by MK McGowan
Darcy tried to see the appeal of the countryside as they drove to the building site, but she simply couldn’t appreciate it as much as Elizabeth seemed to.
Suddenly, Elizabeth turned the truck off the road and headed down what was little more than a cleared path. Darcy grabbed the armrest and held on tight as the truck bounced along. “This is the back way to the place,” Elizabeth explained. “It used to be a wagon path, but it’s grown over since the family stopped working the farm.”
After a few minutes, the truck broke through the trees, and the stone farmhouse sitting on a small hill came into view. A van was sitting in the driveway.
“Shit!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she hit the gas pedal. When she neared the house, she slammed on the brakes, cut the engine, and leapt out of the vehicle not even bothering to close the door.
Darcy, stunned, stayed in the truck and watched Elizabeth approach two men who were walking around the side of the house toward her. Darcy couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she could tell by the angry gestures that it wasn’t a pleasant interaction. She glanced at the logo on the van – G&S Oil and Gas Exploration.
“Damn,” Darcy muttered. She wasn’t sure what to do until she saw one of the men try to roughly push past Elizabeth, pushing her backward. Without thinking, Darcy grabbed the gun off the rack and ran over to the arguing trio. She arrived in time to hear Elizabeth order the men to get off her land.
The taller of the two men took a menacing step toward Elizabeth, and Darcy stepped in front of her, blocking the man’s progress. She held the gun tightly and said, “I’d do as she asked,” in her most authoritative tone.
Elizabeth looked over at her in surprise. With a grim smile she warned the men, “I’d listen to her, if I were you. She has a pretty short temper.”
The men glared at the two women before shuffling wordlessly back to their van. They peeled out of the driveway, spewing gravel in their wake.
When the van reached the end of the driveway, Elizabeth turned to Darcy. Darcy was gripping the gun so tightly that her knuckles were white. Elizabeth reached down and gently took the shotgun. Darcy relinquished it gratefully. She could feel herself shaking. She’d never physically threatened anyone before. She didn’t like it.
Elizabeth didn’t say anything as she put her arm around Darcy’s waist and led her up to the house. She directed Darcy toward the porch swing, propped the gun against the wall nearby, and sat down beside Darcy on the swing. She put her arm around Darcy’s shoulders.
“Are you okay?” Elizabeth asked quietly.
Darcy took a deep breath and exhaled. “I think so. When he pushed you, I couldn’t sit there. I’m not sure why I grabbed the gun. I think I overreacted.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Are you sure you’re not a Texan?” she teased. Then more seriously, she asked, “Have you ever fired a gun before?”
“I’ve never even held a gun before,” Darcy confessed. “I’m lucky I didn’t shoot my foot off.”
Elizabeth smiled and squeezed Darcy’s shoulder. “It isn’t loaded,” she said.
“Elizabeth, Carolyn didn’t hire them. She agreed to the no drilling clause, and she doesn’t renege on a deal,” Darcy said. She didn’t want there to be another misunderstanding between them.
“I know. G&S has been after this place for quite a while. We go through this at least once a year.”
They sat there swinging in silence for a few minutes until Darcy stopped shaking. “It is a lovely view,” Darcy finally said admiringly.
“Yeah,” Elizabeth agreed. She stood up and leaned on the porch railing. The porch looked out over the long drive. On one side of the drive was a pasture with a small barn and what Darcy thought were two donkeys grazing in front of it. The other side was planted in symmetrical rows. It was all very picturesque.
“Do you still farm this?” Darcy asked.
Elizabeth laughed. “No, I don’t have time. And frankly, I don’t have a green thumb,” she confessed. “My brother Davey looks after the place for me.” She looked like she was going to say more but stopped. “Do you want to see inside?”
Darcy nodded. Elizabeth held out her hand and pulled Darcy out of the swing.
Elizabeth took off her jacket and hung it on a peg as they walked through the door. “I’d like to live here, but it’s too far from the hospital to be practical. So I come out here when I have time off.”
