by Ariana Dupre
Burt laughed. “Explains why you didn't sleep last night or why you took a cold shower?"
Surprised, Jared just stared at Burt then started down the ladder.
"It was obvious, Boss. Can't pull the wool over an old man's eyes. You better be careful though or your heart will be next. Or was it first?"
"Shut up, Burt,” Jared said, “and get back to work."
Burt howled with laughter.
"What's so funny up there?” Angie asked, “Is Burt telling stories about me again?"
"Are they true?"
"Depends what he's saying, doesn't it? But I think I can guess. There's only one rumor he can spread about me without lying. And Burt may not be discreet, but he's honest."
She cupped one hand beside her mouth and yelled up at Burt. “A regular motormouth, that's what you are."
Burt waved, laughing harder.
"Oh, very funny, Burt. You know darn well you're proud of me, or you wouldn't keep broadcasting my status to the world at large.” Angie, her hand on her hip, turned to face Jared. “But I didn't come out here to talk about me. You're never going to guess what I've found!” Her eyes were dancing with excitement.
Jared lifted an eyebrow. What now?
"Yesterday, I was working in the library—"
"Wait.” He took her by the hand. “We need to go somewhere more private."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
He led her in silence down to the stable.
Angie glanced nervously around the dim and dusty room as Jared closed the door behind them.
"Before you tell me anything, Angie, I want you to clarify just one point for me."
"Can't that wait?” she said, backing away from him a little. “This is important."
"So is this.” He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Fine. What do you want to know?” She fidgeted under his scrutiny.
"Burt said it's rumored that you will only kiss a man."
"Yeah. So."
"A lot more than kissing happened between us last night."
"I know."
"What exactly does that mean, Angie?"
"Oh, the hell with it. Fine. I'll tell you.” Staring straight at him, she clutched the small book against her chest like a shield. “I've never slept with a man, never had a man touch me the way you did last night. Well, once Burt's son grabbed my breast and I punched him—I suppose Burt told you all about that, too—but no one has ever...” She looked down.
Jared waited.
Angie sighed heavily, then looked back up at him. “No one has ever seen me nearly naked. No one has ever made me feel so..."
"Loved?"
"No, I wasn't going to say that. Damn it, Jared, I don't know how to explain it. This is really embarrassing."
"So, last night was the first time you ever had an..."
Angie put her fingers on his lips. “Don't say it. The answer's yes, and before you ask, it was beyond anything I've ever experienced in my life. Are you happy now?"
Jared took her fingers from his mouth and kissed the palm of her hand. “Yes, I'd say you just made me very happy. Now what did you want to tell me that you thought was more important than this conversation."
Angie smiled in spite of herself. “Yesterday, I was packing books in the library when I noticed one of the bookcase boards had slipped. Then I saw something sticking out. I pulled the board loose to find this book.” She held the volume out to him. “Jared, it's Theodore Slayton's personal journal."
"Really?” Jared took the book from her, and started flipping through the pages.
"I wondered if there were entries about Clyde and Ruby,” Angie babbled on. “And there sure are. From what I've read, Theodore was on to Ruby and Clyde before he found them together at Clyde's house. Now, listen to this—Theodore thought Clyde was going to kill him and take over the homestead. It's all right there, you can see for yourself. And he also vowed if Clyde did murder him, he would haunt him forever."
"Geez, you don't take a breath do you?"
Angie laughed. “But there's something else really strange. Theodore had an affair with Sally Mayfield before he married Mary. He writes all about it. He had a son named Theo with Sally before Mary got pregnant. So ... Theo would have been blood heir to this homestead, although he couldn't lay claim to the property.” Angie paced in front of Jared. “And, according to the journal, it was a sore spot with Sally. She swore vengeance on Theodore for breaking promises to her. Isn't this so exciting?"
Jared was reading avidly. This was the proof he needed, right here in his hands.
Angie touched Jared's arm. “So what do you think?"
"I think this is something better left alone."
Angie stared at him, eyes wide with shock. “You're kidding, right? If we could track down the current heir to the plantation, it would be great for business. Just think of the advertising."
"I told you to leave it alone, Angie,” Jared snapped, still turning pages.
"But don't you think this is a great find?” She fought hard to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
"Yes, it's a great find. But it's just not worth worrying your pretty little head over.” Jared started out of the barn with the journal. “And I find it rather odd that you're forgetting this heir might interfere with our new business, not help it along."
"My pretty little head?" she repeated angrily, following him. “Give it back."
"I thought you wanted me to read it."
"I did. Now I don't. Give it back."
"Fine.” He stopped, turned, and held the book out to her.
Angie jerked it from his hand. “And you're forgetting one thing, Mr. Maxwell. The so-called heirs, if there are any, wouldn't have any more right to the property now then they did two hundred years ago. I just thought it would be fun to get them involved in the Inn somehow."
A muscle twitched along Jared's jaw as he watched Angie storm back to the house.
* * * *
Angie decided she would get to the bottom of this one way or the other, with or without Jared Maxwell's help. Now it was her own personal quest to find out more.
