Simple Deceit (The Harmony Series 2) (32 page)

Her declaration sent a shiver down my spine. I was just getting ready to respond when Sarah came into the kitchen.

“We’re getting ready to leave,” she said. “I wanted to thank you both so much for everything. There’s no way I could ever repay you for your kindnesses to me or my father, but I would love it if you’d come by the shop next week after we open and pick out something you’d like.”

Sweetie rose from her chair and gave Sarah a hug. “That’s real nice of you, Sarah, but you don’t owe us nothin’. We’re all family, and lookin’ out for each other is just what we do.”

She smiled at us. “I know that, but I still would like to bless you in my small way.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate it. Hopefully all the businesses will be ready to open this week. We’re going to try to go to
town tonight if the temperatures keep rising.”

“Papa said the forecaster predicted several days of below-zero weather. Has that changed?”

I nodded. “This morning they said the severe cold could break as early as today.”

Sarah beamed. “God is answering our prayers, isn’t He? This is wonderful news. I will continue to pray until the trees are safe.”

“Please do,” I said. “Where’s your father? I wanted to say good-bye to him.”

“I’m right here.” Gabe’s bass voice rang out loud and clear. “I’m sure Sarah has thanked all of you for your incredible help in finding her and nursing her to health, but I also want to express my gratitude. You’ve made both of us feel welcome. I won’t ever forget it.”

I went over and hugged Sarah. Then I held my hand out to Gabe. I wanted to hug him as well but wasn’t sure if it would offend him. I shouldn’t have worried. He disregarded my hand and wrapped me up in a big bear hug. I found my nose buried in the scratchy material of his thick wool coat. It felt wonderful.

“Well, I guess we need to get going,” he said when he let me go.

Eric came up behind him. “Whenever you two are ready, we can head out. I’ve already been outside. The truck started.” He grinned at me. “And I have no intention of turning off the engine until I get to my hotel.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” I said, smiling. “When you go back to Wichita, you might look into trading that thing in for something more reliable.”

“You’ve got that right,” he said, shaking his head. “Believe me, I’ve learned my lesson.” He smiled at Sweetie. “Thank you so much for your hospitality—and your magnificent food.” He patted his stomach. “I’m going to avoid the scale for a few days. The
hotel food should help me lose whatever I put on here. You’re an incredible cook, Sweetie.”

“Young man, I ain’t usually wrong about people, but it seems I’ve been a mite unfair to you. I ain’t sayin’ I trust you completely. And I ain’t sayin’ I’m not still a little peeved with you, but you jumped in to help us when we needed it, and I’m mighty grateful. You’re welcome back here anytime.”

Sweetie’s little speech took all of us by surprise, including Eric. “Well…well, thank you. I don’t know what to say. That means a lot to me.”

Sweetie nodded at him. “Now you all get out of here and get home.” She pointed at Eric. “I’d be obliged if you’d give us a call when you get to your hotel. Let us know everyone made it back safe.”

“I’ll do that,” Eric promised.

I followed them to the front door, grabbing Eric’s arm before he could leave. I pulled him back a bit, letting Sarah and Gabe go ahead. “I wanted to thank you, too,” I said. “And to apologize for the way you were treated. Sam and Sweetie were out of line. I’m glad everything’s okay now.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s okay,” he said quietly. “Sweetie may have come around, but Sam still doesn’t trust me.”

“I’m sorry. I know he appreciates your help.”

Eric’s deep blue eyes peered into mine. “You know what Gabe said this morning about John still having feelings for Sarah?”

“Yes.”

“Sam shouldn’t trust me. If I thought I had a chance with you, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you how much I care about you. How deeply I’m attracted to you.”

I shook my head at him and took a step back.

“Don’t worry, Gracie. Like John, I’m a man of honor. I have no intention of acting on my feelings. I know how much you love
Sam. You’re safe. I just thought you should know.” With that he walked out the door.

I stood and stared at the closed door, my heart beating so hard I could feel it. At the beginning of this strange weekend, I’d forecast that hidden emotions would come to the surface. Well, they certainly had. But I’d been looking in the wrong direction, never dreaming my prediction would come back to haunt me.

