Whispers (Argent Springs) (23 page)

“So, she lied to me Erin. She knew what Melinda’s
leaving did to me, and she was behind the whole thing. We might still be
together if Annabelle hadn’t done that.” He slammed his hand on the counter,
making her flinch.

“Well, at least you found out now.” She blinked
and embarrassing tears raced down her cheeks. “Annabelle’s gone, and there’s
nothing to keep you from being together.”

“Goddamn it, Erin. That’s not what I’m trying to
say.”

“Then what are you saying? That you love me more
than her? That I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you? No. You’re upset
because Annabelle lied.” Her voice escalated with each sentence. “Did you ever
stop to think that maybe she had her reasons? That maybe she could see
something you couldn’t? No.”

“How would you feel if she’d manipulated your life
that way?”

She met his gaze head on. “I’d be angry, too. I’d
be so angry that the first thing I’d do is exactly what she didn’t want me to.
Which it appears you’ve already done.”

Angry fire flashed from his gaze. “I told you,
she
kissed me. She came in acting like she had a right to be there. When I pushed
her away, she tossed the Annabelle bomb at me and took advantage of the carnage
she’d created.”

But he still hadn’t told her he loved her. “What
did you say to Melinda after she told you this?”

“I told her I needed some time.”

The bottom of her world crumbled beneath her feet.
“I see.”

“Is that so much to ask, Erin? Annabelle hijacked
my life, and I need a minute to get my feet back under me.”

What was the point of pretending that she hadn’t
already lost him? “Would you mind taking that time living somewhere else
besides my house, then? I don’t want you here anymore.” A sob escaped her lips,
leaving her in utter mortification.

Rick reached for her, his face a mask of misery,
but she shook him off as the tears came harder.

“Just go.” She dashed from the room, fighting off
the cloying scent of lavender that threatened to choke her.

Erin wasn’t all that surprised when Livia called.
She lived in a small town after all, and it didn’t take long for word of her
break up with Rick to spread. What did surprise her was that Livia took two
days to call and ask if she could come over.

She agreed and had put on a kettle of water so
they could share some of Annabelle’s herbal tea while they talked.

A swirl of bitter winter wind followed Livia into
the house, leaving Erin with a cold chill. “Let’s go into the atrium. I have a
fire and some tea ready for us.”

Livia smiled, but it wasn’t a cheerful smile. More
like an ‘I’m happy we’re friends, but this isn’t a happy occasion’ kind of
gesture. “I’m sorry about Rick moving out.” Livia’s green eyes shown with
compassion.

Erin shrugged, not really wanting to have this
conversation. “He’s torn…about me and his ex-girlfriend. I don’t need a man
who’s torn. I need a man who knows without a doubt he can’t live without me.”
Her last words came out a little unsteady and Livia hugged her before they sat
down.

“Let’s have some tea. You said Annabelle’s herbal?
It’s one of my favorites.”

“Okay,” she said with a tight voice, her tears
still mostly restrained.

“I’ll pour.” Livia filled both of their cups and
added two oversized spoons of sugar to hers.

“You like it sweet.”

Livia raised a brow and smiled. “That I do.” She
took a sip before releasing a murmur of appreciation.

After they’d both settled and talked about the six
new inches of snow they’d received the previous day, Livia cleared her throat.
“As much as I hate to say it, this isn’t only a social call.”

Her already-raw emotions tightened. “How do you
mean?”

Her friend heaved a sigh and pulled a manila
envelope from a large black leather handbag. “I received this yesterday. I
would have come to see you then, but I figured two pieces of bad news in one
day was too much for a girl to bear.” She slid out a stack of official-looking
papers.

Erin eyed the documents in Livia’s hands as though
if she stared at them long enough, she’d be able to read what they contained.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?”

Livia stared at Erin for a moment, hesitation and
compassion filling her gaze. “It’s a challenge to the rightful ownership of
Annabelle’s late husband’s estate.”

“From who?” Had others in her family figured out
that she’d been Annabelle’s benefactor and now wanted their share?

“Melinda Morgan. She was Henderson’s
granddaughter. She also happens to be—”

“Rick’s ex-girlfriend.” Or perhaps not so ‘ex’
after all. “I’m going to be sick.”

Livia put a hand on her arm. “Don’t start freaking
out yet. I’ve reviewed the documents, and I don’t think she has any kind of a case.
She’s grasping at straws. She’s saying Henderson wasn’t in his right mind when
he married Annabelle and that everything he gave to Annabelle should have gone
to her.”

She couldn’t swallow. “Meaning this house.”

“Yes,” Melinda said solemnly.