Darcy strolled from room to room. The house was sparsely furnished, but the stone walls and wooden floors were in great shape. “How old is this place?”
“It’s about 150 years old. My great, great, great grandfather built it, and it’s been in the family ever since.”
“I can see why you didn’t want to sell,” Darcy said.
“Yep, and with a little extra cash, maybe I can finally fix the place up,” Elizabeth said hopefully.
Darcy looked around for a few more minutes. Quaint was the word that came to mind.
“Now, let’s go take a look at the development site,” Elizabeth said. Darcy followed her out the door. Elizabeth picked up her shotgun, and the women headed back toward the truck.
“Why do you carry around a gun?” Darcy asked. It seemed incongruous to her because Elizabeth was a doctor, after all.
Elizabeth laughed. “I don’t usually. I was taking it to my oldest brother, Mike. He wanted to borrow it. He’s teaching my nephew to shoot. Maybe he could give you a few lessons too, Annie Oakley,” Elizabeth teased.
Darcy shuddered. “No, I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t have much use for one in San Francisco.”
Elizabeth nodded and drove toward the proposed development site in silence.
“Oh no!” Darcy exclaimed when the truck reached their destination.
“What’s the matter?”
“I forgot the plans. I was going to show you the potential layout,” Darcy said.
“That’s okay. Kate showed me some of her sketches last week,” Elizabeth said as she got out of the truck.
“What? Kate was here already?” Darcy didn’t like hearing that. Not at all. What else did Kate Wickham show you? she wanted to ask. But she didn’t have the right. That didn’t stop her from feeling jealous though. She shut the truck door a little bit harder than necessary and stomped off down the trail.
Elizabeth rushed to catch up. “Yeah, Kate spent almost a week here looking over the site and making sketches. She was very thorough,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, she is,” Darcy agreed blandly. “She’s an extremely talented architect.”
They hiked around the site for more than an hour. By the time they made it back to the truck, both women were starving.
“I’m glad you had the foresight to pack a lunch,” Elizabeth said. She reached into the truck and pulled out a blanket from behind her seat. They climbed up into the bed of the truck and spread out the blanket. Darcy handed Elizabeth the basket, and climbed up beside her. Elizabeth started to unpack the basket.
“So when does construction actually begin?” Elizabeth asked.
“We hope to break ground by next October,” Darcy said.
“That soon?”
“I said hope. That’s extremely optimistic. There are all kinds of things that can delay construction – permits, zoning, the weather. It’s a logistical nightmare,” Darcy said. “Carolyn is coming soon to check things out and then a team from legal will oversee the permit process.”
“Won’t that interrupt your holidays?”
“Carolyn will be here. I don’t think she needs my help.”
“So you’ll be spending the holidays with your family?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not bloody likely,” Darcy said. “I don’t get along very well with my brother, and my mother travels a lot. So it’ll be me, the Grinch, and an expensive bottle of wine. What about you?” Darcy asked. She thought briefly about inviting Elizabeth to San Francisco but decided that offer wouldn’t be welcomed.
“I usually end up working part of the day, but my folks alwa
ys have a big party on Christmas Eve. I’ve got 3 brothers and 7 nieces and nephews, so there’s always chaos and excitement at the holidays. It’s a lot of fun,” Elizabeth said.
“Sounds nice,” Darcy replied. She actually thought it sounded dreadful, but you couldn’t very well tell someone that. It underscored how different their lives were.
“So did you make it to the Preston Sturges retrospective?” Elizabeth asked, shifting their discussion to movies they’d recently seen and books they’d recently read. They finished their picnic in companionable conversation. If there was an underlying sexual tension, neither woman chose to acknowledge it.
Elizabeth drove Darcy back to the hotel. She pulled into the driveway and said, “Thanks for lunch.”
“It was my pleasure,” Darcy said seriously. She got out of the truck. She reached in for the basket and pulled it toward her. Darcy knew that this could very well be the last time she ever saw Elizabeth. She took a deep breath.
“Elizabeth, I want you to know that I didn’t sleep with you in San Francisco because I wanted this deal to go through. I slept with you because I desperately wanted to.”
