the sky stretched blue and bright from horizon to horizon. In the distance, above some trees, Sparrow Lake's water tower was visible.

Grace took a deep breath. “I love open land and fresh air.”

“Me, too,” admitted Sam. “I could never be cooped up in a cubicle or some meeting room every day.”

Neither could Grace. She wasn't sure how she was going to adjust if she had to move back to Milwaukee. There were plenty of running trails and the shores of Lake Michigan but she wasn't certain that would be enough.

After they'd ridden for another half hour, Sam asked, “Race you both back to the barn?”

“Whoa, I don't know if...Grace wants to do that,” said Caleb.

“You don't have to protect me.” Grace had had enough. “I've been riding since I was a child. I even had my own horse when I was a teenager.”

“Oh.” Caleb sounded a little sheepish. “Why didn't you just say so in the first place? You sit on a horse very well. I guess I should have known.”

It was an exhilarating gallop back to the barn. Grace won, though she figured both men had held back a little. After dismounting, she thanked Sam and told him she wanted to come back, soon.

Caleb also seemed pleased but when they got into the truck, he said, “Why didn't you tell me about your experience? I felt silly after trying to give you tips on riding.”

“Why didn't you ask?”

“I don't know. I guess I just expect you to share. I have the feeling that you don't always say what you're thinking.”

“You could be right. I grew up with a parent who had plenty to say most of the time. When I didn't agree, I usually just kept things to myself. It was more peaceful that way.”

“You might be better off speaking your mind more frequently.”

“And you might be better off not telling me to speak my mind.” But she laughed.

“Message received!” Caleb grinned. “As I said before, I'm used to telling students what to do and to raising a daughter on my own. I guess I can get a little officious.”

And that might be one of the reasons Angela had become rebellious. Though Grace didn't say so and wondered if she should. She decided it was probably too much of a sore point right now.

“How's Angela doing anyway?”

“She's been busy with school and working on the mural design. Plus she's meeting her mother at her grandmother's place.”

“Has she seen Kiki?”

He shrugged. “No time for that unless it's at school. They may have talked on the phone.”

“I wonder what kind of student Kiki is.”

“Amazingly, I've heard from Angela that she's passing.”

“Well, that's one good thing at least.”

Grace hoped there were more good things about the girl. Kiki'd had a terrible start in life with her father dying and mother going to jail. Grace wouldn't be surprised if the teenager was an emotional wreck.

She prayed that they could find Kiki's grandmother and that the woman would want to do right by her granddaughter. She was happy when Caleb brought up doing that internet search again. Obviously, she knew he had serious reservations about his daughter's friend, but he was still willing to help her.

A fact that made her like Caleb Blackthorne even more.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, Grace arrived at her office to find Carol wearing a glum expression.

Uh-oh.
“Dad around?” Grace asked, figuring he might be making problems.

“Mr. Huber is still in Milwaukee.”

“Good,” she said, then covered her relief with, “Er...are you doing okay?”

“Well, the kids have driven me nuts lately...but that's not what I need to tell you.” Carol had a newspaper spread out on her desk. “There's an article about Green Meadows in the
Kenosha Journal
.”

Grace picked up the paper.

“It's in the lifestyle section.”

“Lifestyle? Instead of real estate?” Grace skimmed the page, stopping abruptly at the heading Haunted Green Community in Sparrow Lake.

“Oh, no!”

Accompanied by a large photo of the complex, the article went on for several columns about the history of the Whitman farmhouse, ghostly run-ins between current residents and some type of spook. The story included the parking lot incident and reports of glowing eyes in roadside foliage, along with quotes from Mr. Vincent Pryce, professional ghost hunter.

“Who is giving this ridiculous information to a reporter?” Grace asked as much to herself as to Carol. She dropped the paper back on the desk.

“Who knows? News spreads fast around here. Maybe the reporter got a lead from someone.”

“Or maybe someone contacted the reporter just to make trouble.”

“I saw that Spooky Tours bus drive through town last weekend,” said Carol. “It was loaded with tourists. I was going to tell you about it, but I forgot. The good thing about the article is that the final paragraphs are on the community itself. Nice description.”

“Really?” Grace picked up the paper again and read the end of the article more closely. “It is a good description...solar panels, sustainable materials, walking paths through the woods, harmony with nature.” She sighed. “Well, I guess, if nothing else, we got some free PR.”

“Might as well look on the bright side. You can't sue them, right?”

“Probably not, but I can complain.”

Which led to several frustrating phone calls to the
Kenosha Journal
, a couple of which went to voice mail. The only person Grace found was a receptionist who told her that the reporter wasn't available except by private cell number.

