Trying to ignore the rumble of Dennis’s raised voice, I pulled on my sweatshirt. After topping my bulky look with the bright green vest, I trudged out the kitchen door. I was thankful to find Rich spraying down feed buckets near a red storage building, so I didn’t have to go back into the woods to look for him.
He cut the sprayer as I approached. “Feeling a little better?”
My run-in with Dennis Arden hadn’t been quite the pick-me-up I’d needed, but I didn’t want to bring Rich down with my negative observations. “Yes. I made fresh coffee, if you want some.”
“I’m not a coffee drinker, but thanks. I’ll be heading in for lunch soon. You feel ready for another job?”
I gave an unconvincing nod.
“Don’t worry, I’m keeping you away from the wolf enclosures. If you don’t mind feeding the smaller farm animals, I can head back to the wolves and start brushing them out, since their winter coats are already starting to shed.”
“Did Sergeant Hardy say you’re allowed to go back in there by yourself?” I asked, anxious for the kind man’s safety.
“I’m just doing what I have to do to keep this place running,” Rich said, avoiding my question. “I’m not afraid of those wolves.”
He didn’t elaborate, so I didn’t press him. He did have pepper spray, and from all I’d seen, Rich was pretty instinctive about the animals in his care. He wasn’t likely to risk his life just to brush the wolves’ fur.
Once Rich had explained what I should feed the animals, I walked over to the expansive yard stretching behind Dahlia’s house, where the smaller pets were kept.
The chicken coop was a pretty good size. Dahlia was raising some unusual breeds, as well as some of the more standard ones, like Rhode Island Reds. I fed them first, then gathered a few eggs from their nests. Latching the gate closed behind me, I nestled the eggs into the grass to pick up later, although I was unsure what I was supposed to do with them.
I made my way to the fenced peacock area. The regal birds were a sight to behold, but they made earsplitting screeches the entire time I was in their fence. They seemed more interested in me than in the cracked oats I fed them.
From there, I headed over to the goat herd. The animals were fearless, nudging at me and vying for my attention with loud bleats as I refreshed their water supply. As always, I was entranced by goats’ unique sideways pupils. My mom had kept a few goats when I was younger, and I’d always enjoyed their creative and relentless efforts to escape. Mom hadn’t enjoyed their antics nearly so much, and had sold them off.
By the time I’d finished my chores, the sun was covered by clouds and a chilly wind had picked up. I carefully placed the eggs in my sweatshirt pocket before heading back to the visitors’ center. Glancing at the parking lot, I saw that the tour bus was gone and only a couple of cars remained. I texted Red, and he said he’d be over in fifteen minutes.
Inside, Evie was busy reorganizing an eye-catching display table that needed no adjustments. Her British accent seemed heavier as she greeted me. “Oh, my dear Belinda. It’s dreadful that your first day was like this. Sergeant Hardy told me to cancel all the tours for the week, and I have, but I’m completely at loose ends as to what to do with myself now. I’m no good at feeding the animals, or I would help you. I grew up in the city, you see. The wolves know I’m terrified of them.” Tears welled in her dark-lashed blue eyes. “My mum said this was a rubbish job for me to take on, but I didn’t listen. Dahlia convinced me I’d be a huge help to her. Now everything’s gone wonky, and I can’t reach Dahlia on her mobile and—”
I cut her off with a quick hug. “It’ll be fine. Rich and I can handle things with the wolves. You just concentrate on keeping the business end running.” A thought occurred to me. “Wasn’t Carson supposed to be helping you while his mom was away? Where is he?”
Evie shrugged. “I haven’t seen him since this morning, when he told me about Shaun’s death. I was so gobsmacked I barely paid attention to where he went. Most likely he’s been holed up in his house—it’s where he stays most of the time, pecking about on his computer as if he’s doing something important.”
I wondered what, if any, computer business Carson did, but it was evident that he wasn’t contributing much to the management of his mother’s preserve. His efforts thus far seemed to be comprised of taking long walks in the same direction as Veronica, as well as poking his nose into other people’s business.
The ironic thing was that his disdainful grandpa, Dennis Arden, seemed to share his trait of nosing around where he wasn’t really wanted.
When I asked Evie where to put the eggs, she went into the kitchen and absently handed me a plastic bowl. After placing them in the bowl and setting it in the fridge, I turned back to say good-bye. Evie’s chin was trembling, as if she might burst into tears. I gave her another hug and a pat on the back. She was definitely gobsmacked, as she’d put it, and she seemed very alone.
