CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Guilt over his snooping that morning made Ty feel uneasy, and he wondered if he should confess to Beth. Plus, he was curious about why she had left the police force. He supposed he could ask her that without confessing, but it seemed dishonest.
Sometime today he would find the time to talk to her and hoped she would understand. That seemed unlikely, since even he really didn’t understand his motive. It had been pure whim.
No, that was a lie. He knew exactly why he’d snooped. Beth Dearborn was a woman with secrets, and that scared the holy crap out of him, because Lorilee had also been a woman with secrets. He didn’t want to lose another woman that way…
Until he learned the truth about Lorilee, he would always wonder. Would he ever stop wondering? Doubting? Would Beth ever trust him enough to reveal her secrets?
As he completed his early morning chores with Cecil, his thoughts kept drifting back to the night of lovemaking with Beth. The woman was full of surprises, and he had never felt as close to anyone. Something very unique had passed between them—something he’d never experienced before and had no way to define or describe, even to himself.
All he knew was he wanted it to happen again.
And again.
He needed to think a lot about exactly what that meant, and what she meant to him. How could she possibly fit into his life? Would she want to? A bigcity homicide detective living on a farm in Tennessee seemed unlikely as hell.
But she’d left that life for some reason. So, maybe she wanted something else. Something more. Maybe she wanted Ty Malone.
Did he want her on a permanent basis?
He stopped mucking out Cissy’s stall and leaned on the pitchfork’s handle. She seemed a little distant with the kids, except for Sarah, though she and Pearl sure hit it off well.
His empty belly churned. Coffee and stomach acid made poor partners when stress was thrown into the mix.
What the hell was he thinking? Premature thoughts for sure. Legally, at least, Ty Malone was still a married man.
First things first.
He needed to help Beth complete this investigation to prove his wife was dead, so Lorilee could rest in peace and her reputation could be restored in the community for the sake of their children. That was Sarah’s wish, and the reason he’d filed the life-insurance claim and petitioned the court.
And what had brought Beth here. He smiled to himself.
“Hmm. The kinda look you got on your face this mornin’ makes me curious.” Cecil’s voice interrupted Ty’s thoughts. The older man filled Cissy’s trough with fresh water and gave Ty a questioning glance. “I ain’t stupid, Ty. Me ‘n Pearl both noticed the heat passin’ between you two.”
Ty knew better than to dodge Cecil. The man knew him better than anyone, and had been like a second father to him since his return to Tennessee. He tipped back his hat and met the man’s gaze. “Did you, now?”
“Sure. Kinda hard to miss, son.” Cecil grinned and winked knowingly. “And Ms.—I mean, Beth—is a fine-lookin’ woman.”
“That’s a fact.” Ty smiled. “And competent.”
Cecil laughed out loud. “Competent?”
“At investigating.” Ty tried to keep his expression bland, but he knew Cecil was on to him. “What are you getting at, old man? Just say it.”
“Oh, she’s definitely good at her job. Ain’t nobody denyin’ that.” Cecil leaned his elbow against the stall door while the filly nursed and Cissy ate the sweet feed he’d given her. “But I don’t think that’s what’s got you makin’ owl eyes after her every move, son.”
Ty had to grin at Cecil’s word choice. “Point taken,” he said. “I’ll bet breakfast is about ready.”
“I reckon.” Cecil’s expression grew solemn, and as Ty exited the stall, he placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “Just be careful, Ty.”
Ty nodded, not trusting his voice. Cecil would know immediately if he lied. And he wasn’t ready to tell the old man it was too late for him to “be careful.”
He was already in too deep.
Professor Sam Dearborn looked at the rental-car company’s map again. “What the devil have you gotten me into this time, Beth?”
A major tornado had damaged the campus enough to warrant an early end to spring semester classes. As far as Sam was concerned, it was fate, because he was meant to make this trip sooner. The damage was confined to academic buildings, and the students were ecstatic about the short break to prepare for final exams.
And Sam had decided to take this opportunity to check up on Cousin Beth.
She worried him. And they were the only family either of them had left. He’d made a vow to help her stay clean and sober, and she insisted the only way to do that was to avoid empathic encounters.
So here he was in Bumfuck, Tennessee. Correction—he couldn’t even find Bumfuck on the damned map!
He looked down at the gas gauge—still more than half-full. What was it Dad used to say? If you have gas in the car, you aren’t lost. He smiled in remembrance and looked at the map again as another pickup truck sped past him on the two-lane highway.
Of course, if he’d been able to fly into Knoxville and drive in through Brubaker, he wouldn’t be having this problem. But the damaged bridge had required him to approach from the opposite direction. The rental car clerk had seemed competent enough when she’d traced his route with a green marker, so he concentrated on those marks and looked at the road sign ahead.
