“No, I haven’t sold it. It’s quite safe.”
She ran her hand down his rough cheek. “Wherever you’ve been you haven’t shaved and she didn’t take care of your coat.”
“She?”
“You’re not going to tell me you weren’t with some woman who was willing to hide you? I know you, Quinn.”
He shrugged and grinned. “You know me too well.” Let her supply the answers she wanted. It was close to the truth anyway. “But listen to me—”
“Are you hungry? I’ll make some tea—” She grasped the arms of the chair to push herself up.
He held onto her arms and gave her a tiny shake. “Sit and listen. I’m not hungry or thirsty.” Except for Ellie’s sweet mouth and her lovely body. He closed his eyes for a moment. Recovered, he looked his sister in the eye and put on a stern expression.
“While I was gone I found out something about the Cariboo Gold Company. It doesn’t matter how I did it,” he said quickly as she opened her mouth to speak. “Just believe me that we have to get the money out of there. Did you pay it all?”
She nodded, her eyes wide, fixed on his face. “What is it, Quinn? You’re frightening me.”
“It’s all right,” he said calmly. “I received some advice that made me change my mind, that’s all. It’s too risky.”
“But, you said—”
“I know what I said. I was wrong. I’ll go tomorrow and get it all back.”
Margaret placed a hand at her throat. “Do you think you can?”
“I’ll have a bloody good try. Now, maybe I would like some tea after all.”
Elaine was outside in the paddock when Shelly and Marnie arrived at nine and jumped off their bicycles, staring around at the blackened ruin of the stable.
“Oh my God! What happened here?” Shelly gasped.
“There was a fire yesterday afternoon. We kept the horses outside overnight.”
“Are they okay?”
“They’re fine. Just a bad fright. Only two of them were inside when it happened.”
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“How did it happen?”
Elaine sighed. “I wish I knew. There’ll be an investigation.”
Marnie looked around. “Where’s your friend? Did he leave already?”
“He was called away very early.”
Shelly looked at her sympathetically. “That sucks. He was a cool guy.”
“Especially in those jeans.” Marnie rolled her eyes and Shelly nudged her with an elbow in the ribs. “He did a lot of work. He really liked the horses.”
“Well, there isn’t anything to muck out today, so if you want to leave—”
“No, no!” They propped their bikes against a railing and fished out carrots and apples from the saddlebags. They came to the paddock rail where the horses were already waiting for their treats. “Poor babies,” Marnie and Shelly crooned in chorus, each rubbing a pair of muzzles.
“Thanks for staying. I have a few things to do in town. If anyone comes by, tell them I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“Sure thing, Mrs. Christie.”
Elaine started the pickup, debating what to do first. She had to find somewhere safe for the horses. She might be able to keep them outside for one more night, but they would need better shelter than the open sheds in each paddock. Especially if there was a break in the good weather. Also, the insurance claim had to be filed.
What was Quinn doing? Was he already planning to return to her? How would he feel once he was back in his own world?
Her desire had been enough to pull him through the first time, when he had been unaware of the power of the mirror. Now he knew what could happen would he resist?
And would his resistance cancel her own influence?
She shook her head, scolding herself mentally for her lack of faith in him. He’d left his diamond pin, hadn’t he? And his note promising to return? The pin was safely tucked away in her secret hiding place and his words were stored in her heart.
She glanced toward the helpers. They had the brushes and combs set out on a bench and were ready to start the grooming. The horses would be fine for a few hours. The insurance office first, then. At least she would get things started.
The bank and the insurance office were in the same block with plenty of parking still free. On a warm summer morning the streets were quiet. Most residents would be completing the chores around their property and vacationers would be down by the lake.
She pulled in and caught sight of Jane gesticulating from the doorway to the bank.
She waved back and Jane opened the door, calling out, “I won’t be able to meet you for coffee until ten.”
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“But—” Did they have an appointment she’d forgotten in the sensual haze of Quinn’s presence and the drama of the fire?
“See you then.” Abruptly Jane turned away and the door swung closed. Elaine shrugged. She’d find out soon enough what it was all about.
Her business in the insurance office was brief. They had already been notified of the fire, but nothing could be done until the inspector’s report was submitted.
“When will that be?”
The sleek young man behind the desk looked bored. “Couldn’t say exactly.”
Elaine felt her temper rise. “Look, I have horses to care for. I need some help to feed and stable them.”
“You’ll have to talk to my boss.”
“I’ll do it right now.”
“He’s out. Should be back around eleven.”
“Thank you. I’ll be here.”
Outside the office, Elaine hesitated on the pavement in the warm sun. She glanced at her watch. Nine forty-five. Her stomach churned and a headache had started behind her eyes, a small, niggling pain that was barely there, yet could not be denied. She had swallowed just a glass of juice before she left, unable to face anything more solid. For weeks she’d been living on sandwiches and the salad that was plentiful at this time of year.
Her mind skittered between thinking about the horses and thinking about Quinn.
Neither brought her peace of mind. As she stood gathering her thoughts a horse trailer trundled along the street, its passage reflected in the plate glass windows of the bank.
