Keeper of the Lambs

by Sue Clifton

  Be strong; fear not! God will save you!

  Chapter Twenty

  Cayce clicked off the satellite phone and threw it onto the counter, where it bounced twice before falling to the floor.

  “He’s not coming!”

  Ignoring her sister’s glare and the fallen phone, Cayce giant-stepped toward the walk-in freezer and scanned the shelves of ice cream.

  “Oreos and crème…too sweet! Raspberry, granola crunch delight…too healthy! Chocolate vanilla swirl…definitely too Joshua! Ah-ha! Huckleberry cheesecake with chocolate chunks and pecans! Sinful and perfect!” Cayce grabbed a large serving spoon, threw the top of the container to the counter, and stomped out of the kitchen, her western boots making more noise than a bull in cleats on a gym floor.

  Harri debated whether to follow, but she wanted to know what had caused the change of plans that put her sister in a state of fury. She reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a sugar-free, fat-free orange Jell-O, grabbed a small spoon befitting a demitasse instead of a regular-sized cup, and took short, dainty steps as she followed her sister to the front porch.

  Cayce rode the rocking chair like she was in the Derby while taking huge bites of ice cream as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks. She stomped her boots hard on the wood floor each time the chair returned her to a forward position. Her rocker didn’t walk; it galloped, and she was continually scooting it back in place to keep from running into the porch rail. She was nowhere near the finish line. She didn’t look up as Harri squeezed in front of her, careful not to be caught in the stampede, or pinned against the rail, and she took a seat on a settee as far away from Cayce as she could get and still be on the same end of the porch.

  Cayce had so much ice cream on her mouth she looked like a milk ad, but she chose to add to it rather than wipe it off.

  Harri sat quiet, taking tiny bites of her bland Jell-O, her mouth watering as she watched Cayce shovel in the ice cream. Finally, Harri could stand it no longer. She dropped her empty Jell-O carton on the floor and leapt from the settee.

  “Give me that carton. You don’t need to eat that whole thing, and I know you will if I don’t stop you.” Harri reached for it, but Cayce held it away from her.

  “Get your own ice cream, Harri. There’s a freezer full in there.”

  “I don’t want ice cream. I want you to stop having a temper tantrum and tell me what’s up with Cowboy Number One.” Harri reached again and was quick enough to grab the carton away from her this time.

  “Well, maybe I’ll just have a bite.” Harri walked back to her seat, digging deep in the carton to reach the ice cream with her small spoon.

  She put the whole piled-up spoonful in her mouth quickly before any dropped off the delicate shovel. Cayce, with mouth open under a big scowl, watched her sister in disgust and then jumped out of the rocking chair, allowing it to jerk as it continued rocking, and stormed back inside. In less than a minute, she stomped out carrying another carton of ice cream.

  “Red velvet cheesecake with swirls of real whipped cream! And don’t even think about snatching this one, Sista, or I’ll bite your hand off!” Cayce yelled the last part and clicked her teeth together in a biting gesture.

  The sisters sat for a few minutes eating in silence except for the smacking of lips and the oohs and ahs of bingeing in action. Cayce was halfway through the new carton when Hank pulled up at the hitching post. He got out of the truck, laughing at the sight of the two.

  After pulling out his handkerchief, he handed it to Cayce, who was still rocking so big she couldn’t catch hold of the handkerchief. Hank put his boot under one rocker, stopping her in mid-rock, her body leaning back precariously with her boots dangling above the floor.

  “I’ll have to admit I like your red velvet lips, but from the looks of the way that carton is going down, you’re going to be sick any minute.” Hank took the carton and held out his hand for the spoon she held in a death grip.

  “Shovel…please!” Hank kept his hand out.

  Cayce reluctantly swapped the spoon for the handkerchief Hank offered as a trade. Taking a seat in the rocker next to her, he began eating what was left of the ice cream as she wiped her mouth.

  “Let’s see now…” Hank spoke with his mouth full. “From the look on your face, not to mention the out-of-control rocker and the fact that you’ve consumed more than half a carton of ice cream, I’d say you’ve talked to Joshua.” Hank took another bite, keeping his gaze forward.

