“Of course,” Then to Mrs. Montgomery she said. “I would love to get together with you and hear about my mother. Would that be possible?”
“Yes, of course dear,” she said. “You must come for tea one day. In the meantime, please go on in and enjoy yourselves and please eat. We have enough food for a small country.”
The two walked through the large foyer and into a massive great room. There was a quite a crowd. Waiters were moving through the room with glasses of wine on trays and there was quite a line forming at a large buffet table in the dining room area. Lexi and Carter each took a glass of wine as a waiter passed by and he was followed closely by another waiter with hors d’oeuvres.
“She wasn’t kidding about the food,” Carter said. But let’s explore first.”
The pair made their way across the room and out one of the three sets of French doors onto a terrace. There was a magnificent view of the valley and the vineyards and they could see that many of the rooms in the house opened onto this same terrace. Down a few steps was a large swimming pool surrounded by lounges and tables with umbrellas. They walked a little farther along the terrace pretending to enjoy the view while trying to get close enough to see in the rooms.
“Can’t really see much,” Lexi said.
“Let’s go and get some food,” Carter said.
“Good idea,” she said. “I’m starved.”
They got in the line for the buffet table. There was something for everyone. Salad upon salad and vegetables lined the centre of the table then roasted chickens and a massive roast beef and ham were being carved at the other end. The two filled their plates and then tried to find a place to sit. They ended up going out onto the terrace again and sat at one of the tables by the pool. Several people must have thought that a good idea because it wasn’t long before they had company. Lexi excused herself to go and find a washroom.
She went through the great room and out into the foyer where she passed a waiter whom she asked for directions. The powder room was at the end of the hall she was told. As she walked down the hall she passed a couple of closed doors but the one just before the washroom was open and it clearly was Montgomery’s office. Lexi peeked inside. She could see some kind of model on a table and her curiosity got the better of her and she crept inside to have a look. There was no mistaking what it was. She was outraged. It was the Lodge in miniature plus the cabins and an additional building where the barn now stood, plus a parking lot, a big circular driveway and a swimming pool at the back.
“Do you like it?”
Lexi jumped, turning around quickly to face Montgomery. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her cheeks felt hot.
“I told you your Uncle and I had a deal pending. I had plans drawn up and was ready to go on this the moment we had signed the papers,” Montgomery said.
“Well that is unfortunate for you because I’m not selling,” Lexi said, “Now if you will excuse me I was just heading to the ladies room.”
“I realise you have just arrived and have come to get to know us better, so perhaps we should postpone this conversation for a later date,” Montgomery said and stepped aside.
Lexi rushed from the room and ducked into the washroom at the end of the hall. When she looked in the mirror above the sink her cheeks were flushed and she wasn’t sure if it was from the embarrassment of being caught snooping or her anger at the arrogance of that man having a model made of Uncle Max’s property when he clearly wasn’t interested in selling it.
Lexi poked her head out of the washroom hoping she would not run into Montgomery. She didn’t see him anywhere so she made a beeline for the great room and back out to the terrace to join Carter.
“You are not going to believe what I saw,” she said to Carter as she sat down.
“You were gone a long time I was beginning to worry,” Carter said.
“He’s made a model of Wildwood, a model can you believe it and had plans drawn up for an expansion and he is still claiming that Uncle Max was going to sell,” Lexi blurted out.
“That is such bullshit,” Carter said. “I had a conversation with Max not two days before he died and he said he’d rather give the property away, than sell it to that man.”
“Really, you never said that before,” Lexi said.
“Didn’t I?” Carter asked. “Well he wasn’t going to sell.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Lexi said. Her appetite was gone and she wanted to put as much distance between her and this place as she could.”
“Sure,” said Carter
They left the terrace and walked through the great room towards the front door. Unfortunately Montgomery was standing near the entrance to the foyer and standing alongside him was his wife.
“Leaving so soon?” Montgomery asked. “I was hoping to give you a tour of the winery later.”
“Yes, please stay. I hoped to introduce you to a few people,” Grace said.
“Thank you, but I’m not feeling well,” Lexi said. “Goodbye. It was nice meeting you Mrs. Montgomery.”
“Please, it’s just Grace. Call me and we will have that cup of tea.”
“Okay, yes I will,” Lexi said.
Lexi and Carter hurried to the car and she heaved a big sigh once they were inside.
“That man is the most self centred and arrogant person I have ever met,” Lexi said.
“Tell us how you really feel,” Carter laughed.
She laughed also, letting go of her anger a little.
“Please take me home and I will make us something to eat and a cup of coffee or maybe something a little stronger.”
“Sounds good,” Carter said.
Lexi rolled her window down. It must be a warm night or maybe she was just steamed. A truck passed them going the opposite direction and she thought she recognized the driver.
“That was Mitch,” Carter said. “Surprised Montgomery gave him the night off with his shindig happening and all.”
There’s another jerk,” Lexi said. Carter has reached her driveway and turned in. Almost immediately Lexi said,
“Carter, I smell smoke.”
He looked at her and their eyes grew wide. He gunned the engine. “I smell it too,” he said.