S
weetie and I spent the afternoon cleaning up after our guests—doing all the dishes, washing sheets, towels, and blankets. The entire time we kept one ear open to the weather forecasts. The temperature climbed into the thirties by late afternoon, and the announcer finally declared that although at first they’d expected it to stay below zero for several days, things had changed. It would stay bitterly cold, but the temperatures were predicted to stay well above zero. Sweetie and I thanked the Lord together for answering our prayers. When Sam came in around three o’clock, we told him the good news.

“Hallelujah.” He sighed with relief. “Except for the two trees that burned, they all seem okay. Of course, we can’t be sure until spring, but all in all, I’m very optimistic.”

“So what now?” I asked.

“Now we put out the fires, and I tell John to go home. I’ll put the smudge pots away tomorrow.”

Sweetie crooked her finger toward him. “Does this mean we get to go out tonight? I could use me one of Mary’s great steaks.” The eagerness in her face made Sam smile.

“I think that sounds like a great idea.”

“How do you know Mary will be open?” I asked. “You two act like she lives there.”

Sweetie laughed. “Maybe that’s because she does. Mary’s got an apartment over the restaurant. Cute little place. I saw it once when Sam and her was seein’ each other.”

“I guess that explains why she didn’t seem worried about getting home the other night after our first round of snow. I never really thought about it.”

“It’s also one of the reasons she’s always open,” Sam said. “Besides the fact that she enjoys having people around her. I think she’s pretty lonely when the restaurant is closed.” He shook his head. “Twenty-nine years old, and her life revolves around that place.”

I felt a wave of pity for Mary. She seemed so self-confident and comfortable with people. Goes to show we just don’t know what’s really hiding below the surface. “She asked if I could come by and have dinner with her tomorrow night. Do you think my Bug will be able to make it back and forth?”

Sam shrugged. “I guess we’ll get a better idea of road conditions tonight. I expect some of the snow has melted, but it’s likely to refreeze later. Let’s leave early, okay? That way we can get back before it gets too slick.”

“Hey, you’re the one who has somethin’ to do,” Sweetie reminded him. “We’re ready to go whenever you are.”

“Why don’t you see if John wants to come?” I said. “He deserves a night out. On you.”

Sam grinned. “You’re right about that. I’ll ask him.”

After he left to put out the fires, Sweetie and I finished up our work. About an hour later, Sam came stomping in the door, trying to shake the snow off his boots.

“Hey, there,” he said when he saw me on my way upstairs with
an armload of clean towels and sheets to put in the linen closet. “Give me about thirty minutes to wash up, and we’ll take off.”

“What about John?”

“What about me?” John had come in the door without my hearing him.

“What about going to dinner with us?”

He looked down at his clothes. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m a mess.”

“I’ve got clothes you can borrow,” Sam said. “We’d really like you to come.”

John grinned at him. “I’m already wearing your clothes.”

“The clothes you had on when you came here are clean,” I interjected. “If that makes any difference.”

“Well, it just might at that,” he replied. “I would like to rinse off some, though.”

“No problem,” Sam said. “You can use the downstairs bathroom. I’ll use the one upstairs.”

Something suddenly struck me. “Wait a minute. I’ve been so excited about the trees being okay, I just realized we’ve forgotten something. We can’t go to town. What about the orchards? Whoever started the fire last night might come back.”

“I already thought of that,” Sam said. “Sheriff Taylor came by while John and I were outside. He offered to keep an eye on things while we’re gone.”

“But what if he’s the arsonist? We could be making a big mistake.”

Sam frowned. “What? Sheriff Taylor had nothing to do with that. You’ve got him all wrong, Grace. He’s trying to help us. He saved the trees—and you. Why are you so suspicious of him?”

I told him what Sweetie had said about Sheriff Taylor snooping around my house late at night.

He frowned at me. “So what? He’s the sheriff. He could have
been investigating something. I’m sorry, but a sheriff outside with a flashlight sounds perfectly normal.”

“Then why didn’t he come and tell me why he was out there?”

“I have no idea. But I think you’re being paranoid.”

“Can I interrupt here?” John said. “I think Gracie has a point. We really don’t know much about Sheriff Taylor. I mean, he might be a good guy and all, but why take chances? You guys go to town, and let me stay here. I’ll keep an eye on things until you get back.”