He was heading the right direction. It looked as if his turnoff to the Malone place should be right over the next hill. “Just momentary panic.” He cleared his throat and glanced at his cell phone again. Ah, finally he had a weak signal. Since he was pulled over onto the shoulder, he decided to warn his cousin of his pending arrival.
“Dearborn,” she answered.
“Didn’t look at caller ID?” he asked. She usually used his name immediately upon answering.
“Sam!” Her voice sounded odd. Strained. Or maybe she had a cold. “I was about to call you.”
“Well, get ready for a surprise. If I’m reading this map right, I should be at the Malone farmhouse within half an hour or so.”
Silence.
“Beth?”
“I’m here.”
“I thought you wanted me to come.”
“I do.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything.”
“Beth? Speak English.”
“Things are getting strange here.”
Sam laughed. “Honey, our entire lives have been strange. We’re strange.”
“True.” She sighed. “Someone cut the brake lines on my car, first.”
“You’re all right?” His heart slammed into his chest. “No accident?”
“No, I’m fine.” She sighed into the phone. “And then a sniper took a shot at me last night.”
“Somebody definitely doesn’t want you around, my dear.”
“No shit.”
“I…I…can’t.”
“Can’t?”
More silence.
“Beth?”
“I don’t want to leave.”
Sam let his head fall back against the headrest. “It’s the man. This Ty person. Isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Another sigh. “I think it’s serious, Sam. I’m scared.”
Makes two of us. Sam didn’t want anything or anyone to push his cousin off the wagon, but if she had a shot at true happiness, he was all for it. All he knew for certain was that he had to meet this man.
“What are you more worried about now, Beth?” he asked. “The spirit in the house, or this relationship?”
“Both.” She cleared her throat. “Sam, I’m more and more convinced that the spirit in the foyer is Ty’s wife.”
“Why do you believe that?”
“I’ve been dreaming about her.”
“Explain.”
“She’s trying to contact me when I’m asleep.”
“You aren’t as capable of shutting her out then.”
“Exactly.”
“She knows you’re there and knows you can communicate with her.” Sam tapped his long fingers on the steering wheel. “Let’s finish this in person. I want to meet Ty Malone. And the spirit, if she’ll engage me.”
“I want that, too,” Beth said. “More than you can imagine.”
Oh, Sam could imagine. He’d been the one to carry Beth into the treatment facility, to sit beside her through the tremors that ravaged her body as she withdrew from alcohol. He’d sat with her through counseling sessions, through AA meetings…
He could definitely imagine.
“I’m here now, Beth. I’m here.” He chuckled and glanced at the map again. “Well, almost.”
“Drive carefully. And thanks, Cuz.”
Sam disconnected and eased off the shoulder and back onto the highway—what passed for one in this part of Tennessee, anyway. He hit an open stretch and increased his speed, hoping to find the turnoff soon and make up for lost time.
He glanced in his rearview mirror as he crested the next small hill and saw flashing lights. Seven miles over? He should’ve known when the rental agency gave him a car with New York plates that this would happen.
Resigned to being even later than planned, he pressed on the brake and pulled back onto the shoulder. The state trooper pulled up behind him, climbed out of his car, tugged on his belt, and started toward Sam’s rental.
He sank lower in his seat, thinking about the old Charlie Daniels song, “Uneasy Rider.” Good God, he was even driving a Chevrolet. Sam glanced in his mirror again. He definitely should’ve lost the ponytail and earring before this trip.
“Mornin’,” the trooper greeted as Sam lowered the Chevy’s automatic window. “Where you headed in such an all-fired hurry, boy?”
Boy? Sam forced a tight smile. “I’m looking for the Malone Farm. Am I lost?” He didn’t acknowledge that he’d been over the speed limit. He’d either get ticketed or he wouldn’t.
“Yes, sir.”
“Next left turn. You’re almost there.” The trooper leaned against the car, sunlight reflecting off his mirrored sunglasses. He grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I’m not gonna write you a ticket today, because just seein’ that hair and bling of yours is enough entertainment to make my day. You got balls, boy. New York plates and a damn ponytail. Don’t that beat all?” He laughed and shook his head. “Just ease back on that pedal some. Lots of slow farm equipment pulling on and off this stretch of road. Hear?”
Still chuckling, the alleged officer of the law made his way back to his vehicle and drove away.
“Entertainment, is it?” Sam figured he should be insulted, but at least the asshole had said he had balls. “Damn right.”
At least now he knew he was on the right road. “I’m coming, Beth. Hang in there.”
