Strong but gentle arms circled her. “What’s wrong?” Steel asked.
“Nothing. Dan just sees life differently from me, and sometimes I don’t like his view.”
“I’ll send him off if you want.”
“No. Just because I don’t like his view doesn’t mean it isn’t needed. We are going to have to take out some large trees near the fence. They’ll block too much of the security cameras’ view.”
He tightened his arms around her. “But think how happier the younger trees will be for the extra sunlight.”
She relaxed and smiled. Steel’s view was much better. “They’ll be like teens when the parents leave the house.” Only these parents wouldn’t be coming back as trees. Still, they’d return as lumber. “At least it will give us sufficient wood to make really nice viewing platforms.
“Well, let’s grab Dan and have breakfast. Have you by chance planned our schedule for today?”
She smiled at him. “Yes, after breakfast we can work two more hours on our plan, then I’ll send it to Tom’s secretary who knows how to convert it back to the program. However, the conversion doesn’t always work perfectly so she’s promised to wait until we have time to review it after we buy mattresses and pick up Gram’s ashes.” She then smiled. “Good thing Dan has a vehicle because we don’t.”
“About that, I don’t think a Mercedes is going to make it up your road.”
“Not a problem,” Dan stated from the atrium door. “Lionel took the Mercedes. I have an SUV capable of off-road situations.” He approached and spoke softly. “You two really shouldn’t be hugging.”
Steel released Tess, and then to her shock, and no doubt Dan’s, he wrapped his arms around Dan. “Thanks for being such a good security guy.”
Dan pushed him off. “Do not ever do that again,” he growled.
Tess laughed and hugged him next. “Yeah, you really are a good addition to our staff.”
To her surprise, he didn’t push her off, so she let him go and stood back.
Dan glared at them. “Okay, you two have had your fun. Can we eat now? I’m starving.”
***
After a hearty breakfast, they returned to planning. By the end of two hours, they had the security portion of their plan complete with a price tag that even had Tess doubting Tom would approve it.
“Are you positive everything listed would be needed even if I wasn’t in the mix?” Steel challenged.
Dan went down the list. “You’d still need fencing and cameras. However, this whole platform idea is certainly not my suggestion, so if you want to get rid of it, then we can get rid of the scanner.”
Steel jumped on that. “Other than shooting me, is there any reason we believe viewers would be firing on the mounds?”
Tess thought of a potential problem. “Could they harm the site by shooting at the bear and bird?”
Steel groaned. “Yes.”
Tess gripped his hand. “Well, to a teen, they’d probably look like fun targets.” After mauling her bottom lip, she perked up. “But they wouldn’t do that during the day. We should have gates on them so no one could enter at night.”
Dan frowned. “Oh, we will certainly have gates because wherever Steel is working, there will be no people watching.”
Steel focused on Tess. “Maybe we shouldn’t have these platforms.”
Tess’s mouth fell open as she shook her head. “That’s just going to make curious but otherwise innocent people try to get to the site in other ways. We need the platforms. Just with gates.”
“But no scanners,” Steel insisted.
Dan sighed. “As long as whatever site you are working will be closed to the public.”
“Agreed…how much does that save us?”
Tess found the cost projections in question. “Fifty thousand in equipment, three hundred thousand in setup, and six hundred thousand in maintenance and operators…so almost a million.”
She could almost see a lightbulb go off above Steel’s head as he asked, “What’s the retail value of the lumber the cut trees will provide us?”
His question worried her. “But we are going to use the lumber to build the platforms.”
“Yes, which is under a different budget, if I recall.”
“True…but changing the cost of the various cost buckets doesn’t change the overall cost.”
“How much are the trees worth?” Steel asked again.
“I’ll have to actually determine and measure the trees we need to cut, but if we have to take out the largest, then estimate around thirty trees at ten thousand a piece.”
“Three hundred thousand dollars.” Steel smiled.