It made her think of how she was to move the horses and, more important, where she would move them to.
The coffee shop served giant-size cinnamon buns and she decided to give herself a sticky treat while she waited for Jane or the insurance agent, whichever came first. She settled at a table and ordered a pot of coffee and two cups. The bun overlapped the small plate and she began to unwind it, alternately eating the currants and licking the icing from her fingers.
“You look as if you’re enjoying that.”
She looked up at Jane. Her friend pulled out the other chair and immediately poured coffee into the empty earthenware mug. “Thanks for ordering the coffee,” she said, adding cream and sugar. “I can’t stay long.” She sipped, made a face and stirred in more cream.
“So what’s it about? Why the coffee date?”
Jane cupped her hands around her mug and leaned forward. “I heard about the fire,” she said. “Are you ok?”
Elaine nodded. “I’m fine. So are the horses.”
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Jane let out a sigh. “Thank God for that.” She lowered her voice even more. “I knew it would happen.”
“You what?”
“Well, with hindsight I could see it. Last week I was looking for a file that had been put in the wrong drawer and I was outside Newman’s office. There was a Mr. Batt in with him.”
Elaine’s heart rate increased. “I met him.”
“I couldn’t help catching what they were saying. I wasn’t interested in listening, I was more concerned with the loan file that had some important information, but I heard your name…” Jane paused to sip some more coffee. “I don’t have any proof of course,
but I heard ‘next week, final offer’ and then Batt said, ‘I hope Ms. Christie manages to keep all her assets. It would be too bad if all her hopes and dreams went up in smoke’.
Then he looked up and saw me there and stopped talking. I found my file and moved away. What do you think? Too much of a coincidence?”
The blood drained from Elaine’s head and she spoke through stiff lips. “I think he set fire to my barn and nearly killed two of my horses, that’s what I think. He said something to me about fire sale prices. I thought it was a figure of speech.”
Jane nodded and took a piece of Elaine’s cinnamon bun. “So did I. He’s either very stupid or very confident he can get away with it.” She chewed her piece of bun.
“Newsome’s in on it.”
“Now, hey, wait a minute. That’s stretching it, isn’t it?”
Jane swallowed. “God, those buns are good. Are you going to eat the rest?”
Elaine’s stomach churned at the thought. She shook her head and pushed the plate across the table. “Help yourself.”
Jane tore off another piece. “The loans officer is like a father confessor. I know lots of secrets. Which of course I wouldn’t tell,” she hastened to add. “Just let me say that Newsome has been buying up land and houses like crazy.”
“Why?”
Jane licked the last of the icing from her fingers. “Something about a resort development. Speculation in every sense of the word. He wouldn’t be the first one to get greedy.”
Elaine tried to take it in. The bank manager working with unscrupulous land developers? After the events of the last few days everything was possible.
“What will you do with the horses?” Jane asked.
Elaine forced herself to focus on practical details. “I can’t keep them with no stable or tack. And I can’t afford to pay boarding fees for them. I’ll contact the owners when I go home. But Star—” She broke off and shook her head, tears close to the surface.
Jane reached out and touched her hand. “Go see old Mr. Burchitt,” she said. “You know, lives up on Storm Ridge. He comes in the bank every week whether he needs to 68
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or not. Always wants to chat. I think he’s lonely. He used to keep horses until it got too much for him and the stable’s still there. No harm in asking if he’ll board Star for you.”
No harm at all. “I think I remember Gramps mentioning him. They were friends once. Thanks, Jane. I’ll do that.”
Jane swallowed the last of her coffee and glanced at her watch. “Got to run, honey chile. You take care. Watch your back. I mean it.”
“Will do.”
Jane stood and slung her purse on her shoulder. “Thanks for the coffee and the bun.
By the way, did I hear you’d found a man to help out around the place?”
Small towns. Nothing stayed secret for long. Elaine felt the warm blood rush to her cheeks. “Oh, no. Just an old friend visiting for a couple of days. He left this morning.”
“Too bad, it would be good to have someone around. See you.”
Elaine followed Jane’s progress as she walked briskly down the street back to the bank. What did it all mean? She’d never been one for conspiracy theories, but Jane’s news had sent a cold shiver of fear down her back. Suddenly she longed for Quinn to be beside her, listening, his dark chocolate voice telling her what she should do.
She had to move. It was nearly eleven and the insurance agent should be back any minute. Then she would visit Mr. Burchitt and beg him to take Star. When that was done she would sit in front of the mirror and use all her willpower to bring Quinn back to her.
Quinn thumped the table and an inkwell shivered, moving closer to the edge. The man on the other side of the desk stopped it and replaced it in line with the blotter and the fresh pens.
“Mr. Lockyer, it will avail you nothing to be violent. Please sit down.” Parker Hamilton, president of the Cariboo Gold Company, gave an oily smile and waved a manicured hand to the upholstered chair.
“I have no need to sit.” Quinn straightened, using his full height. “The money was paid to you four days ago. My sister’s husband has withdrawn his consent and share certificates have not yet been issued. I wish to withdraw the funds.”
