Behind Closed Doors

by Debbi Rawlins

  Nathan barked a short laugh. “You setting me up?”

  “For?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve got the feeling you want to talk me out of something else.”

  “Um...” His jeans maybe, she thought, and felt heat flood her face. “No,” she murmured, more to herself. “No, I’m going to let that one go.”

  “Yeah.” He quietly cleared his throat, and then she heard someone muttering in the background. “Sorry,” he said. “They need me outside.”

  “Is this the best number to call?” she asked quickly. It was his landline, and she was hoping for his cell number. “You know, in case I think of something.”

  “To talk me out of?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Hold on a second.” It sounded as if he’d pulled the phone away from his mouth when he said, “I’ll meet you outside in a minute, Woody.” More muttering. “I’m back. Let me give you my cell number. Do you have something to write with?”

  “I have a good memory.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, and recited the number. “The one I have...is that your cell?”

  “It is. Sorry I kept you.” She saw the school bus pull away from the stop two blocks down but couldn’t see Liberty.

  “No problem.” He hesitated. “I’ll call later.”

  A shiver of pure pleasure slipped down Beth’s spine. “I look forward to it,” she murmured, then disconnected before her excitement tripped her up.

  She spotted the trio of older girls who always got off the bus with Liberty and watched them disappear into the variety store. With them out of the way, there was still no sign of her niece. Beth pushed off the tree and craned her neck. Maybe Liberty had already ducked into the store for a soda.

  “Hey, Beth...”

  She glanced at Larry, who was poking his shaggy brown head out the front door. For a young man barely out of his teens, he’d really impressed her with his carpentry skills.

  “I need to show you something,” he said. “A problem with the rear wall.”

  Sighing, she nodded. Problems seemed to be in no short supply lately. And naturally he was working on the room that would end up being her living quarters.

  She hurried up the steps, taking a final glance down Main Street. Still no Liberty in sight. Beth hoped she hadn’t been kept after school for causing trouble. No, she’d show up in a minute. And if not, Beth would stop overreacting and call her. Simple.

  * * *

  “LIBERTY, IT’S ME AGAIN.” Beth stopped pacing the small kitchen and looked at the round clock hanging on the wall behind the microwave. “It’s six-forty. I’m at home now, so don’t go to the boardinghouse. Please call me. I’m very worried.”

  She dropped her cell on the table. This was the fourth message she’d left, so she wouldn’t hold her breath. Except she was so tense that was exactly what she’d been doing. She exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her chest, not surprised that her lungs actually ached. As soon as she made sure Liberty was all right, Beth was going to strangle her.

  The kitchen was too small for her to burn off some adrenaline. The faux-wood microwave stand, its lower shelves crammed with pots and mismatched lids, kept getting in her way. She tried to steer clear of it but failed, ramming her foot against the corner.

  “Ouch.” She went still, then, balancing on one leg, brought up her foot. “Dammit.” The flimsy boot hadn’t protected her big toe. She hopped to the chair, sat down and pulled off the boot.

  Candace was gone. She’d left a note that she’d picked up an extra shift at the bar in Kalispell where she waited tables part-time. When Beth had called about Liberty, Candace’s lack of concern for her missing daughter had pushed every one of Beth’s buttons. She was still angry, more so than she’d been in a very long while.

  She flexed her toes. They felt better already. But that was it for those boots. Liberty had been sweet to buy them, but they weren’t suitable to be worn outside or for work. Beth turned to the clock, then peered out the screen door. It was getting dark. Anger faded to fear. Why wasn’t Liberty answering her phone? She’d never ignored Beth’s calls before.

  It was getting chilly, so Beth got up to close the storm door. She peeked outside first, just as she’d done a dozen times in the past thirty minutes. A black truck with heavily tinted windows slowed in front of the house. She moved down a step and leaned out as far as she could to keep track of where it was headed. The vehicle barely came to a halt when Liberty jumped out of the passenger side and slammed the truck’s door. Her face red and furious, she stomped toward the front of the house.