“No way,” Sam said. “You’ve got to be exhausted. We’ll just go another night.”

“Don’t be goofy,” John said. “I saw some leftover meat loaf in Sweetie’s fridge. I’d love nothing more than to sit in a quiet house, eat a meat loaf sandwich, and spend some time with Buddy and Snickle. To be perfectly honest, tonight I’d really like some time to myself. I love you guys, but I live alone. I’m not used to this many people around all the time. It kind of wears me out.”

I started to object, but John stopped me. “Please. I’m with you, Gracie. Someone needs to watch this place until we know who started that fire. You all may be stuck at home for a while. Let this be my gift to you. Let me be your tree sitter for tonight. Besides, there will be lots of other times to go out to dinner. It’s not like you don’t know where to find me.”

“It’s up to you, Sam,” I said. “These towels and bedsheets are heavier than they look. Why don’t you two duke it out? I’ll be back in a minute.”

I continued up the stairs, put the towels and sheets away, and was headed back down when Sam came bounding up the stairs.

“So what’s the verdict?” I asked.

“Get spruced up, good lookin’. We’re going out.”

“John talked you into it?”

“Yeah, I think he really wants to stay here. We need to get away, and he wants to be by himself for a while.” He chuckled.

“Besides, I think he’s serious about Sweetie’s meat loaf. I know how he feels. It’s great.”

I had to agree. Sweetie had a way with meat loaf. I wasn’t sure what she put in it, but it was better than my mother’s. Even better than my grandmother’s. “Okay. I’m going to call Abel and tell him we’ll be at Mary’s tonight. Maybe he can meet us there.”

“That’s the real reason you want to go to town. Admit it. You want to know the identity of the baby’s mother.” He reached over and tweaked my nose.

“Hey, don’t do that!” I gave him a lighthearted slap on the hand. “It’s not just because I’m nosy, although I have to admit I’m really curious.” I sighed. “As much as I love this house, I would like to see some different walls for a few hours.”

He grabbed my hand and kissed it. “And so you shall. The next walls you see will be a weird shade of blue and decorated with grease splatters.” He offered me a goofy bow. “Only the best for you, my dear.”

“Stand up straight, you big dork,” I said, laughing. “You really do need a night out, don’t you? And by the way, those walls are cerulean blue. And they’re not the least bit weird.”

He got to his feet. “It’s a little bright for me. I guess I like my blues a little more subtle.”

I kissed his cheek. “Because you have no imagination, my friend. Now get your shower. Trust me, you need it.”

He grinned and put his hand over his heart. “You have wounded me to the depths of my soul. I shall take my stinky body to the showers, posthaste.”

“Not posthaste enough. Now get out of here.”

He bowed again and headed down the hall to the bathroom. My heart felt lighter than it had for a while. Even though we still had no idea who’d tried to destroy the orchards and given me a second bump on the head, Sam was obviously so relieved that his
fruit trees were safe, his spirits were flying high.

I changed clothes and waited downstairs while Sam got ready. John made it to the kitchen first with his own clean clothes on. “Wow. Feels good to wear my own stuff. Not that I don’t like Sam’s wardrobe, but I’d started to feel like a homeless waif who had to rely on the kindness of others.”

“And how do you know how a homeless waif feels?” I asked innocently.

“Okay. You got me. I’m just guessing about that. But now I’m about to beg for my dinner, so I’m right back where I started.”

“You ain’t gotta beg for nothin’,” Sweetie said, walking into the room. John and I both did a double take. Sweetie’s ever-present overalls had disappeared. Instead she wore a pair of nice black slacks and a cream-colored sweater with beadwork on the bodice. And her ratty tennis shoes were replaced with black pumps. Her dark gray hair was still in a bun, but it was neatly wrapped and accentuated with a decorative, beaded comb. Although Sweetie abhorred makeup, I could detect a slight bit of blush, mascara, and lipstick.

“Wow. You look great, Sweetie,” I said.

John nodded his agreement.

“Well, for cryin’ out loud,” she barked. “You know I been goin’ to Abel’s church. Did you think I was wearin’ my coveralls there every Sunday?”

“No…I guess not,” I agreed. “I’ve never seen you right after church. I don’t know what I thought.”

“Goodness gracious, Gracie. I’m not some hick from the sticks, you know.”