“How much does it cost to feed this many?”
She inspected the paws of the dog in front of her. “About a dollar a day per dog. So a couple thousand dollars a month.”
Quite an investment.
Anesia had already moved to the gate. “Come on. There’s still a lot more.”
“All right.”
The volume of the dogs increased.
She turned to face him but continued to walk backward. “And by the way, you probably don’t want to say ‘all right’ too much in front of the dogs.”
“Why is that?”
She gave him a small smile. “That’s what most mushers use as their call to go, to get the dogs to run. We release the hooks and yell, ‘All right.’” She turned back around.
“Oh.” He wrote that down on his pad. Certainly an important piece of information. Several more questions tumbled around in his mind. “How do you practice with them when there’s no snow?” He took a few long strides to catch up to her quick pace and so he could hear her.
“We use a four-wheeler instead of a sled.”
Sure. Now why didn’t he think of that? “Isn’t that heavy?”
He watched her shake her head and continue walking. When they reached the barn, she slid a large door open. “We have two dog trucks.” She pointed to the odd vehicles parked inside.
The cab of the truck looked normal, but the back was covered with a large enclosed area. Almost like the trucks he’d seen for the humane society. But bigger. Much bigger. There were eight doors on each side. “Do you buy these somewhere or have them built?”
“I had mine built to my specifications. Each compartment will hold two dogs. So we can haul up to sixty-four dogs at a time. Although we usually don’t carry that many. Most rides we let them each have their own compartment.” She opened one of the doors so he could peer inside. Hay covered the floor of each. “And there will be times I’ll need you to drive one of the trucks. Especially when it’s a big event.”
“All righ—” He jerked his head up from what he was writing. “I mean, yes, I can do that.”
She laughed. “Are you comfortable driving a stick?”
“Yes. But I may need practice.” When was the last time he’d driven a manual transmission?
“Good.” She looked down and fidgeted with her gloves as her smile disappeared. “Sean, I wanted to show you some other things, but there’s something bugging me. We need to go inside and have a chat.”
He nodded. In silence she closed up the barn and they walked back to the house. She must know. Not that he didn’t expect it. But it was sooner than he anticipated.
They didn’t speak again until they were seated in her office. She pulled out a file and folded her hands on her desk. “Why didn’t you tell me your father owned CROM?”
There it was. The accusation in her voice. “I’m sorry, Anesia—”
“Sean, let’s get something straight right now. More than anything, I need someone trustworthy. The work is hard, and I’d like someone who loved what they did, but trust is of utmost importance to me.”
“I understand.” Disappointment washed over him. He hadn’t realized until now how much he wanted this job.
“I’m not sure you really do. There’s a lot I haven’t told you yet, either.” She stood and walked to the bookcases lining the east wall. Her fingers traveled along the books. “Our dogs are worth a small fortune, as is the property, kennels, and equipment. But more important than all that is my family and my friends.” Her gaze came to rest on him. “Your background check came back clean, Sean. I just couldn’t figure out why you wanted to keep the fact of your family away from me.”
“My family may be extremely wealthy, Anesia, and they may own CROM, but I don’t want anything to do with them. I wanted a fresh start.”
She cocked an eyebrow. It hadn’t taken her long to put all the pieces together, had it? And she wasn’t letting him off the hook now.
“I began to discover things I didn’t like about how my father did things. My father is a brilliant man. But he’s also a greedy man. It took me many years to decide which path I was going to choose.”
“So that’s why you continued on with your father’s job and expectations of you?” She nodded as she paced. “The education, the VP, the overseeing of exciting projects.”
“Unfortunately.” Nothing got past this woman. “It took God getting hold of me to rescue me from the muck and mire that dragged me down.”
“Your father knows you’re here?”
“Yes, he does.”
“And he’s okay with that?”
“No. He’s not. But I couldn’t stay in Boston one moment longer.”
“Why?” Those intense eyes drilled into him.
“I realized I’d been lukewarm. And in staying, in essence, I was agreeing with everything my father did. I couldn’t swallow it anymore. I couldn’t let my name be a part of that.”
“By lukewarm, I assume you are referencing Revelation 3:16?” The tiniest smile worked at the corner of her mouth.
“Yes.” He tilted his head and furrowed his brow. Was she mocking him? Best to get it all out in the open now. “Do you mind if I ask how you feel about God, Anesia?”
She laughed. “Not at all. In fact, I’m glad you opened the door for this discussion. I’m a believer.”
Relief flooded through him. His hands relaxed, hadn’t realized he’d tightened them into fists during their talk. “I am too. I’m sorry to say it took so many years for me to come to my senses, but I’m thankful I finally put Him first in my life.” Sean looked down at the floor. Time to lay it all out on the table. “I didn’t come here to hide. But I did come here to start over. I can’t promise that my father won’t try to make things difficult for me, but I can promise that I will work as hard as I can and to the very best of my ability.”
