“Ewww, I certainly hope not!” Kit wrinkled her nose.
“I’d just hope she’d give me more credit. Some women—those not related to me of course—think I am quite the guy between the sheets.”
Kit laughed and patted Brandon’s forearm. “Yes, dear, I’m sure you are. You just aren’t much up here.” She smacked his head.
“Hey, what was that for?” It didn’t really hurt, but it was the principle of the thing.
“Think, Brandon. This woman has just been betrayed by the man she loves. The man she vowed to spend her life with. To make matters worse, she witnessed the betrayal. Now, fast forward in the future. She meets a new guy, and according to you, it was a pretty amazing night. But then later, she discovers he’s married—or at least that’s what she believes.”
“She could have asked me.”
“True, Brandon. But maybe she wasn’t emotionally equipped to ask. In her mind, she is an adulteress… no different than the woman she caught with her husband.”
“I still say she could’ve asked, I think I deserved the benefit of the doubt.”
“Maybe you did, Brandon, but like I said, give her some slack. Why should she have trusted you? Had you earned her trust?”
“Okay, Kit; I sort of get what you’re saying. But I just don’t need her baggage in my life.”
“We all come with baggage, Brandon.”
“True. But I want a woman who’ll trust me, talk to me. I don’t want to go through my life second-guessing what she’s really thinking. I don’t want the drama.”
“I get that, Brandon. But you have to work for those things. And that doesn’t mean searching the world for a woman who’ll give you blind trust but finding the woman to build trust with. It’s a mutual give and take. I don’t think you should accept anyone on face value, and frankly you’re expecting way too much from her after just one date. And I don’t care how amazing that one night was.”
Chapter Fifteen
Clouds gathered overhead, threatening a summer storm. Grateful for the windbreaker she’d thrown on before leaving the cabin, Susan wrapped her arms around her body and hugged the garment closer. It had reached the upper eighties the day before, yet now, with the cool afternoon breeze, Susan guessed it was in the low seventies.
She couldn’t believe it had been a week since she’d arrived—it was Friday again. Since her encounter with Brandon at the lake, she’d avoided walking down Connie’s street, not wanting to run into him. It wasn’t just that he’d made it perfectly clear he was no longer interested—but he seemed to actually dislike her.
She’d told Ella why she’d stayed away, which is one reason Connie had showed up after lunch and asked Susan if she wanted to go for a walk. As it turned out, Susan was getting ready to take a hike with the girls from her cabin, so she invited Connie to join them.
The two took their time, trailing behind the younger girls as they chatted. That morning, all eight had opted for denims instead of shorts—it was simply too chilly for beachwear. The breeze sent a gentle movement through the treetops, adding a nip to the air.
“Just what is she going to do with all those pinecones?” Connie asked Susan as the two followed the girls down the mountain trail leading to the back entrance of the stable. Up ahead, Lexi was busy picking up pinecones and putting them in a pillow case while her cabin mates walked along the trail with her, chatting and pointing out well formed pinecones.
“I guess she has some deal with a craft store back where she lives. They’re buying whatever she brings them, providing the pinecone is in pristine condition,” Susan explained. “I think she wanted to grab what she could find, just in case it does rain.”
“Is that even legal?” Connie asked with a frown, her eyes still on Lexi.
“She checked with the ranger. He limited where she could collect them, what type, and how many.”
“She asked permission? I’m impressed.”
“Lexi’s a spunky kid. From what I understand, she’s always figuring out some way to make extra cash.”
“Didn’t you say her grandfather was Ethan Beaumont?”
“Yes, she lives with him; he’s her guardian.”
“And only heir, from what I’ve read in the paper,” Connie noted. “Part of me wonders why someone like that would bother collecting pinecones to earn a little cash when her family is worth millions. But then, I figure it’s probably part of her DNA, like Gramps—looking for ways to make money.”
“I don’t think it’s that,” Susan said as she watched Lexi down the trail with her friends.
“What do you mean?” Connie glanced over at Susan and then back down the trail.
“I guess last year Lexi convinced the stables to hire her part time while she was here so she could earn some extra money.”
“Well, that sounds odd.” Connie frowned. “Her grandfather pays to have her go to camp—and then she takes on a job at the camp?”
“I know. Carol told me about it. She had to put the kibosh on it for insurance reasons—and never told Mr. Beaumont. I guess Lexi begged her not to say anything. From what I gather, her grandfather is not overly generous with his granddaughter, and tight purse strings are a way to control her. The only reason he sends her to camp is to get rid of her.”
“Seriously?”
“I have a feeling Lexi is tucking away a bankroll to make her big escape someday.”
“Why do you say that?”
“When we go to bed at night, I hear a lot. The girls never go right to sleep. I think they have their deepest conversations after they hit the mattress. Not sure if they think I can’t hear them or that I’m asleep, or maybe they just don’t care if I overhear what they’re talking about.”
“Don’t you think you should say something to Carol? I mean it sounds like Lexi might be planning to run away.”
“No, it’s not like that. Apparently, Lexi is determined to go to college, and her grandfather has agreed to pay for that. But after college is another story, and that girl is already arranging her escape plan.”