“Including your own?”
“Yes.”
Parker Hamilton pursed his lips and tapped the tips of his steepled fingers against his mouth. “Very difficult,” he said. “In an undertaking such as this, you know there is risk. And we have ongoing expenses to meet. A certain amount of each investment is used immediately—”
“Are you telling me the money has been used already? Show me your books.”
Hamilton shot him a look he couldn’t decipher and placed his hand on a leather-bound ledger on the desk. “Highly irregular,” he began.
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Quinn was beginning to understand. “I fully appreciate the difficulties in a start-up company such as this one. I did consider the risk before I invested. But my sister—”
“A little hasty? Impetuous? And an angry husband to boot?” Hamilton’s tone dripped sympathy. “I do understand.”
Quinn decided to sit. He crossed his legs and flicked dust from his boot. “You are a man of the world, Mr. Hamilton,” he said with a wink. “I see you understand how domestic problems can arise.”
Hamilton nodded, a small grin turning up the corners of his mouth under his waxed mustache.
“Indeed, indeed, Mr. Lockyer.”
“Maybe we men are more hardened to a gamble than the ladies. More worldly wise, shall we say?”
“Very true, sir. So maybe you wish to leave your investment and withdraw only your sister’s money?”
Quinn winced, but kept a bland expression. “If you could see your way to doing that, Mr. Hamilton, it would be much appreciated. I’m sure you would not want a disgruntled husband spreading talk about your company through the town.”
“But your shares would be bought with full knowledge of the risks involved?”
Quinn sighed and shifted in the chair. “Of course, Mr. Hamilton. I have every confidence that you will turn my poor sovereigns into a fortune.”
Parker Hamilton rose and extended his hand. “Call back tomorrow, Mr. Lockyer, and all will be ready for you.”
Quinn stood in turn and shook the offered hand. “If it’s all the same to you, Mr.
Hamilton, I’ll wait and take the money with me. I may be taking a trip out of town tomorrow and my sister is very anxious. Didn’t sleep a wink last night, you know.”
Hamilton made a tutting noise and shook his head. “Ah, the ladies. Emotions always near the surface. I’ll see what I can do for you.”
An hour later Quinn left the office with Margaret’s cash tucked into an inside pocket. So his own money was lost. Small matter. There was still the pin safely left with Ellie and when he passed back through the mirror—what need would he have for British pounds that would be long out of date?
Elaine left the insurance office at eleven-thirty. She’d waited until twenty after before the agent put in an appearance. He basically told her the same as his assistant.
Nothing could be done until the inspector’s report was submitted.
“When will that be?” she asked.
“Tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime, Mrs. Christie, make a list of what you need and I’ll see if I can get an advance for you. It won’t be the full amount, but it might help get you going again.” His expression was kindly. She had steeled herself to fight again and had to blink back tears at the unexpected understanding and helpfulness.
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She thanked him.
“No problem. I know how difficult it can be. You don’t want any more obstacles put in your way. Phone Gerry out in the office there,” he nodded toward his assistant,
“and give him a ballpark figure. Just the bare essentials, you understand.”
“I understand. I’l
l do it this afternoon.”
She drove out of town and took the meandering road up to Storm Ridge and Mr.
Burchitt’s property. She found the old man puttering about mending a fence.
“You must be Dan’s granddaughter,” he said wiping his hands on his baggy overalls. “Recognize the truck. I see it around town.” He stuck out his hand. “I still miss him.”
“So do I.”
He rubbed his fingers over gray stubble on his chin and looked at her carefully. He was small, but wiry, with a thatch of white hair and sharp blue eyes. “What can I do for you, young lady?”
“I have a problem,” she began.
“Then I guess you need a seat and some lemonade.” Without waiting for an answer, he turned and led the way to a shady porch by the house. Elaine had no choice but to follow.
He made her sit and wait while he disappeared indoors and emerged with two cold glasses of lemonade. He sank into a rattan chair next to her and took a sip. “Shoot,” he said.
He reminded her so much of her grandfather that she felt comfortable telling him more than she originally intended about the financial difficulties, the lack of paying customers and the fire.
He let her talk without interruption, sipping his lemonade, his eyes on her face.
From time to time he nodded.
“So I’m hoping you could help me out by boarding my horses for a while,” she finished. “If you have room and it’s not too much for you. I’ll pay you a fair rate, Mr.
Burchitt.”
He drained the last drops from his glass and set it down on a small wicker table.
“First you call me Jim,” he said. “Second, I’m glad to help out. Not enough to keep me out of mischief around here these days.” He looked out at the far block of stables. “I’ve got ten stalls and they’re in good repair. All empty of course.”
Elaine started to thank him but he held up a hand. “These are my terms,” he said.
Elaine felt her stomach lurch. Surely he wouldn’t ask more than she could afford?
“You supply the feed and I’ll not charge you for the stabling. I’ll help with the grooming and the exercising but I’ll need help if you have four horses.” He slapped his right leg. “Arthritis is okay today but sometimes it plays me up real bad.”
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