Gift of Gold

by Jayne Ann Krentz

“She’s a fascinating woman, I’ll admit,” Laura had said, “but it was something of a strain trying to entertain her. Rick said he’ll take a garden variety yuppie any day before he’ll take another artist out to dinner. You and Caitlin seemed to hit it off well, though.”

  “I like her,” Verity had admitted. “And I admire her tremendously. She’s a woman who’s made it on her own. She’s talented and hardworking. And, for some reason, I feel a little sorry for her.”

  “I know what you mean. I think she’s more than hardworking and talented,” Laura said thoughtfully. “I think she’s driven. There’s something strange about her, Verity.”

  “Maybe all true artists are driven. Maybe that’s what makes them able to produce art,” Verity had suggested. “Maybe that’s what men such as my father and Jonas lack, a sense of drive.”

  “And maybe you’re luckier than you know,” Laura had said. “I think it would be very difficult to live with someone who was obsessed.”

  “You think Caitlin Evanger is obsessed with her art?”

  “She’s obsessed with something. I can see it in her eyes. Oops, there’s the other line. I’ve got to run. See you later, Verity.”

  Verity had hung up and sat for a few minutes thinking of Caitlin Evanger’s eyes. Laura had a point. There was something unsettling about Caitlin’s compelling gaze. More ghosts. But that knowledge only made Verity feel a greater sense of compassion.

  Caitlin and Tavi both ordered the fresh pea soup with mint and the vegetable pilaf. Caitlin selected a bottle of wine, and Emerson, who was helping out as a waiter, served it with a flourish. Caitlin nodded austerely to him when he finally poured but she did not seem overly impressed by the dramatics.

  “Jesus,” Emerson complained as he came back to the kitchen. “Talk about the original iceberg. Brrr.”

  Jonas’s mouth twisted wryly. “Better you than me. I had to put up with her last night.”

  “Cut it out, both of you,” Verity ordered. “You just don’t understand her, that’s all.”

  “Yeah?” Her father gave her a sour look. “Well, it’s your turn. She’s asking for you.”

  Verity smiled loftily. “She probably wants to tell me how much she enjoyed the pilaf.”

  “I wouldn’t count on it,” Jonas cautioned. “She probably wants to tell you she’s going to report you to the health authorities because she found a fly in her soup.”

  “Professional restaurateurs do not appreciate that sort of low humor, Jonas.” Verity moved to stride past him into the dining room, aware that Jonas and her father were exchanging grins over her head. The male-bonding bit was getting a bit thick, she decided.

  But she should have expected Jonas and her father to get along well. They were, after all, two of a kind.

  “How was everything, Caitlin?” Verity asked as she came to a halt beside the table. A quick glance slowed that both women had eaten most of their meal. A reassuring sign. As usual when anyone showed obvious evidence of having enjoyed her cooking, Verity was pleased.

  “It was an excellent meal, Verity. In your own way, you are very much a creative artist. I hope you realize it.”

  Verity couldn’t squelch another little burst of pleasure. “Thanks, Caitlin, I’m glad you enjoyed it. How much longer will you be staying?”

  “Only one more day. I had planned to stay through the weekend, but I find that’s impossible now. I wanted to see you this evening because I would like to invite you to come and visit me next Monday. You could spend the night and drive back Tuesday morning in plenty of time to open the restaurant for lunch. My home is over on the coast, about an hour and a half away from here. What do you say?”

  An invitation to visit Caitlin Evanger was the last thing Verity had expected. She was so startled, she had to pause to gather her thoughts. “Caitlin, that’s very nice of you. Monday?”

  “The No Bull is closed on Monday, isn’t it?”

  “Well, yes, but I hadn’t planned…”

  Caitlin smiled at her, a strangely pleading smile. “I’ll understand if you can’t get away. But I was hoping you might make it. I will admit I don’t have a great many friends. I count you as one of them, however, and I would like to get to know you better. Women such as us need our female friends, don’t you think?”

