by Tena Stetler
Clasping his offered hand, she gave it a firm shake. She didn’t care for a wishy-washy handshake, and his was quite strong, confident. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Fairbanks. And it’s Pepper.”
“Please call me Brandon.” He turned and led her down the hallway, past a secretarial area. He smiled at the woman sitting behind a desk and ushered Pepper into a spacious office. Pepper noticed he had three single photos a different child in each. Next to them was a portrait of him, a woman Pepper assumed was his wife, and the three cute kids.
“Did Colleen go to live with family? She didn’t mention it to me last time we talked, but that was quite a while ago.”
“Yes, I believe she is living in a cottage on her brother, Tim’s property. The McKay place required too much upkeep for one person, and she felt it was time to turn the property over to you. Ms. Denton said you’d have big plans for the property, which now seems strange, if you hadn’t talked to her for a while.” A perplexed look crossed his face. “Shall we have a seat?” He motioned to one of the leather chairs across from his Cherrywood desk.
Pepper hesitated for a few moments, then eased into the chair. “I don’t know what she meant, but I’m grateful for a place to live. Once I get settled, I’ll give her a call.”
The amicable smile returned to his face. “Your aunt put all this in motion when she passed away.” He handed her a sealed envelope with Pepper McKay scrawled across the front in green ink. “I was instructed to give you this letter when Colleen ended the life estate.”
Pepper took the envelope and turned it over in her hands. “Do I open it now?”
“It’s not necessary. We have plenty to go over. Once you’ve seen the property or have any questions, we’ll set another appointment. That being said, do you want me to take you to the property?”
“No, it’s been five years, but I can set my GPS and find it. It’s south of Lobster Cove. Right?”
Brandon nodded.
“Will I be able to spend the night at the cabin, or do I need to make arrangements for utilities and things?”
“I’ve taken the liberty of hiring Lathen Quartz, a handyman who comes highly recommended and lives in Lobster Cove. He stocked the kitchen for you with mainstays, made sure the utilities and telephone were turned on. I believe Ms. Denton left some furniture for you and most the appliances were recently updated.” He scooted several pictures of the cabin and property across the desk to her. “I believe the barn and other buildings will need repairs.”
Pepper gasped and put her hand over her mouth as she looked at the pictures. “Oh, this is wonderful.”
“There are a few more things we need to go over before you leave. The matter of substantial bank accounts and trusts, most are located in Lobster Cove. Except the estate account, which is in Bar Harbor. I have used the account for estate expenses and maintenance on the property.” He slid a spreadsheet toward her. “If there are any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I kept a thorough accounting of all monies spent, according to the trust.”
Pepper’s eyes widened when she picked up the spreadsheet. She blew out a breath and leaned back against the chair. “Mr. Fairbanks, is this all mine? What about Colleen, what is she doing for living expenses?”
“Yes, all the funds belong to you. Ms. Denton has an income of her own,” Brandon said with a laugh. “Do you have a financial advisor?”
“Nooo…never had enough money to…well…do you have a recommendation?”
“Yes, I can handle that for you. I know a good financial planner. Your aunt set up several investments where she could live quite comfortably off the interest. When she passed, she instructed that all interest be added to principle, unless her partner, Ms. Denton needed it. She didn’t. So we can simply reinstate that procedure. I will transfer the accounts into your name, but it would be wise to check on the tax ramifications.”
Still perusing the photos, Pepper suddenly looked up at Brandon and said, “I have a question. Suppose I can get the necessary permits to start a wildlife rehabilitation center on the property. Can you help me set up a nonprofit?”
“Certainly. Oh, speaking of wildlife. There was a large mangy dog hanging around the cabin, last time I was there. I contacted the humane society, but the dog is crafty and last I heard they hadn’t caught it, yet.”
“I’ll handle that. I don’t want them chasing the poor dog until I get a chance to take a look at him or her. Do you have that phone number handy?”
