Somebody's Daughter

by Rebecca Winters

  Kit thanked him and said good-night before hurrying out of the mansion. Maybe she was going to meet Richard McFarland as early as Monday morning. It was the whole reason she’d come to Salt Lake, yet the thought made her so nervous she felt kind of sick.

  As she walked around the side she spotted one of the white vans parked near the cottage, and her heart picked up speed. Cord stuck his dark head out the window.

  “Want to go to a movie? I’ll get you back by ten-thirty.”

  He’d been waiting for her!

  Kit didn’t have to think about it. “I’d love it. Give me a minute to grab my purse.”

  It was a Friday night. He was off duty and could be with anyone he wanted for the weekend, but he’d waited for her to finish dinner. All through the meal she’d been depressed thinking that she wouldn’t be able to see him again until Monday.

  Quickly she rushed into the bathroom to freshen her lipstick and run a brush through her hair. There was no time to change clothes for something a little dressier. He was aware of the curfew. They had to hurry.

  “That was fast,” he said when she climbed in and shut the door. “I like a woman who can be spontaneous.”

  “A movie sounds fun.” She could hardly tell him any woman would jump at the chance to be with him, but then she imagined he already knew that. “When I saw Mac at the front desk, I thought you must have already left for the night.”

  He looked straight into her eyes. “Even though it’s the weekend, I’m not quite ready to go home yet. What kind of film are you in the mood for?”

  “Honestly?”

  “I like just about anything. It’s your choice tonight.”

  Meaning there were going to be other nights and other choices? Joy, joy.

  “I’m an old-classics junkie. Earlier today we passed a theater near the university that was having an Alec Guinness film festival.”

  “He’s a favorite actor of mine, too. Let’s go.” They wound around the estate to the First Avenue entrance. “How was dinner?”

  “Absolutely delicious. I have to tell you I’m in awe of what goes on in this shelter. Everyone treats you like you’re a queen.” Her voice trembled. “I can’t get over it. No wonder you like working here. You can tell the women are so grateful for the help. I—I’m very grateful.”

  He pulled into the mainstream traffic. “You’ve said that about ten times today.”

  “I’m sorry if I sound like a broken record.”

  “Don’t apologize. It’s nice to know you appreciate the services of the shelter.”

  She bit her lip. “Cord…would you tell me something honestly?”

  “Of course.”

  “Could your job be in jeopardy for being with me?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “My business is my own, Kit. Don’t you worry about it.”

  He spoke with such authority she had to believe him. “Okay. I won’t.”

  Her tension left the moment they reached the theater and started laughing over the comedy about a sea captain who had a wife at home and a lover in another port. The complications were hilarious and she knew Cord enjoyed the film as much as she did.

  It ended at nine-forty. Another one would start in a few minutes.

  “I want to see this next one, too,” he whispered. She felt his breath on her cheek, stirring her senses.

  “So do I.” Kit didn’t care what the movie was. All she wanted was to be with him. “Unfortunately, we have to go.”

  “Since you’re staying in the cottage, I can let us both in through the back gate after hours with my remote. No one will know the difference.”

  “Are you suggesting I play hooky?”

  “Why not? It’s fun, don’t you think?”

  Her mouth curved upward. “Yes.”

  “Then it’s settled.”

  She sensed he wanted to grasp her hand, put his arm around her shoulders. She wanted him to. Instead, he got up and bought them drinks and popcorn. For a little while she could forget the world and simply enjoy being out with the most exciting man she’d ever met.

  When they were on their way back to the cottage he said, “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

  How she would love to tell him the decision was entirely up to him. Of course she didn’t dare. “I thought I’d take a tour of Temple Square as you suggested.”

  “There’s plenty of time to do that. How would you like to watch some baseball instead? My nephew’s playing his first preseason league game over at Sunnyside Park near the university. We’ll drop by the cottage and pick you up on the way.”

  Once again Kit was forced to contain her excitement. “I take it his dad’s still out of town.”

  Cord nodded. “He won’t be back until the middle of next week. I promised Brock I’d go with him. His mother’s got a nasty cold so she can’t make it. My nephew will be glad for the support.”

  Kit didn’t know about that. Still… “I love baseball. What time do you need to come by?”

  “Nine-fifteen. He has to be at practice at nine-thirty.”

  “Then I’ll be ready.”

  They’d arrived at the cottage and she hurriedly opened the passenger door and jumped out so he wouldn’t think she was expecting anything more. No way. It was all she could do not to invite him in, but she’d broken enough rules for one day.

  “Good night. I had a wonderful time.”

  He stared at her through veiled eyes, giving him a slightly mysterious air that set her pulse racing. “So did I.”

  “Drive safely. That way I won’t feel quite so guilty about depriving you of your lodgings.” On that note she shut the door and dashed inside the cottage.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “CORD?”

  “Hi, Maggie. I’m glad you’re home.” Cord knew his sister had been down in Cedar City, Utah, on foundation business. The news about a thirteen-year-old girl being kidnapped on her way home from school the second to last day before summer was all over the media.

  Another tragedy for another family.