  Beth hurried into the yard, realizing she wore only one boot when sharp weeds poked through her sock. That didn’t stop her. Before the driver left she wanted to find out what was going on and who’d dropped off her niece. But the truck wasn’t going anywhere. Not just yet. The engine was cut, the door opened and in preparation for battle, Beth drew in a deep breath.

  When Nathan got out, she nearly choked on the exhale. She could only see the back of his head and broad shoulders, and the truck was different, no ranch logo on the door, but she had no doubt it was him. His expression grim, Nathan slowly turned to face her and shut his door.

  “What are— How did—?” Beth glanced back at the house. Liberty was crouched at the window, peeking out from under the curtain. When Beth turned back to Nathan, he was eyeing the neglected lawn and shabby house. “What happened?” she asked, suddenly so tired she wanted to lie down in the middle of the prickly weeds and curl into a ball.

  “I didn’t expect to see you,” he said, looking even bleaker than he had a few seconds earlier. “So Liberty is yours?”

  Nodding, she shrugged. “My niece.”

  “I’m guessing you know about her hobby.”

  “Yes, I do.” The horror of what must’ve happened finally registered. “Oh, no. She didn’t...again?”

  Nathan rested his forearms on the side of the truck bed and just looked at her. He didn’t answer, but then he needn’t bother. The response she dreaded was there in the tightness around his mouth.

  “I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “I’ve been calling her since she didn’t show up after school.” Oh, God, he didn’t care about that, she thought, and noticed the light spatter of turquoise paint on his black shirt. Turquoise? Really, Liberty? At least it wasn’t red from the spray can she’d let the girl keep. Beth felt awful enough. “Was anyone with her? An older boy?”

  Nathan shook his head. “Just her.”

  Beth sighed. “Did you notify the sheriff?”

  His gaze ran down the front of her T-shirt and jeans to her toes, then rested on her foot, the one wearing only a stocking. “Is that what you want me to do?” he asked in a quiet voice as he lifted his eyes to her face.

  “No.” She pushed a hand through her tangled hair. “Yes,” she corrected, forcing the word past her lips and briefly closing her eyes. Reporting the violation could mean detention at a Kalispell facility. “Liberty has to understand there are consequences.” She glanced back toward the dark house. No lamps had been turned on. If Liberty snuck out the kitchen door...

  “I agree,” Nathan said. “Though the judge’s ruling obviously hasn’t done any good.”

  “True.” Beth felt a chill and rubbed her arm. The sun’s warmth was gone, leaving behind brisk dusky air. “But it’s our job, her mother and I, to get her back on the right path.”

  “You’re cold.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “And tense.”

  “Of course I am. I’ve been worried sick.” Hugging herself, she rocked back on her heels, jerking when something pricked her stockinged foot. “Why wouldn’t she answer my calls?”

  “I think her phone died.” He moved around the truck bed toward her. “Come sit in the cab with me.”

  “Why?” She stared at his face, and then at the warm steady hand cupping her elbow.

  “Because we need to discuss a suitable punishment without you freezing.”

&nbs
p; It wasn’t that cold, but she’d rather he think the autumn air had caused her trembling voice. “We could go in the house,” she said, dreading the thought of him seeing the inside. As if he wouldn’t expect the decor to be thrift-store chic.

  He opened the passenger door and helped her up. “It’s more private out here.” He paused. “I forgot about her mother. Is she home?”

  “No.” Beth bit off the word before she loaded too much into it. He didn’t need to know about her screwed-up sister. “Candace will go along with whatever we decide.”

  The interior light illuminated Nathan’s face. He didn’t look angry anymore, not the way he had when she’d first seen him. Though he was obviously still troubled. Probably cataloguing the damage to his property, courtesy of the little hoodlum.

  After he’d settled behind the wheel, he blew out a stream of air. The overhead light flickered off, leaving them in a dim murkiness that was eerie yet comforting. Beth cast a glance at the house. It wasn’t completely dark. A soft glow came from somewhere in the back, probably Liberty’s bedroom.

