“So you know?”
“I do.” Reed had moved his family from Fernie, a competing ski resort two hundred kilometers south of Holden, to Stone Mountain. Kalin spent the last year getting used to his lack of words and terse manner, and she barely noticed anymore.
“I spoke with the RCMP a few moments ago.”
“And?” she asked. Reed’s relationship with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police impressed Kalin, and she wasn’t surprised he’d have the inside scoop.
Reed’s Husky-blue eyes flashed at her. “And what? They don’t have any suspects yet. Your place was targeted because of the location. I don’t think it was personal.”
The way Reed said personal made her think he knew something she didn’t. “Personal?”
Reed lifted a burnt-orange Stone Mountain windbreaker off the hook on the back of his office door and slipped it on over his golf shirt. “Time to meet with the rest of the directors.”
* * *
“So many bad things have happened to you here with McKenzie’s murder last year and now this. Do you ever wish you’d never moved to Stone Mountain?” Ben asked Kalin.
They stood behind yellow police tape at the edge of their building lot. The wind had ripped some of the tape, leaving the torn ends drooping in the mud. They’d been told not to enter the premises of the site, but they wanted to see the damage.
“You never have to worry about that. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. This is my home, burned to a crisp and made of ashes, but still my home. We’ll figure this out. Anyway, it won’t matter where I live. Trouble follows me.” Kalin winked at Ben.
“Don’t be a goof. It does not.” The morning’s rain had stopped, leaving a mess of ash, mud and garbage. The smell reminded Ben of rotten onions mixed with campfire remnants.
“Worse things have happened to me. A little fire’s not going to run me out of town.”
“Our home is gone, our wedding didn’t happen and you were trapped by the fire. But do you get down about it? No. You smile and say, ‘A little fire.’ You don’t always have to be so tough, you know.” Ben knocked Kalin with his elbow in a flirtatious movement.
“At least staff housing was spared. Otherwise, I’d have to find housing for three hundred people. Can you imagine?”
Ben ran his hand over Chica’s head. “You know I love Chica too, right?”
“Yeah.”
He heard the hesitation in her voice. “You shouldn’t have gone after her.”
“I couldn’t leave her.”
“Yes, you could. She got out on her own. What if you died chasing her?”
“I didn’t.”
“Not this time. Sometimes, I wish you would take my advice. I knew what I was talking about.”
“I know that.” Kalin softened her voice. “You’re right. I was scared, and I thought I could get her.” She took his hand and pointed to where their bedroom should have been. “Think how much fun we could have had here.”
“Nice change of subject.” Kalin’s T-shirt was tight enough to be sexy, and he loved the way the soft material outlined her curves. He pulled her to his chest and held tight, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. He nipped her earlobe, and she pressed her torso into him. “Maybe we should go home.”
She slid her hands inside the rear of his loose-cut jeans and rubbed the small of his back. “And do what?”
“Anything that would make you happy.”
Ben let go of her, and they turned in circles. Trees blackened from the fire stood like barren flagpoles, no branches left, no shrubs surrounding their base. Eventually the forest would grow back, probably healthier than before the fire, but that would take years.
“I can’t believe it’s all gone,” Kalin said. “Do you think we should still build here?”
“I want to, but I guess that depends on what the other property owners do. What if no one else builds? We’ll be left with a house that has no value.”
“What’s our insurance cover? I don’t understand what this means for us.”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t want to give up on the place,” Ben said.
“Me either.”
Eighteen months had passed since Ben met Kalin and he’d fallen for her hard. Coming from a backcountry lifestyle, he’d shown Kalin the advantages of high altitude living. He’d kept her happy here. She missed the city sometimes, but the longer she lived in the mountains the more attached she became, he hoped.
Tires crunching on the gravel road announced the arrival of a blue Chevy Silverado.
Pete Chambers pulled to a stop beside their burnt down structure and got out of his truck to meet them. His faded jeans formed a rumpled pile over his steel-toed work boots. Nearing sixty, he was in strong physical shape and often used his strength at work. He was a hands-on building contractor, and Ben respected him. His stocky frame matched Ben’s at five-feet-nine inches.