His happiness confused her. “After you add the cost of removal and return of lumber it’s almost the same cost as if we paid to have standard lumber shipped in. So the only real upside is that our lumber is better quality and will last longer.”
“And this is the only way to get these trees out?” he asked, disappointment clear in his question.
Tess gripped his hand. “Until the road is built. And even then, it will depend on where the tree is and where we need lumber. However, when it comes time to cut the trees for the road, Sam assures me the cost will drop because they can use trucks to remove the logs, which is much cheaper.”
“But there is no ‘found money’ right now.”
“Sorry, no. This is just a necessary evil so the cameras can secure the site.”
***
Steel frowned at her use of the word “evil”, then realized she meant due to the cutting of trees. He squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. “Just remember, by sacrificing the three-hundred-year-old trees, we are protecting three much older and rarer sites.”
She nodded. “And giving young trees their chance to grow. I wasn’t complaining.”
Knowing how much these trees meant to her, she was taking their demise extremely well.
She glanced at her watch. “I need to send the plan off now.”
“Did you remove—”
“The scanners? Yes. That whole project is designated as unfunded and unapproved. It won’t show up on anything Tom sees.”
“Then send it off.”
Dan smiled at her. “Man, you’re efficient.” He looked at Steel. “She’s like Superwoman.”
Steel forced a smile and nodded. He was glad Dan wasn’t trying to send her off anymore, but he really didn’t want the guy falling in love with Tess. She was his. The fact he couldn’t go there right now, perhaps ever, didn’t matter. This was the woman of his heart, and he had no intention of sharing.
He sat in the back with Tess when they climbed into the SUV.
Dan frowned as he stared back at them through the rearview mirror. “You two need to work on your ‘platonic’ cover. That means no hugging, no hand kissing or holding, and one of you should sit up front with me. Tess?”
“We’re fine,” Steel assured him, securing Tess’s hand.
She smiled and snuggled against him.
“Seatbelts,” Dan snapped.
Tess moved back to her side and buckled in.
At the store, Tess asked Dan to sit on of the selection of bunk beds. He refused to lie down on them, stating that impeded his job. Finally, she asked Steel to lie down.
He hit his head on the top bunk and, once prone, his feet hung a foot beyond the mattress.
“These beds are for kids,” Tess complained.
Dan rolled his eyes. “How many adults do you know who wish to sleep in bunks?”
“Good point,” Tess conceded. They turned their attention to single beds. She selected the first bed Steel declared tolerable. He wondered if she hated shopping in general or just furniture shopping.
“I’ll need eight of these,” she told the salesman. “And I need four of them delivered today.”
The guy hurried off, and soon the manager returned. “I’ve got four beds in the warehouse, but I’m booked on deliveries until next week.”
“Do you have somewhere in y
our parking lot that a helicopter can land? Someplace without wires or cables strung?”
“I do, but do you have a helicopter and someone who knows how to carry heavy loads? There’s not many pilots who can do this.”
“I agree, but I do know one.”
Since the man didn’t wish to take her word on the matter, she called Sam and let the manager speak to him. Steel was impressed with how well she handled people. In short order, she’d arranged for four beds to be delivered directly to her cabin by Sam.
As she rushed through the purchasing process, he wondered why she was in such a hurry. Glancing at his watch, he realized they were off schedule. Helen’s ashes should have been picked up ten minutes ago.
He appreciated Tess didn’t believe time bent to her whims.
***
When they returned to the car after retrieving Helen’s ashes, Tess handed him the urn. “Will you hold Grams while I sit in the front and get us safely home?”
Having experienced the nightmare of the road, he nodded. “Perhaps you should drive.”
Tess looked at Dan, but the man shook his head.
Steel sighed. “Well, if you change your mind later, rest assured we’ll only think the better of you. However, I must insist you take any advice Tess provides. Had I driven up this road, I would have killed us five times over.”