  “She can’t see in here. Not with the tinted windows,” Nathan said, meeting her eyes when she turned to him.

  “I’m more concerned about her slipping out the back door.”

  “Does she sneak out often?”

  “No. Never.” Beth rubbed the tension at the base of her neck. “As far as I know anyway. Before I got here she had a lot more freedom. My sister is more permissive. God, Nathan, I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “Well, yeah, it sort of is...maybe not my fault but my responsibility. When you have a kid, you kind of sign up for this stuff.”

  “I thought she was your niece.”

  “She is, but...” Beth laid her head back. “It’s hard to explain.” It felt nice sitting in the comfortable leather seat, soothing and warm, though not warm enough. The dashboard and console were clean, the truck even smelled good...a welcome change from drywall dust and a messy house. “Liberty is the reason I moved back. And Candace. They’re all the family I have, really.”

  He let a few seconds tick by in silence, then said, “Let’s talk about how we’re going to handle this.”

  She brought her head up, embarrassed she’d revealed anything personal. “Yes, of course,” she said, turning to him. “Please don’t think I was looking for sympathy or about to unload on you. I wouldn’t do that.”

  “I’ve got a deal for you,” Nathan said, watching her closely. “We come up with a solution that will make Liberty think twice about using a spray can, but won’t stress you out.”

  “I’m not worried about me.”

  “Tough,” he said, reaching across the console. “I am.”

  6

  BETHANY GASPED, HER eyes widening. “What are you—oh. Yes. Right there.” Her lids drooping, she dropped her chin as she relaxed under his touch. “Oh, my. If I weren’t so broke, I’d hire you as my full-time masseur.” She tensed again. “That was a joke.”

  “Relax.” He pressed his fingers into the knot, and ignored her quiet “Ouch.”

  “The being-broke part,” she murmured. “I’m not there yet.”

  Nathan’s intentions had been pure. He’d seen her rubbing the back of her neck. But now, feeling her soft skin and fragile bone structure put him in a different frame of mind.

  “It feels better already,” she said. “You can stop.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  She hesitated. “No, but we’re supposed to be discussing Liberty.”

  So they were, and better they got that piece of business out of the way. Reluctantly, he broke contact and sat back. “You have anything in mind?”

  Bethany looked disappointed, and he almost smiled. “Well, for starters, she should have to paint whatever wall she defaced. What was it this time?”

  “The calving shed. It’s isolated from the rest of the buildings and we haven’t used it since late spring. If Troy hadn’t cut through the north pasture, no one would’ve seen her.” Thinking back, Nathan shook his head. “Doesn’t make sense she’d pick the middle of the afternoon when the men are working outside. It was almost as if she wanted to get caught.”

  “Okay, now, that definitely doesn’t gel. We had a talk just this morning. I trusted her—” She shook her head in despair. “How about I drop her off at your place every day after school and on weekends until she’s repainted the whole shed? Heck, throw in anything else you need painted.”

  Nathan smiled.

  “I’ll buy the paint and have her pay me back every last cent.” Beth blinked. “Those gallons you had stored with the lumber...”

  He didn’t say anything. Judging by the sudden slump of her shoulders, she knew the answer.

  “I didn’t make the connection. I thought it was for a winter project.... It doesn’t matter...I’ll write you a check for that, too.”

  “The court’s already put it on the restitution list.”

  “I don’t care. You shouldn’t have to wait.” Bethany stared down at her clasped hands. “Can she start tomorrow?”

  He thought about it for a few moments. “Tell you what,” he said. “I bet you could use her help at the boardinghouse.”

  She shook her head, the loose hair from her ponytail fluttering around her face. “I already pay her to do small jobs for me.”

  “I’m talking about her working for free.”

  “Half the money I give her goes to victims. Like you. So I don’t mind paying her. Look, I understand why you don’t want her around the Lucky 7. Or want me there, for that matter, but—”

  “Hey.”