  The AMBER Alert had gone out. Maggie had flown down that afternoon to meet with the anguished parents and offer the foundation’s support.

  “How would you like a house guest tonight?”

  “If you mean you, I’d love it! Where are you?”

  “Outside your door.”

  She laughed. “I’m walking toward it as we speak.”

  In a another second Maggie had opened it and they hugged. Thank God for his sister. No one could have a better friend.

  “Thanks for letting me in. You’re a lifesaver.”

  She shut and locked the door. “How come you didn’t go up the canyon tonight?”

  After a pause, he murmured, “Shelter business kept me working longer than usual.”

  “Well, I’m glad.” She gave him another hug. “I love it when you stay over with me.”

  He followed her into the kitchen, where she’d been making coffee. She poured both of them a cup and they headed for her study.

  As she started to say something, the phone rang and her answering machine went on. When they heard their mother’s alarmed voice, Maggie picked up the receiver.

  “Don’t tell her I’m with you.” Cord mouthed the words.

  She nodded before turning on the speakerphone so he could hear. “Hi, Mom. I’m home, so you can relax.”

  “How come you didn’t answer your cell phone earlier?”

  “I forgot I’d turned it off.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re back. Any word about the missing teen?”

  “Not yet.”

  “The poor things,” their mother lamented.

  Cord took another sip of hot coffee. She knew what that pain felt like. No one in the world knew better.

  “They’re staying positive, Mom.”

  “That’s good. I’ve been praying for them, and that you’d return safely. It’s after midnight, darling. I wish you would move home with me and your father. You tak
e too many risks.”

  Maggie flashed Cord a look of distress.

  She’d been over this ground with their mom so many times before, he knew she wanted to scream. She was desperately tired of the same argument, but their mother’s paranoia wasn’t about to go away. The fear of losing another daughter had done too much damage.

  Cord had to admit that if he were married and brought his wife home from the hospital, only to have their baby stolen a month later, he wouldn’t be the same again, either.

  He heard Maggie say, “I’m thirty years old, Mom. I like having my own place.”

  “I know you do, darling.”

  But she would never accept it.

  After talking it over with Cord, Maggie had compromised by living in the penthouse of the McFarland Towers, part of the McFarland Plaza in downtown Salt Lake. It was a five-minute drive from their parents’ and from Ben, who also lived in Federal Heights. The foundation and her law office were located in the same complex. She only had a five-minute walk to the court building.

  Best of all, she was a mere two-minute jog away from the mansion, where she ate lunch with Cord several times a week.

  “It’s late, Mom. We both need a good sleep.”

  “You’re right. I’ll see you at the foundation meeting tomorrow.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me from the meeting. I’m flying to Cedar again. The fiend who abducted that teen has probably taken her up into those mountains. The authorities are asking for more help in the air search as soon as it’s daylight.”

  “No, Maggie! Let someone else do it. It’s too dangerous.”

  Their mother had fought against Maggie getting her pilot’s license years ago. But his sister’s will had prevailed, with the help of their father.

  “I’ll be fine. Don’t expect me back before tomorrow night at the earliest. I promise to keep you informed. Give Dad a hug for me.”

  “He’s still hasn’t come home from that fund-raising dinner at the hotel,” her mom said in a resigned voice.

  “Why didn’t you go with him?”

  “I wanted to stay here in case Julie decided to come over with the children.”

  Maggie exchanged another silent message with Cord.

  They could have told their mother that Julie had her own parents, in Colorado, to lean on, as Ben was staying up at their cabin in Deer Valley temporarily, except when he was away on business. It was only a half hour away, but might as well be on another planet. Though the whole family was pained over the separation, their mother was the one who was terrified it might end in divorce.

  In Ellen McFarland’s mind if Julie and the kids moved to Colorado Springs for the summer, it would be another loss she couldn’t take. Especially if the move became permanent.

  “The last I heard, Julie has bronchitis and is staying home until the antibiotics have had a chance to work.”

  “She didn’t tell me that!” her mother cried.

  “Probably because she didn’t want to worry you.”

  Cord frowned. Ben couldn’t be out of the country at a worse time.

  “I’ve been worried about them for months!”

  “We’ve all worried,” Maggie said quietly, “but I have to believe they’ll sort this out and their marriage will be stronger for it.”

  “You sound just like Cord. But what if—”

  “No what-ifs tonight, Mom. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  She hung up the phone and eyed Cord wearily. “What’s new with you? Anything interesting, exciting? After being with that anguished family in Cedar, I could use a little cheering up.”

  It was too soon to talk about Kit, who was a bigger mystery to him than ever. “Tomorrow Brock has an early baseball game. I promised Julie I’d take him.”

  “Ben should be here to do that.”

  “Ben’s a mess right now.”

  “So’s Julie.”

  “So’s her son. If Brock weren’t so upset, I’d join you in the air search.”

  A sad smile broke out on her face. “He’s a lucky boy you’re his uncle. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have on my side than you.”

  “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you,” he said before swallowing the last of his coffee. “Tell me about this latest kidnapping….”

