Blueberry Hill, #1
Page 19
As they were walking back to the B&B, her mom’s phone rang.
“Will? What happened?”
The look on her mom’s face as she talked to Will made Ally’s entire body tremble.
“I’m glad no one was hurt. Thank you for telling me.”
Her mom glanced at her, and the look in her eyes made Ally want to run for the car and go straight home.
“I’ll let her know.”
She turned to Ally as they walked into their room.
“You better pour us a glass of wine.”
“Mom, you’re scaring me.”
“A group of kids renting the house next to yours this weekend started a fire.”
Ally handed her mom a glass of red wine before sitting on the bed, legs stretched out.
“What happened? I remember them. They were really loud and obnoxious. They kept asking if they could use the pool.”
Ally took a sip of wine, the liquid sloshing in the glass.
“I told them no, that it wasn’t my house. I thought that was the end of it.”
Her mom kicked off her shoes and climbed on the other bed.
“The kids were drinking, and one of them had the bright idea to go for a swim in the pool, anyway.”
Uh oh. Ally recognized that look of disgust. She clenched the wine glass tighter, making waves in the velvety liquid.
“The kids all blamed each other. Apparently one of them set fire to a towel and things got out of control.”
Her mom exhaled.
“As dry as it’s been, a spark hit the grass, and that was that. They burned down the house and the pool house where you were staying. Everything is gone.”
The wine tipped over.
“It’s okay, I’ll take care of it.” Her mom jumped up to get a towel to clean up the wine before it stained.
Ally set the empty glass on the nightstand, her hand shaking.
“They burned down the house? I have to call the owners and tell them. This is horrible. How could they be so irresponsible?”
“Some kids think they’re entitled to do whatever they want. The police will send a copy of the report to the owners.”
“I’m going to call and leave a message, see if there’s anything I can do.”
She looked at her mom, her eyes full of unshed tears.
“I’m glad no one was hurt. And I’m really glad the fire didn’t spread to your house. But I’m furious too.”
“We can replace your things.” Her mom finished blotting the quilt on the bed. She’d gotten the wine out.
Ally wiped her eyes. “Looks like I’m homeless. Can I move back in?”
“Of course. I love having you here.”
Her mom hugged her close, smelling of wine, leaves, and the rose perfume she wore.
It was a beautiful fall day. The lake sparkled, the leaves on the trees were a jewel box of colors as Tara and Will walked around the lake, enjoying the smell of fall in the air.
“Did Ally lose her paintings?”
Will picked up a limb that had fallen from a tree and moved it off the path. He’d dressed in dark jeans and a gray sweater that brought out the flecks of gray in his eyes.
“No, thank goodness. She left everything at Mrs. Collier’s as they’re in the middle of what Ally’s calling her Orchard Series.”
Tara shuddered, thinking about the house burning down. Why didn’t parents make kids take responsibility for their actions anymore? She thought she was getting old, like the old lady who yelled at the kids to keep off her lawn.
A small laugh escaped.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking about getting older.”
He arched a brow. “I’m getting older, you still look like you’re in your twenties.”
“Flatterer.”
A pretty veined rock caught her eye. Tara held it up to the sun, admiring the colors. There was an antique Mason Jar on her desk that she kept pretty stones she found around the lake. This would make a nice addition to her collection.
“The property management company is covering the loss of the house and Ally’s things. Apparently the families are quite wealthy, coming every year to the lake to vacation, so the management company didn’t want to lose the business by making the parents pay.”
He blinked. “No one wants to step up and take responsibility or be held accountable for their actions anymore.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
She linked her arm through his.
“Thank goodness Ally wasn’t in the house. If I would have lost her…”
“You didn’t. Luckily, it was just stuff. Things can be replaced.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I was so worried the fire would spread to your place.”
The waterfall was loud as they walked closer to the water. Will said there were all kinds of pretty rocks there, that maybe she would find one to add to her collection.
He raised his voice. “Is your friend doing better?”
Tara sighed, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She was warm in her jeans and red sweater, thankful she hadn’t worn a jacket.
“Patty’s husband finally got her to agree to go to the doctor. Hopefully, we’ll know something soon.”
A splash had them both looking to the center of the lake in time to see a golden eagle fly off with a fish. Their numbers were slowly increasing. It was a rare sighting, one that seemed to tell Tara that things would be okay, and if they weren’t, she’d be there for her friend however she needed her.
“Evan and Emily are going through a rough patch. Crime rates have spiked, and she hasn’t been the same since the shooting at the grocery store.”
Will nodded. “Evan is very focused on his career. I could see how Emily might be feeling neglected.”
He grinned and nudged her with his shoulder.
“I hear pregnant women can be emotional, so maybe that’s part of it.”
Knowing he was teasing, Tara laughed.
“She’s been a rollercoaster of emotions lately. As much as I loved seeing them, I almost wish they hadn’t come.”
“Why not?”
Will held a branch out of the way so it wouldn’t hit her. They were almost to the waterfall and had to raise their voices to hear each other.
“Emily loved it here so much she wants to move here.”
Tara bit her lip, thinking about the hope on her daughter-in-law’s face when Christina told her there were homes for sale on the lake.
“I’d love to have them here, watch my granddaughter grow up. But I don’t think Evan would be happy in such a small town. He thrives in a fast-paced corporate environment.”
“Sometimes what we want, isn’t what we need.”