“Don’t you think he’ll wonder what she’s doing with a bag of pinecones?”
“From what I understand, a driver picks her up. It’s not like old man Beaumont is waiting to greet his granddaughter when she comes home at the end of summer.”
“That’s sad. My folks sometimes drive me nuts, but they’re always there for Ella and me.”
“How does Ella like working at the camp?”
“She hasn’t complained. I think she likes it okay. Spends her free time reading. By the way, she mentioned Brandon next door isn’t married, that the woman with him is his sister?”
“Yes, and the little girl is his niece.”
“Ella mentioned that was the reason you were reluctant to come over—that you wanted to avoid running into him. But I sorta figured after you found out he was single that you and he… you know… he did look you up. And he is so darn cute.”
“Well, I sorta burned that bridge,” Susan said as she glanced down and kicked a rock with the toe of her tennis shoe.
“What do you mean?”
“I was pretty bitchy with him the other day when he tried to talk to me. The fact I thought he was a cheating husband didn’t soften him when I went to apologize, just made him more annoyed. Apparently, he is looking for a woman who doesn’t play games—who is more honest.”
“Are you serious?” Connie stopped in her tracks and looked at Susan. “You’re one of the nicest, most honest, and real people I know! What a jerk!” Connie started walking again.
“Oh, don’t be too rough on him. I suppose he had a point. And when I think about it, he’s been going through a lot these last few months.” Susan tucked her fingertips in the back pockets of her denims as she walked down the trail.
“Ella was telling me about his brother-in-law. He was killed in some sort of holdup?”
“It was pretty big news back home. Local Realtor stops in at a convenience store on his way home to grab a gallon of milk and some
drugged-up guy kills him for twenty bucks.”
“He was a Realtor? Did Sam know him?”
“I don’t think so, maybe. I never discussed it with him.”
“I guess you don’t talk much to Sam these days.”
“Not really. Although, he did ask me to come back with him. As usual, his timing was impeccable. It wasn’t long after our divorce was finalized.”
“Really? Did you… well, you know… consider it?”
“No, not even for an instant. Which was actually something of a turning point for me.”
“How so?”
“It wasn’t just that I realized I was totally over him—I realized he was never the person I thought he was.”
“What do you mean?’
“For one thing, he wasn’t asking me to come back because he suddenly realized he was still in love with me. He’d simply broken up with his girlfriend and needed a place to stay. Plus, I’d just banked my share from the sale from our house, and I think in his mind that money was still his.”
“What an ass.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what I thought.”
They walked for a few moments in silence when Connie finally said, “I can’t stop thinking of Brandon’s brother-in-law. That’s so senseless.”
“It is. I had no idea he was connected to Brandon. And when I saw him with Sarah, well they looked so much alike I just assumed he was her father. I suppose he was right when he told me that I should have simply asked him when I saw them together—instead of hiding and not saying anything.”
“I haven’t met his sister yet. She keeps to herself,” Connie said.
“She was very friendly when she came up to the stables with her little girl.”
“What was she doing up there?” Connie asked.
“Her daughter wanted to see the horses, so Carol invited her up. I guess they’re friends, Carol and Brandon’s sister.”
“Small world,” Connie noted. “Did she know you knew her brother?
“No, I don’t think so. She also looks a lot like her brother, very attractive. Funny thing, when I first met her at the stables, it didn’t even dawn on me that they were siblings in spite of how much they looked alike.”
“I remember my mother once telling me that when she and Dad were dating in high school, this guy asked them if they were twins, and the really creepy thing, they were holding hands at the time!” Connie told her.
“That is bizarre,” Susan laughed. “Not that they looked alike, but that a brother and sister that age would be holding hands.”
“I know. A real Flowers in the Attic sort of thing.” They both laughed.
“What are you doing the rest of the afternoon?” Susan asked.
“I’m heading back to the cabin when we get to the stables. I need to finish that painting. Thanks for inviting me to go on the walk. I need to do this more often. You going riding with the girls?”
“I don’t know. Not sure my butt can take any more time in the saddle. I think I’ll pass today.”
Up ahead, the girls reached the back gate leading to the camp stable and opened it. Susan and Connie followed them in and were surprised to find the sheriff’s car parked in the drive leading to the corral. Talking to the stable manager were a sheriff’s deputy and an extremely agitated Brandon.
“Did you see Sarah?” Brandon shouted the moment he spotted Susan.
“Sarah?” Susan asked when she reached Brandon. She glanced from him to the deputy, who was now talking on his car’s radio.
“Sarah’s missing.” Agitated, Brandon combed his fingers through his hair. Susan and her fellow hikers surrounded Brandon, wanting to know what was going on. The deputy stood about ten feet away at his car, still on the radio.
“What do you mean missing?” Susan asked. “Where’s your sister?”
“She’s back at the cabin talking to the ranger. Sarah wanted to come see the horses today—wanted to see you,” he told Susan. “She threw a major tantrum when I wouldn’t bring her, so Kit put her in the bedroom for time out. When we went to check on her, she was gone.”
“She ran away?” Lexi asked.
