On Ice (11 page)

The remaining tattered and brittle shades were removed. Bernie climbed a small stepladder, cleaning the top panes while Logan worked on the lower ones.

“
Don't you gentlemen know that you have to use ammonia and newspaper to get windows really clean?” Mrs. Jolly bustled over to assist in the assault on the windows and soon they sparkled.

The bustle of activity and the dust stirring in the air gave Rene a slight headache. She was anxious for the room to be fresh and welcoming for the students. Her work crew washed the blackboard along with the walls. Nadine and Mrs. Pindar cleaned and sorted the books and replaced them on the shelves while Cindy and Rene cleaned out the teacher's desk. They emptied it completely and polished the wood until it gleamed. Rene arranged the meager desk accessories and examined her teaching materials. Very little was available other than the textbooks and accompanying teacher's manuals and these were quite dated. Disappointed, Rene’s face displayed her feelings.

“
Nothing good, hmm?” Cindy asked.

“
Everything is so old.” She wanted to cry. “Is there a teacher's supply store in the neighborhood?”

“
I found a catalog,” Cindy offered.

“
I hate to point out that it also looks like it's about a hundred years old.”

“
Too true but,” Cindy pointed to the cover, “it has a website. You can go online and order anything you want. We all shop online. You can get anything as long as you can pay for it.”

“
Really?” Rene’s spirits lifted.

“
Really. Let's break for a snack.” Cindy set out soft drinks and cookies. None of the participants needed to be coaxed.

“
I thought this was supposed to be a work party,” a handsome blonde man called from the doorway.

“
It looks like more party than work,” his companion agreed. The speaker, a slim man with a prominent, high-bridged nose, spoke with a thick accent.

“
It's about time you guys showed up,” Nadine called as the two entered the building.

“
I just got up,” the man with the accent said. “Some of us work at night.” He turned his attention to Rene. “Is this lovely one our new teacher?” He kissed her hand, bowing over it in a grand manner.

“
Oh, do me, too!” Cindy held out her hand and received a similar treatment. “Frenchmen are so romantic!”

“
I am the man, Madame. If you need romance, come to Frenchy. I will provide for your needs.” He eyed her from head to toe, grinning all the while.

Somehow, Rene found this blatant flirting less obnoxious than the previous line-up of single men had delivered. Rene and Cindy laughed.

Nadine joined them, a smirk on her face. “What is all this debauchery? And in front of my priest.” She hugged the blonde-haired man lightly. “Rene, this is Father Paul and that is the infamous Frenchy of Frenchy's Bar.

“
If I display debauchery in front of my priest, it saves me from going to confession.”

“
Don't worry, Nadine,” Father Paul said. “I haven't heard anything exciting in the confessional in a long time.”

“
Father Paul.” Mrs. Pindar clasped the young priest’s hands. “How good of you to join us.”

“
This is the place to be.” He drew her into an embrace before turning to face Rene. “I want to welcome you to Sad Horse, Mrs. Nichols. We’ve been in desperate need of a teacher.”

“
Thank you, Father Paul.” Rene shook the hand he offered. This charming man did not remind her of any priest she had previously known. He was probably in his early thirties and a more handsome man she had never seen. He wore a pair of faded, frayed jeans and a plaid flannel shirt with the long sleeves rolled up.

“
Do you happen to be Catholic, Mrs. Nichols?” he asked.

“
Please call me Rene, Father. I was raised as a Catholic but I haven't practiced my faith in at least---” She paused, realizing that Mark had stopped her church going shortly after their marriage.

“
No matter,” he said. “You're welcome to join us at any time. Please come this Sunday.” He smiled at her with a boyish grin.

“
Enough of the sales pitch, Father,” Frenchy interrupted. “We must work now. What task would the lovely ladies like us to perform?”

“
We need the floors cleaned,” Cindy said.

“
We're your men.” Father Paul grabbed a broom and vigorously swept the dust and debris while Frenchy filled a bucket with mop water.

The tables and chairs were arranged into areas according to the ages of the children. Rene preferred small groups since her students would be of differing ages and abilities.

When the volunteers left, the school room sparkled with cleanliness. The members of the cleaning crew adjourned to Honeybee's Cafe for a late lunch. A few went in other directions. Nadine dropped her children at home with her husband before joining the lunch crowd. Cindy checked on her mother at the bakery.

Rene, with children in tow, followed the caravan to the small cafe on the corner across from the grocery store. She felt elated to have accomplished so much and in particular to be in the company of such positive people. Perhaps she had made the right decision in coming here. Perhaps the sad, frightened times were behind them.

A bell clanked when they entered the cafe. The aroma of strong foods mingled with stale cooking grease. The decor was plain but cheery. Father Paul and Frenchy pushed several small tables together and held chairs for the ladies.

“
I brought you some catalogs.” Cindy deposited an armload on the table. “Take good care of them. They're worth their weight in gold.”

“
I promise,” Rene vowed.

“
You can order online or by mail and then you’re on the mailing list.”

“
We need some things at the cabin.” Rene pounced on one of the catalogs.

A very attractive woman came out to take their orders. She had dark auburn hair and large, warm brown eyes. A single dimple graced one cheek when she smiled. Her ample figure, more voluptuous than plump, swayed as she walked with a suggestive, hip-rolling gait. Rene guessed she was nearing forty. She noted that every man watched the woman approach.

“
Hi, Father Paul.” The woman stopped at his chair and gave him the benefit of her twinkling gaze.

“
Now, Honeybee, you promised not to tempt me,” he said. “I have taken a vow of celibacy, after all.”