She probably needed to talk about Shaun’s death, but we weren’t really close enough for that yet. Besides, she’d acted so strangely yesterday, sneaking around with her phone like she was having an illegal conversation. I wasn’t sure if I could trust her yet.
I placed my green vest on a wall peg and gave Evie a brief wave. “See you tomorrow,” I said. “I’ll be here at seven-thirty.”
She sniffed, then nodded. “See you then.”
Once I stepped outside, I heard someone rustling around in the red storage building. Rich came out of the building’s metal doorway, holding a pitchfork.
He stopped and gave me a questioning look. “You coming back tomorrow?”
I only hesitated a moment, which really wasn’t bad, given my current feelings toward the wolves. “Yes, I am.”
Rich leaned on the pitchfork handle. “Good. You were a natural today. I know the wolves can be scary at first, but you handled it well.”
Scary was hardly an adequate term for the way Njord had looked, standing there with blood splattered on his coat. I shivered and shoved my hands into my sweatshirt pocket.
“Thanks. And thanks for letting me tend to the other animals this afternoon.”
He nodded and moseyed off to whatever task awaited him. I made my way to the only black car in the parking lot. Red jumped out and opened my door without saying a word. Once I was settled, he adjusted his mirror and looked at me.
“How was your day?” he asked.
My face made some strange crumpling movement, and I couldn’t push words out. Instead of driving off, Red just sat there patiently with the car idling.
Finally, I was able to articulate something. “A tour guide died today. We found him in the wolf enclosure.”
Red’s expression shifted from disbelief to horror, then finally settled into outrage. “Surely you won’t be going back, then?”
“I have to. They really are shorthanded and everything’s so up in the air—”
“I’ll be forced to report this to Mister Stone,” Red said, and I knew he meant Stone the fifth.
“And why would you do that?” I asked. “There’s no need to bother him over there in Bhutan.”
Red shook his head as he pulled out. “I promised to keep him posted on any situations that could jeopardize your safety while he is gone.”
I laughed. “What’s he going to do about it? Assign you as my bodyguard on those dangerous jobs?”
Red didn’t even smile.
My deepest suspicions rose to the surface. “Red…what exactly is your job title?”
He ignored my question. “Should I drop you at the garage so you can pick up your car?”
I’d forgotten all about that. “Sure, that would be great.” I was tempted to add “bodyguard,” but I restrained myself.
* * * *
The fully repaired Bluebell was running like a top as I pulled onto Putnam Avenue and grabbed supper from a drive-through. Usually, I’d take the time to cook something, but today every last bit of my emotional energy was spent. I just wanted to crash and play video games.
As I kicked back on the couch, indulging in a cherry Dr Pepper, I loaded up my new role-playing game. Companies sent me early copies for review, and so far, I’d really enjoyed the story world on this one. However, the moment I leveled up and found out I had to fight off wolves in an extremely realistic forest, I shut it down.
Maybe I’d play another day.
Maybe I wouldn’t.
Adding to my despondency was the knowledge that Shaun had been the first of my avid gamer fans I’d ever met in real life. I could hardly imagine how Sergeant Hardy had informed Shaun’s parents of what had happened—it was just so unthinkable. I supposed his parents could always try to sue Dahlia, but given the exhaustive terms of our employee contracts, I doubted they could win.
I grabbed the uneaten half of my chicken wrap, donned my coat, and walked around to my back patio. It was about forty-five degrees, but the sun was hitting the table straight-on, so heat radiated from it.
My daffodils provided colorful pockets of cheer against the monochromatic stone wall that lined my backyard. I was about to pick a bouquet when my cell phone rang.
It was Jonas.
I hesitated, letting it ring again. Should I tell him what had happened today? I hadn’t even told my parents yet, but Katrina was calling tonight, so that meant I’d have to let them know before she did.
I picked up, still uncertain, but the moment Jonas said my name in his relaxed, assured voice, I decided to tell him about Shaun.
“Belinda, I’m glad I caught you. What’s new? Your mom said you got a new job?”
I always thought it was adorable how my mom loved to talk up my accomplishments to every neighbor who would listen.
And Jonas always listened.
I briefly told him how I’d wound up with the unexpected wolf-sitting position. When Jonas didn’t overreact, I went on to described my first day on the job—starting with the discovery of Shaun’s body in the wolf enclosure.
Once I finished speaking, there was complete silence. I asked Jonas if he was still on the line.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I’m here. So what’s next? Are you going back or quitting?”
