Every Move She Makes

by Jannine Gallant

  “I wish he hadn’t either. I don’t like making these decisions on my own.”

  “Is that all?” Lark’s chest heaved as she drew in a ragged breath.

  Thinking about the camping trip, Rachel held her tongue. “It is for now. Why don’t you go get dressed? We need to leave in about an hour.”

  “Am I allowed to talk to Rose at our graduation, or is that asking too much?” Sarcasm accompanied the defiance in her voice.

  Rachel’s temper flared. Silently she counted to ten. “Of course you can talk to her. You just can’t go anywhere with her or with her brother.”

  “Fine!” With one last icy glare, Lark stomped off.

  Rachel collapsed against the back of the couch.

  “Is the coast clear?” Grace stepped into the doorway.

  “Gracie! I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it today.”

  “I changed my work schedule. Rough day?”

  “The worst.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Maybe later. I can’t face a rehash right now.”

  “You can tell me all the gruesome details after dinner. I was planning to spend the night at Mom and Dad’s, but I’ll stay here instead.”

  “You know you’re welcome. If we’re lucky, seeing her favorite aunt will improve Lark’s mood and make the evening bearable.”

  “We can hope.” Grace smiled. “Come on, let’s go rally the troops.”

  After the earlier theatrics, the eighth-grade graduation ceremony was anticlimactic—the only bit of drama created when Lark walked across the stage wearing a summer dress that bared her tattoo for the world to see. Rachel’s mother sagged in her seat, her gasp audible through the applause.

  A short time later, Audrey Hanover entered the kitchen of her big, rambling farmhouse, still in a huff. “Neither of you would have gotten away with a stunt like that when you were teenagers.”

  Though she’d grown plump over the years, and her red hair was mostly gray, she was still a beautiful woman—and a force to be reckoned with. She cast another dark look in her granddaughter’s direction.

  “Believe me, Lark isn’t getting away with it either.” Rachel washed her hands and dried them on a dish towel. “Now, what can I do to help with dinner?”

  Audrey ignored her daughter’s attempt to change the subject. “Then why wouldn’t you let me speak my mind when we were at the school?”

  “Because I didn’t want a public scene. I’m handling the situation, and Lark is well aware of my displeasure. Please, can we just drop it for now?”

  Grace took her mother’s sweater from her and hung it on the hook by the door. “Don’t worry, Mom. Lark is in serious trouble. Rachel let her have it earlier. Now, let’s get the ham out of the oven and eat. I’m starving.”

  Her sister led their mother away, and Rachel reached up to massage her temples.

  “Here.” Will handed her two aspirin and a glass of water. “You look like you could use these.”

  “My savior.” She gulped down the tablets.

  “Is Mom giving you grief?”

  “She doesn’t bother me. It’s the situation in general. Lately I feel like my life is one disaster after another.”

  “Keep your chin up, kid. You’ll survive.”

  “If you say so.”

  Dinner was eaten with the usual noise and confusion that accompanied a Hanover family gathering. Afterward, Grace followed Rachel home. When she came downstairs after changing into a pair of old sweats, her sister handed her a glass of wine.

  “Are the kids asleep?” Grace leaned against the kitchen counter and tapped one polished nail on the granite surface.

  “Jade and Ivy are. They were both exhausted. Lark is listening to her iPod and ignoring me.”

  “She’ll get over it.”

  “Maybe not after I throw her the next curve ball.” Rachel took a sip of wine then set down her glass to pull flour and sugar out of the pantry.

  “What curve ball are you talking about?”

  She set to work mixing up a batch of apple bran muffins. “The camping trip I’m planning. It’ll be easier to enforce the no Rose rule if they aren’t in the same town.”

  Grace eyed her sister with raised brows. “This camping trip wouldn’t have anything to do with the retreat Kane Lafferty was talking about, would it?”

  “It might. I booked a reservation for seven days starting next week.” Rachel cracked the last egg into the bowl then stirred vigorously.

  “I knew it! I told Nolan you had a thing for his buddy. You could barely keep your eyes off him while we were having drinks.”