Grace gave up then and decided she might as well buckle down to some work for the moment. That didn't stop her from trying to figure out who had fed the reporter information and why.

* * *

M
EETING
WITH
HER
mother made Angela nervous, though she told herself Lily should be uncomfortable, not her.

But Lily looked very composed seated across from Angela at Gran Maddie's big dining table. Maddie herself was outside fussing with her herb garden, trying to give the pair a little privacy.

“So you got the afternoon off from school?” Lily asked.

“We only have a couple of weeks to go. I had English today and the teacher excused us so we could work on our final research paper in the library.”

“But you aren't in the library.”

“I will be later. I only plan to be here for an hour or so.”

“You want to limit our time?” Lily sounded disappointed. “I would think you have a lot of questions to ask me.”

“Like what?”

“Maybe things like what I've been doing. Where I've been. I've lived in at least six states, been to all kinds of powwows. Sometimes I perform as a dancer.”

“Oh? What kind of dance do you do?”

“Jingle dancing. For healing. Ever tried that yourself?”

“No, but I know something about it.” Angela had seen dancers at the rez in the traditional single-color dress ornamented with rows of small metal cones. “Those outfits look heavy.”

Lily smiled. “They're not that bad. It can be difficult to sit down in them, though.”

“And impossible to sneak up on anyone.”

Now Lily laughed. “I like your sense of humor.”

Her mother was very beautiful, Angela had to admit. She wished she'd taken more after her than her dad. The strong chin she'd inherited from him made her face look square.

“Do you have any boyfriends?”

“Uh, not right now.”

“Really? When I was your age, I had at least a dozen guys after me.” Lily smiled. “It's your personality that intrigues a man, you know, not just your looks. You have to know how to handle them.”

“I'm not in a hurry.”

And Angela wasn't ready to discuss her most personal feelings with a woman she barely knew and still did not trust. She only talked about love with her best friend, Kiki. Besides, a dozen guys interested in Lily when she was fifteen? Wasn't that when she'd been with Dad? When she'd been
pregnant
? Was that why she'd run away, because she hadn't loved Dad?

“Your father says you're an artist. Are you going to create art for a living?”

Angela shrugged. “I don't think that's possible from what Dad says.”

“Oh? He's still crushing dreams, huh?”

“I wouldn't say crushing them.” Angela felt protective of her father to a stranger, which her mother literally was. “He wants me to do something practical enough to earn a living.”

“He was all about practical with me, too. That's why we didn't get along a lot of the time. I'm a dreamer. You ought to move to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I know a lot of people there. People who could give you a leg up in the art world.”

“Really?” Angela couldn't help feeling intrigued.

“Sure.” Lily folded her hands and leaned on the table, looking intently at her daughter. “I have a friend who makes a fine living selling his work in New Mexico. He's from Wisconsin originally. He would be a good mentor for you.”

“Hmm, I'm not sure. I might want to just do my art as a hobby and go to school for something else.”

Lily laughed. “Oh, honey, you are so innocent. You do what you want to. Follow your dreams. You know what's best for you.”

Angela had always thought so. Until now. She didn't like how Lily talked about dreams so easily, as if they didn't actually mean anything. “Well, whatever I do, I want to go to college and then be successful at it, like my dad.”

“But that's all overrated, honey. It's what people like your dad want you to believe. It just kills your soul.”

“Dad worked hard to get where he is. He had jobs in construction and forestry, all kinds of stuff, before he got his degree.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever.” Lily rolled her eyes. “You could hang back a bit and do just as well, or better. You need to use your brains for something else besides stupid books.”

Angela didn't agree, but she didn't know enough to argue her point.

“I'll see if I can get hold of my artist friend. We could meet,” Lily said. “Meanwhile, we have to get my living situation straightened out.”

“Did you find a job?” Angela knew Gran Maddie had given Lily some contact information.

“Not yet. I think I'll look for a place to stay, first. A two-bedroom would be best, don't you think? A room for me and a room for you. Honey, I'd like you to live with me. We've had too many years apart.”

“I didn't agree to live with you.”

“But with some money, some child support from your father, we could make it. You need to have fun. Your dad is a wet blanket. He just keeps you down.”

“I love Dad.”

“Well, of course you do. And he loves you.” Lily's voice softened. “But I love you, too. And I'll help you make your dreams come true, Angela. If you want to be an artist, just go out in the world and create art. I don't believe in putting the practical ahead of a person's desires. That's backward.”

An hour later, Angela left her grandmother's house with very mixed feelings. She needed to talk to someone else, and neither Gran Maddie nor her father would do.

* * *

A
T
THE
LIBRARY
, Angela found a couple of resources to finish her English paper. She was almost done copying some quotes when Kiki appeared and slid into a chair beside her.