Elizabeth didn’t respond, and Darcy couldn’t read her expression. She didn’t look mad, but she didn’t look particularly happy either. Well, that’s it then. I’ve done all I can do. The rest is up to her. Darcy pulled the picnic basket out of the truck. “Goodbye, Elizabeth,” she said softly.
***
Elizabeth sat in her truck and watched Darcy walk away. She had absolutely no idea what to do next. She looked at the dashboard clock. Well, except go drop off this gun and then head back to work, she thought as she drove away. I’ll figure this all out later.
Elizabeth got roped into helping teach her nephew to shoot. This gave her the perfect excuse not to think about Darcy for most of the afternoon, but by the time she got to the hospital for her shift she couldn’t avoid it any longer. She finally admitted to herself that she wanted to believe Darcy’s story. She started to call Darcy, but a trauma case burst through the doors. When she finally had a minute to herself, she went up to her office to make the call. She sat down at her desk and picked up the phone. What are you going to say? I believe you, and I want you to stay around long enough to actually get to know you? She put the phone down. And then picked it back up. She had to try.
Elizabeth dialed the hotel. Tom answered the phone. Does he ever go home? Elizabeth asked to speak to Darcy.
“Sorry, Elizabeth, she checked out hours ago,” Tom said.
Elizabeth slowly returned the phone to its cradle, fighting the urge to slam it down in frustration.
Maybe it’s for the best.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Darcy had been working overtime for the past two weeks. She figured that the harder she worked, the less time she’d have to be miserable. She didn’t understand it. She barely knew Elizabeth, but she couldn’t stop thinking about her. It didn’t help that Charlotte was constantly talking about Jane, and hearing about Jane reminded Darcy of Elizabeth. Darcy finally started avoiding Charlotte so she wouldn’t have to listen to it. She wanted to scream.
Darcy looked down at her calendar. If I can get through the next two days, everything will be okay. Charlotte left for Texas that morning, and Carolyn was leaving for Texas the day after tomorrow. The office would once again be a peaceful haven. Darcy put her head down on her desk and closed her eyes.
The buzzing of her desk phone interrupted her wishful thinking. “Get your ass in here,” Carolyn barked. Darcy sighed and did as she was commanded.
Carolyn was pacing nervously in front of her desk. As soon as Darcy walked through the door, Carolyn started in. “I need you to come with me to Longborn,” she said.
“What? Why?” Darcy was outraged.
“I have a meeting set up with the town council. I need you there in case we have trouble,” Carolyn said.
Darcy was puzzled. This job had been the most trouble-free construction project she’d ever planned. Of course, they hadn’t broken ground yet, but getting the permits was going smoother and faster than she thought possible. She looked closely at her boss. The woman was actually fidgeting. Carolyn is scared! Darcy had seen Carolyn angry, bitchy, and annoyingly confident but never hesitant or scared. It was oddly endearing.
“Charlotte can handle any problems that crop up. She’s already there, and she volunteered to stay in Longborn until the project is complete,” Darcy reminded her.
Carolyn went from nervous to pissed in less than a second. “I don’t want Charlotte. I want you. Now go home and pack.”
Darcy decided to try logic. “Carolyn, you know I’m working on the new cruise line project.”
“Give it to John. He knows the background, and he’s almost competent.”
Apparently, Carolyn wasn’t going to be dissuaded by reason so Darcy shifted to plan B-whining. “But Carolyn, it’s Christmas.”
“And I know for a fact that you have no plans,” Carolyn said. “Look, I’m nervous. It’s been years since I’ve been home, and I’d like to know that there’s at least one person I can count on to have my back. Charlotte’s so involved with her new romance that she’s no longer reliable. That leaves you. I’ve always been able to count on you.”
“What about your cousin Elizabeth? Can’t she help?” She has an interest in this after all.”
“With her connections and roots in the community she can be a real asset to us on this project. We need to keep her in the loop and on our side. That’s where you come in,” Carolyn said.