Angie marched straight into the office, picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello."
"Hi, Alan, it's Angie. Can you come over here? I need to speak with you. Alone."
"Is something wrong, dear?"
"I'm not sure. I have a hunch, but I need your help. And this doesn't involve Jared. Can you come over?"
"When do you want me there?"
"Right now, okay? Jared will be busy on the grounds. I thought we could go over to my house where we can talk privately. Before you start complaining, it's not really leaving the property, Alan. We'll only be gone and hour or so."
"Is it that important to you?"
"Yes."
"Okay, walk up to the hard surface road. I'll pick you up there; then we'll go to your house."
"Okay, bye.” Replacing the receiver, Angie watched Jared through the window. There was something wrong with this picture. Jared Maxwell was hiding something. She could feel it. It was time she discovered his secret.
* * * *
"Would you like some water, Alan, or a glass of wine? I'm afraid that's all I have since I cleaned out the fridge before going to the Slaytons'.” Angie motioned for Alan to sit on the couch.
"I'm fine, Angie. Why don't you just tell me what's going on? You didn't say a word on the drive over here. That's not like you.” Alan smiled, but he was worried. He knew he had to keep the conversation light. If experience told him anything about this woman, it was that she'd shut down in a minute if she felt pressed too hard.
Angie sat down on the love seat. “Well, there are two things. I had a fight with Eddie but I'm not getting into the details of that now. I called you because yesterday I was working in the library and found a book hidden behind a slipped board.” She held it out to him. “It's Theodore Slayton's journal."
"Are you serious?” He took the p
roffered tome from her hand.
"Of course. I've read it from cover to cover. I think there's a clue in this book that I'm missing."
"Clue to what?"
"I don't know. That's what I need to figure out. According to the journal, Theodore knew about Ruby and Clyde, but he didn't know they were married."
"Really? That's interesting."
"Here's something even more intriguing. Did you ever hear a rumor about Theodore Slayton and a Sally Mayfield?"
"No."
"It seems Theodore and Sally were an item before he married Mary. Sally gave birth to Theodore's son and named the child Theo."
"That's in here?"
"Yes, and it also says Sally told Theodore she would have her revenge one day for all his broken promises. And her revenge would be wrought on his children and their children's children."
"What did Theodore promise Sally?” Alan thumbed through the pages, still listening.
"He was supposed to marry her, but fell in love with Mary instead. He broke up with Sally; then two weeks later he writes that he watched Ruby and Clyde from a window. Their body language led him to believe they were lovers. So he planned to follow them to see if he could catch them together; then confront them."
"Which leads us to the rumors that Theodore found them in bed together."
"Theodore's entries end without confirmation of that. But there's one entry made after Theodore's death."
Alan leaned forward. “How do you know the entry was made after his death?"
"Because all of the entries are dated. Plus this entry is in a different handwriting and signed by Mary. Why don't you read it?"
Raising his eyebrows, Alan picked up the book and turned to the last written page.
* * * *
My love, my life, my Theodore. I saw what Clyde and Ruby did to you with my own eyes. I heard you curse them before you died, so I made them pay for killing you. I had the gypsy witch curse everyone who ever hurt you. Now they are cursed to never find love in life and doomed to haunt the earth for 200 years. Only three people will be able to break the curse. It was the gypsy witch who gave them the powers. The virgin dreams, the sister knows, and the unknown one sees spirits. If the three find true love like ours and then become part of one family, the curse will be broken. If they don't, the tormented souls will have to walk the earth for eternity. I did this for you, my love, to carry out your last wishes and revenge your death.
When I finish this entry, I'm hiding your journal, Theodore, just like you asked me to when you came to me last night. Ruby will never know about you and Miss Sally or the baby. But our baby will know you are his father. I will help you, even in death, my love. Come to me again, Theodore, please, come to me again. I'll love you forever. Your wife, Mary
* * * *
"Holy Mackerel! Angie, do you know what this means?” Alan could hardly contain his excitement.
"It means that it doesn't matter if I dream of Theodore or not, because you have age-old written proof that someone else saw his ghost."
"Yes, it does. This will be great for the Inn. We couldn't have asked for a better marketing plan. What do you think about this curse?"
"People believed that witches and curses existed back then, just like some people believe in modern day witches now."
"So you're saying it could be true."
"I'm not sure. I think it's possible. But not probable. That's all."
"Angie, you have dreams that come true."
"Alan, I'm telling you, that entry could just be the babblings of a distraught pregnant woman who lost her new husband, the love of her life, in a traumatic way."
"What if this curse is true and you are one of the three? From the date of this entry, the two hundred years are up next August."
"Oh, yeah, I'm the dreamer, I have a sister who knows and there's an unknown sibling out there somewhere that will link the three of us together.” Standing, Angie walked to the window. “Listen to what you're saying, Alan. I'm an only child."
"Don't be so skeptical. Maybe the curse isn't talking about your biological sister. Jared said his sister Terri has paranormal things happen to her too. If you and Jared fell in love and got married, then you and Terri would be linked within the same family as sister-in-laws"
Alan looked up when Angie burst out laughing.
