Fateful Fall Read online

  I ran a hand across the back of my neck. Was there enough room at the lodge for Ava and her partners? I pulled out my radio and called on the boss’s channel. “Mr. Connell, a bear did a number on the yurt on lot thirty-seven. Do we have room at the lodge for the private investigators?”

  The line crackled. “Are you kidding me?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Check with Fran.” Exasperation echoed in his voice, “There should be three rooms available, but I’m not sure if they were filled today.”

  “Copy. What do you want me to do about the yurt?”

  Mr. Connell sighed. “Make sure there’s no open food to draw that beast back. We’ll have to worry about cleanup after the festival, though. I need you doing other things right now.”

  “Copy.”

  “Send the investigative team my way once you get them situated.”

  “Will do.” I hooked the radio onto my jeans pocket and adjusted my hat.

  After a quick sweep-up of all the crumbs I found and a thorough pick-up of food wrapper debris, I returned to the lodge.

  I paused for a moment outside, surveying the lit lobby through the large picture windows. Ava sat rod-straight on one of the couches around the massive stone fireplace. The two other women were chatting back and forth beside her, but she didn’t seem to be listening to their conversation.

  Troubled. That’s what I’d call the look she cast at the fire. Was it more than the bear situation? She pinched her mouth together and ran her hand over her lips.

  One of the other women, Ms. Rory, I think, watched Ava as the third one talked.

  I grasped the brass door handle, took a quick breath of leafy musk, and hurried to them.

  Ava slid her eyes to mine with a quick flash of interest. But I couldn’t afford for her to notice me. Not now. Even if she was already on my radar too. “The Bear is gone, but the yurt is out of commission. I’m going to get with our manager and arrange some new rooms for you all. You’re more than welcome to have dinner on the house in our restaurant while you wait.”

  All three women raised their brows as they eyed each other.

  Ava turned back to me. “How long do you think it’ll be? We need to—get set up.”

  “I’m aware of your position here.” I took my hat off and toyed with the curve in the top. A nervous bad habit.

  They were off the couch in a heartbeat.

  Ava lowered her voice. “Keep it tight, mister. No one is to know our position here.”

  I balked. Tough woman. But I knew my place. She didn’t need to put me in it. My tone threatened to bite back at her. “I’m aware of that. Take the elevators at the end of that short hall.”

  As they retreated down the hall, I took a second to calm the maelstrom in my gut.

  Now to deal with the office manager.

  My eyes didn’t cooperate when I tried to turn from the women and head to the office. Or, should I say, my brain. It was going woman-crazy—a place I’d promised never to go again. All because of Ava’s hazel eyes.

  3

  Ava

  Cowboy Cory looked like he wished he’d had a third eye on the back of his head to stare at me a little longer. But I wasn’t any better. I hadn’t stopped thinking about him since he left. That wasn’t a good thing when it came to this investigation. I needed full absorption into this case. How was I going to get in the zone if he kept my attentions astray with his tilted cowboy hat and a flirty smirk to match it?

  My stomach gurgled as I tried to avoid the yummy platters passing our table on the way to others. When Shauna said she wanted to be in charge, I should have picked up on the fact that it meant we’d be doing a lot of campfire cooking. And who was I to dampen her spirits now? I’d already taken my frustrations out on her way too much. Better to let her have a little fun and do the cooking outside.

  Setting my glass down, I pressed my lips together and tried to look any place but at Cory, who walked across the high-gloss hardwood floor of the Stone Ridge Restaurant where we were only to have tea.

  Shauna snorted. “Nice try, Ava.”

  “What?” If I even dared look in her direction, Shauna would know the thoughts I was trying to keep at bay.

  Jillian wiped her mouth and set her paper napkin on the table. Her hunched back and folded arms helped her fade a little more into the dim lighting. Just the way she liked it.

  A half-smile lurked on my lips as I watched my dear friend.

