Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set: Through the StormHome for KeepsThe Firefighter's RefrainTo Catch a Wife

by Rula Sinara

  “If there was a cow out there, there would be hoofprints,” Grace reasoned.

  “Even if it was a ghost cow? Johnny also said there was a spooky whishing sound.”

  Grace nearly choked on that idea. “Do you really think that’s likely?”

  “Heavens, no. I just think people are getting some kind of weird thrill with these stories.” Nellie waved a hand. “Enough of that nonsense. What can I do for you this morning?”

  Grateful that Nellie wasn’t trying to make the haunting seem real, Grace smiled at her. “I needed a little break from work and I’ve been wanting to visit your shop. It is lovely.” She looked around at the muted blue-green walls and the dressing area with pale peach curtains. All around her were racks of clothing, and in the middle of the floor, a mannequin was dressed to the nines, as if about to step out of the place to go to a special event.

  “Are you looking for something in particular?” Nellie asked.

  “Well, on Friday evening, I was thinking of going to the Ladies Auxiliary fund-raiser social.” She was trying to take Heather’s advice to meet as many people as possible to gain support for Green Meadows.

  “Oh, aren’t they raising money for the new air-conditioning system for the church offices?”

  “Right. And I have either casual or business clothing with me. I wasn’t planning on making a trip back to my condo in Milwaukee just to pick up a dress. I thought something new—or old,” she said, since this was a consignment shop, “might be fun.”

  Nellie sized her up. “Try this rack. I think one of these dresses would work for you.”

  Grace started at one end, Nellie at the other. The dresses were colorful and decorative and beautifully designed, if not Grace’s normal style. She usually chose solid colors and simple lines for herself. Dresses that didn’t make a statement. But maybe she should try something new...

  “What about this one?” Nellie said. “It will bring out the blue in your eyes.”

  Nellie pulled out a dress with blue and lavender flowers on a white background. She held it out to Grace, who—despite the flounced skirt that was something she wouldn’t normally consider—took the dress from her. It was very feminine, very soft and dreamy compared with her usual pick.

  Even so, she couldn’t say no. “Let me try it on and see how it feels.”

  “Exactly,” Nellie chirped. “You’re going to feel wonderful in it.”

  And indeed, Grace did feel wonderful as she slipped the dress over her head and checked herself out in a mirror. It fit her like a glove and emphasized her curves. The colors were gorgeous. The style was perfect for a social event and fund-raiser. When she turned, the skirt fluttered out just enough that it made her smile. She loved it.

  And when she paid for it, she couldn’t help but wonder if Caleb Blackthorne would have the opportunity to see her wearing it.

  * * *

  IN TOWN THAT AFTERNOON, Caleb was picking up some cleaning supplies from the local hardware store, when Grace walked in. After looking over the rack near the door with free local papers and advertisements, she picked up a stack of fliers and approached the counter, where owner Lloyd Kinney, old Bob Kinney’s nephew, was rearranging a display of key rings.

  “Afternoon, Lloyd.”

  “Grace.”

  “Filling in for your uncle?”

  Who must be about a hundred years old, Caleb thought as he moved closer.

  “He says his back is out. If you ask me, he needs to retire.”

  Grace showed him the stack of Spooky Tour fliers. “Can you do me a favor? Dump these? This guy is hurting business over at Green Meadows,” she explained just as Caleb approached the counter and set down his purchases. Grace gave him a quick smile before telling Lloyd, “This Vincent Pryce guy is worrying people about the place being haunted.”

  “Haunted?” Shaking his graying head, Lloyd took the fliers from her. “Sure thing, Grace. No one even asked if they could leave these here.” With that, he dropped them in the nearby trash container.

  “Green Meadows is a great place,” Caleb said, earning another smile from Grace.

  “So I’ve heard. The wife just redid the kitchen and bath in our place, so we’re not looking for anything new, but I’ll pass on the word to anyone I can.”

  “Thanks,” Grace said. “Very kind of you.”

  Lloyd started adding up Caleb’s purchases and bagging them, but Grace seemed reluctant to leave.

  And reluctant to lose her company so quickly, Caleb asked, “So are you going all over town getting rid of the fliers?”

  She sighed. “Something like that. Everyone is being really agreeable.”

  “Which probably means you have nothing to worry about.” Caleb paid and picked up his bag. “Besides, you’ll get a lot of people from neighboring towns, as well.”

  “Oh, dear, do I have to go around collecting more fliers?”

  “The flier doesn’t identify where the ghosts are, so unless people actually take his tour, they won’t make the connection.”

  “That makes sense.”

  She seemed relieved as he opened the door for her.

  “So where’s your next stop?” he asked, as they left the hardware store together.

  “Green Meadows. I’m going to look for hoofprints.”

  “What?”

  She reiterated Nellie’s story about some kid seeing a “ghost” cow walking on a path along the wooded area the night before. By the time she finished they had reached her car, and Grace leaned a hip against the door as if she needed the support. Laughing, Caleb drew as close as he could get to her without actually touching her.

  Only he would really like to touch her. And kiss her. He’d been thinking about kissing her a lot.