Pete reached Ben and Kalin, stood beside them and took in the destruction the fire had caused. His three-year-old wheaten terrier bounced straight to Chica. Chica instantly got into play mode, and the dogs ran in circles. Ben threw a stick away from the lot. Chica chased the stick, and Farley chased Chica.
“What’s with the police tape? I thought the cops were done here,” Pete said.
Ben ran his hand along the yellow tape. “Someone set the fire on purpose.”
“I know. Any idea who?”
“The cops haven’t told us anything,” Kalin said.
Pete swooped his hand in a semicircle. “Hard to believe. All this damage.”
“What’s the plan to rebuild?” Ben’s eyes followed the direction of Pete’s hand across the lot, and something struck him as odd. Something about the burn pattern wasn’t right.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t met with the insurance company yet. Maybe it’s better to forget it all and walk away.”
Ben’s heart sunk. They’d pulled together every penny to get this project going.
CHAPTER SIX
Pete Chambers wouldn’t describe himself as the type of guy who fretted, but that’s what he was doing. He’d spent a day and a half at Stone Mountain checking on the building sites his company was responsible for. Kalin and Ben’s site had been destroyed. He’d seen the look of sadness on their faces when he suggested walking away from the place.
Other sites could be salvaged. He’d created a strong reputation for his construction company, and he hoped that counted and he’d be given time to rebuild. What he needed now was a game plan.
He walked along Main Street, Holden, carrying a bag of groceries. Farley pulled at his leash, but Pete didn’t mind. The wheaten terrier came with him everywhere. His un-cropped tail wagged at every person who walked by. Pete believed in leaving a dog as it was born. Farley was his companion and deserved a full tail.
His daughter had wanted a dog, but he and his wife had never gotten around to buying her one. Then one horrible day, it was too late. In his life as a man without family, Farley kept him sane.
He’d built a business in Holden, a town deep in the Purcell Mountains. With all the rich folks wanting second homes in the valley and up at the resort, he had more than enough business. The suppliers delivered his company with materials before the other builders. He kept his workers loyal by providing year-round work.
When he moved from Toronto, he’d worried about how small Holden was. It had two drug stores, a couple of banks, an old-fashioned movie theatre, a grocery store and more lawyers than the residents of the town could possibly need. Several lawyers had set up shop in old houses with quaint signs, the pastel colors exuding calmness. Holden had a hospital and a helipad for anyone needing airlifting to Calgary. As far as he could tell, the little town had everything. He’d found after his time overseas, the quietness of the place suited him.
“Pete.”
He turned and saw Susan Reed running, as well as anyone could run in four-inch heels, to catch up to him. Farley bounced at the end of his leash, straining to reach her.
&
nbsp; Pete had been dating Susan for a month. Since her ex-husband, Gavin Reed, was the president of Stone Mountain, and Pete’s company worked on construction sites at the resort, dating her was a bad idea, but he liked her. He met her at church. Her husband had abandoned her not long before Christmas, and she was trying to pull her life together. He knew what that was like.
He still felt shy around her. They hadn’t progressed past a few dinners together, a movie and a church social. “Hi.”
Farley circled her legs, and she shifted away from him without looking down. She stood on her toes and kissed Pete’s cheek.
Pete blushed but was pleased. Even in her heels, she was four inches shorter than him. A rose blouse peeked out of her tight-fitting grey suit. Rose had been his wife’s favorite color. Don’t think about that.
She kept one hand on his arm and asked, “Is that dinner in there?” She reached for the brown paper bag and tried to peel back the top.
Pete pulled the bag away from her. “Hey, not fair. I told you dinner was a surprise.”
She hooked her finger under her hair and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. She wore her hair ice-blonde, straight and curving underneath her chin. “How about a hint?”
Pete shook his head and chuckled. “Nope. I’m going to wow you with my culinary skills. I may look rough around the edges, but I’m more than a redneck contractor.”