“And the money?” Erin asked. Could she seriously
be in jeopardy of losing everything? The money she’d give back if she had to,
but this house was hers. It had belonged to her ancestors, to her beloved
Annabelle, and this was where she planned to live out the rest of her life. She
hoped she could pass along her family’s history to one of her own kids someday.

“The money was Annabelle’s. At least most of it.”

“So, what do I do?” Icy fear ripped at her.

“
We
. What do
we
do? You’re not in
this alone, Erin. I realize I might not look like it, but I still have plenty
of cutthroat poison running through my veins that I can call upon if
necessary.” She squeezed her hand.

At that moment, she’d never been more grateful to
have a friend who had her back. “Thank you.”

“I’m filing a motion to have the petition
dismissed based on lack of proof. I’ll attach statements from various townsfolk
in prominent positions, including Dr. Albert, stating that Henderson was,
indeed, still very much in his right mind when he married Annabelle
and
when he’d created his will to leave everything to her. It’s highly unlikely
this will go any further than that.”

“But there’s a story…about Henderson. He told
everyone a ghost had touched him, and Annabelle said everyone thought he was
crazy.” Could her future happiness really hinge on that incident? “What if
Melinda tries to use that in her favor?”

Livia stared at her for a silent moment. “She
already has.”

Her friend’s words were a sucker punch to the gut.
“What if the people side with Melinda instead of me? She’s lived here much
longer. I’m just an outsider looking in.”

“You might not have grown up here, Erin. But your
roots are here. You’re one of us.” She stuffed the stack of documents back into
her bag. When she looked at Erin again, her face was set with strong
determination. “We’re fighting it all the way. Seriously, Erin. People aren’t
declared incompetent because they believe in ghosts. Can you imagine if that
was true?”

The pressure of tears behind her eyes became too
much and began running down her cheeks. “I can’t lose this place, Livia. My
heart is here. If I lose this, I will have lost everything that matters.”

“I know, honey. I know.”

“Do you think—” Her voice caught on a sob, and she
took a breath. She couldn’t speak it without breaking up. “Do you think that’s
why Rick left? Because he knows Melinda will get the house, and he wants it,
too?”

“No, no, no.” Livia shook her head, her long, dark
hair brushing across her shoulders.

“I just—that would be unbearable.”

“Have some faith and don’t forget you have Annabelle
and Rosa working on your side.”

She prayed that was true, but even if they were
real, how much power did two ghosts have?

*        *        *

Rick sat on Kellan’s worn leather couch, a beer in
his hand, an empty on the coffee table in front of him. The Seahawk’s game blared
from the television. Kellan was across the couch, outfitted in worn sweat
pants, drinking his own beer. He was a poor substitute for Erin’s company, but
Rick had to do something to take his mind off the tragic state of his love
life.

Melinda wouldn’t leave him alone, and as much as he’d
tried, Erin wouldn’t answer the door or return his calls. Something had to
give.

It had only taken long enough for his anger over
Annabelle’s betrayal to settle when he’d realized his mistake. Stark
realization had slapped him hard upside the head. He never should have moved
out of the house. Never should have left Erin.

Melinda wouldn’t like it when he told her, but she
was history. He just needed to figure out how to tell her.

The doorbell rang, but he didn’t get up. He looked
expectantly at Kellan instead. It was his house. He should answer the door. Kellan
locked eyes with him, both waiting for the other to cave. Finally his buddy
groaned and stood.

“If it’s Melinda, I’m not here,” he called after
him.

“Fine, but you owe me. You’re cooking dinner,” Kellan
said as he headed for the door.

Rick didn’t care as he sank lower in his seat so
he wouldn’t be noticed by their visitor. Dinner was in the future. Football was
now.

“Hey, Kellan.” Livia’s sultry voice wafted toward
the couch, tinged with an extra bit of sexiness.

Sensing a little something-something going on,
Rick shifted on the couch so he could watch the plays there as well.

“Hello, Livia.” His friend’s voice seemed
interested as well. “I didn’t expect to find you on my doorstep.”

“Well, I’m here, so how about inviting a girl
inside out of the cold?”

“Absolutely.” He stepped back, a grin on his face.
“Want to come in and watch the game?”

Shit. Rick nearly laughed out loud. Since when had
his buddy and Livia been so friendly with each other? He thought Livia had a
boyfriend. Maybe that had changed. Now that he was living in a bachelor pad, he
sure was seeing a whole lot more of what went on in his town.

“Actually, I came to see Rick. I have some
information I need to pass along.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t stay and have a
beer,” his friend cajoled.

“Hmm…” she purred. “Maybe I will.”

Rick rolled his eyes. If they kept that up, they’d
have to get a room.

Livia floated in, a cloud of something sensual
floating along with her. Scents like that were created to make a man lose his
head.