  Cory leaned on the table. I forced my eyes to move up his wool shirt to his dark five o’clock shadow. I managed to pass his full bottom lip but stopped at his cheekbones.

  “No dinner?”

  Shauna sat forward and grabbed her own glass of tea. “No. We’re going to grill over a fire a little later, after we talk to the boss.”

  I nodded and hoped I could wait that long to eat, but the gremlins in my stomach were making their hunger known. “Can’t wait.” Time to get to business. I trained my eyes forward. “Were you able to find a new room for us? I can imagine the imposition this is causing everyone.”

  Shauna smacked my arm.

  “We had a family reunion cancel their reservations, so you’re in luck. There’re three rooms in a row on the first floor.”

  Luck? There was no such thing as luck. God had His fingers in everything, and I was more than glad to offer Him praise for saving me from the wild. “Oh, we don’t mind sharing. That’ll give you more rooms for other guests.”

  Cory hooked his thumb in his belt loop. “The boss insists.”

  Yay. I didn’t bother to hide a beaming smile.

  Jillian pushed her chair away from the table and stood. “I have research to work on.”

  “Let me help you with your things.” He handed a key to each of us. As we passed the lobby, he snagged a hotel luggage cart and followed us to the SUV.

  I stood back as Cory insisted on picking up the heaviest items and arranging them in neat layers. “We can handle this—really.”

  “I’m sure you can.”

  I moved close to him as he turned to set down a computer bag. He faltered and reset his balance, widening his stance. I didn’t back down. When I’d worked at my father’s home repair business, I’d never let the guys baby me, and I wasn’t going to let him either. “I’ve carried table saws, even work benches, twice the weight of the heaviest suitcase here.”

  “Good for you.” He continued moving things.

  I was close enough to punch him. I blinked. Where’d that thought come from? Would it kill me to accept his help? Well…I pulled the last bag away before he grabbed it. He narrowed his eyes but kept his mouth shut.

  Muscles rippling against his rolled-up sleeves, Cory guided the cart to the entrance. I looked through the window to check the backseat. A couple of empty candy wrappers littered the corner. Jillian wouldn’t like it if we left them there.

  Shauna stood back and dusted her hands. “Anything else?”

  “Wait.” I did my best to reach over the seat and not put my derriere in too much view. Cowboy didn’t need a second look. Scooping up the trash, I got out as fast as I could and deposited it in a trashcan by the front door. “Let’s not keep the cowboy waiting.”

  4

  Cory

  These women were getting under my skin in more ways than one. I gritted my teeth.

  “I’m not a cowboy,” I called over my shoulder. Well, the persona fit, but still. “If you’ll follow me.”

  Ava fell into step beside me, glancing at my hat and scrunching her lips to the side. So, she didn’t believe me. And why was I saying I wasn’t a cowboy when that’s exactly what I wanted everyone to see?

  Jillian grasped her computer bag between clenched hands.

  Holding the lobby door open, Ava waited for me to enter. “Once we’ve met with the client, I need a tour of the farm.”

  I scratched my ear. Should I dress down the woman or acquiesce to her demand? I had a bunch of other things to do that did not include showing her around. I looked up to the heavens. Please let the boss get one of the other guys to do it.

  But what could it hurt to take her for a tour? I drew up short as a child ran in front of the luggage cart. I pressed on once the little girl was a safe distance away.

  Ava had been all business from the moment we met. And her strong-arm tactics proved she wasn’t interested in giving me a second glance. Even if she tried, I’d kept things to myself for so long, she wasn’t going to shake me any easier than anyone else had. Should I humor her? I could ask another farmhand to pitch in with the horses. Knowing Mr. Connell, I’d be the only person he’d trust to show these women the farm. “I have to clear it with the boss, but maybe I can spare a half hour after your meeting with Mr. Connell.”

  Ava took a step back as the child circled her and giggled. With a small wave, she grinned at the tow-headed girl. Aspiring mom? Whoa—like that mattered. I locked my eyes straight ahead.

  My radio screeched. I held a hand up to the three women and took a few steps away.