  “STEEEERIIIIKKKKE THREE. You’re out!”

  “Game’s over,” Cord declared. Brock’s team had lost. He would be heartbroken. His Saturday was ruined.

  Cord glanced at the woman sitting next to him on the grass. She’d been writing notes on a little pad throughout the game. Now it had gone back in her purse. She lifted her head.

  “He’ll live to play another day.” She delivered her prophecy with a smile she couldn’t possibly know was so seductive, Cord wanted to kiss her breathless.

  “You’re right.”

  He’d purposely found a place for them away from the other parents and onlookers. Not only because he wanted Kit to himself, but because he intended to keep his identity a secret from her awhile longer in case she really didn’t know who he was. Being a McFarland had its downside when it came to anonymity. For once he’d met a woman who might not know anything about him. He liked that they could be just two people getting to know each other.

  Two hours in the open had pinkened her cheeks so they almost matched her top. The sun did amazing things to her hair. He could pick out strands of gold and chestnut among the brown curls. In the dazzling light of a clear summer day, her eyes reminded him of lavender-blue phlox, those little alpine flowers carpeting the meadow around his house right now. She rose to her feet, wiping the grass from her white pants, drawing his attention to the lines and curves of her unmistakably feminine figure.

  In the periphery Cord noticed Brock walking toward them with his head down. Every once in a while he kicked at the grass. With his baseball cap pulled low over his forehead, Cord couldn’t see his nephew’s eyes.

  “Great job!” Kit called to him.

  “We sucked.”

  “What did you say?” Cord demanded. His nephew’s manners had disappeared, but he knew it wasn’t just because of the game.

  “Sorry. I mean, thanks.”

  “I know how you feel,” Kit murmured as the three of them made their way to the van in the distance. “Just remember one thing. Though your team lost this time, you didn’t make any errors as first baseman. That’s terrific.”

  Cord’s nephew peered up at her. “I didn’t?”

  “Nope.” She pulled out the little pad she’d just put in her purse and tore off the top sheet to give him. “I recorded all your team stats. You and the left fielder were the only ones error free. Your coach will think that’s cool, and he’ll praise you at your next practice. Wait and see.”

  “Thanks!” He took it from her. After studying it for a minute he said, “The coach is Landon’s father. I heard some of the guys say he doesn’t know that much about baseball.”

  “It was probably the guys who goofed up who said it.”

  Cord grinned. “Kit has a point.”

  He opened the van doors for them. Brock tossed his mitt on the back seat, then climbed in. Once Kit was settled in front, Cord shut the doors and went around to the driver’s side.

  “An error-free game calls for a pizza at Chubba Bubba’s.”

  Kit broke into rich laughter. “You’re kidding. There really is a pizza place with that name?”

  “Cross my heart.” His was thudding. In fact it felt like a semi that had lost its brakes at the top of Parley’s Canyon and was thundering down the steep descent out of control.

  When she stopped laughing she turned to him. “After we eat, can we stop at a really good pet store?”

  He blinked. “Of course. Why?” She was beginning to fascinate him the way no woman had ever done before. He was getting to the point where he didn’t want to know anything bad about her.

  “I’d like to show Brock something interesting.”

&n
bsp; His nephew poked his head between them. “What is it?”

  “You know your Webelos badges?”

  “Yeah?”

  “There’s a really fun project you can do for the Naturalist category. It won one of my Cub Scouts a first prize at his school’s science fair.”

  “What kind of project?”

  By now Cord was hooked, and Brock had forgotten he was upset.

  “You’ll see. I promise you’ll love it,” she said with a mysterious glint in her eye.

  An hour later, after everyone was stuffed, Cord drove them to Nordon’s Pet World and Aquarium. The three of them went inside, with Kit leading the way.

  Cord heard her ask the clerk if they had any ant farms.

  “Ant farm…” Brock muttered.

  “Sure!” The clerk spoke right up. “Everybody loves them.” He led the way down several aisles. “Here they are.”

  Kit picked up a box with a picture of a farm on the outside and handed it to Brock. “I know this doesn’t look like much, but when you put everything together and watch the ants, you’ll be amazed at what happens.”

  Though Cord had never seen an ant farm, he’d heard of them. Even if he hadn’t been intrigued, Kit’s enthusiasm was contagious. He turned to the clerk and said they’d take the farm.

  The other man nodded. “You’ll need live ants. I’ll meet you at the counter with an envelope of them.”

  “Can’t we just get some out of the backyard?” Brock asked.

  “You could,” Kit said, “but they wouldn’t be the right kind and they’d kill each other. When you get everything home, read all the information with your mom first. That way you’ll understand why just any ants won’t do.”

  Brock didn’t look that excited. Kit must have seen his expression. “Every boy in my den thought it was a stupid project, too. But just you wait!”

  They gravitated to the counter. She started to reach inside her purse, but Cord stopped her.

  “This was my idea, Cord.”

  “Keep your money for an emergency.” He pulled a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and placed it on the counter.

  “This is an emergency,” she whispered, eyeing his nephew. “He needs some cheering up and I still have a little money left.”