  “Too right, dude!” Harri chirped in with her own mouth so full the ice cream dribbled down her chin.

  “Cayce, let your sister borrow that handkerchief, like a good sister.” Hank still did not look at her as he put another big bite in his mouth.

  “She can get her own,” Cayce snarled at Harri, holding her hand up with pretend claws.

  “What? Get my own cowboy?” Harri smarted off without cracking a smile or looking up. “Why can’t I just have one of yours, Cayce?” She dug back into the carton after giving her chin a quick wipe with the back of her hand.

  Hank almost choked on his bite of ice cream and began a belly-roll laugh.

  “So you knew, huh?” Cayce shot daggers at Hank.

  “Whoa, now!” Hank held his hand up, still holding the oversized spoon and trying to regain his composure. “I had nothing to do with it. Joshua just told me he had to travel to Mexico. Something about a construction project proposal.”

  “Yeah, well, he’s had a lot of project proposals in the last few months.” Cayce left the rocker and stormed into the hotel.

  Hank looked at Harri, who just shrugged her shoulders as she continued consuming ice cream. Hank followed Cayce into the kitchen and found her busy washing her mouth and hands at the kitchen sink.

  Cayce dried her face and hands on a paper towel and turned when she heard Hank coming through the door. She walked to him, took the ice cream carton and spoon, and returned to the sink, where she dumped the little bit remaining into the disposal and turned it on. She left it going for so long Hank walked beside her and flipped the switch off.

  “Taking out your frustrations on the disposal?”

  “No!” Cayce huffed, and then turned to face Hank, leaning sideways against the sink with her arms folded. “Maybe!” she added, sounding like she really meant, “What’s it to you?”

  Hank leaned against the sink beside her. “Well, I used to be partners in a big commercial construction company like Joshua’s. When it ceased being fun, I sold my interest and came back to Idaho to ranch and start this small company. Big companies can be time-consuming and stressful, a deadly combination.”

  “It’s not just Joshua. I’m not sure how I feel about him anymore,” Cayce confessed. “He’s seemed so distant in the last few months, and…well, I guess I have, too. He asked me to come out here to see if I could figure out what was going on with the paranormal activity, and then he doesn’t show up. It’s almost like he’s afraid to come out here. I think he might be avoiding me, which is not a mature way to act, especially at our age.” Cayce noticed Hank had lowered his eyes to the floor. “Did something happen when Joshua was out here?”

  Hank stayed quiet for several seconds before responding. “He asked me not to tell you about this, Cayce. I feel like I’m betraying him.”

  “Please, Hank. I need to know what’s going on—if it’s me or something else. I’m a big girl. I can take it. Been here before.” Cayce pleaded with her eyes.

  “Okay. I’ll tell you, but you’re not going to like it, and maybe you won’t believe it, either.” Hank drew a breath.

  “We didn’t have the hotel this far along when Joshua was here, so Joshua set up an air mattress and a lawn chair and table in Absalom’s unfinished room in Belle’s quarters. You might like to know he had a picture of you on his table. Anyway, one day, he came out and seemed really different, like he had a lot on his mind. I asked him if anything was wrong, and he just shrugged.”

  “He wouldn’t confide in you?”

&n
bsp; “No. But he did ask me if I knew what happened to your picture. It had disappeared.”

  “Disappeared?” Cayce moved to a stool at the counter.

  “That’s what he said. Anyway, while Joshua was here, Belle was everywhere, kind of following Joshua around, and she wasn’t wearing black or a veil. In fact, she pretty much looked and acted like—pardon my language—a whore.” Hank took on a guilty look. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this, Cayce. I am going to call Joshua when I leave here and tell him I told you, even if it means I might be kicked off the project.”

  “Don’t tell me any more if you think it will jeopardize your job.” Cayce was concerned for Hank and all the work he had done to restore Bar None, even in the face of paranormal sabotage. No way did she want his job at risk.

  “No, I feel better I’m telling you, for some reason.” Hank sat on a stool and faced Cayce.