  “I’d wouldn’t stay, just drop her off and pick her up, for however long—”

  “Stop,” he said, and took her hand. Her skin was cold. He waited for her to meet his eyes. Damn, but he wanted to kiss those pretty lips. “I never said I didn’t want you at the ranch.”

  “No, but I knew what you were thinking.”

  Nathan smiled. “I seriously doubt that.”

  “Why?”

  “You would’ve slapped me.”

  She narrowed her eyes, then laughed. When her gaze swept down to their joined hands, he regretted teasing her. She didn’t pull away, though maybe she felt obligated, which wasn’t what he wanted. “What, then?”

  “I don’t like seeing you penalized,” he said, releasing her hand. “You don’t need to be running shuttle service twice a day.”

  “I’ll make sure her mother participates.”

  Disappointment settled in his gut. On the one hand, he didn’t want Beth burdened, on the other, he’d get to see her. “I can drop her off in the evenings when I go to town.”

  “Come on...you never go to town.”

  “I was there yesterday.”

  “Yes, but—” She pressed her lips together and glanced away. “I know you mostly avoid it.”

  “Not necessarily. I just haven’t had a reason to go.”

  Her gaze shot back to him. She searched his face for a long moment. “But you do now?”

  “I might.”

  “Oh.” She smoothed back her hair. “Okay.”

  Nathan watched her shift nervously, and hoped he hadn’t just made a mistake. This afternoon he’d decided to invite her out to dinner, but that was before this thing with her niece. He didn’t hold Liberty’s actions against Bethany; he just didn’t want her to feel pressured.

  She gave him a tentative smile. “When do you think you’ll know?”

  “Depends.” He relaxed. “You did promise to buy me a beer.”

  “Oh. Good. I was worried you’d tell me to take a hike. You looked pretty angry a few minutes ago.”

  “I was,” he admitted. “Your niece has quite a stubborn streak. Hope it doesn’t run in the family.”

  Bethany’s lips parted, but for a moment she was speechless. “Um, yeah, well, that doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.” She gave into a grin. “Some people consider persistenc
e a strength.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  Her good humor faded. “Did Liberty mouth off to you? Or get nasty?”

  He shrugged. “She acted like a typical kid caught in the act...defensive, smug.” A couple of times she’d been belligerent, but he didn’t have the heart to tell Beth. She looked as if she and her dog had both been kicked. “Woody threatened to put her over his knee. Naturally he’d never touch her but she had him riled.”

  “Maybe a spanking is exactly what she needs,” Bethany muttered. “Okay, I didn’t just say that. I really don’t believe in hitting a child.” She let her head drop back against the headrest, then turned her face to look at him. “Dare I ask what specifically made Woody so mad?”

  “She refused to give us her parents’ number, made a couple smart-aleck cracks. That’s about it. Finally I gave her a choice between going to the sheriff’s office or giving me directions here.” He paused. “I was shocked to see you walk out.”

  “Oh, jeez...I about fell over when I saw you. And for a very hairy moment, I wanted to strangle her. Seriously.” Bethany sighed. “Her father hasn’t been in her life much. And my sister isn’t known for dating fine upstanding men. Liberty hasn’t had it easy. Basically, though, she’s a good kid.”

  “Thanks to you, I imagine.”

  “No,” she said. “I wish I could say that was true. Until three months ago, I hadn’t seen her in quite a while.” Her voice had dropped until it was barely a whisper. “Long story.”

  “Maybe you can tell me about it sometime.”

  “I don’t know about that,” she said, her light laugh unable to hide her unease. “It isn’t pretty.”

  “Life seldom sticks to the plan.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” she said softly. “I guess you understand that better than most people. I know about you losing your wife, and I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks.” He didn’t like talking about Anne. Yes, he missed her and wished things could’ve been different. She’d died young, and her passing was sad. But for him, the greater tragedy was that so much of her life had been wasted. “So back to Liberty...the offer is still on the table. Use her at the boardinghouse if you want.”