8
When Wildwood came into view they could see flames coming from the roof of the barn and smoke pouring out of the cracks around the windows and doors.
“Oh my God Carter ... Tucker.”
Lexi was out of the vehicle in an instant and running for the barn. Carter caught up to her and grabbed her arm stopping her short.
“Wait! Stop!” he yelled.
“No we have to get him,” she said.
“I will. You stay here, Call 9-1-1.” He said pressing his cell phone into her hand.
Then he let go and ran for the barn. Someone had put the wood latch across the door. He pulled it off and pulled the door open. Smoke poured out but he could see Tucker lying at his feet. He wasted no time, bent down and checked for a pulse. It was faint. He picked up the ninety pound animal and carried him as quickly as he could to the car and lay him on the front seat.
“I got them,” Lexi said.
“Good. Stay here, I’m taking Tucker to the animal hospital.”
“But ... I want ...”
“I’ll call you,” he said grabbing the cell phone she passed to him. “You need to be here.”
They could already hear sirens in the distance. Lexi could see Carter on his cell phone as he turned the car and raced down the driveway. She didn’t know what to do so she just stood there and watched her barn burn. It was only a couple of minutes until a fire truck and a pump truck arrived and the men immediately began hooking up hoses and spraying water on the blazing barn. Choking clouds of smoke filled the air and ash floated to the ground like great dirty flakes of snow.
Lexi went up and sat on her porch and watched the men work and wondered and worried about Tucker. It took several hours before the fire was under control. It was obvious from the beginning that they would not be sa
ving the structure, the fire chief told her later, so they concentrated their efforts on making sure it didn’t spread to the Lodge or Cabins or any of the surrounding grass and trees. All that remained by morning was a smoldering mess where her barn had been but at least the fire had been contained.
“Any idea what caused it?” the Fire chief asked Lexi.
“I think it was deliberately set,” she said. “My dog was in there and someone had put the latch across to lock him in. He likes to sleep in their since my Uncle Max was killed so I always leave the barn door open.”
“Could it have been accidently latched?” he asked.
“No definitely not. It’s literally a two by four that has to be lifted into a couple of slots. I think someone locked him in on purpose,” she said. “And I have a pretty good idea who.”
“Really?” the Chief said. “Well we will be looking for a cause and I will see that the Sherriff is notified. I’m sure he will be out to talk to you.”
“Thanks,” Lexi said. “Please tell your men thank you.”
Lexi watched the fire trucks as they drove down the driveway. She wondered why she hadn’t heard from Carter yet. That must be good news she thought because if Tucker hadn’t made it he would have come back to tell her right away. No sooner had she had that thought than his car appeared in the driveway. He pulled to a stop and got out and began walking toward her. He was alone and looked tired. Lexi’s eyes began to fill with tears. Fearing the worst, she walked down the stairs to meet him. Now the tears were running down her cheeks.
“Oh no, Tucker ...” she couldn’t get the words out.
“He’s alive, Lexi,” Carter said. “But it’s too soon to know if he will make it. He inhaled a lot of smoke and it has done quite a bit of damage to his lungs and his airway.”
“But there’s hope right? We can still hope,” she was sobbing now from a mixture of relief and fear.
Carter walked closer and took her in his arms.
“Yes we can still hope,” he said holding her close. “Doc Walters will do everything he can.”
He let her go and Lexi stepped back.
“It was Mitch,” Lexi said, wiping her tears away. “I’m sure of it. He set the fire and I’m going to tell the Sherriff just as soon as he gets here.”
“We have no proof of that Lexi.”
“But the barn door had been latched deliberately,” she said. “Tucker hates him and if he were going to set the fire he would have wanted Tucker locked in so he couldn’t interfere.”
“Well that may be but we have no proof,” Carter said again.
“But we saw him on the road just minutes before we drove in here.”
“I know and I think you may be right, I just think we need to be careful. These men are determined and I’m beginning to think they are dangerous,” Carter said.
A more chilling and sinister thought began pricking at Lexi’s brain.
“You think they had something to do with Uncle Max’s accident don’t you?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “Did you tell the Fire Chief your suspicions?”
“Yes I did. I didn’t mention names though.”
“Good,” he said. “We need to think this through.”
Lexi was suddenly really weary and hungry.
“How about some breakfast Carter,” she said. “I don’t know about you, but it’s been a long night and I’m starving.”
“That would be great,” he said. “I didn’t want to leave Tucker until I thought he was stable. Some food would be good and then maybe a nap. After I go home and feed animals that is.”
“Thank you so much for doing that for Tucker,” Lexi said. “Come on. How does a big stack of pancakes sound?”
“It sounds wonderful,” he said following her to the stairs and up onto the porch.
The first thing Lexi did was to put on a big pot of coffee then she pulled a package of bacon out of the freezer and put it in the sink with some warm water to defrost it a bit. Once she was able to peel some slices off she put them in a big fry pan to begin cooking. Next it was onto pancake making. She knew the recipe by heart and in no time she had prepared batter and was firing up the griddle in the middle of her cook top. Carter watched in fascination.