  “Joshua started acting really strange. He isolated himself in Absalom’s room and didn’t come out for three days. When he did come out, he looked like he had been through hell and back. He told me he had to leave. Said something about being possessed. He told me he wouldn’t be back any time soon and gave me carte blanche to finish the project. Joshua also made me promise to watch out for you while you’re here and not to let you or anyone stay in Belle’s quarters. That is the real reason it isn’t finished or furnished like the rest of the hotel.” Hank opened his hands and shrugged. “That’s all I can tell you.”

  “Basically, you’re telling me Joshua fell for a ghost whore, Madam Belle, and Belle might be angry at me since I had a relationship with Joshua. It’s pretty farfetched for anyone but me, but I have heard of it happening before.” Cayce propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her hands. “It really doesn’t matter that much. I’m glad you told me, Hank.” She touched Hank’s arm, letting her hand linger. “I’ve known my relationship with Joshua was coming to an end for a while, not all his fault. Harri and I would have come anyway. Joshua will always be a good friend, if nothing more, and Bar None is a historical and paranormal treasure.” Cayce left the stool and started toward the door, but then came back to Hank.

  “Wait a minute. Joshua told you not to let anyone stay in Belle’s quarters, but you and Zach shower there. Isn’t that a little risky?” Her face was a combination of a frown and a smile.

  “Truth?” Hank got an unusual look on his face.

  “You’ve felt something, haven’t you?” Cayce walked closer to Hank to gauge his reaction.

  “No.” Hank smiled and leaned close to Cayce’s face. “But Belle has…if you catch my meaning.” He laughed as he headed to the door, but had to sidestep as Harri bounded through holding her empty ice cream carton. Hank glanced back at Cayce, who stood with her hands on her hips and her mouth a flytrap of disbelief and shock.

  “I can’t believe you made me eat that. I’ll have to walk ten miles to get those calories off.” Harri headed to the disposal.

  “I made you eat it?” Cayce diverted her attention to her sister, but continued to glance back at Hank, who was still smiling.

  “Of course you did. I did you a favor by taking that away from you.” Harri threw the container into the garbage and rinsed her hands under the faucet. “You can thank me later, after I finish throwing up. Yuck!” Harri hurried out of the kitchen, shaking her hands to dry them.

  Cayce walked with Hank toward the porch. “I hope you warned Zach about Belle, since he showers in her quarters, too.”

  Hank smiled, as if enjoying Cayce’s concern with the exploits of the resident prostitute. “I think Belle likes older men.” Hank kept his eyes averted. “But you might want to warn Piper in case she’s concerned for Zach.”

  Cayce decided it was time to change the subject. “How far are your horses, Hank? I could use a nice long ride…you know, to put things in proper perspective.”

  “How about I go load up, and I’ll meet you back here in an hour.” Hank turned toward the door.

  With Hank’s quick reaction, it was obvious to Cayce he was pleased, perhaps even excited, by her suggestion. She hoped she was not giving him any ideas. But then…maybe that was exactly what she was doing.

  “But before I go, I need to leave something for you three ladies.” Hank walked to his truck and brought out a large, heavy box. Cayce held the door open, and Hank took the box inside and placed it on the center table.

  “These are wallpaper samples you three need to look at and decide which one should go in the parlor in Belle’s living quarters. Joshua’s orders.” Hank noticed Cayce’s frown and decided to rephrase his statement. “Sorry. I meant to say Joshua’s request. Actually, you can go ahead and pick out wallpaper for the bedrooms, as well—Belle’s room and Sara’s. Joshua told me to pick for Absalom’s room, but I’d just as soon you ladies pick that, as well.” Hank took out his pocketknife and cut the tape loose and folded back the flaps. “I’m not really into flowers.”

  “Wow! These are beautiful!” Cayce had her head in the box and was pushing aside rolls of wallpaper samples when Harri reentered the room.

  Cayce butted heads with Harri as they both began taking out rolls of mostly floral wallpaper, samples looking like they were left over from Victorian mansions.

  “What’s going on? Did I miss Christmas?” Piper and Zach came through the front door, and Piper immediately headed for her mom and aunt.

