Complete opposites, but for some strange reason, Carter could see it working. Maybe because they loved each other and Castle Falls.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Carter said. “I had to stop by the pharmacy on my way over.” He scanned the lobby once again. “Did Mrs. Larsen take Bea back to school?”
Maddie shook her head. “She’s at The Happy Cow—”
“With Ellery.”
Lily Kane and Anna Leighton had joined Maddie. Formed a semi-circle around Carter, trapping him in place with their oh-so-friendly smiles.
“Mom and Gran are serving hot chocolate ice cream with peppermint whipped cream,” Anna said. “They spent weeks trying to come up with a new flavor and I told Ellery it was on the house.”
“Thanks to her, the tea was a success,” Lily added. “How long is she staying in Castle Falls?”
The same question that had been buzzing around inside of Carter’s head like a pesky mosquito for days.
“I have no idea.” He inched toward the door.
The semi-circle inched with him.
“Ellery and Bea seemed to have bonded...” A question dangled at the end of Lily’s sentence.
A question Carter wasn’t about to answer. Sunni Mason had earned a reputation in town as a matchmaker and it wouldn’t surprise him a bit if she’d recruited more members.
“Bea gets along with everyone,” he said evenly, blocking out the image of Ellery sitting on the bed next to his daughter. Taking over the nightly routine with the same breezy confidence in which she’d taken over the kitchen.
Nope. He wasn’t going to think about the kitchen. Or how adorable Ellery had looked when she’d accused him of stealing.
“Ellery mentioned that Karen wasn’t feeling well this weekend,” Lily said. “Is she doing better today?”
Carter frowned. He wasn’t sure he wanted to answer that one, either. He preferred to keep his personal and professional life separate, but for reasons he couldn’t comprehend, the Kane brothers and their significant others cheerfully ignored the line between the two. And his frowns.
“Not recovering as fast as she’d like,” Carter admitted. “She takes on a lot this time of year.”
Like fostering horses. And church-sponsored events.
His hand closed around the doorknob.
“God always knows what we need,” Anna said softly. “It’s a blessing Ellery has been there to help out.”
A blessing for Carter’s mom. And even for Bea.
But Carter?
He didn’t want to need anyone again.
Chapter Fourteen
Judging from the number of people crowded inside The Happy Cow when Ellery and Bea arrived, half the town must have marked this event on their calendars.
The whimsical decor on the outside of the building was reflected inside the ice cream parlor. Bistro-style tables and chairs in an array of pastel colors were scattered around the small dining area. A large sign behind the old-fashioned cash register encouraged customers to Keep Calm and Add Sprinkles.
Ellery ushered Bea to a table for two in the corner and while Bea tunneled through layers of hot fudge and peppermint whipped cream, tried to hide her growing concern.
Carter still hadn’t shown up.
“How is everything?” A middle-aged woman with auburn hair paused beside the table.
“Yummy!” Bea said at once.
The woman laughed. “That’s what I like to hear.” She turned her attention to Ellery. “When you’re finished, feel free to go upstairs and take a look around. There are some beautiful pieces if you’re looking for Christmas gifts.” She lowered her voice. “And I don’t get a commission to say that, either! If you find something you love, bring it down and I’ll ring it up for you.”
Karen had mentioned how much she liked jewelry. Maybe Ellery could find something to brighten her day after the doctor appointment.
Bea finished her ice cream and they climbed a wooden staircase leading to the second floor.
Ellery wasn’t sure what she expected to find, but the spacious room on the other side of the gauze curtains strung across the doorway rivaled the specialty boutiques Ellery had visited while traveling with her parents. Natural light poured through the wall of glass overlooking the main street.
The space was family-friendly, too. Bins filled with large wooden beads and colorful string had been set out on a low table, perfectly sized for children. Bea gravitated toward it immediately while Ellery wandered through the displays.
All the jewelry, from the delicate gold and silver chains draped like tinsel on birch branch centerpieces, to the tiny charms that filled rustic wooden bowls, reflected God’s creation.
A photo in a rustic frame near the cash register caught Ellery’s eye. Anna Leighton, her copper-haired twins...and Liam.
Someone had written “Anna’s Inspiration” underneath the photograph, but judging from the expression on Liam’s face, the words were true for her brother, too.
Ellery’s gaze shifted to a sheaf of brochures tucked in the hand-thrown vase beside it. Even before she reached for one, before she saw a picture of a vintage canoe, she knew what business they were advertising.
Castle Falls Outfitters.
Ellery studied the photos on the front page with the intensity of someone who’d found a treasure map, searching for clues that would tell her more about her brothers.
The brochure looked professional, the company logo superimposed over the hand-drawn sketch of an oak tree, its branches stretching from border to border. The base of the trunk separated into roots anchored in the riverbank.
Ellery was about to turn the page when the floorboards outside the studio creaked. She glanced over her shoulder but even before the curtains parted, she knew it was Carter.
She fumbled to replace the brochure and it slipped between her fingers instead. Ellery watched it sail through the air as if it were riding some invisible, mischievous current that had taken control before being deposited at Carter’s feet.