Will took her hand in his to help her over the rocks. They were almost there.
As they came around the bend, there was the waterfall.
“Wow.”
“I know, right?” Will handed her a plastic poncho. They put them on so they wouldn’t get soaked.
“The little stones I thought you might like are right at the edge of the water,” he yelled.
He helped her onto the flat rocks where the water evened out from the falls into a clear pool. Tara could see small fish darting in and out of the rocks and playing in the bubbles. She inhaled the clean smell of the water and the small plants that grew around the falls.
“It’s breathtaking.”
She was glad she’d put on her Hunter boots so she wouldn’t slip as she squatted down to search for stones.
There was a noticeable difference in the temperature right by the water. She was glad the sun was shining to keep her warm.
Will sat on a flat rock, legs out in front of him as he watched her, content to let her do her thing.
Several stones caught her eye, but none called to her. She was about ready to tell Will they could go when the sun hit the water directly in front of her, making something sparkle.
Sleeves pushed up, T
ara gasped as she thrust her arm into the icy water. Where was it? She felt around, then her fingers closed around two stones. When she sat back on her heels and held them up, she smiled. One she put back, the other was going in her jar. It was the size of a large strawberry, gray with black, white, and silver veins running through it. As she held it up to the sun, it sparkled and shimmered.
“I see you found one.” Will helped her back to the path.
They walked in silence until the roar of the waterfall faded enough they could talk without shouting.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing? Inviting Ryan here?”
She’d second guessed herself ever since she’d told Christina to bring him.
“I think you’re a good person. If anyone can help him heal, you can.” He stroked her hand with his thumb, their fingers intertwined.
“Does it still hurt? What Harry did?”
She squeezed his hand. “Not anymore. There comes a time when the betrayals are stacked so high, they simply tumble down and shatter. What’s done is done. I won’t forgive Harry for not taking responsibility for the children he’s fathered.”
She squared her shoulders.
“I won’t punish Ryan for something he had no control over. It isn’t his fault Harry is emotionally stunted. Ryan’s welcome here. To lose his mother in the grocery store shooting had to leave deep wounds. He’s the kid’s half-brother. I’ll do whatever I can to ease his pain.”
Will stopped, his arm around her as they looked out over the lake to the waterfall.
“He won’t want to leave. Blueberry Hill weaves a spell for those who listen.”
He pulled her close. “I like you like having everyone around. I like being around everyone.”
He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
“I’m happy, Tara.”
She looked up at him, her heart full.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about us since Labor Day weekend, but things kept coming up.”
The world was a better place with him around.
“I want to be with you. Take life as it comes, no rush.”
“Slow and easy,” he agreed.
Will leaned down and gently kissed her, letting her know he was content to let their lives unfold together. There was no rush, they had a lifetime ahead of them.
I hope you enjoyed Blueberry Hill! The next book in the series, The Apple Orchard, is about the kids and the big changes impacting their lives. Order your copy today.
Also by Cynthia Luhrs
Blueberry Hill
Blueberry Hill
The Apple Orchard
* * *
Knights Through Time Romances
Falling Through Time
The Knight Before Christmas
A Moonlit Knight
Time After Time
Beyond Time
My One and Only Knight
Last Knight
First Knight
Forever Knight
Darkest Knight
Lonely is the Knight
Knight Moves
A Knight to Remember
* * *
Thrillers
When She Was Good
When She Was Bad
There Was A Little Girl
* * *
Paranormal Romances
Embraced by Shadow
Born in Shadow
Reborn in Shadow
Iced in Shadow
Desired by Shadow
Lost in Shadow
About the Author
Cynthia Luhrs spends her time out on the deck, looking into the woods and imagining what if. Her three rescued tiger cats like to disrupt her writing by sitting on the keyboard and demanding to be let in and out hundreds of times a day. She is overly fond of sparkly flip flops, books, and tea.
She writes contemporary romance in the Blueberry Hill series, medieval time travel in the Knights Through Time series, steamy paranormal romance in the Shadow Walkers series, and heart-pounding thrillers in the There Was A Little Girl trilogy.
Cynthia also writes clean small town romance under the name Cynthia Swan.
Keep up with her on her website
Did you love Blueberry Hill? Then you should read The Apple Orchard by Cynthia Luhrs!
Escape to the small mountain town of Blueberry Hill.
In the first book Tara found out her husband had lost all their money and had cheated on her with a woman the same age as her daughter. Married right after college and with no employable skills, Tara found herself adrift. After settling into the cottage she inherited from a distant aunt, Tara met Will, a man from her past. They're getting to know each other all over again. This time she's taking things slow.
But when Evan loses his job, the one his boss assured him was secure, he and Emily have a baby on the way and have to make some hard choices.
Her daughter Ally finally ended a toxic relationship and decided to move to Blueberry Hill to be close to her mom, and to start over yet again. When a new neighbor moves in, Ally is the only one in town who doesn't recognize the major league baseball star.
Then there's Christina, the youngest daughter. Things have been tense with her siblings and mom since she sided with her dad. But when she lands a new job and is suddenly secretive and busy on the weekends, everyone wonders if there's someone new in her life? And if so, why isn't she telling them who it is?
Things are going well until there are a series of break-ins around town. And then Tara's ex-husband, youngest daughter, and Ryan show up, and suddenly everyone in town is talking.