  His pulse thudded unevenly as he said, “You really think you’re going to find proof that this cow was real?”

  “Probably not, but I figure it’ll only take a few minutes to check it out. This situation with supposed ghost sightings has really been gnawing at me. Something is going on, and I aim to figure out what it is.”

  Amused despite her sober expression, Caleb asked, “Want some company?”

  “If you don’t have anything more pressing...sure.”

  Anything as an excuse to spend some time with her. She made him feel young and energized again. He’d taken on so much responsibility raising Angela alone that he’d forgotten how good it felt to have fun. Like anything was possible. “All right then. Meet you in the community center lot.”

  Caleb grinned to himself all the way there. Grace had a way of doing that to him—picking up his spirits. It seemed like a silly venture to go looking for cow hoofprints, but what the heck. She was concerned, and he wanted to help relieve her stress. Considering how hard she was working to make Green Meadows a success—with her father, then this shyster tour operator bringing her down—she deserved to have someone on her side.

  Once parked, they left the lot, though Grace took him to the wooded area on a more direct route than she had last time.

  “The Millers live in the condo building,” she said, pointing. And farther back from the road, so closer to the woods, he noted. The three-story building was surrounded by trees. That would likely inspire a dose of fantasy, especially in a kid who might have been looking for a ghost. He didn’t say so, though, simply let Grace take the lead. He enjoyed watching her as she started down the sidewalk that skirted the natural area farther from the buildings. He loved the way the breeze played with her hair. They followed the path for a while. He wished she wasn’t so upset. Her steps seemed heavy, her spine straight and stiff.

  Caleb reached out and placed an easy hand on her waist, just to give her some psychological support. Besides, he liked touching her. “No hoofprints,” he said.

  She stopped. “No, but what’s that
?” Frowning, she pointed to a disturbance in the dirt along the sidewalk. “Some kind of weird lines.”

  “Looks like something went off the sidewalk...then back. Maybe a laundry cart?”

  She hesitated for a moment. “The laundry for the units is next to the community center. No one would need to be pushing a cart over here.”

  “Wheelbarrow?”

  “I don’t see why one would be needed. At least in this location. Not until the landscaping is started. Workmen would take the scraps out the other direction.”

  She continued looking around with an intensity he couldn’t miss. But when Grace found nothing else to catch her attention, they walked on until the sidewalk ended and the path changed from cement to a thick mulch.

  “I guess there’s really nothing to see, after all,” Caleb said.

  “Let’s go a little farther.”

  Wanting her company for as long as he could have it, Caleb gave her no argument. He slid his hand a little farther around her waist and pulled her closer. She felt good pressed against his side. And she must have felt the same about being next to him, because he physically felt her relax a bit. She even threw him something of a smile.

  “Thanks for indulging me.”

  “I have to admit my curiosity is aroused, too.”

  She slowed to a halt. “This is getting kind of silly, isn’t it?”

  Caleb gave her a sober expression. “You didn’t hear that from me.” And then he looked at the ground just beyond where they stood. “Wait a minute. What’s that?”

  Grace took a step forward, stooped and traced a finger along the impression in the mulch. “Looks like a pretty big paw print.”

  “Hmm.” It was indeed very large. “A wolf?”

  “Wolf!” She jerked and stiffened before he drew her even closer. He could see the hairs standing up on her lower arm. “You’re kidding, right? There aren’t any wolves around here.”

  She actually seemed scared.

  Which gave Caleb the opportunity to take Grace in his arms as if for protection.

  Keeping a straight face when he wanted to grin at her, he said, “Well, um, yeah there could be wolves around here. Despite the sanctioned wolf hunts now allowed in Wisconsin, they’ve been expanding their territory down from the north.” He added, “Don’t worry. They’re a danger to rabbits, not people, but if we see one, I promise I’ll protect you.”

  He held her a little closer.

  She gave him a searching look. “Are you putting me on?”

  Caleb chuckled. “Maybe a little. Wolves generally stay away from people. I took a wolf ecology workshop while studying for my degree. Though I can’t say for certain that it’s a wolf print, I can reassure you that it’s not a hoofprint from a ghost cow.”

  Grace gave a sigh that dissolved into a soft laugh. “I know. I’m probably being ridiculously obsessive about this. I just wish I could figure out what’s going on.”

  Letting her go, he laughed, too. “We could do some factual research about the original farm. If there were really murders or hauntings, some of that was bound to hit the local newspapers of the time. Maybe we can find out if these rumors have any basis. I’ve gotten curious.”

  “Do you think the Sparrow Lake Library keeps that kind of information from a century ago? Priscilla’s mother still works there part time.”

  “Maybe not the local library. But the college library could have a history of the area. It would be far more comprehensive than the town library for sure. If they don’t have the old newspapers online, they would probably still have them on some sort of microform.”

  “Hmm. Checking that out sounds like an idea. If we do find the history, I’ll have whatever facts there are to make potential clients feel more comfortable.”

  “Let’s do it, then.” That would give him more face time with Grace. “I’m done teaching tomorrow at three. Can you be free then?”