The other girl looked upset. She wasn't even wearing her usual heavy makeup. “I can't believe it! Your dad and that Huber woman visited my foster home and got Mrs. Watson all freaked out. She told me to get my stuff ready to move because they're going to the police about the campground prank. It wasn't that bad, was it?”

Angela felt a thrill of fear. “Why didn't you call me?”

“I haven't been in one place long enough to recharge my phone.”

“What are you going to do? Don't run away.” Angela would be devastated if she lost her best friend.

“I don't want to run. I'm nearly done with this school year. I have to finish.”

“I'll talk to my dad.” Even if she had to beg.

“Maybe I should talk to him. We were just fooling around. It didn't hurt anybody.” Then Kiki added, “He even told old Watson that I made a scarecrow or something. I don't know anything about it.”

“Oh, that.” Angela reassured her, “They found some contraption that was meant to scare people near Green Meadows. I told Dad I would have known if you did that. And you didn't.”

Huddling together, they talked about Kiki hiding out somewhere...at least until the school semester was over. And then Angela told Kiki about her visit with her mother.

When Kiki heard the details, she remarked, “Wow, sounds like she knows a lot.”

“She thinks I could get my art into galleries in Santa Fe. I bet we can get your art sold, too. She has a friend she wants to introduce me to. He makes a living with his art. She says my dad doesn't believe in making dreams come true. He's all about the practical and that's why they didn't get along.” Angela frowned. “Maybe I'm more like her than him.”

“Maybe,” Kiki agreed. “Your dad has done a lot, though, Angela. I kind of admire him. He has a house and a profession. What's your mother doing with her life?”

“Well, she can do a jingle dance.”

Kiki's eyebrows shot up quickly. “A what?”

“A Native American dance that's supposed to promote healing.”

They stayed in the library for a while longer, laughing and catching up. Soon Angela had convinced her friend that things would be all right, even if she had to hide Kiki in another sweat lodge in the backyard. If they built one before, they could do it again.

* * *

C
ALEB
STOPPED
IN
to see Grace in her office at the end of the afternoon. She was sorting through a file in the reception area as her secretary got ready to leave. She looked as beautiful as usual, wearing a crisp apple-green outfit with her typical high heels.

She looked up, her face brightening. “Caleb! And how's your day been?”

“A mix of good news and bad.” And it promised to be getting better just being near Grace, something he wanted to do more and more often.

“How about giving me the good news first?”

“We found listings for two Elizabeth Hartls, women who probably would be around the age of Kiki's grandmother.”

“We?”

“I got my mother involved. She has a lot of connections through her social work.” He took a piece of paper, a printout, from his pocket. Being that she'd pressed him into investigating the grandmother's whereabouts, he was doubly pleased to show this to her. “One of these Elizabeth Hartls lives in Chicago. The other one is in Nebraska.”

Her face lit up as she scanned the information. “Now we have to contact them.”

“Yeah, I already tried. I left a message for the woman in Nebraska. The phone in Chicago just rang and rang.”

“No voice mail, huh?”

“It may no longer be her number.”

She appeared thoughtful. “And what's your bad news?”

He sighed. “Lily contacted me and wants child support.”

“I thought you said Angela doesn't want to live with her.”

“The last time I talked to her, she didn't. Lily claims she's changed our daughter's mind.”

“She's persistent. I'll give her that.”

“I'm afraid she'll move out of state and take Angela with her.”

“She can't do that, can she?”

“I don't know. I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a lawyer involved.”

Grace pushed him gently down onto one of the comfortable chairs in the reception area. Then she stepped behind to massage his neck and shoulders. “That's a worry, isn't it?”

Just her touch made things better. “That feels great.”

“If worse comes to worse, my dad and I know a lot of good lawyers.”

“I figured you did.” Though that wasn't the reason he'd told her about the problem. It seemed important to tell her everything. And hear everything from her in return. Though he was beginning to think he wanted to share more than just talk. “How was your day?”

“I've had bad news and good, too.”

He leaned back into the massage. “Tell me.”

“I started the day with an article from the
Kenosha Journal
.” She stopped kneading his neck muscles with a gentle pat. Then she went to the desk and picked up a newspaper. “Take a look at this.”

He frowned. “Haunted Green Community! Oh, great! Where did they get this information?”

“I wondered about that, too.” She sat down across from him and laughed.

He couldn't help feeling surprised. “You find this amusing?”

“Well, keep reading. By the end of the article, there's a wonderful description of the green community and hints about the perks of living there. We had two calls this afternoon from people who read the article and want to look at condos or townhomes.”