  Rachel squirmed as she poured the batter into prepared tins. “I don’t have a thing for Kane. Sure, I think—thought he was attractive. Who wouldn’t? But it’s not like I ran off and jumped into bed with the man.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Grace!” Rachel shut the oven door and turned to glare at her sister. “Of course I’m sure.”

  “Just checking. Did he kiss you?”

  “No, he walked me to my car and left. End of story.”

  “Obviously not or you wouldn’t have planned this camping trip.”

  “The trip isn’t about Kane. It’s about giving Jade and Ivy a great vacation and getting Lark away from her friend. I looked up Granite Lake Retreat online and it seems like a really fun place. That’s all there is to it. Honestly.”

  “I hope so.”

  Rachel set the timer and turned. “Why? I thought you’d be thrilled I’m actually interested in someone for a change.”

  “Normally I would be, and I’ll admit Kane is very sexy in that macho way you seem to go for. Not my type, but seriously hot.”

  “Do you have a point?”

  “I was getting to it. Nolan told me all about Kane, and he doesn’t sound like someone you want to be involved with at the moment.”

  She sat down at the table across from her sister. “Why not? He seems nice.”

  “He is, and Nolan has a lot of respect for him. But Kane has some problems. He was involved in a shooting that left his partner and a sixteen-year-old kid dead. Kane was wounded. Their lieutenant ordered him to take some time off to get his head together. Which means he isn’t the ideal candidate for a relationship.”

  “That’s awful. I thought I had problems.”

  “You do. So find a nice, uncomplicated man who’s good in bed and isn’t an emotional mess. Kane is probably more trouble than you want to tackle right now.” Grace reached over and took Rachel’s hands. “I don’t want you to get hurt again. You aren’t tough like me, and taking on a project the size of Kane Lafferty seems like more pain than it’s worth.”

  “You’re probably right. It’s too bad, though, because I really did like him.”

  “Hey, if you could have a fling with the guy and walk away, I’d say go for it.”

  “What makes you think I can’t?”

  “Come on. I know you. You’d do something stupid like falling in love.”

  “I slept with Alan, and I didn’t fall in love with him.”

  Grace wrinkled her nose. “Let’s face it, Alan was a little on the boring side. He was certainly no Kane Lafferty.”

  “True.”

  Outside a vehicle slowed and idled, its headlights illuminating the empty street.

  Rachel stepped to the window to peek out. “I wonder who that is.”

  Grace joined her as the pickup drove away. “Someone must be lost.”

  “I suppose.” The timer dinged, and Rachel pulled the muffins from the oven. “Let’s go to bed. I’m really tired. Plus, tomorrow I have to break the news about the camping trip to Lark.”

  “Do me a favor and wait until after I’ve left to talk to her. I don’t want to get hit by the fallout.”

  Grace ducked when Rachel threw a potholder at her.

  “Aren’t you sweet and supportive. Good night, Gracie.”

&n
bsp; Chapter 4

  The early morning sun was just peeking over the hills as Rachel and the girls left Vine Haven. Traffic heading east was light, putting Rachel in a good mood. She sang softly with the radio as the miles passed. In the back seat, Jade and Ivy told jokes, played games and consoled Daisy, who moaned pitifully.

  Lark turned around in the front passenger seat and frowned at her sisters who were giggling helplessly at one of Jade’s jokes. “They won’t think it’s so funny when Daisy throws up on them.”

  “That’s a cheerful thought.”

  “You can’t expect me to be happy. I didn’t want to come on this stupid camping trip.”

  “Lark.” Rachel’s tone held a warning.

  Her daughter retreated into sullen silence. She’d been sulking all week. After her initial explosion, she was punishing the rest of the family with her long face and dramatic sighs.

  Jade leaned forward between the seats. “What’s so bad about going camping, anyway?”

  “Everything. When are we going to get there? I’m sick of sitting in the car. We’ve been driving for hours.”

  “It’s not too much farther.”

  “I still don’t see why I had to come.”

  Rachel sighed. “We’ve been through this already. This is a family camping trip, and like it or not, you’re part of the family.”