  Verity found herself returning the smile. “You’re absolutely right, Caitlin. Women such as us need our friendships.” There was absolutely no reason on earth why she couldn’t take a day off and drive over to the coast to visit Caitlin. Besides, it would be interesting to see a real artist’s home and studio. Why not? Verity thought silently. Aloud, she said, “I would love to stay with you on Monday.” She pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. “You’ll have to give me your address and directions.”

  “Tavi has them for you, don’t you, Tavi?”

  Tavi nodded silently and reached into a small satchel she had brought with her.

  Standing in the kitchen doorway, Jonas watched the small scene at Caitlin Evanger’s table. He couldn’t overhear the conversation, but when Verity pulled out a chair and sat down, Jonas made an exclamation of disgust and turned back to wipe down a counter.

  “Trouble out in the dining room?” Emerson asked. He popped the top off a can of beer and leaned back against a counter.

  “Probably,” Jonas said dryly. “Verity just sat down to chat with her good pal Caitlin the Ice Lady. I don’t know what Verity sees in that woman. From the look of things, Evanger is making a real effort to turn Verity into her best friend.”

  “Maybe they both figure they have a lot in common,” Emerson mused. “They’re two strong-willed, intelligent, independent women who have built careers for themselves. I can see where they might have a lot to talk about.”

  Jonas shot him a cold glance. “Verity is not one damn bit like that icicle of an artist. She doesn’t really have anything in common with Evanger, she just thinks she does. She’s got a bad case of hero-worship.”

  “As long as Verity believes she has something in common with Evanger, she does have something in common with her,” Emerson pointed out reasonably. “The reality of a situation is never as important as the individual’s perception of that reality. You know that.”

  “The hell with it. I’m not in the mood for a lecture on the differences between reality and perception.” Jonas tossed aside the cloth he had been using and went back to lean in the doorway. He folded his arms and broodingly watched the three women at the table. The restaurant was empty now except for Verity, Caitlin, and the quiet woman who accompanied the artist.

  “What do you think they’re discussing so intently?” Emerson asked, coming up behind Jonas.

  “Beats me, but I don’t like it. Verity looks too damn interested in whatever Evanger is saying.”

  “Worried?”

  “I just don’t like it,” Jonas said stubbornly. “Evanger’s a bad influence on Verity.”

  Emerson chuckled. “Verity’s been thinking for herself for a long time. First thing I taught her was to ask critical questions. It’s the first thing they should teach kids in school, but of course they don’t. Don’t worry. My daughter isn’t easily influenced by anyone or anything.”

  “You raised an interesting daughter, Emerson. She’s as stubborn and independent as a Missouri mule.”

  “All the more reason for you to stop worrying about Caitlin Evanger’s influence.”

  “But every little mule has its blind spit. Verity has mind of her own, but she’s also got a streak of naïveté. She’s something of an innocent in spite of all those sharp thorns she’s developed to protect herself. Verity’s blind spot might be Caitlin Evanger. I can see the problem now. Evanger’s a couple of years older than Verity; a woman who has lived up to her potential, at least in Verity’s eyes. Verity’s real big on living up to one’s potential.”

  “I know.” Emerson sipped his
beer. “Easy to see why Verity admires Caitlin.”

  Jonas straightened. “I think it’s time I put a stop to this.”

  “Good luck,” Emerson murmured behind him.

  Jonas strode out into the dining room and stopped at the table. All three women looked at him as if he’d just dropped in from another planet. He looked pointedly down at Verity.

  “Time to close out the till,” he said.

  Verity smiled cheerfully. “I’ll take care of it later, Jonas. Go on home with Dad if you’re ready to leave.”

  So much for plan A, Jonas thought grimly. Time to drop back to plan B. This one required more subtlety. It was based on the principle of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” He noticed the piece of paper in front of Verity.

  “What’s the map for?” he asked.

  “I’m going to visit Caitlin on Monday. Tavi just finished drawing me a little map so I can find the house.”