“Yes, I’ll have my secretary call them and relay your message.” Brandon looked through the file, located the number, and jotted it down on a piece of paper. He handed the note to Pepper, plus Lathen Quartz’s business card from the file. “You have my business card. Correct?”
“Yes, thanks. My head is spinning with all this information. I’d like to look over the property in the daylight, get settled, and mull over all you’ve told me. Can we finish up later?”
“Of course. Before you leave today, you need to sign these documents, so you have access to the funds.” He handed her several pieces of paper with sticky arrows indicating where her signature was required and a pen. “Meanwhile, I’ll draft a proposal regarding a nonprofit, and suggestions as to the trusts and accounts. After you have familiarized yourself with the holdings, we can get together and discuss how you want to proceed. In fact, I’d be happy to meet you at the property. It’s nice to get out of the office once in a while.”
Pepper looked over the documents that added her name as an owner to several accounts and signed each one, then she pushed up from the chair. “I appreciate all you’ve done and meeting with me on short notice. I’ll be in touch.”
Brandon stood. “Not a problem. I’m just glad we found you. I look forwarding to working with you.”
“Likewise.” She stopped at the little fridge in the lobby, got a bottle of water, then waved to Brandon before exiting through the glass doors. She expected Kaylee to be screaming but was pleased to find her quietly snoozing in her crate. Pepper opened the door and stepped into the truck. “Only a little longer and we’ll be home. I’ll feed you and see where we can set you up for the night.”
As Pepper lifted Kaylee’s cage cover on one side, she whistled softly and peered out the window. “Not long now.” Pepper checked the directions Brandon had given her, entered them into the navigation system, and put the truck in gear. The parking lot had several more vehicles in it than when she’d arrived. It took some doing, but she carefully threaded the truck and trailer through the lot and turned onto Main Street. She pulled to the side of the road and checked the signs for Highway 3. The route indicated the cabin was a little more than a mile southwest of Lobster Cove. The cheerful voice of the GPS reciting directions reassured her of arrival in less than twenty minutes, with traffic. Now, if she could only be sure this was the right decision, as if she had a choice.
Chapter Two
Lobster Cove, Ready or Not, Here We Come
Cruising down Highway 3, she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t called her parents. Did they know Colleen had given up the life estate? Surely, if they’d known anything her mom would have called. I’ll just give ’em a call when I arrive at the cabin. After I figure out where to put Kaylee. Deep in thought, Pepper missed her turn and got her first look at the little town of Lobster Cove.
She needed dog food anyway. Winding her way through the unfamiliar streets, she turned on First Street from Maple and there it was, the Lobster Cove Grocery Mart. Yea. “I’ll be right back, Kaylee.” Pepper sprinted through the drizzle into the store.
After a few minutes, she darted back to the truck with a thirty-pound bag of premium dog food slung over her shoulder. She dropped it on the front floor board, slammed the truck door. “All set, we’ll be home in a few minutes.” She put the truck in gear and took off following the signs to the highway. The bird whistled softly. “I know it’s been a long day cooped up in the crate, but we’re going to love the new place. I can feel it.”
Th
e road leading to the cabin was steep and heavily forested on both sides by aspen and pine trees. As if by magic, the landscape opened up into a clearing. The driveway forked off and meandered around to the front of the large log cabin, facing away from the main road with a spectacular view of the ocean. A huge pine tree stood on the left side of the cabin. A couple hundred yards down the slope and further left was a huge ramshackle barn. To the right of the cabin down the slope were two smaller buildings. She sighed. Just the way I remember it.
She parked her truck behind a weathered pickup, pushed open the door, and stretched her legs until her toes touched the ground. She hopped out of the truck and took a deep breath. The ocean breeze brought a mixed scent of brine, sand, sun, and kelp. Seabirds whistled and screeched through the air, diving into the white crested waves, proudly emerging with dinner. Turning her attention to the land, she noticed beyond the barn the pond was still there, even a bit bigger than she remembered. Caught up in the smells, sights, and sounds, she didn’t hear someone approach.
“Ms. McKay?”
