Once again she found herself alone in the bedroom with Cord. But there was one big difference. This time she knew these were Cord’s lodgings while he worked for the shelter. She’d lain on his bed and cried into his pillow.
“I’m sorry if Brock bothered you. His mother phoned me while I was out running errands. She reminded me I’d promised to help him. I tried to make it back before she got here, but she beat me to it.”
“He’s very cute and no bother at all.” Kit folded her arms. “Why didn’t you tell me the shelter allows you to live here? I’m not going to stay, you know. I couldn’t possibly do so after realizing what you’ve sacrificed for me.”
His jaw stiffened. “You make it sound like I’d committed a crime.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“You needed a bed, and I was the one who could give it to you. It’s that simple.”
Heat filled her cheeks. “No, it’s not.”
He cocked his head. “For your information, I divide my time between the cottage and my own house. You’re not the first tenant to have to stay out here because the mansion is full, and you won’t be the last.”
“But you live here because you’re supposed to be on the premises to provide security!”
After a pause, he stated, “Mac covers nights and weekends. As I told you before, I do all kinds of work around here besides security. In fact, I do whatever needs doing, even if it means giving up my bed for a week. The point is, I have a home. You don’t.
“So as Brock often says to me, chill out. Take advantage of the privacy while you can. When you’re assigned a room in the mansion, you’ll have to share it with three other women.”
“Uncle Cord? When are you coming?” His nephew was obviously anxious to get going.
“Right now.” Cord was still staring at Kit. “Don’t try to leave,” he whispered. “Dwayne’s out in the garden. He’ll follow you and bring you back.”
Cord sounded playful, but his eyes weren’t smiling. Kit knew he meant what he said, and she felt a little shiver across her skin. Unable to sustain eye contact, she looked away. “How am I ever going to repay you?”
“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”
In the next instant he was gone.
TROUBLED BY CONFLICTING emotions, Cord climbed in his Land Rover and took off, almost forgetting Brock was in the car with him.
When they reached the freeway his nephew said, “That cleaning lady is a Webelos leader.”
“I heard.” He drew in a deep breath. “For your information she’s not a cleaning lady.” Cord had yet to know exactly who she was and what she wanted. “What did you two talk about?”
Brock’s blond head turned to him. “Nothing. Is she your girlfriend? She said she wasn’t, but I bet she is.”
Intrigued by his nephew’s comment, he asked, “Why do you say that?”
“I don’t know. I won’t tell anybody if you want to keep it a secret.”
Cord gripped the wheel tighter. “She’s not my girlfriend. Kit is one of the women staying at the shelter. Since there wasn’t another bed available, I put her in the cottage.”
Talking to Kit had been so easy he’d almost made the mistake of telling her Ben was away on business, thus the reason Brock was going through a hard time right now and needed Cord’s support.
“Ew.”
He frowned. “What do you mean, ‘ew’?”
“You know.”
“No, I don’t think I do. Maybe you’d better explain.” When nothing was forthcoming he said, “Brock? I’d like an answer.”
“Homeless people are dirty. You don’t know where they’ve been.”
“Who’s been talking to you like that?”
“My friends.”
“I don’t know where you’ve been today, but I don’t think of you as dirty.”
“I’m different.”
“Really. Tell me how.”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because I didn’t sleep in a park where dogs go to the bathroom.”
Cord kept a firm grip on his frustration. “Where would you sleep if you had no friends or family, no home, no money, no nothing?”
The boy bowed his head. “I don’t know.”
“Seems to me a park might look like a pretty good place if I were tired and needed to lie down.”
“Do you think she slept in a park before she came here?”
“Kit stayed at the Salvation Army last night.” Maybe that was a lie, considering she’d gone back to the bus depot for her suitcase. Cord would check later to learn the truth.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
“Then how come she’s staying at the shelter today?”
Good question, Brock. I’d like the answer to that myself. “She heard about us when she got off the bus from California.”
“California? Why did she leave?”
That was something else Cord wanted to know. “I have no idea.”
“Don’t they have shelters there?”
“Of course.”
“It’s kind of weird she’d come all the way to Salt Lake.”
His nephew was reading his mind. “She must have had her reasons.”
“Maybe she got divorced.”
That was quite a leap, but an understandable one in light of the fact that Brock’s parents were having marital problems right now. It was time to change the subject.
“Why don’t you tell me about the requirements for the Forestry badge? When we get to the house, we’ll get started on one of them.”
Brock reached in his backpack for the book. “It says the Forester badge.”
“Same thing.”
“Identify six forest trees common to the area where you live. Tell how both wildlife and humans use them. If you don’t live in a region that has forests, read about one type of forest and name six of its trees and their uses.” He put the book down. “Do you think there are six kinds of trees near your house?”
Cord nodded. “I can think of a dozen right off.”
“This is going to be easy! What are they?”
“That’s for you to find out.”
“Won’t you tell me one?”
“A subalpine fir.”
“A what?”