  Jonas felt something clench in his stomach. He shot a glance at Evanger, who just looked back, at him with her cold, expressionless eyes. “Is that right?” he asked softly. “How are you going to manage the time away from the No Bull?”

  “It won’t be a problem,” Verity assured him. “I’ll be back in plenty of time on Tuesday to open for lunch.”

  Jonas tried a last ditch effort. “I thought you and I might drive up into the wine country next Monday.”

  Verity raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised. Jonas couldn’t blame her. He was a little surprised himself. He hadn’t planned anything at all for next Monday until approximately sixty seconds ago.

  “Maybe next week,” Verity temporized politely.

  It was Caitlin Evanger who stepped in to resolve the situation. “Why don’t you come with Verity, Mr. Quarrel?” she suggested smoothly. “You could drive over to the coast with her and see some of the wine country en route. I have plenty of room at my home for both of you.”

  Verity smiled enthusiastically. “That’s very kind of you, Caitlin.” She rounded on Jonas. “Isn’t it? Do you want to come with me on Monday?”

  Jonas sorted through his limited set of options and then met Caitlin Evanger’s eyes. “Sure,” he said coolly. “Why not?”

  Much later that night Tavi sat on the edge of Caitlin Evanger’s bed, massaging her employer’s ruined leg with firm, tender hands.

  “So it worked,” Tavi observed with a sigh.

  “I told you it would.” Caitlin adjusted herself on the pillows and sipped the glass of brandy she routinely used to help put herself to sleep. “I knew Quarrel would never allow Verity to visit me by herself. Not if there was an alternative. He doesn’t like me and he likes even less the fact that Verity and I are on friendly terms. But he knew tonight that he couldn’t stop her from spending the night at my home. He chose the only alternative he had.”

  “The only alternative you offered,” Tavi clarified, her fingers working deeply into the atrophied muscles.

  “I’ve told you, Tavi, that as soon as I saw the way he looked at Verity, I knew she was the key to manipulating him. The plan I’ve been putting together is almost complete.”

  “Now you’ll have a chance to test him with the rapier.”

  “I have to be certain. I have to know for sure that he still has the talent and that he can be made to use it when the time comes.” Caitlin shifted again on the pillows. “That’s enough massage for tonight.”

  Tavi halted and looked at Caitlin in surprise. “You said your leg was hurting badly this evening.”

  “It is. But the pain is good, Tavi.” Caitlin smiled her humorless smile. “Don’t you see? I use it to keep my attention trained on what I’m going to do. There is nothing like pain to focus one’s mind. Planning an execution takes a certain amount of fortitude, I’ve discovered.”

  Chapter Eight

  The nearest signs of human habitation were several miles away as Verity and Jonas drove through the tiny village indicated on Tavi’s map. They glided past a small general store and gas station, a post office, and a handful of gray, weathered cottages. A scattering of unprosperous looking fishing boats sat huddled in the microscopic harbor waiting for a tide that never seemed to arrive.

  Verity, who had been in a relentlessly cheerful mood since she and Jonas had set out from Sequence Springs, found the village charmingly picturesque.

  “I should have brought my camera,” she exclaimed, enchanted by the fishing boats. “Isn’t that a lovely scene?”

  Jonas was distinctly unimpressed. “The whole place looks like it’s ready for the morgue.”

  Verity’s good mood slipped. She had been tolerating his brusque, unenthusiastic comments most of the way from Sequence Springs, but enough was enough. “I don’t know why you bothered to come along,” she snapped. “It’s obvious you aren’t enjoying yourself.”

  He took his steady gaze off the narrow, curving road long enough to give her a direct look. “I didn’t come along with the intention of enjoying myself.”

  “Then why did you insist on coming along?”

  “I didn’t have much choice. I couldn’t talk you out of it, remember?”

  “I remember,” Verity muttered, “but that doesn’t explain why you felt you had to come with me.”

  “I didn’t want you making the trip alone.” His voice was vaguely defensive.