The first time Tess suggested he slow down, Dan ignored her.
“Dan, I’m serious. You follow her instructions or I’ll have you replaced…if we survive the drive to the cabin.”
He slowed and glared at Steel in the rearview mirror.
“You need to slow to twenty,” Tess advised.
He huffed, but he slowed to twenty and kept his eyes on the road.
“Why?” he demanded.
“Because—”
They slammed into a pothole that almost caused Steel to drop the urn.
“Shit!” Dan cursed.
“Maybe you should slow down to ten,” Tess advised.
“Or let Tess drive,” Steel suggested again. “It only gets worse.”
Dan pulled to a halt. “Seriously?”
“Grams never asked anyone to fix the road because it kept the relatives away, at least until my father demanded they risk their lives to show up and try to guilt Grams into not selling her woods to Meg.”
He looked back at Steel. “You stay where you are. I’m going to let Tess drive.”
Steel nodded, shocked the guy was going to swallow his male pride and be smart. His impression of Dan improved immensely.
Once they switched, Tess started the SUV and sadly drove like a drunken sailor. “Just getting a feel of its turning capabilities,” she explained. “It’s very good.”
“Better than my stomach,” Steel added.
“Sorry, I’ll behave now,” Tess promised and ceased the heavy swings from side to side. As she came to what looked like a mild turn, she slowed to a crawl, then slammed on the brakes.
“What’s—shit!” Dan yelled.
“It’s washed out significantly since we came up last. Good thing I’m not in the Bug.” She stopped and got out.
“Stay inside,” Dan warned Steel and then followed her.
Steel was tempted to ignore him. He wasn’t a two-year-old child. Besides, he knew a great deal about getting over washed out roads.
He gently laid the urn on the floorboard and got out.
“Do you carry anything flat and hard in the back?” Tess asked Dan.
“No.” He then noticed Steel. “Get back in the car, or we’re returning to the safe house.”
“No!” Tess and Steel declared in unison.
Tess spoke to Dan. “The bear is gone, so worse case, we hike our way home. However, I’m pretty sure the three of us can carry enough fill to make this passable.”
“It’s a five-foot ravine!” Dan yelled.
“Two feet deep, three feet wide. And we don’t have to fill it all, just where the tires will cross,” Steel said. “So stop whining and let’s locate some fill.”
Tess smiled at Steel with adoration. Taking the lead, she slid down the steep decline on the side of the road. When Steel started to follow, she ordered him to halt midway. “We’ll pass them up.”
“Great idea,” Steel said. “Dan, you wait at the top and when you get a rock, put it…in a pile on the road.”
“Why don’t I just put it in the ravine?” Dan asked.
Steel sighed. “Honestly? Because I don’t think you’ve ever done this before, and it needs to be done right.”
“Okay,” he stated without further argument.
After they collected almost thirty rocks, slightly larger than cantaloupes, Tess declared it enough. While Dan watched, Steel and Tess built two bridges between the sides.
“Wouldn’t it make sense if we brought up more rocks?” Dan asked.
“If this was the only one we’d be doing, we could. But, I expect we’ll have a few more of these to build. Besides, the rocks will wash out again come the next storm.
Dan stared at the small bridges. “You do realize if you drive off, the car is stuck.”
“Yes, but I promise you I won’t.”
“Maybe I should drive…” Dan said.
“I vote no,” Steel replied. “All Tess has to do is drive straight. We built the rocks in perfect alignment with the tires. She’s the best person for this job. Let her do it.”
Dan sighed and then looked at her. “If something goes wrong, then I have to take the hit for wrecking this vehicle. Under no circumstances can anyone know you drove it. That is against regulations.”
Steel was even more impressed with Dan for letting her drive. He had a very good reason to refuse her, but instead he did what was right. “She’ll do fine,” Steel promised.
“You want me to stay out here and guide?” Steel whispered.