  “Not. Definitely not.”

  Jade bounced and squealed. “Mom, this is our exit.”

  Rachel drove down a two-lane road lined with pine trees. Here and there piles of dirty snow lay in shady patches. The girls sat quietly, watching for the signpost that marked their destination.

  “There it is.” Jade pointed at a weathered sign with the camp’s logo.

  The car bumped along a rutted track as Rachel pulled to a stop in a makeshift parking lot.

  A battered wooden fence lined the parking area, separating it from a stable and corral. A couple of horses and several mules dozed in the sun. Every now and then one switched its tail to shoo away a fly.

  “This rocks. They have horses.” Jade climbed out of the car.

  “Do we get to ride them?” Ivy ducked as the dog leaped over the back of the seat in a scramble toward freedom. She ran to the fence. “Look at the donkeys. Aren’t they cute?”

  “Actually, they’re mules.” A young man with dark blond hair, glasses and an engaging smile approached, his hand outstretched to shake Rachel’s. “I’m Jason, and you must be the Carpenters. Welcome to Granite Lake Retreat. I’ll be your guide for the hike up to the actual camp.”

  Rachel introduced the girls as he made short work of unloading their gear.

  “Is that it?” He pointed at the pile of suitcases, sleeping bags and guitar case at his feet.

  “Maybe we over-packed.” Rachel frowned. “It looks like an awful lot to carry.”

  “This is nothing. You should see the stuff some people bring.”

  She glanced down at her dog, who sat nearby keeping an eye on the horses. “Oh, where’s Daisy’s food?”

  “It’s right here.” Ivy pushed a heavy burlap sack off the backseat floor. “Jade moved it up here so Daisy wouldn’t eat it while we were driving.”

  Rachel smiled at her daughters. “That was smart thinking.”

  “I didn’t want her to throw up on me.”

  Jason laughed. “That would motivate me. If we have everything, I’ll load your gear onto a couple of the mules.”

  Ivy climbed out of the backseat, clutching a dark-haired doll to her chest. “I can’t believe I almost forgot Samantha.”

  “Mom, she’s not taking a doll with her, is she?” Lark rolled her eyes. “How embarrassing is that?”

  Rachel rested a hand on her youngest daughter’s head. “I don’t mind as long as she carries her.”

  “Geez, Lark, she’s nowhere near as big as your guitar.”

  “I can’t leave it. I have to practice.”

  Their guide smiled at her. “Sometimes at night we sing around the campfire. Maybe you could play for us one evening.”

  Lark responded with a shy smile of her own. “I’d like to, but I’m not a professional or anything.”

  “Don’t worry. We aren’t picky. Jed plays the fiddle, and you can accompany him. Jed’s the owner of Granite Lake Retreat. He’s a great guy, but be careful.” His grin was teasing. “Most of the single girls fall crazy in love with him before they leave.”

  “He must look like his brother.” Rachel grabbed two suitcases and followed Jason toward the corral.

  “Do you know Kane?” He turned to look at her.

  Her face heated. She hadn’t meant for him to hear her comment. “I met him once.”

  “Kane’s great, too. He’s been terrific about helping out. Right now it’s just me, Jed, Hillary and Ozzie, but we have more staff coming before the holiday.”

  They made a return trip for the last of the bags, and Rachel locked the car. “Does everyone have their day pack and water bottle?”

  The girls nodded.

  Jason secured their gear to the mules. “Who wants to lead the second one?”

  Jade volunteered. “What’s his name?”

  “Dozer. This one’s Mandy.”

  “Cool. Are the horses coming with us?”

  “No, a man down the road owns them. He boards them in our stable and feeds the mules for us in exchange.”

  “Too bad.” Ivy sighed. “I’d love to ride one.”

  “I’m afraid we don’t offer trail rides, but don’t worry. There’re plenty of other activities to keep you occupied.”

  They followed a beaten dirt path through a thicket of trees out onto an open hillside and walked for a half hour before Jason stopped his mule.

  “Check out the view.”

  An open vista stretched before them with towering granite peeks and dense conifer forests reaching to the horizon. A crystal clear lake rested at the bottom of the bowl.