“You’ll find out.”
“How?”
“When we reach the house, you can take my digital camera and explore the property, taking pictures of trees. After you’ve found six different kinds, come back and we’ll print them out. Then you can look up trees on the computer and match them.”
His nephew frowned. “But you already know what they are!”
Cord eyed him thoughtfully. “I’m not the one getting the badge.”
“You sound just like Dad. I wish he didn’t have to go to Switzerland.”
“Your father will be back before you know it.”
“I wanted to go with him.”
“I’m sure he would have liked to take you, but you’re still in school.”
“It’ll be out in two days. I could have missed this last week.”
“Not a good idea, Brock.”
“Ryan gets to leave school all the time to go on trips with his parents.”
“You’ve got all summer to have fun.”
“It’s not going to be any fun.”
Cord felt his nephew’s pain. “Sure it will.”
A hopeful look sprang into Brock’s eyes. “Did Dad tell you he’s changed his mind about running in the election?”
By now Cord needed a little inspiration. “Let’s put it this way. He hasn’t made an announcement yet.”
Brock’s face fell. “That means he’s going to. How come he doesn’t love us anymore?”
“Of course he does.”
His nephew slumped down in his seat. “No, he doesn’t. He can never do anything ’cuz he’s always too busy. I heard Mom tell Aunt Carol that if he comes home and says he’s going to run for office, she’s taking us to Colorado Sprin
gs to live.”
Good grief.
“She didn’t mean it, Brock.”
“Yes, she did. She was crying when she said it.” Tears had started trickling down Brock’s cheeks. “I bet they get a divorce like Shawn’s parents.”
“No. They won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your parents love each other.”
“Mom told Aunt Carol that Daddy doesn’t love her anymore.”
“Your dad’s a lot like your grandpa McFarland. Work is their escape. That’s what’s wrong.”
“How come they have to escape?”
“Because they feel bad.”
He sniffed. “What about?”
Cord was getting into deep water here, but maybe it was time to stop babying Brock. “When our little sister got stolen, your grandma changed.”
His nephew didn’t say anything for a long time. Finally, he asked, “How?”
“She cried every day for weeks and months.” Years… “She sort of lost the will to live. One day I heard your dad tell her, ‘You’ve got us, Mom,’ but she just stayed in her room and kept crying.”
Cord drew in a breath, still feeling that painful moment as if it were yesterday.
After another minute of silence, Brock turned his head to look at Cord. “I guess you and Dad thought she didn’t love you anymore.”
“It kind of felt that way at the time. Ben was your age, and the oldest child. He took it the hardest.”
Brock sat up straighter. “Grandma loves Dad. I know she does. She tells me all the time.”
Without conscious thought, Cord put an arm around Brock’s shoulders. “Of course she does. She never stopped loving any of us, but at the time she was suffering so much grief, we thought she shut us all out.”
“Do you think if she told Dad, it would make him feel better?”
“She’s already told him, Brock.”
“Then how come he still feels bad?”
“Because of guilt.”
Brock stared at him as if he’d never seen him before. “What do you mean?”
“We were all sleeping on the second floor when the kidnapper took Kathryn, yet none of us heard anything. We didn’t know what was going on, so we couldn’t stop it.”
“But it wasn’t your fault!” he cried.
“No, but at the time we all blamed ourselves, anyway. Those feelings and emotions have never really gone away.”
“Even Grandpa?”
“Grandpa most of all. He was the father who was supposed to protect his wife and children.”
“He must have felt awful.”
“He did. It was an awful time. After a while, he started working harder than ever. I’m afraid Ben and I copied him without realizing it. Work helped us to cope with the pain. Pretty soon work was all we knew.”
Cord’s ex-fiancée had accused him of the same thing. “Your dad can’t see how work has taken over his life. But it doesn’t mean he’s stopped loving his family. You have to believe that, Brock.”
“Not if he becomes a senator.”
After squeezing Brock’s shoulder, Cord put his hand back on the wheel. “If I were you, I’d have a serious talk with your dad as soon as he gets home.”
“He’ll be too busy.”
“Then do something to get his attention.”
His head jerked around. “Like what?”
“You know his secretary at MicroVision, Mrs. Arnold?”
“Yes?”
“Call her and tell her you want to make an appointment with your father. Ask her to keep it a surprise. Then show up at the office. That ought to wake him up in a big hurry.”
“Yeah.” His face brightened. “I’m going to do it!”
“Good for you.”
Cord didn’t know if it would make a difference, but someone had to make Ben see what he was doing before it was too late. Who better than his own son, who needed him desperately?
Brock was silent the rest of the way. Before long they’d reached Alta. There was still snow in patches at the highest elevations, but summer had come. In another week the Albion Basin would be in full flower.
Cord turned onto the private dirt road leading to his house. Every time he feasted his eyes on the alpine scene, it renewed him.