“Coffee’s ready,” she said. “There are mugs in the cupboard to the right of the sink. Creams in the fridge, do you need sugar?”
“A little cream is just fine,” Carter said. He took two mugs out of the cupboard then he filled them both. “Cream or sugar for you?”
“Just cream,” Lexi said as she cracked several eggs onto the griddle where a half dozen or so pancakes were cooking.
“Oh that tastes good,” Carter said after taking a drink of his coffee. “It’s just what I needed.”
“Me too,” Lexi said taking a sip.
She got out cutlery and a couple of plates and then took butter and syrup out of the fridge.
“Would you mind putting these on the dining room table?”
“You bet,” Carter said.
He took the items she handed him out to the dining room. When he returned she handed him a plate with a large stack of pancakes, a couple of fried eggs and several pieces of crisp bacon. She had one for herself also. They carried the plates out to the dining room along with their coffee and sat down. After they had added butter and syrup they ate the first few bites with gusto.
“These are the best pancakes I have ever had,” Carter said.
“Well thank you though it is possible you are just really hungry,” Lexi said.
“No, I’m pretty sure they are the best,” he said talking with his mouth full. “Who would have thought that skinny little dimpled girl from San Fran would grow up to be such a good cook?”
“Well thanks, I think,” Lexi laughed. “I did go to Culinary School so that might have helped.”
“I know Max mentioned it,” he said. “He seemed pretty proud.”
“Really,” Lexi said. “That’s nice. I saw that my mom must have sent him my graduation picture. She sent him a lot of pictures. He had them all up in his room. Plus he had one of me and him from each of the visits when we used to come.”
“I was really sad when we stopped coming for visits and I didn’t see him again,” Lexi said. “We just always had so much fun.”
“So what happened do you think?” Carter asked, putting his knife and fork on his now empty plate and wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“I just don’t know. I could never figure it out and my parents wouldn’t talk about it and if I brought it up then I would hear them fighting later, so I stopped bringing it up.”
“Well you were really important to him, in fact ...” Carter was interrupted by the sound of a vehicle out front.
Lexi jumped up to go and see who it was and said “It’s the Sherriff,” she said.
“Now remember,” Carter cautioned. “Don’t name names just yet.”
Lexi opened the big front door and went out on the porch and down the steps.
“Good morning Sherriff,” she said. He looked familiar and she wondered if she had seen him somewhere before.
“Good morning,” he said. “You are Lexi Thomas I presume.”
“Yes sir,” she said.
Carter appeared beside her.
“Good morning Sherriff Montgomery,” he said.
“Morning Carter, nice to see you,”
The jaw dropping revelation rendered Lexi speechless.
“So I see you had quite a fire here last night,” the Sherriff said.
“Ah ... Yes ... yes we did and ... I believe it may have been deliberately set,” she said looking at Carter.
“Why do you think that?” the Sherriff said.
“Because someone deliberately locked my dog in the barn and put the latch across. He was nearly killed, still don’t know if he will make it and the barn, as you can see, has been completely destroyed.”
“Well that’s not very much to go on,” the Sherriff said. “
But I will take a look around and see what I can find.”
With that he began to walk slowly over towards the barn. Lexi turned to Carter and punched him in the arm as hard as she could.
“Hey, ouch,” he said grabbing his arm and rubbing it. “What’d you do that for?”
“Sherriff ... Montgomery,” Lexi said. “You couldn’t have warned me?”
“Well I sort of did,” Carter chuckled a little. “I told you that you best not mention anything yet.”
“I don’t think this is the least bit funny, Carter Monroe,” Lexi said. “So is he his brother?”
“No, he’s just a cousin. But they are all thick as thieves. I’m sorry,” Carter said, looking very sheepish. “It’s just if you could have seen the look on your face just now.”
“Ohh,” Lexi said. Furious, she turned and marched toward the house, went inside and slammed the door.
After a few minutes, the Sherriff sauntered back over to where Carter was standing. Carter had waited to talk with him.
“Well I can’t see any evidence of arson but of course I will talk to the Fire Chief,” the Sherriff said.
He turned then and walked to the cruiser, got in and drove off. Carter banged the knocker on the front door.
“Lexi, can I come in?” he called.
“What?” she asked as she pulled open the front door.
“Please don’t be mad, I know it wasn’t funny,” he said. “I was just thinking that maybe you would like to go and see Tucker and that it might do him good to have you there.”
“Damn it Carter, don’t ever do that again,” she said. “I’ll get my purse.”
Lexi came back outside in a couple of minutes with her purse and the two headed off to the veterinary hospital in Carter’s car. It was only about a ten minute drive and Lexi was quiet during the ride. She wasn’t thinking about the relationship between Geoff Montgomery and Sherriff Montgomery. She was just thinking about Tucker and hoping that there was an improvement from earlier. When they reached the Clinic they both hopped out and went to the front door. It was locked. They peered in. The waiting room was empty as it was Sunday but there was someone behind the desk. Carter knocked on the door.
“Hi Carter,” the young woman said as she opened it.
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