  “Cory, send Rob out to take care of the horses.” John Connell’s voice echoed through the static. So, I got the short straw as predicted. If Rob was taking over my horse duties, I was not getting out of playing tour guide and water boy. Please, let it not be for the whole week.

  I eyed Ava then turned my back on her and lowered the volume on my radio. “Are you sure? I don’t mind handling the horses if you want someone else to stick with the ladies.”

  “We don’t want to keep you from your work,” Ava piped in.

  Eavesdropper. Must come with the territory. I stepped away further and glowered. I didn’t want to be her guide, but why didn’t she want me to do it?

  “I trust you best with them,” Mr. Connell spoke again.

  Code for he knew I
would keep my mouth shut.

  I turned in time to see Ava move closer but waved her away and pulled off my hat. “Copy, sir. I’ll let Rob know.”

  I tucked away the radio and put the hat back on. It was going to be difficult enough to keep to myself with thousands of people traipsing through the farm for the festival over the next week. How was I going to manage it with a murder investigation added to the mayhem?

  5

  Ava

  The last time someone shooed me away, I was a little kid. I rested my hands on my hips and gritted my teeth. What was with this guy? When he turned back to me, I pressed a smile on my lips and ignored him.

  The cute little girl did another spin before running to a woman with matching golden locks. I applauded her before strolling back to my partners, who’d fallen in line behind Cory.

  A glance at Jillian told me how badly she needed to get to her room and have solitude for a good three hours, minimum. Too bad we had one more stop to make before that would be possible. My friend’s eyes darted from side to side like a wild mouse in a cage. I counted the number of deep breaths she took. It was almost a miracle we’d gotten her to leave the house to begin with.

  Cory stopped the cart and held out his hand to me. “Key card.”

  “I’ve got it.” I pulled it out of my pocket, thrust the card over the entry box on the natural pine-colored door, and waited for the lights to turn green.

  His shoulders stiffened as I tried to hold the door open for him to move the cart into the room.

  Jillian and Shauna pulled out their own cards and headed down the hall. Shauna waved. “See you in a minute.”

  With my partners gone, I wrapped my arms around my body. I was alone. In the room with Cory. I cleared my throat.

  He didn’t seem to notice my discomfort—or didn’t care. “Which ones of these are yours?”

  I moved back to the door and pulled it open, propping it against my foot. “That red one with the puppies all over it and the white laundry basket.”

  He finagled the red suitcase free and rearranged the other bags so they wouldn’t fall.

  I pulled the door back as far as I could to allow him to pass. “Thanks.”

  As he began to head out the door, he stopped mere inches from me in the narrow hallway. Talk about uncomfortable. He stood so close I could smell his delicious leather and horse scent. “I’ll take you up to the manor if you’re ready.”

  Think. Think. A shaky breath later, I thought about what he said. Oh. I needed a few minutes to check my hair and clean up. “Maybe in fifteen minutes?”

  He scowled.

  What now? “OK, ten.”

  Cory gave a curt nod and disappeared into the next room.

  He didn’t think I was trying to control his time, did he? Now, why would I do that?

  I had a long night ahead if he acted like this already.

  I pushed away the train of thoughts. Get ready. Do the work. Forget about him—or at least try.

  At the full-length mirror, I threw my hands to my cheeks. No wonder he’d laughed when we first met. Lots of frizzies haloed my face and I had a shoe print on my lower thigh. From Jillian when we’d scrambled into the SUV. What in the world? Why hadn’t my buddies let me know I looked like a freak out of a zombie movie? Grr.

  I rushed to grab my toiletry bag. It was going to take lots of hairspray tonight. Must be the windy mountain atmosphere.

  After wiping down my leg, I hung up the damp cloth and hurried to the hall.

  I hadn’t even scanned the room for amenities or anything. Oh well, later I’d check it out. Anything was better than the yurt.