“We’ve looked everywhere in and around the cabin. We thought she might have tried to walk here on her own. Sarah never used to throw tantrums, but ever since her father was killed… Damn, why didn’t I just bring her?”
Susan suspected he hadn’t brought Sarah because he didn’t want to see her, which made her feel somehow responsible.
“Her dad died?” Lexi asked.
“Yes,” Susan answered. “In March.”
“Poor kid. She must be terrified. We’ll help you look,” Lexi offered. A few minutes later, the sheriff’s deputy got off the radio and began recruiting volunteers to help search for the missing child. By that time, Carol had joined the group and was anxious to help her friend.
The older girls at the camp—those most familiar with the trails surrounding the stables—teamed up in groups to systematically search the area with some making their way back to the cabin Brandon and his sister had rented.
Susan and Brandon didn’t put up an argument when the deputy suggested they team up, heading in the direction of the more rugged trails between Brandon’s cabin and the stables. Unlike Brandon, Susan was familiar with the area and still knew the local trails.
“When someone finds her, I’ll have them ring the bell at the church camp, then everyone meet back here,” the deputy told them. Brandon and Susan went to Carol’s office to call Kit before starting on their search.
Chapter Sixteen
“I was hoping she would tell me Sarah was there… back at the cabin,” Brandon told Susan when he got off the phone.
“Any chance she’s hiding somewhere in the cabin? I assume you checked all the obvious places—under the beds, closets.”
“Yes. That was our first thought. Like I said, Sarah has never run off like this before. But she really, really wanted to come see the horses again.”
“How is your sister holding up?” Susan asked as she and Brandon left the office and headed toward the trail.
“I think it’s driving her crazy that she can’t get out there and search, but they want her to stay at the cabin in case Sarah shows up on her own. The ranger already has people down at the lake, but we really don’t think it would have been possible for her to get out there that quickly.”
“Damn, the lake.” Susan didn’t like the idea of a little girl Sarah’s age wandering around the water. “I hate to ask this, but are they considering the possibility of someone taking her? Picking her up in a car?”
“We immediately called the sheriff when we realized she was gone. Even if someone had taken her—God forbid—they wouldn’t have been able to get off the mountain by that time. They’re checking cars leaving the mountain at both exits. I guess it’s standard protocol up here because of the two camps.”
“That’s true,” Susan agreed. “Years ago, a little girl was abducted from the church camp. After that, if a young child is missing up on Shipley Mountain, they don’t just search the area, they immediately close the two exit roads.”
“That little girl… do you know what happened to her?” Brandon asked.
“It was a long time ago, Brandon. Back when I was a kid.”
“Do you know if they found her?”
“Yes.”
“Was she okay?”
“Sarah is going to be fine, Brandon. We will find her.”
“Susan, what happened to that other little girl?”
Susan sighed before reluctantly answering. “They found her about 300 miles from here.”
“Was she okay? Was she alive?”
“No. But, Brandon, you can’t focus on the worst scenario. What happened back then… Well, back then there were no road closures. And the fact it’s cooler today is a plus because snakes don’t like this cooler weather.”
“Damn, snakes. I didn’t even think about that,” Brandon grumbled. “What other wildlife do we have to worry a
bout?”
“We don’t have to worry about anything. We simply need to find your niece,” Susan insisted, sounding far more positive than she felt.
When they reached the trail, Brandon repeatedly called out Sarah’s name. In the distance, they could hear other searchers calling out for Sarah.
“I wish the damn cell phones worked up here,” Brandon said as they continued to hike up the trail. “How do we know if someone finds her?”
“They’ll ring the church bell over the church camp,” Susan explained.
“They will?”
“I guess you didn’t hear the sheriff mention it. He told us he’d have them ring the bell when someone found her, and to meet back at the stables.”
“Will we be able to hear the bell?”
“Oh, yeah. That sucker vibrates off the mountain. Haven’t you heard it?”
“Now that you mention it, yes. I wondered what it was.”
Susan led the way on the trail, and when they came to a fork, she hesitated for a moment. The plan was for her and Brandon to follow the north trail between Brandon’s cabin and the stables. In that moment, Susan realized she didn’t remember the trails as well as she had imagined. It has been over six years, she reminded herself. After considering the best course, she decided to go right instead of left.
“Nothing can happen to Sarah; I don’t think Kit could handle it,” Brandon told her.
“Your sister has certainly had more than her share of heartbreak this year.”
“Kev—that was my brother-in-law—he was really a great guy. Good father, supportive husband. When my dad was sick, he was always there for both of us. He adored his daughter. I hate the thought he won’t be able to see her grow up.”
“She’s lucky to have you, Brandon. I see how she looks at you.”
“I know you thought she was mine.”
“About that…”
“I’m sorry, Susan. I was really too rough on you the other day. I am sorry. Sarah does look enough like me to be my daughter.”
“She seems crazy about you.”
Brandon called out Sarah’s name before responding. “Well, I’m pretty crazy about her, too. I remember when she was born—I was one of the first to see her, after Kev and Kit. They let me hold her; she was such a tiny thing. Damn, that kid just grabbed me by my heart and never let go.”
Sundered Hearts Page 10