Tonight would be the first time he’d had a woman in his house since moving to Holden. He’d never invited one over. He’d always thought his wife was the love of his life. But loneliness had gotten the better of him. He missed sitting at home at night having someone to talk with, share a glass of wine with and read with. Susan was a risk, just coming out of a twenty-year marriage, but for him the time had come to take the leap.
“When should I come by?” she asked.
“I’ll be home early. How about seven?”
Susan kissed his cheek and gently squeezed his biceps. “See you tonight,” she whispered in his ear.
He walked away from her, thinking about her and not watching where he was going. He bumped into a woman. Barely a touch, nothing more, but goose bumps lined his arms. He glanced into her eyes for a second. And in that second he recognized her, and she scared the shit out of him.
* * *
Nora Cummings had been dreading this moment. She asked Ian Reed to come over because she had the results of the paternity test. She stared at the paper in her hand. Either way, she’d promised to tell him. She’d waited until her housemates, Donny and Amber, were out of the house before she called Ian.
She wore her maternity yoga pants and a loose fitting top. She wished she were back to her skinny self. She’d combed her short hair, something she usually didn’t spend time on, but hadn’t gone as far as wearing makeup. That much of a change might freak out Ian.
Ian hadn’t touched Ethan yet. She guessed he wouldn’t until he knew if he was the father. They sat in the atrium at the back of the house, and Ian picked up a flowerpot that held a cactus. The cactus had one pink bloom protruding from its thistles. He twirled the pot, keeping his eyes on the bloom and not on Nora or Ethan. His strawberry blond bangs fell straight, ending at the top of his matching eyebrows, unable to hide the anxiousness in his grey eyes.
At first, when she told Ian she was pregnant, he’d been cold to her, but then when he’d told his sister, Melanie, she persuaded him he needed to do the right thing. Whatever that was. His dad knew about her pregnancy, his mother didn’t. Ian said his mother was a dragon, and he didn’t want to tell her about Nora. He said Susan Reed was a lousy mother, so he couldn’t imagine she’d be a good grandmother.
Nora cradled Ethan. Curled up in the wicker chair, holding her baby, she felt her heart pound. She didn’t know how Ian was going to react. He seemed decent, but this was a big deal, and she didn’t even know if she wanted him involved. “So you know why I called?”
Ian perched on the edge of his chair and nodded.
“Let me introduce you to your son. Ethan Forest Cummings.”
Ian closed his eyes.
Nora waited for him to internalize what she’d said. Would Ethan inherit Ian’s long straight nose covered with freckles or the cleft on his chin? She was sure Ian was thinking about what a baby would mean to his career as a World Cup downhill skier. Next winter would be his year on the circuit, and she didn’t want to take that away from him. He dreamt of the Olympics.
Ian surprised her when he asked, “Can I hold him?”
Nora stood and held Ethan toward him. Her heart flipped at the joy she saw in Ian’s face. Maybe he’d accept being a dad. “Make sure you support his head.”
Her son rested his head on Ian’s shoulder and snuggled into him. She’d swear it wasn’t her imagination, but she could feel the connection to this tiny boy and to Ian.
“He’s mine?”
“Yes.”
Ian’s eyes welled with tears. “He’s really mine. I mean you’re sure?”
“I am.”
“He’s so little.”
Nora laughed. “Most babies are.”
“If Steve was still alive, would you have told me Ethan’s my son?”
“Of course. How can you ask me that?”
“I know you slept with me just to get at Steve. I’m guilty of the same thing. Let’s face it, I wanted to throw Steve off his game. I wanted any advantage I could get to beat him at skiing. I wanted to get on a World Cup team before he did.”
Nora had been about to deny the truth, but decided she needed to be honest. “You’re right. I was trying to make Steve jealous and get him to stop taking me for granted, but here we are. If Steve was still alive, I would have told you both the truth.”
Ian’s one hand scooped Ethan’s bum and the other held his neck and wobbling head. “What do we do now?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long are you going to live in town? The fire department cleared the resort. I don’t think your house was touched.”