Their ancestor, John McFarland, had been a man after Cord’s heart. He’d loved the Rocky Mountains, too. After taking one look at this vista from the back of a horse, he’d bought up the land that was paradise to Cord.
Nowadays it was protected watershed and horses weren’t allowed. But as he got out of the car, he couldn’t help but be reminded of Kit’s comment.
Little did she know he’d always felt like a throwback to an earlier time, when all a man needed was his horse, some grub, a mountaintop in riotous color to call his own, and the love of a good woman.
CHAPTER FOUR
KIT PASSED UP BREAKFAST. After talking to Janene last evening, she was still too upset to think of eating. Mr. Cosgriff’s revelations seemed to bear out her mother’s ghastly confession, causing Kit to toss and turn the rest of the night.
After some deliberation she put on her favorite cotton suit to go to her job interviews. It was short-sleeved, in a sage color with a white-on-sage print underblouse, and she chose white sandals. She thought the outfit looked smart, yet summery.
“Good morning, Kit.”
“Good morning, Gwen.”
“How did you sleep last night?”
“Very well. It was the height of luxury for me to be able to have that whole cottage to myself.”
“That’s good.”
The other woman smiled and handed her a printout. “After matching your past work record with available openings, I’m sending you to Valley Disaster Cleaners for an interview. If you’ll step outside to the west portico—that direction—” she pointed to the right with a smile “—a van is loading.”
“I promise I won’t get lost this time.”
Gwen chuckled. “Our driver will be dropping several of you off at various locations and will pick you up in time to be here for lunch. Afterward I’ll be sending you to two other interviews, at the New America Hotel and the Saltair Inn. Both are located downtown and need people in laundry. The van will bring you back to the shelter before dinner. Do you have any questions?”
Kit wanted to ask her about Mr. McFarland, but Gwen might find it strange. If he didn’t make an appearance before nightfall, she would find a way to talk to him tomorrow, Kit decided.
“No. I appreciate the opportunity to get a job interview this quickly.” She put the paper in her purse. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Good luck today.”
Nodding to her, she left the reception room and went out to the portico. Two vans were lined up in the drive. The first one pulled away. She walked toward the second, whose engine was idling.
Her heart leaped to her throat when she saw the man at the wheel. Cord was alone. He’d dressed in another button-down shirt, this time in a pale blue. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows the same as yesterday.
“Good morning.” His lazy smiled thrilled her.
“Hi.”
He’d told her he did all kinds of jobs besides security. Secretly she’d hoped he might be one of the drivers. After promising Janene she was going to try hard to stay out of Cord’s way, here she was making a fool of herself over him again.
He’d opened the passenger door. “Come get in.”
Kit didn’t need to be urged a second time. After climbing in on his side, Cord reached across her to shut the door. She felt his strong arm accidentally brush against her chest before he put the van in gear and headed out to the street.
“W-we’re not waiting for anyone else?” she stammered. The contact had made her too conscious of his nearness.
“You’re the last one for this morning. Let me see the paper Gwen gave you.”
Kit pulled it out of her purse and handed it to him. Their fingers touched, sending another da
rt of awareness through her body.
He glanced at the printout before giving her a searching look. “Are these the kind of jobs you’re interested in?”
Avoiding his eyes she said, “They’re jobs I’m qualified for.”
“That’s not the same thing. What would you like to do?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tell me,” he demanded.
He left her no choice but to answer him. “I’d like to do what I did in California for the last four summers. Work on staff at a youth camp during the day and clean offices at night.”
“We have similar camps around here. In fact, there’s one about six blocks away. We’ll start there.”
“But Gwen—”
“Don’t worry about her,” he interrupted. “She keeps a master list of available jobs. You can apply for those at any time. No one’s going to be put out if you don’t show up for an interview today. Let’s see if you can nail down a camp counselor job first.”
“I wouldn’t want to offend her. She’s been wonderful to me.”
“She’s one terrific lady, and she’s there to help you find work. But if you come up with a camp job on your own, so much the better. What’s it going to be?”
She bit her lip. “I’d like to try for work as a counselor.”
She knew those jobs were filled months in advance. That was good. If it took a few days before she found one with an opening, she’d have that time to try to meet Mr. McFarland. At that point she would drop the pretense and leave Renaissance House knowing she hadn’t put out potential employers beyond taking up time with interviews.
“Let’s go.”
ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY had dawned. Fresh air poured in the windows. The man driving the van had to be the reason Kit was feeling this surge of elation. He was like a guardian angel watching over her. It was too good to last, but she decided to enjoy these stolen moments with him until it all came to a screeching halt.
“How is the Forester badge proceeding?”
“Progress has been made. Brock identified a limber pine, an Engelmann spruce and a lodgepole pine near my house. He’ll have to make one more trip to get the rest.”
“You must live in the mountains.”
Cord studied her. “I see you know your trees.”
She smiled despite the strange glint in his eyes, which for no reason she could understand made her the slightest bit uneasy. “My one claim to fame. Has he done the other outdoor badges?”
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