  “I’ll make certain that I am.”

  They made plans on the way back to their vehicles. Grace would meet him at his classroom and they would spend the rest of the afternoon together.

  Caleb walked Grace to her car and then hesitated a moment.

  “Thanks for coming with me,” she said.

  A strand of hair played over her cheek. Using one finger, he brushed it aside and looked deep into her beautiful eyes. “I know investigating the area was an uncomfortable situation for you, so I’m glad I was with you. Truthfully, I enjoyed it. Enjoyed you.”

  “Me, too.”

  Her lips curving in a soft smile were too tempting to resist. He had to try them. Leaning in close, he stole a quick kiss. A soft brush of his lips across hers. A taste of what was to come if they kept spending time together.

  Then they stared at each other for a moment, both grinning until Caleb said, “I’d better get going.”

  “Me, too. See you tomorrow.”

  “Right.”

  Climbing into his truck, Caleb could hardly believe how much he was looking forward to spending a spring afternoon in a library.

  * * *

  GRACE ARRIVED IN the Sparrow Lake Community College science building the next day with a bounce in her step. She was going to gather factual information that she could use to fight the crazy rumors going around. A ghost cow, indeed! Digging up the real story of the old farmstead with Caleb was a plus. She couldn’t wait to see him again.

  Checking the calendar on her smartphone for the number of Caleb’s classroom, Grace took the nearest stairs to the second floor. His room was halfway down the hall and students were quickly rushing out the door. As she drew closer, she could hear voices coming from the room—more specifically, Caleb’s calm, firm voice.

  “No, you can’t turn in your observation journal entry next week. It was due today,” explained Caleb.

  “I have to find another plot of woods. The one you told me to visit isn’t there anymore.”

  “Not there? It was there when I drove by it yesterday morning.”

  “Well, maybe someone went in and chopped all the trees down, at least the decidiferous ones.”

  “I think you mean deciduous,” said Caleb. “No, those trees were there, too.”

  “Maybe they burned.”

  “We would have heard the fire trucks from town.”

  Grace peeked around the corner to see Caleb facing a tall skinny kid dressed in a baggy sports T-shirt.

  “Well, I don’t know what else to tell you, Prof,” the kid was going on.

  “I’m sure you don’t.” Caleb’s dry tone and impassive expression hid what was probably irritation.

  “It wasn’t my fault.”

  Caleb picked up his briefcase. “Don’t worry, you won’t flunk because of an observation journal, Jeffrey, but I suggest you come to class from now on and keep up with the other assignments.”

  “I have to pass this class. Otherwise, I can’t play basketball.”

  Caleb looked toward the door and saw Grace, an expression of relief suffusing his face. “I suggest you work as hard at your classes as you do at basketball practice.”

  “Yeah, right,” the kid grumbled as he exited the classroom ahead of Caleb, turned left at the hallway and loped off.

  Grace grinned. “Wow, that was something. Does he really think you’d believe a section of woods disappeared?” She couldn’t imagine giving that kind of an excuse in college.

  “I have no idea. We get some kids who don’t know what they want to do in life, and their parents push them to keep going to school. Which is good...school, that is. Except for the ones who refuse to work at it. Or are more interested in basketball and hanging out with their buds.” He closed the classroom door behind them. “Now you and I can get down to some real work.” He pointed toward the stairs. “This way.”

  The
y quickly left the science building, one of five similar buildings spread over a couple of acres of land just outside town. Caleb seemed to be at home here, and Grace thought that was exactly as it should be. Work should be welcoming and satisfying and make a person happy. Today Caleb Blackthorne looked as happy as she was feeling.

  “It’s a beautiful place to spend your days,” she said. “You’re awfully lucky.”

  “I had a little to do with the environment. Several years ago, when I was first hired, and the last of the buildings was under construction, I was on the coordination committee, so I can take some pride in how well the campus all came together.”

  “That’s the way I feel about Green Meadows,” she admitted.

  “Which means you’ve found your place. You simply can’t give up your dream because your father wants something else for you,” he reminded her.

  Grace clenched her jaw rather than answer. Her father told her she had to do one thing, now Caleb told her she had to do something else. Two men telling her what to do. Right. She needed that, especially since she was firmly in the middle, wanting to fulfill her dream, but also wanting to make her father happy. Some days she almost convinced herself she could figure out how to do both, but realistically, she knew it came down to making a choice. And she already knew what that choice had to be. Dad had done everything for her to give her a great life. Could she do any less for him?

  They reached the library, which was located in the middle of the campus. When they entered, Caleb approached a raised desk in the center of the room where an attractive woman sat, a single thick streak of gray through her otherwise dark hair. “Hey, Lorraine, I could use your help today.”

  The woman beamed at him. “Whatever you need, Caleb.”

  “We’re looking for information on the old Whitman farm.”

  “Whitman. Hmm. What kind of information?”

  “We want to find out what happened to the owners. There’s a rumor going around about murders and hauntings and such.”

  Lorraine’s eyebrows shot up. “I’ve been hearing something like that about the new community.” She turned her attention to Grace.