A breeze rustled the plant leaves in the atrium and brought in the slight scent of freshly cut grass. Nora had grown up in this house. She was comfortable here. “I’m going to stay with Donny and Amber for at least a month. They’ve been great, and they want to help. It’s easier for me being in town.”
“Can I bring my dad over?” Ian asked.
Ian’s dad was the president of Stone Mountain, and Nora found him intimidating. “You think he’d want to meet Ethan?”
Ian nodded. “I told him a long time ago. He knows this was a possibility.”
“What about your mom? I mean now that Ethan’s here. Do you still want to keep her out of this?”
Ian blew air between his lips. “I’m not sure. I guess I have to tell her. I don’t want to, considering I barely speak with her.”
“What about Melanie? Is she straight?”
“I think so. I haven’t seen her in a couple of weeks, but I don’t think she’s using again. Are you worried about her being around Ethan?”
“Not if you’re not. Do you want to bring your dad and sister for dinner?”
“How about we take you out for lunch?” Ian inhaled the scent of his son. “Tough little guy, starting his life being circled by a grizzly. You and Kalin were amazing.”
“Thanks. Kalin was the brave one. Do you like his name?”
“I do. What about his birth certificate?” Ian asked.
Nora laughed again, confused by the question. “He’ll have one.”
“I mean is my name going to be on it?”
“You’ll be listed as his father. I didn’t even think about the last name. I just gave him mine.”
“I’m down with that. I guess we need to talk about the future.”
“Let’s not right now. Let’s enjoy him. I have no idea what’s best for him, for you or for me. Come see him when you want. I’ll ask for help when I need it. Then we’ll see.”
* * *
Midway through her shift at the Wild Game Deli, Tessa Weber
felt a tap on her shoulder. She finished wiping the table she’d cleared and turned around. A smile crossed her face.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were back. How come you didn’t call me?” Cindy Tober asked.
Tessa wiped her hands on her apron and hugged Cindy. “I haven’t been home for long.”
Cindy kept her lips facing Tessa. “Can you take a break?”
Tessa surveyed the deli, checked no one in the lunch crowd needed anything and led Cindy to an isolated table. “Your hair looks awesome. That’s quite a change.”
What had been straight dirty blonde hair that fell to Cindy’s waist was now brown, curly and resting on her shoulders. “Jason loves my new look. He says I look sassy.”
Cindy placed her leather purse on a chair and tossed her faded jean jacket on top of it. Her tight fitting top ended above her waist, showing off her diamond belly button piercing. A heart tattoo circled the diamond. “Were you here when the fire started?”
“I got back after. How’s Jason. Did he fight it?”
Cindy scrunched her large nose, causing creases at the bridge. “He did. I can’t believe how destructive it was.”
“I know. It got big fast.”
“Did you hear it’s arson? Jason said because of where it was set, it would spread quickly. Whoever set it knew what they were doing.”
“I hope that’s not true,” Tessa said. “But Jason’s okay. Nothing happened to him, right?”
“He’s fine, but I’m worried about him. He’s so tired, and on top of firefighting, he’s working his construction job. It’s not safe, working when he’s exhausted.”
Tessa rubbed Cindy’s arm. “Jason knows his limits. He won’t do anything dangerous.”
“You’re right, but I can’t help worrying about him.” Cindy shifted her wooden chair closer to Tessa. “Tell me about your trip. Did it work?”
“Shh. I don’t want anyone to overhear, but yeah it worked.” Tessa had been friends with Cindy since high school. Cindy had never treated her like an invalid, not like some of the other girls in their class. She’d even been funny about Tessa’s hearing difficulties. Tessa had gone to the lake with high school friends and dusk turned to night. Someone lit a campfire, but the flames snapping and curling around the logs didn’t give off enough light for her to read lips. Cindy must have noticed she’d gone quiet, and she held a flashlight beam in front of her lips and asked, “Can you hear me now?” Cindy could always make her laugh.
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