“Sssshit,” she yelped and whirled around to see a muscular man, well over six feet, with surfer blond hair nearly to his shoulders, tousled by the ocean breeze. Rounding the corner of the cabin, he waved at her as he approached walking with a slight limp. Deeply tanned, he appeared to spend a lot of time outdoors.
“I’m Lathen Quartz. Glad you made it before dark. The road up here can be treacherous at night if you don’t know where you’re going. I finished up the enclosed aviary and was getting ready to leave. But now that you’re here, I’d be happy to show you around. Help you get settled.”
“Pepper McKay, call me Pepper.” Extending her hand toward him, she met his gaze. His large aquamarine eyes were mesmerizing, set above the high cheekbones, full lips, and a butterscotch five o’clock shadow. She gave her head a shake. “Wait. You built an aviary?”
He shook her hand and smiled, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rocking back on his heels. “Yes, ma’am, Ms. Denton insisted that you’d need one when you arrived. Had me start on it a few weeks back. She was specific. It had to be attached to the end of the cabin where it was sheltered from the wind. Also, she insisted on a heated floor, large sturdy perches, and an entrance directly into the house. I added a secure outside area too, figuring the birds would appreciate it in the summer. How many birds do you have?”
“Huh…one—osprey, she was injured as a chick—but how would Colleen—I never mentioned…”
“I don’t know, but the aviary’s footprint with the outside area is nearly as large as the cabin itself. We can go into the cabin through the aviary, so you can take a look around. See if it meets your needs. I can tweak it if necessary. But first let’s take a look at the barn and the other buildings. They do need a little repair to be usable.”
A bit awestruck, she followed him around the property, inspecting the huge barn and the other two smaller buildings. They were larger than she remembered. The land was a bit rocky, but not as bad as she first thought. Following the path down to the beach was less than a third of a mile she guessed. The possibility of a small marine facility was doable; from what she saw. Depending on the scale and requirements, Lathen agreed with her.
Behind the barn, he pointed across the clearing. “You have a freshwater stream running through your property to the spring-fed pond over there. It’s pretty good size, maybe twelve to fourteen feet at the deepest point, two feet at the shallowest. One hundred yards across, probably. It attracts a lot of wildlife.”
Squinting her eyes against the sun, Pepper asked, “Is that a bench over there?”
“Sure is. Ms. Denton used to pack a lunch, come down here, and sit for hours observing all the birds and creatures that enjoyed the pond. She never had many visitors, not sure she had talents like Ms. McKay. Just my opinion, but I think she found solace in the place after Ms. McKay passed.”
“Talents?”
“Oh, you know. Legend has it the McKays…uh…well, they had a way with medicinal herbs and things.” He cleared his throat. “There’s a raised herb garden in the front of the house and one in the back. I noticed some green sprouts poking through the soil the other day. The other ground level gardens front and back are flowers.”
Finally, they returned to the cabin. He led her around the house, through the aviary, which had a sink, refrigerator, cabinets, and counter tops on the wall shared with the cabin. A large window let the sun in over a small holding tank that was set up beside the refrigerator. The entrance from the aviary to the cabin included a screen door and a security door.
Lathen held the interior one open for her and followed behind, closing the door. When he flipped the lights on, there was a warm golden glow as the lights bounced off the wooden beams and polished oak floor. It was just as she remembered. Once inside the cabin, she felt an overwhelming feeling of belonging, almost like the house was welcoming her. She shook her head, chalked it up to wishful thinking, hunger, and exhaustion. The last few weeks must be catching up with me. My overactive imagination is running wild.
“Want me to start the fire? Obviously, there is central heat, but a fire lends a homey ambience.” He led her into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Mr. Fairbanks wanted me to stock the fridge and pantry. I stopped by Helen’s grocery mart but couldn’t resist getting meat pies and sweets from Bea’s place, best you’ll taste around here. Moving is hard enough without figuring out where your next meal will come from. Speaking of moving, can I help you with your things?”
“Oh, I don’t want to bother you.”