“Elizabeth and I don’t get along,” Darcy said. It was a half-truth. Sometimes they got along too well. The rest of the time, they seemed bent on total miscommunication.
“Really? That’s odd. She was the one who told me you didn’t have any plans and suggested I bring you along,” Carolyn said.
Darcy was stunned. “You’re kidding. At one point, she wanted to kill me,” Darcy said, exaggerating only slightly. She could still remember the hurt and anger in Elizabeth’s eyes when she overheard Carolyn’s message.
Carolyn looked at Darcy suspiciously. “I guess she got over it,” she said. “So, you’ll come with me?”
“What the hell, I’ll go home and pack,” Darcy said, trying to contain a smile.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Charlotte picked Carolyn and Darcy up at the airport the next day. Both women were tired and grumpy from their holiday travels. Even flying first class hadn’t helped Carolyn’s mood much. Darcy was asleep almost as soon as she climbed in the backseat. It was almost 11 p.m. when they got to town. Charlotte had already signed them in at the hotel, and they went straight to their rooms.
“I’m going to soak in the tub while I drink a bottle of bourbon,” Carolyn said with a tired sigh. Darcy and Charlotte saw her to her door before they went up to the second floor to Darcy’s room.
“I figured you wouldn’t want to room too close to the boss lady,” Charlotte teased.
“Good call,” Darcy said through a yawn. She tossed her suitcase on the bed and plopped down beside it. “I am so tired,” she said, rubbing her eyes. It felt like she had sand in them. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said as she headed into the bathroom to take out her contacts.
Charlotte nodded but made no move to leave the room.
When Darcy came out of the bathroom, she was startled to see that Charlotte was still there. “Was there something you wanted to talk about? Is there a problem with the project?” Darcy asked as she rummaged through her suitcase for her robe.
“There’s a dance at the bar tonight,” Charlotte said.
“And?”
“Elizabeth will be there.”
“And?”
“Don’t be obtuse,” Charlotte said. “I have it on good authority that she would not object to seeing you.”
“Honestly? She actually told you that?” Darcy was dubious. She hadn’t heard anything from Elizabeth since she left Longborn two weeks ago.
“
Well, no, not in so many words, but I know from Jane that Elizabeth’s been mopey lately. Jane is sure it’s because Elizabeth likes you,” Charlotte explained.
“Likes me? What? Are we back in high school now?” Darcy said.
“Get dressed, Darcy. We’re going out,” Charlotte ordered.
“I am dressed, Charlie,” Darcy said peevishly.
Charlotte waved her hands. “Don’t you want to put on something a little less workish?”
“Fine. But some day, some how, some way, I’m going to make you pay for this,” Darcy threatened. She grabbed some clothes from the suitcase and went back into the bathroom.
Charlotte chuckled when she heard the shower start. Darcy came back out 20 minutes later dressed in jeans and a cashmere sweater. “Better?”
Charlotte nodded, and the two women headed out of the hotel. It was almost midnight by the time they reached the bar. They could hear Christmas music spilling out of the doorway. Charlotte held the door open and motioned Darcy through. Darcy stood in the doorway letting her eyes adjust. She spotted Sasha behind the bar and waved. The bartender smiled and waved back. Darcy felt Charlotte’s arm around her waist. She was steering her toward a table in the middle of the room.
“Go grab us some seats while I get the drinks,” Charlotte said.
Darcy spotted Jane sitting at one of the tables. She waved. When she reached the table, Jane jumped up and gave her a hug.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” she said.
Jane seemed honestly pleased to see her. Darcy relaxed a little. She said hello to everyone else seated at the large table. She recognized a few faces but couldn’t remember their names. She didn’t see Elizabeth anywhere. She sat down in the empty chair next to Jane.
“She’s not here yet,” Jane said softly. “She had to work until midnight. She said she’d be here as soon as she could.”
Darcy was torn between pretending that she didn’t know what Jane was talking about and being grateful that Jane knew what she was talking about. Charlotte showed up with the drinks and saved Darcy from having to respond at all.