  Twenty minutes later, we followed Cory’s truck as he turned onto the main road. Ha. How was that for Cory’s time schedule? And it wasn’t me but Shauna who’d made us late.

  I scanned the darkened countryside around the tiny road that was barely two lanes wide. Lights danced here and there on the mountainside.

  When a semi barreled past us, I flinched. I could’ve touched it without even extending my arm out the window too far. Soon Cory’s beat-up truck turned right. We passed animal pens and a large, red and black barn that needed a new coat of paint. The fencing gave way to gnarled hedges.

  I wasn’t disappointed when we parked in front of an antebellum house. It had to have seen the Civil War.

  Jillian remained seat-belted, her cell phone already in her hand. “I’ll wait for you out here. Bet I can find out some interesting things about this old farm while you’re in there.”

  I nodded, gaze trained on the wide double-deck porches along three sides of the house. “I’ll take pics of anything interesting. Come on, Shauna.”

  My fingers grazed the old brick as we stood at the door and waited to be ushered in. I wouldn’t mind lounging with a good book on one of the many white rocking chairs. And the fans hanging from the porch ceiling at just the right intervals must have made a hot summer evening bearable.

  Light fell across my face as the door opened. I looked up at a woman who must be a good four inches taller than me. Her fine, gray hair curled in an almost twenties-style bob. Her sharp gaze took us all in and spit us back out. Was she going to slam the door in our faces?

  Cory held his ground. “Ma’am…umm, Mrs. Connell, we’re here to see Mr. Connell.”

  The woman widened her shrew-like eyes. “It’s dinner time. Can’t you come back later?”

  I snapped to full attention.

  “Ma’am, he requested they see him as soon as they were settled.”

  “Well, you stay on the porch.”

  Was that a German accent? It was subtle, but definitely there.

  I tried to hold a blank stare, but it was hard. What had transpired to make Mrs. Connell so prejudiced against Cory? Was it the same cocky attitude that had me on edge?

  Shauna touched my arm and raised an eyebrow.

  I startled. “What?”

  My partner swung out her hand. “Go.”

  “All right.”

  Shauna’s tone had an edge to it. Was she still mad about earlier?

  A chill ran up my arms as we entered the expansive foyer. Was I walking into a home or a cold mausoleum?

  6

  Ava

  Between the void of darkness beyond the entryway and the musty stench of old furniture, I wished I’d stayed on the porch with Cory instead of following Mrs. Connell into the bowels of the ancient house. With the darkness touching us, we had no choice but to stay very close behind her until the light from some back room began to show across the almost black-stained, wood floor.

  We passed a stairwell encompassing a large portion of the front of the house. The stairs twisted around and around like a snake until they ended on the third floor. I could only tell this because there was a window throwing beams of moonlight across them.

  Mrs. Connell deposited Shauna and I in the parlor and left without a word.

  The furniture was a bit ragged. Surprising.

  Centered against one wall, a mustard-yellow couch sagged and a doily half-covered a hole in the arm. Should we sit or remain standing? With phone in hand, I snapped a few pictures of the room: framed photos, the bookshelves of antique books, some trophies that ranged from horse shows to fox chases to archery, and gun competitions.

  Fried apples with cinnamon wafted our way from somewhere across the hall. I could go for a bowl of warm applesauce and graham crackers right now.

  About to snap another shot, movement in the hall caught my attention. I thrust the phone into my purse.

  Mr. Connell scuttled in, hands in his pockets. Red circles the size of lunch bags hung under his eyes. The pain of loss had wreaked havoc on his drooped body, which seemed to cave in on itself like an old cartoon character. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have assumed this fifty-five-year-old in front of me was Mrs. Connell’s husband, not her son. His cream-colored dress shirt—ironed to perfection—fit in an office setting, not a large working farm where mud usually caked every crevice.

  I crossed the room, hand extended. “Mr. Connell?”

  “You can call me John. Thanks for coming.” He gestured over his shoulder. “I’m sure Mother was less than welcoming. I apologize…she’s that way with everyone.”