“Do you have a minute, Rick?” she said. “There’s
something I’d like to talk to you about.”

*        *        *

Erin walked into the laundry room carrying dirty
sheets minutes after her latest guests walked out her door. They were headed
home after a week of skiing on Argent Springs’ fresh powder, and she was left
alone in the house once again.

The house echoed without Rick or Annabelle there.
Echoed with the hollowness of an empty heart. Cold, barren and lonely.

She shoved the sheets into the washer and grabbed fresh
linens from the closet. She’d found her days were better if she stayed busy.
Heartbreak gripped her during idle times. As she stepped into the hallway, the
sound of a door closing grabbed her attention. She looked toward the front door
expecting to see possibly Livia standing in front of her.

Empty space greeted her.

She glanced at the stairs, certain the sound had
come from that direction. “Hello?” she called, but no one answered. The sound
of footsteps on the upper floor triggered her fight or flight response.

She quickly switched directions and headed into
the kitchen, dropping the sheets on the counter before she slipped into the
pantry and quietly closed the door. Like a protective friend, Annabelle’s gun
waited for her behind the box of snack cakes.

She grabbed it and pointed it toward the closed
door. She’d never shot a gun before, and she prayed the thing was loaded. Even
if it wasn’t, it might deter someone from hurting her.

With her hand shaking, she slid her phone from the
pocket in her jeans. She could call Livia, but that might put them both in
danger. She thought about calling Rick because, even though he might not love
her, she was sure he did care. Instead, she dialed the emergency police number.

“There’s someone in my house,” she whispered after
the dispatcher answered. Her heart pounded as the calm female voice on the
other end asked for her address and then told her to stay on the line until the
police arrived.

She tried to remain composed as minutes dragged
by. Her breathing seemed amplified in the confined space, and it felt as though
the shelves were trying to push her out. She needed air, but she didn’t dare
open the door.

“They’re outside your house now, ma’am,” the
dispatcher informed her. “If you feel safe enough, you can open the door.
Otherwise, they do have the option of busting it down.”

“I’m not sure. I think I’m okay to let them in.”
She had a gun to protect her, and if someone tried to get her, the police were
already there. She slowly opened the pantry door and peeked out. No sight of
anything amiss.

She kept the gun at the ready as she crept into
the hallway, nearly jumping out of her skin as a loud knock sounded on the
front door and someone announced “Sage County Deputy Sheriff”. She hurried as
fast as she could to the door and unlocked it.

Two deputies had their weapons pointed at her, and
she quickly raised her hands into the air. “Thank God you’re here.”

A dark-haired female deputy with a slender build
and intense eyes held out her hand. “I’ll take that.”

Erin handed Annabelle’s pistol to her. “I was
afraid,” she explained.

“Yes, ma’am,” the woman answered. She removed the
clip from the gun.

“We received a call that there’s an intruder on
the property.” A young, blond-haired male deputy glanced beyond her.

“Yes,” Erin said, sagging with relief. “Someone
closed a door and then I heard footsteps upstairs. I thought maybe one of my
friends had come over, but no one answered.”

The woman nodded. “We’ll check it out. If you’re
overly concerned, you may wait in our vehicle.”

Erin glanced at the SUV parked at the edge of the
curb with flashing lights. “Can I just stay here? On the porch?”

They both nodded. “I’ll take the upstairs,” the
man said to his counterpart, and both of them entered the house, their weapons
drawn.

Erin stood in the doorway, listening for any kind
of commotion, but all she heard was footsteps. A few moments later, the man and
then the woman rejoined her.

“Nothing downstairs,” the female deputy reported.

The blond deputy shook his head as well. “Nothing
upstairs, either, ma’am. One of the bedroom doors was shut, but other than
that, nothing seems amiss. Do you live here alone?”

Erin nodded, trying to find some solace in their
words, but none came. “My aunt died recently, and occasionally I rent rooms to
guests, but the last ones left just a little while ago. I’m the only one here
now.”

The woman looked at her partner and shrugged. “No
pets that might have made the noise?”

“No.” Nothing short of someone in her house would
explain the noise, and she was certain all of the bedroom doors had been open.
She’d been upstairs only minutes before. Someone had closed that door.

Or
something
.

“Well, we’ve scoured the house, and no one is
inside,” the man said.

“Also, all of the doors and windows on the ground
level are closed and locked.” The woman’s mic crackled, and she paused to turn
down the volume. “We’re pretty sure your house is secure. If you’re still
concerned, perhaps there’s a friend you could call to come stay with you until
you’re feeling more comfortable.”

Her thoughts immediately went to Rick, but he
wasn’t an option. “Yes, okay. I think I’ll do that. Thank you so much for
coming.”