The children chattered enough about the new filly to keep breakfast from being as strained as it might have been, considering. Beth’s mind was occupied, awaiting Sam’s arrival, but she was also busy listening to Bill and Ruby Brubaker’s conversation.
Why was Grandma Ruby so adamant that Beth not investigate Lorilee’s disappearance? Why had she convinced Bill not to have the letter analyzed when it first arrived? It didn’t make sense. Family wanted answers about the people they loved when they disappeared. If Beth had learned anything during her years of investigative work, that was it. Whether it was missing persons or homicides, families wanted answers.
And Ruby had convinced Lorilee’s father to stop looking for those answers. There had to be a reason, and Beth had a hunch—nothing else to go on—that Ruby’s reason might prove important. At any rate, Beth’s detective antennae were buzzing.
The moment the meal was finished, all three children dragged both grandparents out to the barn to visit the new filly. Ty had appointed them the job of naming the new addition. Cecil went along to ensure Cissy didn’t object to all the attention. Ty promised to join them shortly.
Beth’s bullshit detector went on alert. He was lagging behind for a reason, and she was willing to bet it had something to do with her. Pearl went to work cleaning the breakfast dishes and refused Beth’s offer of help, so she headed into the parlor, wondering if Sam had managed to get lost despite his assurances that he was so close.
She stood gazing out the front window and felt Ty’s presence behind her. They hadn’t spoken privately since early this morning, right after she’d caught him investigating her online. Of course, he didn’t know she knew.
“What are you staring at?” he asked, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
She squeezed her eyes shut and rested her cheek against one of his hands. “Nothing at all. Just thinking.” She turned to face him. “Thank you for trusting me with the Colt, Ty.”
“I know you’ll take good care of it.” He rested his hands at her waist, his thumbs gently caressing her lower ribs. “How’s your bruise?”
“Sore, but it will heal. Could’ve been worse.”
“Yeah.” He blanched. “Tell me about it.”
She saw genuine dread in his eyes, and heard it in his voice. “Thank you for caring.” She kissed him very quickly. “Was that Colt your father’s?”
He nodded. “Dad was in Nam. When he was discharged with a Purple Heart and a Meritorious Service Medal, his commander presented him with it as personal thanks.”
“It’s very special. I’ll be extra careful with it.” She grasped his arms, just above his elbows. “There are things you don’t know about me, Ty—things about my past.”
“Quick change of subject,” he said quietly. “Is it bad?”
“It’s…hard for most people to believe.” She smiled and drew a deep breath. “My cousin is arriving this morning. In fact, he should’ve been here by now.”
“Cousin?”
“Yes, his name is Sam.” She stepped away from Ty and back to the window. “He’s a college professor. Philosophy.” She shot a wry grin over her shoulder.
“Philosophy?” Ty arched an eyebrow. “Okay. So why is he coming to Tennessee, Beth? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Ty…I know you googled me this morning,” she said without really thinking. His shoulders fell, and the guilty expression on his face almost made her laugh. “Ty?”
“That’s why I sent everybody out to the barn. The guilt is killing me.” He pressed his lips into a thin line and exhaled slowly. “I don’t know what made me do it. The computer was there, and I was checking weather—farmers do that. The next thing I knew, I’d typed your name into the search engine.”
She tilted her head to one side. He seemed sincere, but she sensed there was more. “And…?”
“I guess I wondered why you gave up the glamorous life as a hero to work as an insurance-company dick.” He flashed her a sheepish grin.
“That’s understandable, and part of what I need to explain.” She sighed. “And what Sam will help me explain once he arrives.”
He narrowed his eyes, his grasp on her waist tightening. “Beth, does this have anything to do with what happened the first time you walked in this house?”
“Yes.” She swallowed hard, trying not to remember.
“And what you told me last night about having to ‘show’ me?”
“Yes again.” She shook her head very slowly. “None of this will be easy for you to understand or accept, but it may give both of us a lot of answers.”
“I trust you,” he said, and pulled her into his into the warmth of his embrace. He kissed the top of her head, the lobe of her ear. “Mmm.”
“I wish we could disappear upstairs together for a while,” she whispered.
“Are you reading my mind?” Ty chuckled low.
Guilty pleasure at sharing his feelings oozed through her. “Mmm, something like that.” How would he feel about knowing just how much he’d shared with her last night?
He held her at arm’s length and gazed into her eyes. “A Chevy screaming rental with New York plates is creeping up the drive.”
“Sam!” Beth started toward the front door, then remembered why she couldn’t. “Damn.” She did an about-face and raced toward the kitchen and the mudroom door, but not before she received the whispered plea from the foyer loud and clear.
“Help me.”