She sighed heavily. “No, because then I’d be sick to death worrying about Grams’ ashes.” She then pressed her hand to his chest. “What happened to your belief I could do this?”
He covered her hand. “Sorry, my desire to help got carried away. I’ll go secure Helen’s ashes.”
Once Tess started the car, they were over in less than two seconds and continuing up the hill. To her prediction, they came upon another washout area. This time, Dan quietly assisted, and they were back in the car and on their way in less than ten minutes.
The last washout required more rocks than they could find. So they ported two downed logs from the high side of the hill and used them to fill in the center of the bridge.
Steel held his breath as they moved quickly over, but then relaxed once they reached the other side still intact. When they finally arrived at the cabin, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Tess hurried over to the Rover and pulled from the roof two metal single-tire bridges, six feet long.
“This is what we really needed.” She then looked at her grams’ car and then at the SUV. “Dan, should we put these on your car since I’m guessing that’s what we’ll be traveling in from now on?”
“Absolutely.” Dan grinned. “Here I was thinking Dr. Castile was in grave danger up here, but before we barely fixed those ravines, this place was, without a doubt, the most inaccessible house in the country.”
“Well, it’s supposed to storm tonight, so all our hard work will get washed away,” Tess stated cheerfully and invited him inside.
She held her finger to her lips as they entered the cabin. Steel noticed Dan’s furrowed brow as he took in the small rustic room. He had to be thinking they’d fed him a line of shit about four large bedrooms.
Steel took the lead and led him through the kitchen closet and down the steps into the long hall. He opened the door to the living room and stepped back so he could watch Dan’s expression.
Dan’s mouth fell open, then he frowned at the wall of glass. He immediately went to it and knocked his knuckles against it.
“It’s bulletproof,” Tess stated. “Grams bought one more panel than needed and teste
d it before they installed the windows.”
“I was just about to declare this place impossible.”
“It’s also slightly tilted down and tinted, so you can’t see in, only out. From the outside, when you look at the hill, it just looks like trees all the way up.”
“I’m impressed. Your grandmother was a security conscious gal.”
“She knew evil firsthand. Mafia wives breed early. Grams was fourteen when she was married to the monster. My mother was fourteen when she married my father. Fortunately for me, there are laws now to prevent older men from marrying children or I would have been married off to some Chicago Don at the age of thirteen. When I turned sixteen, Father tried to force me into a marriage, but I warned him I knew my legal rights and I would refuse to marry, thus insulting the man he wished to curry favors with.”
“That took a lot of courage,” Dan said with admiration. Too much admiration in Steel’s view.
“So he told me to get out of his house and try living on the street and see if I preferred that to marriage. It took me two days, but I walked all the way here. Grams took me in at once. I pretty much ignored my father until I needed to go to college. The bank wouldn’t give me a loan by myself, so I had to ask him to co-sign my loan. I thought it was going to be a lesson in humility as he laughed in my face, but, to my shock, he agreed.”
She sighed and shook her head. “He was only letting me run up debt so when he pulled out the rug, it would hurt more. Early this year, he refused to sign until I helped my family members drive up here so they could bully my grams into not selling her land. I’m sure next year it would have come with something worse, like becoming engaged to some thug in Chicago. And then the fourth year he’d refuse to sign, leaving me with about two hundred thousand dollars of debt and no way to pay it.”
“Why didn’t Helen co-sign?” Steel asked.
“She thought it a waste of money to pay a college to teach me stuff she’d taught me for free.” Tess caressed the urn in her hands. “Only when she understood that I couldn’t manage these woods until I got my master’s degree did she concede it an evil necessity.”
“Okay if I look around?” Dan asked, evidently having lost all interest in her life of woe.
“Yeah, let me give you a quick tour. Then you can snoop about to your heart’s content. However, be warned, my father has the upstairs bugged. My uncle must have done it when they came to visit.”
Unexpected Love (White Oak-Mafia #2) Page 18
