Cold Heart

by Sheila Dryden

  He wrote her name at the top of the page in capital letters. DIANA LYNN MONROE He looked at that for a few minutes. Then he wrote her birthday and the date of her death. Again he did the math. She was only sixty-three, not nearly long enough to live, especially for someone with so much giving still left in her.

  That was the sum total of his mother’s life really. It had been all about giving. He wrote that down. She had given to her neighbours, never letting anyone go hungry if they had fallen on hard times. She worked at the homeless shelter once a week and more after she retired from her job at the doctor’s office. She collected clothes for the needy and over the years she had collected more than a few stray dogs and cats which is where Carter supposed he got that instinct. She’d even collected a few stray kids as well, taking in foster kids, some of whom Carter had spoken with today, just to let them know that the end had finally come. They’d be there tomorrow, just as surely as she’d been there for them. It had been a testament to her giving that her last words, her last thoughts had been instructions about taking bread to someone who needed it.

  That thought brought the tears that he knew needed to come. Carter let them. It was better now than tomorrow when there would be so many others that would need to be comforted. He sat for a little while longer and he was just about to get up when he saw the Sherriff’s car driving into the yard. He wiped his tears away with his sleeve and went out on the porch.

  “Afternoon, Sherriff,” he said.

  “Afternoon Carter,” the Sherriff said. “I was planning to come by tomorrow and offer my condolences on the loss of your mother and then Patsy radioed me and said you were looking to talk to me, so I decided to come by now. She was a hell of a woman, Diana was and she didn’t deserve what life threw at her after all the good she did.”

  “I know. Life has a way of reminding us just how unfair it can be sometimes,” Carter said.

  “So, you wanted to talk to me.”

  “Lexi Thomas,” Carter said. “Your cousin has been threatening her and I am worried. She doesn’t want to sell her property to him and she has made that clear to him but he just doesn’t let up.”

  “Threatening is a harsh word Carter. Just what has he been doing?” the Sherriff asked.

  “Well, for starters, I think it was his hired help that burned down the barn when Lexi moved in. They’ve left threatening messages on the mirror in her bathroom, made crank calls to her in the middle of the night,” Carter said. “And before you say anything, no we have no proof because they are clever sons of bitches and they know how to intimidate.”

  “Well those are some big accusations you’re slinging Carter,” the Sherriff said. “Just why do you think my cousin wants the Thomas land so bad?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but I think it has something to do with water.”

  “Really? Well last I looked, there were no lakes or streams or rivers or anything running through that land,” the Sherriff said.

  “Yeah and I’ve been giving that a lot of thought. What about artesian water? It’s a big deal in this area and maybe there is a whole lot of it under that land.”

  “Interesting,” the Sherriff said. “And how would my cousin know about this artesian water if Max didn’t know?” he said.

  “That’s just it, we don’t know if Max knew about the water or not. I just know that Montgomery was bugging the hell out of Max to sell and Max wasn’t selling,” Carter said.

  “You aren’t suggesting that they killed Max?”

  “It has crossed my mind. If he knew that Lexi was the one going to inherit he probably thought she’d just sell the property. Who would think this young woman was going to come up here from the city and take over where Max left off so many years ago,” Carter said.

  “A valid point,” the Sherriff said. “A man would need to be pretty desperate to cross that line though.”

  “Look, I did what I could. I followed her loser ex-boyfriend in San Francisco just to make sure it wasn’t him making the calls trying to scare her into coming back. I’m pretty sure he’s moved on to his next patsy. I can’t look into Montgomery or his winery business, but you can. Maybe your cousin has financial problems or water problems. I don’t know but you can at least do some snooping, can’t you? Carter said.

  “I’ll look into it,” the Sherriff said.

  He got in the police cruiser and drove off down the driveway. Carter wasn’t sure whether this had been a good idea or not. He couldn’t really read the man, though he hadn’t defended his cousin so maybe, just maybe, he could be impartial which of course was what one would expect him to be. Carter went back to the desk in the living room and the piece of paper that demanded his attention. He wrote a few more lines and then he was satisfied. The woman sounded like a God damn saint. Well she was, he thought. He missed her, had been missing her for a long time.

  22

  Lexi approached the service desk in the bank. A young woman perhaps in her early twenties was standing at the counter, writing something in a book. She looked up as Lexi approached.

  “May I help you?” she asked.

  “Yes. I inherited my uncle’s estate and I don’t have the key to his safety deposit box but I’d like to get access to it, Lexi said. “Can you show me what kind of key I am looking for and I will try to find it among his possessions.

  “The key looks like this,” the young woman opened a drawer and pulled out a key that looked like most keys just a little thinner. “We will need some identification and a copy of the will or verification that you are the beneficiary and a copy of the death certificate when you come back with the key.”

  “I believe everything you need is in the envelope,” Lexi said.

  The young woman took the envelope, took the paperwork out and looked at everything.

  “It all seems to be in order,” she said. “Just bring this all back with the key and your identification.”