  “I’ve got news for you, Jonas,” Verity assured him in growing exasperation, “I’m a big girl and I’ve been traveling all by myself for ages.”

  “I’ve already had a sample of the kind of trouble you get into when you’re traveling by yourself. I saw you in action down in Mexico, remember?”

  Verity was about to tell him what she thought of his lousy logic but something stopped her. “Jonas,” she finally said more gently, “why did you feel you had to accompany me today? The real reason.”

  He startled her with the blunt honesty of his response. “I don’t know. Something to do with Caitlin Evanger. The woman gives me the chills. I didn’t want you driving over here and staying with her alone. End of subject. Find another topic of conversation.”

  Jonas had made it clear several times during the weekend that he wasn’t looking forward to visiting Caitlin Evanger, which had only reinforced Verity’s determination to make the trip. She had fully expected that at the last minute he would tell her to go by herself. But he hadn’t.

  On Monday morning, Jonas had resignedly thrown a few things into his duffel bag, tossed the bag into Verity’s car, and then climbed into the front seat and held out his hands for the keys.

  Verity had toyed with the idea of telling him to stay behind and go fishing with her father. But in the end, eager to be on her way, she’d handed him the keys.

  Now, as they drove the winding road that led to Caitlin’s house, she wondered if she had made a wise decision. Jonas showed every sign of putting a real damper on the occasion.

  But what really bothered her was his illogical insistence on accompanying her. He couldn’t explain it even to his own satisfaction, let alone to hers.

  Ghosts, Verity thought suddenly. Jonas was having problems with his private ghosts again. She wondered what she had to do with those ghosts.

  Then they saw the house. It was huge, dour, and astonishingly ugly, clinging like a large, faceted-eyed insect to the edge of the cliff, defying the frothing white sea that surged relentlessly below. It wasn’t until one got close to it that it became clear the insect-eye effect was created by the oddly designed windows that bulged outward.

  “That house looks like some do-it-yourselfer went crazy with a bunch of concrete and steel left over from some other do-it-yourself project that failed,” Jonas commented. He halted Verity’s compact at the side of the road for a better look.

  “I think it’s an example of some architect’s idea of modern art,” Verity suggested. “It’s not quite what I expected
. It doesn’t look like the sort of place that would appeal to Caitlin.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Jonas said laconically. “I think it suits her just fine. All that concrete and steel compliments her personality perfectly, if you want my opinion.”

  “When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it.” Verity surveyed the gloomy, windswept scene. The day had been warm and bright back in Sequence Springs, but here along the ocean the sky was overcast. The sea looked like hammered gray metal stretching out to the horizon. A glance over the edge of the cliffs revealed that it was a long way down to the water.

  Definitely not a California surfing beach, Verity thought. Anyone foolish enough to try riding those waves would find himself beaten to a pulp against the rocks at the base of the cliffs. The dark, wild setting represented the flip side of the state’s brilliant sun-and-sand image.

  “Seen enough?” Jonas asked as he restarted the car. “We can always go back to town and phone her to say we can’t make it today.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m looking forward to visiting Caitlin.”

  “I don’t know what you see in the woman.” Jonas glanced over his shoulder to check traffic, then swung the wheel of the car. “She gives me the creeps.”

  “I’ll tell you what I see in her,” Verity said quietly. “I see a strong, lonely woman in need of friendship. Why shouldn’t I be her friend? After all, Caitlin and I have a few things in common.”

  “You what?” The car whipped around a curve in an arc that was a little too tight. Jonas corrected the maneuver with a disgusted oath. “Are you out of your tiny little mind? You’ve got nothing in common with Caitlin Evanger. Nothing at all.”

  Verity leaned back into her corner. “I’m not so sure. Oh, I’ll admit I don’t have her artistic talent. My skills are a lot more mundane. But there is something about her and the way she lives that has a familiar feel to it. Have you ever had a glimpse of the future and discovered that it looked familiar?”

  “No.” The single word was clipped as Jonas concentrated on the narrow road. “Only the past.”