Naturally, he bent down and picked it up. “Interested in canoeing?”
Ellery suppressed a groan. She was surrounded by beautiful, hand-crafted jewelry, and Carter had caught her reading a travel brochure.
“It mentioned gift certificates,” Ellery stammered. She glanced at Bea but the little girl who usually greeted her daddy with an exuberant hug remained at the table, engrossed in threading wooden beads onto a length of purple string. “Have you ever gone on one of their excursions?”
“No.” Carter closed the distance between them in three strides and handed her the brochure. The crisp scent of snow and some woodsy masculine soap stirred the air. “But they haven’t been offering those for very long.”
Ellery tried to hide her confusion. “I thought you said that Brendan and his brothers took over the business when they were teenagers.”
“Building canoes, yes,” Carter said. “Rich and Sunni Mason lived here for years and had a strong connection with Castle Falls. They held special events on the river and encouraged church groups and families to take advantage of their property. All that changed after Rich died.
“I’m not sure who made the decision, but the next summer, they shut down the face-to-face contact with customers and the community to expand their business online. I wasn’t around when all that happened, but I remember Mom was disappointed she couldn’t send guests their way anymore. It was only a year or so ago they opened the doors and began to offer day trips and overnight campouts again.”
“A year,” Ellery murmured. Months before Aiden’s accident. “Do you know why?”
Carter shrugged. “I’m just speculating here, but Lily worked in advertising before she moved to Castle Falls. It could be part of a new marketing plan.”
Because the business wasn’t doing well?
The question sprang into Ellery’s mind, anot
her sign that Jameson’s warning about motives had taken root. But having met the women who’d willingly become part of her brothers’ lives, Ellery found it difficult to believe the three men hadn’t come to peace with whatever had happened in their past.
Was it wrong for her to want the same?
* * *
Ellery’s gaze dropped to the brochure again and the pensive look that skimmed across her pretty face packed more of a punch than her smiles.
If it had been June and not December, Carter would be tempted to call Aiden and schedule a trip down the river himself.
A side effect of sleep deprivation. Had to be.
“It must be challenging to own a small business here.” Ellery tucked the brochure back in the jar.
Carter couldn’t argue with that. His mom lived it every day.
“Tourism is like farming. It’s dependent on things you can’t control,” he said. “The weather. The economy. People have to be creative if they want to draw people here. With the lack of restaurants in the area, some people thought Anna should have expanded The Happy Cow instead of turning this space into a working studio for her jewelry business.”
“It’s beautiful,” Ellery said softly. “I imagine that tourists would want to purchase a souvenir when they visit the area, too.”
Carter wondered if Anna’s designs appealed to Ellery. The diamond studs in her ears probably cost more than a county deputy’s monthly take-home pay.
“Look what I made, Daddy!” Bea hopped up from the table and scampered over to them. “There’s one for Gramma and one for Miss El’ry.”
Ellery didn’t bat an eye when she was presented with Bea’s newest creation, a beaded bracelet that showcased her favorite color. Pink.
“I love it.” She slipped it over her wrist. “And I know your Gramma will love the one you made for her, too.”
Bea beamed a smile. “Can we bring her some ice cream, too?”
“No ice cream today,” Carter said. “Dr. Wallis prescribed some medicine to make her feel better, though, so it’s time for us to head home and convince her to take it.”
Bea latched on to Carter’s hand and looked up at Ellery. “Are you coming home, too?”
“Soon.” Ellery’s smile looked forced. She turned to Carter. “I think I’ll look around some more and then stop by the library to pick up the trays now that the tea is over.”
“Thank you.” Carter hadn’t thought about the trays. Another detail that would have slid through the cracks during his watch.
They parted ways at the door and Bea skipped along at Carter’s side, pointing out the window displays. One was a giant calendar, reminding Carter that Christmas was right around the corner.
He opened the back door of the SUV and helped buckle Bea into her booster before closing the door.
“Carter!” A hand clamped down on Carter’s shoulder and although he’d been out of active duty for several years now, every nerve ending in Carter’s body went on high alert.
He exhaled, turned around...slowly...and nodded at the man who’d stopped to greet him. “Pastor.”
Seth Tamblin might have earned the title, but Carter had always thought the guy didn’t really look the part. New Life Fellowship’s head shepherd preferred sweatshirts, jeans and tennis shoes over a suit and tie.
“I talked to Karen last week, but if there’s anything else she needs, please tell her to let Rebecca or me know.” The pastor grinned. “Everyone is thrilled we have an actual barn for the live nativity. Last year we had to cancel the whole thing because the temperature was too cold for man and beast.”
The live... Carter stared at him.
He’d totally forgotten Karen had agreed to host the event.
“Mom is sick,” Carter said bluntly. “I’m not sure it’s going to work out this year, either.”
Seth frowned. “I hope it’s nothing serious. Several of our senior members have been hospitalized with pneumonia recently.”
Carter took another step away from the SUV so Bea wouldn’t overhear their conversation.