  Lexi left the bank and went directly to her SUV. She was disappointed that she would have to wait until she found the key. She couldn’t imagine where it was. She had already been through his office and found nothing there. Maybe it was in the bedroom somewhere. She drove directly to Carter’s and when she got there, hurried to the front door and he opened the door just as she was about to knock.

  “Slow down,” he said, smiling.

  “Hi,” she said smiling.

  “Hi yourself,” he said. “Did you get into his box?”

  “No, I have to find the key, which might be hard now that I think about it because I have already been through his office and I didn’t find it there.”

  “Well I’ve been thinking and I think I know why Montgomery wants the land,” he said.

  Lexi just stared at him.

  “Artesian water,” he said. “Like an artesian aquifer.”

  “Really?” Lexi said. “So it is underground?”

  “Yes,” Carter said.

  “So how would anyone know about it?” she asked. “How did you know?”

  “I’m guessing, it just sort of came to me earlier.” he said.

  “I’m wondering if Max could have had a geological survey done that would show it. There must be some paperwork somewhere if he did,” Carter said.

  “I guess I’d better get busy and go through the rest of his stuff. It’s possible I missed that when I went through all the office paperwork but now that I know what I am looking for I might find something like that. I definitely want to find the key to that box,” she said.

  “That would be good,” Carter said.

  “Yes it would,” Lexi said. Then, looking more closely at Carter she said. “You look beat.”

  “Yeah, kind of a rough day,” he said nodding his head.

  She moved closer then and put her arms around him and hugged him. He in turn wrapped his arms around her. When she pulled back, she looked up at him.

  “Carter I’m going to go home now and check on Tucker, then I’m going to think about a nice dinner and I want you to come over
and eat that nice dinner with me.”

  “That sounds ... nice,” he said rubbing his hands up and down her arms and grinning at her. “Are you going to look for the key?”

  “Not right now,” she said. “I am going to cook you dinner and after that ... well I don’t know what we’ll do.”

  Carter smiled.

  “See you soon,” she said and headed back to her SUV.

  The locksmith was just leaving when Lexi pulled up. Tucker rushed down off the porch to greet her. The landscaping crew was still at work. There were men and equipment scattered around the place and Lexi was pleased.

  “Good timing,” said the locksmith. He passed her a large envelope. “They are all labeled. There is a couple of each. If you want more bring them into the shop and we can do it for you. I’ll send the bill.”

  “Great, thanks again,” Lexi said.

  He got into his truck and pulled out. Lexi looked around and was pleased by the progress she saw. She hurried inside pulling the front door key out of the envelope to open the door. She went directly to the office and put the envelope down. She would sort all of that out later. She put the front door key on her key chain for now and went to the kitchen to see what she had for dinner. There were a couple of nice thick pork chops in the freezer so she got them out and put them in the microwave on defrost. Then she checked her supply of vegetables and found she had enough of what she needed. Good, she didn’t need to go to the store.

  Lexi hurried upstairs and took a shower and fussed with her hair and put a little make-up on. She changed into some Capri’s and a little tank top. It was a really warm day but she took a sweater downstairs in case they went for a walk later. Or maybe they’d be too busy for that she thought and smiled.

  Lexi set the table and then got started on dinner. She chilled a bottle of white wine and she began making a stuffing for the pork chops. She split them almost in half and divided the stuffing between the two. She made a salad and some dressing and she prepped some vegetables. For dessert she sliced a few different fruits added some liqueur and put them back in the fridge. She would serve it over some vanilla ice cream. Satisfied that everything was set to go she went out to the living room.

  She had some time maybe she should have a look at Uncle Max’s desk again. She went into the office and looked through each of the drawers again to see if she had missed a key. She didn’t find anything. She looked at one of the pictures of Max. She heard the rap-rap-rap of the door knocker. As she went out through the great room to answer the door she thought about what a wonderful man Max had been. There was another wonderful man on the other side of the door and who knew what magic they might make together tonight.

  23

  “You look really tired Carter,” she said as she hugged him and then took his arm and led him in.

  “I guess I am,” he said. “I had to write a little eulogy of sorts today and it took a lot out of me.”

  “I’m not surprised. It makes it all too real when you start doing that,” she said.

  “Well you would know, wouldn’t you?” Carter said.

  “Yes and no. I didn’t actually speak at my mother and father’s funeral. There were plenty of others to do that. It was held in a funeral home so there was an official that took charge of everything and several people got up to speak. I just remember feeling so drained and I suppose mostly, I was still in shock.”

  “I guess for me it’s hard to believe it’s finally over, Carter said. “I’m not sure which is worse, the sudden death or the long drawn out illness. At least with the latter you are more prepared.”

  “Maybe, I’m not so sure,” she said. “Carter would you like a drink?” Lexi said.

  “A drink of that scotch would be nice,” he said.

  “Okay, I’ll be right back,” she said.

  She came back with a scotch for him and a wine for herself. She plopped down on the sofa next to him.

  “Did you get all your new keys?” he asked.