“
I'm just doing my part to insure your sainthood, Father,” she purred, her voice like velvet. “What's going on? I don't usually have a lunch rush this late.”

“
We cleaned the school for class on Monday,” Nadine said. “This is Rene, the new teacher. I'll have a chili burger with fried onion rings.”

“
Ugh!” Cindy held her protruding belly. “I'll have a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast and a vanilla milkshake. Honeybee makes the world's best milkshakes.”

Father Paul and Frenchy ordered the daily special while Hank chose a cheeseburger before unfolding the weekly newspaper and burying himself behind it.

“
That just leaves you, Sweetie.” Honeybee stood at Rene's shoulder, pad and pencil poised in her hands.

Rene considered a moment. “How about three cheeseburgers with a large order of French-fries and vanilla shakes all around?” Honeybee ambled to the kitchen as Rene met the children’s surprised gaze. “If you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em.”

“
What does that mean, Mommy?” Sara asked.

“
It means I'm adapting to Sad Horse.” She looked around the table, smiling at her new acquaintances. “I've resigned myself to my fate. I will probably weigh two hundred pounds before Christmas.”

“
You made the paper, Rene,” Bernie held the newspaper close to his face, reading it with interest.

“
What do you mean?” She tried to squelch the bile rising from the pit of her stomach.

“
It's an article about you.” He folded the paper and passed it to her.

She read the story by Roger Dale. It listed her assumed name and the name and ages of her children, where they were living, that she had signed a one-year contract to teach in the all-levels classroom, and that she was a widow.

“
That little weasel!” she said through clenched teeth.

Nadine rolled her eyes. “She must be referring to our Roger.”

“
Roger Dale is pond scum,” Cindy added. “Everyone knows that. You had to learn it the hard way. Did he write something stupid?”

Rene tried to control her breathing. She hadn't given the interview. So, who did?

“
Rene, you look white as a sheet,” Cindy said.

“
Just forget it.” Hank said. “He didn't say anything bad about you.”

“
Besides,” said Father Paul, “our food is here and we don't want to hurt Honeybee's feelings. She's very sensitive.”

Honeybee laughed heartily as she set his plate before him.

In spite of her inner turmoil, Rene enjoyed the meal. The food was surprisingly good and the company delightful. She recalled what it felt like to spend time in the company of friendly laughing people. She had friends before she married, but Mark alienated her friends or intimidated her into dropping them. The only friend she refused to give up was her sister Maddy.

~*~

“
Here we are,” Ted announced, turning off the ignition.

“
Today's castle is much smaller than yesterday's,” Miranda observed with five-year-old wisdom.

“
Yeah,” Genna agreed. “But it's not as ugly.”

Maddy peered out the windshield at the turrets reflecting in the lake, or loch as she had been told. Most of the windows were tall narrow slits, but the wider turret windows were raised several stories off the ground.

Yesterday’s tension evaporated with the mysterious black car. She could almost convince herself she had imagined the danger. They wandered the grounds before going inside to take the guided tour being offered for a fee. Ted snapped pictures of Maddy and the girls, indulging himself in his only hobby other than golf. Upon entering a little turret room, they saw that the open window had a lovely view and included a wide seat upholstered in faded rose-colored velvet.

After their tour Ted asked Maddy to return to sit in the window looking out across the gardens. Maddy retraced her steps, seating herself and leaning out to wave down to Ted and the girls. Using a telephoto lens he shot several frames in rapid succession. He motioned for her to lean out a bit more. With his shooting completed he grinned and waved her to join them. She turned from the window, startled to find Mark Desmond standing close to her.

“
So easy,” he said, with a chilling smile. “Just one little push and I’m rid of you forever.” He snapped his fingers several times in succession.

She couldn't move. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Mark stood between her and the doorway. He loomed over her, leaning even closer.

He laughed, amused by her discomfort. “In fact, I can see you down on the flagstone, crumpled and bent, blood coming from your skull where it hit the walk.” The fingers snapped again to a rhythm he, alone, heard.

“
That's not going to happen now, is it?” Her voice betrayed her with a rusty squeak.

“
Little Maddy, always so fierce.” His smile vanished as he reached out to capture her arm in his vise-like grip. “Where is my wife!” he snarled close to her face.

She gritted her teeth. “I don't know what you're talking about.” She grimaced as his fingers bit into her flesh.

“
Don't play games, Maddy. Tell me where Rene has gone or you'll regret it.” He stroked her shoulder in what was almost a caress raising goose flesh in his path.

She shivered as his expression changed from a superior tolerance to one of pure hatred.

Slowly, he wrapped his fingers around her throat. “Such a delicate little neck. So easily broken. Even Dr. Ted can't save you. Now where is Rene?”

“
She's safe! You can't hurt her any more.” Maddy swallowed hard as his fingers squeezed her throat, constricted her airway. She struggled to loosen his grip. Prying at his fingers, her nails ripped across his hands.

“
Don't try to struggle, Maddy.” Mark's lips were almost touching her face as he breathed his threats. “If I crush your windpipe, no amount of CPR can save you. Just answer my question and I'll let you return to your dull husband.”

Maddy felt lightheaded. The edges of the room started to go dark as she struggled against the crushing pain in her throat. Her field of vision narrowed until she only saw Mark's face, but she couldn't hear his words. Darkness enveloped her and the pain in her throat abated only to be replaced by a sharp pain in her head.

When she opened her eyes, Ted knelt over her. The frightened faces of the girls peered around his broad shoulders. She tried to speak, but no sound came out.

“
What happened?” he demanded. “Did you become dizzy when you were looking down?”