I liked that he didn’t assume I would have immediately turned in my resignation. “I’m going back. Dahlia couldn’t find anyone else to fill in, and Rich has to get a house ready for his daughter, who’s getting married soon, so he doesn’t have time—”
“It’s okay—you don’t have to explain things to me. I was just thinking…I’ll be heading down to New York City early Saturday morning. I have quite a bit of honey and maple syrup to sell at a Brooklyn green market. I’ve booked a bed-and-breakfast for Saturday night, since I planned to sell until the end of the day. But I’ll be free that evening. You want me to swing by your place?”
It was at least a one-hour “swing” from Brooklyn to Greenwich, but it would be a delight to show Jonas around the posh town and my little carriage house. Although his words were casual, like he didn’t care if I agreed to a visit or not, there was a barely discernible note of hopefulness in his voice that gave me a little thrill.
I could hardly temper my excitement. “Of course! I’d love that! Saturday evening? And don’t eat supper. I want to feed you.”
He laughed. “No arguments here. I’m sure I’ll be hungry from peddling my wares all day, and I know what a great cook you are. I still remember that stuffed chicken you brought over when Mom was getting radiation.” His voice grew serious. “But are you sure you want to stick it out with this wolf-sitting job? Of course, you’re not a newb to animal life since your dad’s a vet—that’s one of the things I like about you—but do they make you feed the wolves by yourself?”
His “one of the things I like about you” comment swept like an electric charge down my spine. Jonas wasn’t the type to throw compliments around, so when he did, I knew it wasn’t idle flattery.
I groped around for an answer to the question I hardly recalled. “Um, yeah. I mean, no. Today I did the water while Rich fed the wolves, so I wasn’t alone in the enclosure. Then, after we found Shaun, I just fed the hobby farm animals and didn’t go back into the wolf fences.” I tried to cover my wordy fumblings. “Speaking of your mom, how’s she doing?”
Although Jonas’s mom had finished chemo and radiation for her stage three breast cancer late last year, I hadn’t heard if there were more treatments on the horizon. Jonas was his mom’s primary caregiver, since he was the one to move into the family farmhouse a few years ago when his dad had died.
There was a pregnant pause. My stomach clenched as I realized what he was probably going to say.
“It didn’t work,” he said simply. “It’s spread.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I recalled all the times I’d visited Naomi Hawthorne’s house on errands for my mom. Naomi always had me sit down over a cup of coffee and a freshly baked goodie so we could chat about whatever happened to be weighing on my mind. She had a stillness and a patient way about her that pulled me in, unlike my perpetually enterprising mom.
I groped for words. “I’m so sorry…be sure to call my parents if you need help with anything.”
“We will.” His voice lightened, and he asked how my book club reading was going. Our classic this month was The Great Gatsby, which had thankfully been a short and nondemanding read, given my new job.
“I don’t like Daisy Buchanan,” I said.
“You wouldn’t,” he responded.
“She’s so…”
“Helpless? Fake? Manipulative?”
“I don’t know. Just boring. It’s like she can’t commit, you know? Either stay with your ogre husband or leave him for the enigmatic yet adoring man from your past. Don’t be so wishy-washy.”
Jonas chuckled. “If there’s one thing you’re not, Belinda Jade Blake, it’s wishy-washy.”
It was disarming and kind of enchanting to hear Jonas use my full name. Jade was my mom’s nature-loving homage to her favorite stone, and oddly enough, it had stirred my interest in rocks and gemstones. Dad always told me that my eyes were the same color as jade. When I was a teen, he’d given me a jade bracelet, encouraging me to start a collection. Since then, I had accumulated several unusual jade pieces when I was in the Peace Corps in China and during my other travels.
Katrina’s middle name was Pearl, and she wasn’t crazy about it. Still, she was going to name her firstborn Jasper, so maybe subconsciously she was carrying on our family gemstone-naming tradition.
We talked a little more about Gatsby, then Jonas’s mom called to him, so he said good-bye. After I hung up, I stared at the expectant, blinking light on my game system. I couldn’t return to the wolf game tonight. Although I had review article deadlines looming, it would be best if I took a long bath and tried to relax. Maybe I could fix a cup of hot chocolate with liberal amounts of spray whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I’d smooth on my new caramel-scented lotion and slip into my comfiest pj’s.
I didn’t know who I was trying to kid. There was no way I’d get much sleep after a day like today.