Her eyes creased at their corners as a smile lit her face. “I’m glad to hear that. And since everything else checks out on you, I’d like to offer you the job.”
“Thank you.” He started to stand.
She held up a hand. “But you might want to hear me out before you take me up on the offer.”
Sean sat back in his chair.
“I know this has been a little on the odd side. I kept wondering how the timing of all this worked out, with Wanda sending you my way, you’re a man, I mean a real man, I mean . . .” She wiped a hand down her face and laughed. “Let me start over. You’re not a college kid.”
He laughed along with her wanting to put her at ease.
“And right now. I need someone like you.”
Hm. This sounded . . . interesting.
She must have realized how that sounded, because her jaw dropped and then closed. A tinge of pink touched her cheeks as she continued. “Um, to live here on the property, I mean.”
“Of course.”
“My daughter witnessed a murder recently and it has upset our quiet little world.”
He absorbed this information. No wonder she’d been so on edge. And her daughter, the poor kid. No kid should have to go through that. “I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“It will help to know you’re here, on the property.”
“Are you afraid the killers will come after her?”
She met his gaze, and he saw the answer—and the fear—in her eyes. Sean nodded. “I understand. And I promise you, Anesia, I’ll do whatever I can to keep your daughter safe.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ZOYA
January 17
Naltsiine Kennels
11:45 a.m.
Mom and Sean talked near the sleds. No doubt she was telling him how to get the dogs ready. Again.
Auntie Jenna and Cole stood on the porch drinking hot chocolate and chit-cha
tting.
Andie crouched to the ground and formed a snowball.
I followed suit. Maybe if I pretended to laugh and have fun she would think everything was fine . . . Yes. That would work. It had to.
“Andie, Zoya.” Mom caught us.
Andie giggled and we hid the round objects behind our backs.
“Yes, ma’am?”
As soon as she turned her back the games began. One ball after another would soar through the air until colliding with the intended target.
“Ah!” Andie ducked as two came flying. “Oh, you’re in for it now!”
I tried to give a smile, and almost succeeded. Come on, pull yourself together. You’re supposed to be all better, remember?
The fight continued for more than ten minutes as Mom showed Sean once again how to attach the dogs to their harnesses.
A niggling feeling passed through me, starting in my stomach and going up. Was I wrong to pretend?
No, it will help everyone.
Mom’s words echoed throughout my head . . . “God did not let you down. Those men who committed the crime are the ones who did wrong. Not you. Not God. He loves you. And whether you want to admit it or not, ‘junk’—like you put it—happens to all of us. To good people. All the time.”
I shook my head. The voice returned.
“Don’t trust Him . . . Don’t trust Him . . .”
Andie’s surprise hit brought me back to the present.
“Yikes! That’s cold!” A chunk of ice made its way down my jacket and onto my shirt. It melted, leaving a cold, wet spot. “Andie! I don’t have time to change!”
“Hey, you did the same thing to me.”
“Did not.”
“Did too!”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeaaaah . . .”
And snowballs went airborne again.
“Make sure you don’t tell the dogs to go one way and shift your weight to the other, these dogs go so fast you may fly off. This rubbery, mat-like flap right here can be flipped down with your foot, place your heel on it and it will help slow you down. For a turn or whatever. But don’t use the foot brake unless it’s an emergency. It’ll tear up the trail. ‘Gee’ is right and ‘haw’ is left. Got that?” Mom pointed to each thing in turn as she explained.
Sean nodded.
“Okay then, time to go.” Mom issued the cease-fire. Lunches were packed, Sean’s lessons were done.
Finally.
Everyone jumped onto their sled. Cole and Auntie Jenna in the front, me and Andie in the middle, and Mom and Sean in the back.
We rode for awhile, no one saying a word.
I closed my eyes. I’d missed running the dogs. It was good to be back on the sled.
I glanced beside me at Andie. She grinned and motioned for me to look behind.
Loosen up. Stay calm.
“Don’t trust Him . . . Don’t trust Him . . . Don’t trust Him . . .”
A shiver jolted me. I wanted to get rid of the voice. But it seemed to be there to stay.
Were there murderers out there?
Andie giggled. “Look.”
I looked behind me to where Andie pointed. Mom was still giving instructions to Sean.
“And shift your weight, like so . . .”
Andie laughed.
I tried to. But the little voice kept speaking. Reminding me . . .
Go away!
“God did not let you down . . . He loves you . . .”
“Please don’t think I’m being mean, it’s not like he’s a bad guy or anything . . .”
I jerked my head over to Andie. Thankfully I hadn’t fallen off the sled. I really needed to pay attention.
Andie smiled and looked behind. “But he’s sooooo weird.”
I nodded, trying to bring myself back to the present. Sean? “For someone his age you’d think he’d catch on a little quicker.” I cleared my throat.
Andie nodded. “And with his education. Mom said he went to Harvard.”
Harvard?