"You know, Alan, you're a hopeless romantic."
"Think about it, Angie. It fits."
"Alan, Jared didn't say what kind of paranormal experiences his sister has. You're just assuming she's psychic."
"Yes, I am."
"And where would the unknown one who can see spirits come in?"
"Don't you see spirits in your dreams, Angie?"
* * * *
Chapter 10
He is serious!
Taking the journal, Angie sat on the loveseat to read Mary's entry again.
After a few moments, she looked at Alan and said, “But I'm not unknown, so I can't be the person Mary is talking about. If the curse was real, and we both know it isn't, there would have to be a third person, an unknown relative who is visited by spirits and who would have to find true love too."
Alan took the book she held out to him. “I still think it's possible, Angie."
"Oh, Alan. I'm the one with psychic abilities, and I don't. There's one major problem with your theory. Jared and I will never fall in love or get married. There's nothing between us now nor will it be in the future. But one thing I do know for sure..."
Alan, his eyes twinkling, leaned back in his seat. “What's that, my dear?"
"This book is more valuable to the Inn than even Ruby's letter. Which is why I want you to put it in your vault for safekeeping."
"All right, I will. I'll have it authenticated too. Did you show it to Jared?"
Angie frowned. “That's the reason I want you to take it."
"I don't understand."
"I was so excited to share the journal with Jared. He and Burt were painting the house. Burt told him ‘The Story’ about me."
"Why would Burt gossip to Jared?"
"You know how Burt is, if he thinks someone's interested in me, he tells them about my virginity. He thinks it's funny, but sometimes it seems like he does it to warn them away from me. I don't pay any attention to him anymore."
"What did Jared say?"
"We're getting off the subject, Alan.” Angie smiled at him. She knew by the look in his eye that he had matchmaking on his mind. You couldn't help but love such a romantic as Alan Harland.
"I know,” he responded now. “Sorry."
"It's okay. Now listen to this. When I tried to tell Jared about the journal I only told him about the affair with Sally and the resulting child."
"Why didn't you tell him everything?"
Standing, Angie started to pace. “Because he walked off with the journal. He had this weird gleam in his eyes, as if he had just won the lottery or something. He flipped through the pages and told me not to ‘worry my pretty little head’ about it."
"And that bothers you?"
"Damn straight it bothers me!” Angie said too quickly. Shoot. He just saw through me, she thought, glancing at Alan. “What I mean is, why would he blow off such an important discovery for the Inn, unless he had another agenda besides our partnership. I think he's up to something, Alan, and I don't trust him."
"But you love him."
"What? Good lord, man. You know, Alan, it really gets on my nerves when you do that.” She plopped into the chair beside the coffee table. Can't I hide anything from him? “Maybe you're the one who knows."
"I can't be. I don't fit the description. Martha was my true love, and she's gone.” He paused for a moment, looking down. “So,” he ventured at last, “how long have you been in love with Jared? Let me see...” he looked at his watch, “It was—what? Two minutes ago that you said there'd never be anything between the two of you?"
"Alan, please, can we forget about all that for a minute?” Angie tucked a loose strand o
f hair behind her ear. “Now listen, okay? Before Jared tried to walk away with the journal, I suggested to him that we try to find a descendant of Sally's. That's when he told me not to worry about it. Don't you think his reaction is strange?"
Alan shrugged. He knew Jared had made Sam Slayton a six-figure offer before he died. He couldn't help but wonder if Jared's reaction to the journal and that offer were somehow connected.
"You know what I think, Alan?"
"No, tell me.” Alan raised his brows at her then leaned back further on the couch.
"I think Jared is related to Sally or Mary. Otherwise why wouldn't he want to look for the heirs?"
"I can't answer that, but what makes you say he's related to Sally or Mary?"
"It's just a hunch."
"Hmm, I know about those hunches of yours. Sometimes they come true, just like your dreams,” Alan said softly. “Okay, Angie. I'm going to take this seriously. What else is that hunch of yours saying?"
"I think he's going to try to sabotage the Inn's success as revenge for his family,” Angie told him. “Look Alan, I know I'm not always right with my hunches, but he's hiding something. I just know it. Can't I get him out of the partnership?"
"No, that's impossible, the contract's solid. Let me do a little investigating. I'm interested in getting to the bottom of this myself.” Alan turned the journal over in his hands. “Angie, what are you going to do if you're right?"
"Try to buy him out, of course. I don't want him to destroy the Inn."
"I'm talking about your feelings for him."
"Oh. I don't know, Alan. I'm not even sure what my feelings are yet."
"Angie, you listen to an old man. Don't let the Inn affect your feelings for Jared. If he has some secret agenda, we'll figure it out. I know from experience that Jared is a good man. I've watched him work and gotten to know him on a more personal level, too. If I didn't think he was a good man, do you honestly believe I would let you two live together without a chaperone?"
"I knew you were playing matchmaker!” Angie sat down beside Alan, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “Why are you always trying to fix me up?"