“Dr. Wallis described it as a virus, but he’s concerned there might be complications if she doesn’t follow his orders.”
And Carter knew his mom would do everything she could to keep the promise she’d made to Pastor Seth and wear herself out in the process.
“We’ll keep her in our prayers,” Seth said. “And if there’s anything I can do, Carter, please give me a call.”
Carter was tempted to tell the pastor he could start looking for an alternate venue for the live nativity, but first he had to convince a certain innkeeper it was the only option.
He hopped into the driver’s seat, and Bea leaned forward as far as the safety straps would allow.
“Can we visit Sugar after we give Gramma her medicine, Daddy?”
Visiting Sugar had somehow infiltrated his day, much the way Christmas carols had taken over his favorite radio station.
Carter’s hands tightened on the steering wheel as he pulled away from the curb.
How was Bea going to react when the horse went to its new home? She talked about Sugar as if it were already a member of the family.
“I suppose.” Because really, what else could Carter say? Bea wouldn’t understand his reasons for refusing.
You don’t want Bea to be afraid to love.
Ellery’s words somehow escaped from the lockbox in Carter’s memory and went straight for the heart.
It was his job to protect Bea from harm. Physical and emotional.
Ellery wouldn’t understand. And only a person who’d never experienced a gut-wrenching loss, one that changed the landscape of your soul, would encourage you to venture into that barren land and give it another try.
“It’s starting to snow!” Bea practically levitated out of her booster seat. “That’s in my book, too, Daddy!”
Carter wasn’t sure what book she was talking about. Bea came home from the library with a backpack full every week. But right now, he’d prefer to read about snow than deal with the real stuff.
He parked behind the inn, came around to the back seat and lifted Bea down. She flitted down the walkway, head tilted toward the sky, trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue.
“Run upstairs and change out of your school clothes,” Carter called after her.
He bent down to collect the jumble of hats and mittens that mysteriously collected in the back hallway this time of year and put them away before making his way to the front desk to check for messages.
At least the number of guests tended to decline during the month of December. Carter wasn’t sure what he’d do if all the guest rooms were filled. The “bed” part of the inn he could handle. The breakfast part...not so much. Cold cereal and toast were the staples of his culinary repertoire.
“Daddy?” Bea appeared at the top of the stairs. “Gramma’s awake!” She called down in a whisper loud enough to guarantee it was true before darting away again.
Carter hiked up the stairs to the family suite with the doctor’s prescription and an apology.
“Sorry this took so long. The line at the pharmacy was practically out the door.” He set the pill down on the nightstand. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now.” Karen’s gaze shifted to something—or, more appropriately, someone—in the doorway. Her fingers fluttered in a wave. “Don’t get too close, sweetheart. I don’t want you to get sick, too.”
Bea lingered just inside the door, rocking from foot to foot. “When are you going to get up?”
“Soon.” Karen mustered a smile. “Tell me what you did today.”
Bea began to tick things off on her fingers. “I went to the lib’ary with my class and Miss Maddie’s helper read the stories this time because she had to make tea. Daddy was late so Miss El’ry took me to The Happy Cow for ice cream.”
Karen’s head rolled toward Carter, a question in her eyes.
“I was late for that, too,” he admitted.
“You’re working too hard.” Karen’s smile frayed at the edges, and Carter recognized guilt when he saw it.
“I have a great helper.” He winked at Bea. “And once we finish our chores, we’re going to take a walk down to the barn.”
Bea pressed her fingers against her mouth, threw her arm out and sent a kiss sailing across the room. “Love you, Gramma.”
Karen blew one back. “Love you, too.”
She sank against the pillow the moment Bea disappeared. Carter would have made his exit, too, but his mom held up one finger, signaling him to wait.
“Can I get you something else?”
“Information.” A spark of humor flared in Karen’s eyes. “Did you talk to Maddie? What did she say about the tea?”
Actually, the librarian and her friends had seemed more interested in talking about Ellery, but Carter wasn’t about to admit that.
“Everything went well.” Carter paused, choosing his next words with care. “I ran into Pastor Seth when I was in town. He asked if you needed anything for the live nativity.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Karen’s groan morphed into a cough that sent ripples through the comforter on the bed. “Dr. Wallis said that most people who catch this particular virus turn a corner in a few days, but even if that happens, I have guests checking in before Liam and Anna’s wedding and menus to plan. Baking for Christmas...” Her voice trailed off.
“So, the wisest thing to do is tell Seth you won’t be able to host it this year,” Carter finished.
Karen looked torn but finally dipped her chin in a weak nod. “I know you’re right, but I feel terrible, Carter. And Bea is going to be so disappointed. She was so excited when I told her there were going to be real sheep in the barn.”
No one had said anything about sheep.
“I’ll call Seth. He knows you wouldn’t cancel if there was any other option.” Carter squeezed her hand. “And don’t worry about Bea. I took the rest of the week off from work so she doesn’t have to go to a sitter.”
The Holiday Secret (Castle Falls Book 4) Page 11