  “Yes and that reminds me,” she said and got up and went into the office and came back with a key which she handed to Carter.

  “In case of emergency, I think you should have one. This one fits the front door. I have two for each lock and I will need more of some of them but that can wait.”

  “Thank you,” he said and slipped the key into his pocket. “It looks like lots of progress is being made outside as well.”

  “Yes it is, I’m very pleased and I like having all those burly men around. It makes me feel safer,” Lexi said. “I had a scare last night. Tucker started barking about two am and I have no idea what it was, if anything. I didn’t leave my room. I had the door locked and a chair wedged under it as well and I wasn’t budging. I even let Tucker sleep on the bed with me after that for the rest of the night.”

  “Geez, they just don’t quit, do they? Probably our friend Mitch,” Carter said.

  “Or nothing,” she said. Or it could have been an animal or something. He didn’t keep it up for very long.”

  “Well, I talked to the Sherriff today,” he said. “He said he would do some investigating.”

  “And you believe him?” Lexi asked.

  “Yes, I think I do,” he said. “He didn’t jump to Montgomery’s defence anyway.”

  “Well I suppose that is something anyway,” she said. “I need to go and put our dinner in the oven, be right back,” she said.

  “Bring that bottle out with you, would you?” Carter said.

  “Okay,” she said.

  Lexi put her stuffed chops in the oven and turned on the vegetables then she went back into the great room bringing the bottle of scotch and poured Carter another drink.

  “I must say it makes me feel better now that all the locks are changed,” Carter said.

  “Me too,” she said. “I will definitely sleep better.”

  “Well I know something that will make you sleep better,” Carter said taking her chin with his hand and kissing her.

  He tasted of scotch and smelled of soap and Lexi put her hand up to touch that irresistible hair.

  “Lexi I know we said we were taking it slow,” he said as he pulled back. “But maybe we’re going a little too slow.”

  Lexi tried to get her breath so she could speak. He made her feel weak and giddy.

  “Maybe,” she said.

  He kissed her again and then the beeping of the oven interrupted.

  “Damn,” he said. “I guess we’re going to have to eat first.”

  “Yes I suppose so,” she laughed. “I’d better go and turn that off and I should probably feed Tucker.”

  Lexi got up and tried to act normally as she walked to the kitchen knowing he was undressing her in his mind as she walked. She called to Tucker to come and Carter poured himself yet another scotch. He was going to be feeling no pain she thought but hell he’d had a rough week. Lexi fed Tucker and then finished up all the dinner preparations and brought their plates to the table.

  “Hungry?” she said.

  “Starved,” he replied and he got up and walked to the table. He swayed a little and she thought he was maybe a little tipsy.

  “This is really nice Lexi,” he said, “You’re really nice too.”

  Okay he was definitely tipsy she thought.

  “Well thank you Carter,” she replied smiling.

  “Have I ever told you that I just love those dimples?” his words slurred a little now.

  “No. I believe you did refer to me as skinny little dimpled girl but I don’t think you mentioned love.”

  “Well I just love those dimples,” he said. “And you.”

  Then he seemed suddenly famished and began diving into his food. Lexi just stared in amusement. Had he just told her he loved her? Well yes, but no. He was drunk. Mr. ‘In-Control’ was suddenly out of control. It was kind of cute and it was totally understandable. He’d been through a couple of years of dealing with dying parents and suddenly it was all over. He could get on with the rest of his life and that was a g
reat thought but with it came enormous loss. He was entitled to get a little crazy

  “This is really delicious,” Carter said. “Not only are you a great looking woman but you are one hell of a cook.”

  “Well thank you Carter,” she said. “I think you are pretty cute too.”

  Carter sat back. He was finished. Lexi had barely touched hers but that was okay.

  “Carter why don’t you go and get comfy on the sofa and I will clear things away and get dessert,” Lexi said.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he said.

  Lexi watched him weave towards the sofa and almost rushed to help him at one point but she wanted to preserve his dignity if she could. He made it, thankfully and sank down on the cushions. She took the dishes into the kitchen and then peeked out the kitchen door just to check and sure enough he was out like a light. So much for their romantic evening, it would have to wait. She wondered for a moment if there were horses to deal with but she was pretty sure he would have dealt with that before he came over. Because, she was just as sure, he had had sleeping over on his mind. He would be sleeping over all right but sleeping was all that was going to happen.

  It was alright she told herself hugging her arms to herself. He had said he loved her. It wasn’t the most romantic delivery but he’d said it and from everything she had heard a drunk speaks the truth.

  Lexi couldn’t help feeling elated. Who knows how long he might have kept her in the dark, if not for this little drunken interlude. She would let him sleep, he needed it. He had a difficult day to face tomorrow and while she would do everything she could to help, he still had to get through it, in order to move on. She knew that all too well. Lexi went out to the living room and took his boots off and struggled to move him so he was lying on the sofa. It was challenging to get this six foot two or three man moved but she did it. He moaned a couple of times and even said her name once.