“It’s no bother. I’m happy to help, even if I wasn’t on the clock.”
“Oh yeah, Brandon mentioned working out a deal with you for maintenance around here and suggested I talk to you about the barn and other buildings. The estate pays you, right?
“That’s correct.”
“One thing I really need is Internet access, high-speed if available, and as soon as possible.” She wanted to be able to contact Gwen, send pictures, tell her about this place and her ideas for a wildlife rescue and rehab facility.
“Currently there isn’t Internet here, but I’ll see how long it’ll take to get service arranged. High-speed, I don’t know about but will look into that also.”
A loud whistle reminded Pepper that someone was getting impatient. “I need to get Kaylee out of the truck and feed her. I’ll take you up on your offer to help me bring things in from the truck. I only need a few things for tonight. Tomorrow will be soon enough to unpack the trailer. I could use your help.”
“Not a problem. Usually, I can make it by nine or ten in the morning depending on any emergency repairs that get called in.”
“Great, I’d appreciate that.” Pepper opened the back door to the truck and hauled out Kaylee’s crate. “Okay girl, I’ll get you fed as soon as possible. Wait till you see your accommodations, you’ll love ’em,” she crooned to the bird.
“Wow, that’s a big bird. Guess I never saw one up close. Want help with her?”
“No, she might nip since she doesn’t know you. But if you could grab the cooler on the floor and bring it along, that’d be great. It has her iced fish in it.”
He reached in and grabbed the cooler. “Hey, you want this—wooden thing too?”
“Yes, that’s the perch I made special for her, she kinda has a bum leg.”
“Oh, what happened to her?”
“Not sure. Probably tangled with an eagle when she was learning to fly, tore up her wing and foot pretty bad. Someone found her on the beach and brought her to the clinic. She was my first rescue. We had a great vet that took care of her, saved her life. Kaylee has never been out on her own, but she can fly and get around pretty well. She enjoyed being the ambassador for the public visits and school programs to bring awareness for what we did.”
While Pepper got Kaylee situated, Lathen brought in the items from the truck and trailer Pepper had indicated she would need for the night.
&nbs
p; Her stomach rumbled as she returned to the kitchen. “I’m hungry. Want to join me for dinner?”
“Sure, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“How about we try a couple of those meat pies you bought?” Pepper warmed up the oven, pulled the food out of the fridge, and grabbed plates, glasses, and silverware from a box marked “kitchen stuff” Lathen brought inside.
“I was hoping you’d suggest that,” Lathen said as a big grin spread across his face.
They sat down in the kitchen at the oak table with matching carved chairs Colleen had left behind. Pepper forked up a big bite of the meat pie and slid it into her mouth.
“Oh, boy, this is delicious,” she said after swallowing and forking up another bite.
“Told you. Best in Lobster Cove.” Lathen gobbled up the pie and leaned back against his chair. “I gotta get going, got an early morning. Thanks for the meal.”
Pepper got to her feet and accompanied him out to his truck. “Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it. I’m going into town tomorrow morning and wander around. After I get a sense of what I want done around here, I’ll give you a call.”
“Sounds good. I’ll deal with the Internet service first thing tomorrow. Otherwise, I have a full couple of days with repairs, but I’m happy to work you in when you’re ready.”
“I’ll be in touch.” She watched him climb into the truck and fanned herself just a little. He was one yummy man. When the engine roared to life, he switched on the high beams and disappeared down the driveway around the house. As Pepper sauntered toward the house, she heard a low growl and saw movement through the trees.
Chapter Three
Pinch Me, I’ve Got to Be Dreaming
She had forgotten to ask Lathen about the large stray dog Brandon mentioned. Sure the dog wasn’t the only wild creature in the area, she walked backward slowly, then climbed the three steps to the back porch. Turning her palm up, she conjured a ball of light and tossed it into the air, illuminating the open area. From the tree line, two eerie eyes glowed out of the darkness, the guttural growl came again from that direction. This time it was quiet, less threatening, more of an unsure sound.