Cole yelled at us from up front. “How about we stop at the big clearing up ahead?”
“Okay.” Andie smiled.
I nodded. I just hope there aren’t any bad men waiting for us.
No! Zoya, stop thinking like that. I shook my head.
“Gee.” One at a time Cole, Auntie Jenna, Andie, and then me yelled for our dogs to turn into the wide clearing.
Mom sped up in front of Sean and turned too. “You’re next, Sean.”
I hopped off my sled and went to unpack the lunch boxes. Distraction . . .
“Gee!” Sean’s shout brought more than one bird out of their nests.
I covered my ears.
“Not so loud, Sea—Look out!”
I spun around. Well, he shifted his weight all right.
A laugh bubbled up. It felt good to laugh. But did I want it to?
Sean flew through the air and landed smack-dab into the trunk of a full grown tree. Even from where we stood I could hear his loud “UMPH!”
Mom and Cole ran over and yelled for his litter of dogs to stop running.
Auntie Jenna walked up next to us as Mom and Cole helped him out of a pile of snow. “I hope he’s not hurt.”
Mom nodded. “I think he’ll live.”
The foursome walked back over to us, Sean dusting snow off himself as he walked.
Andie clapped. “Bravo, Sean. That was an excellent performance.”
I couldn’t help it. A smile stretched across my face. It felt good. Almost.
A blur in the trees caught my attention.
A man.
Pointing at me.
* * *
COLE
1:11 p.m.
Cole lifted his face to the vanishing afternoon sun. The tension of the AMI encryption would send him to an early grave if he didn’t watch it. Jenna walked up beside him and slipped her gloved hand into his.
“Hey.”
“Hey, babe.” He released a long sigh.
“I’m glad you took the afternoon off to spend with us.” She pulled him closer. “But I can tell your mind is elsewhere. Wanna talk about it?”
“Wish I could, but I can’t. At least not yet. Just issues with the prototype.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Sometimes I wish I had retired when I had the chance.”
Jenna’s arms reached around his neck and tugged him down. “You? Retire? Yeah, right.” She pulled a little harder and stood on tiptoe.
As their lips met, he tried to focus on his wife, enjoy the moment.
She laughed and pulled away. “I don’t think you’ll ever be able to retire. You enjoy the thrill a little too much.”
“More like a headache right now.”
“Well, if I know you, Cole Maddox, and I do”—she wagged a finger at him—“I know you will figure it all out and save the world in the process.”
He grabbed her before she could get away. “Okay, little miss-know-it-all”—he kissed her soundly—“thanks for the boost of confidence.”
She sauntered away, a glimmer of triumph in her eyes. “You’re welcome. And I expect our date night tonight to be totally focused on you and me. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cole watched her walk over to Anesia. God sure had blessed him with that one. And she was right. His AMI problems could wait until later. Needed to focus on her now. He glanced over to the sleds. Sean went from dog to dog checking harnesses. Time Cole got to know the new guy. Zoya wasn’t herself and they needed to protect her.
“Understand it all yet?” He stuck his hand out. Anesia told him she’d received the background check and had hired Sean that morning. She also informed him that she’d spoken with Agent Philips about Sean. That re
lieved a lot of his worry, as had the news that Mr. Connolly was a Christian.
“Not remotely.” Sean received his handshake with a firm grip.
“Don’t worry. It took me months and plenty of eye-rolls from all four of those lovely ladies over there before I caught on.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t take that long, considering this is now my job and I’m being paid to learn this canine business.”
This guy was different. Seemed honest enough, but a little too polished. “So what brought you here, Sean?”
“A fresh start.”
“From what?”
“The family business.”
“Oh? Something you didn’t enjoy?”
The other man glanced at Anesia. “My boss knows the truth, and that’s enough.”
Truth? What truth? Hadn’t Agent Philips cleared this guy? That’s all he needed. Another mess to clean up. He must’ve been scowling because Sean held up his hands.
“It’s not what you’re thinking.”
He stiffened and his jaw clenched. No one messed with his family. “And what exactly am I thinking?”
“Let me start over. My name is Sean Connolly. Of the Boston Connollys. My father owns CROM.”
Open mouth. Insert foot.
Sean shook his head. “Sorry, Cole. You have every right to be concerned about your friends.”
Cole cleared his throat. “I’m the one who should apologize. I appreciate your honesty.”
Sean held his hand out for another shake. “Shall we begin again?”
“Yeah.” The grip was hearty and shared mutual respect. “But, we’ve got to get you to relax in your speech a little.”
A laugh was Sean’s response. “If you have a cure for thirty-seven years of grooming and breeding, I’d take it. But I’m afraid some things aren’t easily achieved.”
“You can say that again.”
“I was hoping that in my travels here, some of it would be erased, but I guess it’s still obvious.”
“How did you get here?”
“I walked.”
Cole sucked in too big a breath and choked on the icy air. “You what?”
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