  “Wallpaper samples for Belle’s living quarters.” Harri held up a roll covered in tiny blue flowers. “How beautiful!”

  “And so authentic-looking!” Cayce brought out several rolls and lined them up on the center table.

  Piper stopped at the roll with the tiny blue flowers. She picked the roll up, removed the cellophane, and rolled out a yard or so, staring at it as if mesmerized.

  “This was in Sara’s room.” Piper made the statement matter of fact, never looking up at the others.

  “What?” Piper asked as she looked up and noticed the others staring at her. She rolled the paper back up and handed it to her aunt. “You don’t believe me? How about I show you?” Piper headed for the stairs, leaving everyone gawking after her, but no one moved. “Here.” Piper flipped through the sketch pad on her way back down the stairs. She laid the open pad down beside the blue-flowered wallpaper, and the whole group gathered around it, staring with mouths open.

  The scene Piper had sketched and then colored with art pencils was the tea party with two little girls seated at a child’s table, each drinking from a china teacup, pinkies held daintily up and crooked as the perfect little ladies of society. One little girl had long, golden ringlets pulled back from her face by a huge pink bow. The other little girl had her long, dark hair in waist-length pigtails that outlined a thin, pale face with bright blue eyes twinkling with forced happiness. The blonde girl wore a white cotton dress with little pink flowers embroidered on the round collar. The dark-haired girl wore a gown of soft cotton and lace, aqua blue like a reflection of her eyes. The background was a little girl’s bedroom with a beautiful tall four-poster bed looking as if it had sprung from the midst of a garden of thousands of tiny blue flowers.

  “Oh, my gosh! Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Harri looked at Cayce.

  “Probably so. It’s Sara and Teesh on Sara’s last day of life.” Cayce turned to Piper. “Piper, when did you do this?”

  “Actually, it was the last dream I sketched before leaving France. I distinctly remember thinking the little dark-haired girl was ill. She giggled, happy with her friend’s visit, but it was a weak giggle.” Piper picked up the sketch and looked at it closer. “I remember how tired she looked, but yet so happy. What a pleasant and unselfish child, like she was afraid of hurting her friend’s feelings if she got back in bed where she needed to be.”

  “From what Teesh said, Sara was always more concerned with others than with herself. Thinking of Teesh’s feelings would have been just like Sara.” Cayce picked up the roll and handed it to Piper.

  “It’s un
animous.” Piper looked at her mom and aunt, who nodded in agreement as Piper handed the roll to Hank. “This one is for Sara’s room.”

  “See if you can figure out the rest of the rooms. I’ll call the order in from my truck, and with luck, they’ll send it out today. This is a company specializing in authentic reproductions of historical wallpaper. They have warehouses full of it.”

  “Piper, look at the rest of these samples and see if you have a sense for Belle’s room, the parlor, and Absalom’s room.” Hank took out a felt pen and labeled Sara’s roll.

  Piper looked at each roll and began separating them as the group watched in awe.

  “This with the red roses is definitely for Belle’s bedroom.” Piper put her finger to her lips as if in deep thought as her eyes darted from roll to roll.

  “Yellow daisies is not exact, but is closer than anything in the box.” She held the roll up to Hank, who had his Sharpie ready. “Belle’s parlor.”

  “Black-eyed Susans…” Piper hesitated. “No… they’re sunflowers. Definitely in Absalom’s bedroom.” Piper hesitated again. “Because they remind him of what sometimes grew in and around cotton fields in Mississippi.”

  Cayce, Harri, and Hank stared at Piper, mouths open.

  “I saw it in a dream, but it was an older African-American man, someone from Absalom’s past…his father, I think…talking about a picture that once hung in his home. Not here…somewhere in a city. He was explaining how sunflowers attracted insects harmful to cotton plants.” Piper paused, putting her finger to her top lip as if thinking. “I even remember what he called the sunflowers—a ‘trap crop’—because they trapped insects. I never sketched that dream, but I never had it again. It seemed relatively unimportant compared to the other dreams I was having.” Piper handed the roll to Hank and headed up the stairs without any further explanation.