  “Wow, it’s really pretty,” Ivy called. “Come look at the lake, Jade.”

  She handed the lead rope to Rachel and ran over to stand next to her sister. “This is so awesome. Are we on top of a mountain?”

  Their guide shook his head. “Not really. We’re on a ridge above the camp. The trail leads down from here.”

  “The cabins sure look tiny.” Lark started down the slope behind the others.

  “They aren’t very big, just a room lined with bunks and storage space for your gear underneath.”

  Lark stopped. “And a bathroom.”

  Jason grinned at her. “I’m afraid we don’t have indoor plumbing at Granite Lake. That path at the far end of the cabins leads to the outhouses. We use a lot of lime, so they don’t smell too bad, as outhouses go.”

  She gave her mother a horrified look. “You didn’t mention anything about outhouses. What about showers? Please tell me there’re showers.”

  “We jump in the lake, right, Mom?” Jade pushed on the mule to get him moving again.

  Their guide took pity on Lark. “We have solar showers. The water is pretty warm after hanging in the sun all day.”

  “Super. It’s practically five star accommodations.” Lark wrinkled her nose as one of the mules stopped to lift its tail. “Gross. That’s so disgusting.”

  “Pee-yew.” Ivy waved her hand in front of her nose. “What do you feed him?”

  “Hay and the occasional bologna sandwich. Dozer loves bologna.”

  “You might want to think about changing his diet.”

  Lark frowned at her sister. “Your doll is going to lose its shoe.”

  Ivy screamed and grabbed the dangling shoe. “Thanks. I wouldn’t have liked fishing it out of that steaming pile.”

  Jade shrieked with laughter, her braces flashing in the sunlight, and even Lark was smiling as they entered the camp.

  A tall man with brown hair, blue eyes and a strong resemblance to Kane jogged up the slope from the lake to greet them. “It so
unds like you enjoyed your hike.” He extended a hand. “I’m Jed Lafferty, your host.”

  Jason introduced Rachel and the girls to Jed and Ozzie Thompson, a short man with sparse white hair. The cook was probably in his mid-seventies. He shook Rachel’s hand and then went back to the campfire he was tending.

  “Kane took some guests on a hike, and Hillary drove into Truckee for supplies. You’ll meet them both later. Kane’s my brother.”

  Rachel opened her mouth to say she was already acquainted with his brother but closed it when Ivy interrupted.

  “Is this our cabin?”

  Jed nodded. “Go ahead and settle in. Ozzie should have lunch ready shortly. I imagine you’re hungry after your hike.”

  Jade peeked inside. “Starving.”

  “Come out to the central picnic area when you’re ready. That’s where we eat all our meals. Toilet facilities are at the end of this path, and there are a couple of shower stalls over near that grove of trees.” He pointed to a bucket of water by the door. “This is just for washing. We keep a supply of bottled water to drink.”

  Jason had unloaded the mules while Jed talked, and both men left them to get organized. Her youngest daughters claimed the upper bunks.

  “This is so cool.” Jade climbed up to her bed and bounced on the bare mattress. “It’s comfortable, too.”

  “That’s good.” Rachel sat on a lower bunk to test its firmness. “This beats sleeping on the ground.”

  Other than the four bunks, the furnishings consisted of a small table with two chairs, an old fashioned basin and water pitcher, a mirror in a copper frame and a lantern, which hung from an overhead hook.

  “It’s nice.” Ivy reached up to touch the lantern. “I like this place.”

  “The cabin seems functional.”

  Rachel smiled at the girls. Their eyes were bright with anticipation. Even Lark had stopped moping.

  “Let’s spread out our sleeping bags and then go eat. I’m pretty hungry.”

  They stowed their suitcases under the bunks and washed their hands and faces in the basin. After tying Daisy in the shade with a bowl of water and a dog treat, they left the cabin to follow the trail to the area set up with picnic tables Jed had mentioned. A buffet of sandwiches, salads and chips was spread out on vinyl tablecloths. A big tub of iced drinks rested next to the food table.