Chapter Three

 

Daphne spent Sunday morning breakfast with the family, outlining her plan and breathing a deep sigh of relief when her father and uncles nodded their approval. She gave the completed and sign papers to Ethan who then had to talk to Gwen to find out what was to be done with them. She called Brittany and made her first offer for the property, involving herself in helping out in the Emporium for most of the afternoon.

 

 

Monday morning Daphne knew her stomach was hurting and it had nothing to do with illness. She slowed and took the turn to the undeveloped portion of the resort, driving cautiously over the dirt road and frowning at all the morning activity. It was barely seven and she’d told Eve she would be a little later today.

Wearing jeans with a comfortable sweater belted at her waist and a pair of boots that rose to her knees, she walked toward the large tent that seemed to be the center of the activity. She heard the loud feminine scream and took off at a run, bursting inside and coming to a halt. A young woman was seated on a wooden bench, her stomach obviously heavy with a child and a young man her age holding her hand.

“Who are you and why are you here? This is…”

“Do you have a midwife?” Daphne ignored the older woman who came up to her and she noticed for the first time there were no other males in the large area.

“She is no longer with us,” the older woman said with a long sigh.

Daphne pulled her phone from her pocket, tapping in the number and speaking quickly. “Frannie…we need a midwife at the undeveloped section of the property…yes…yes…I’m not sure…are you…big tent at the right side of the camp…alright…some clean sheets or towels…a big bucket of cold water and warm water, if possible…got it…thanks, Frannie.”

“This Frannie…she is a midwife?”

“The best,” Daphne said with a reassuring smile, going over to the young woman. “Hi…my name’s Daphne…what’s yours?”

“Breana….”

“How far apart are the contractions?”

“We have timed them at ten minutes,” the young man said after receiving a nod from the older woman.

“Plenty of time…your first baby?” She asked with a smile, aware of the older woman going to the tent opening and issuing orders for the things she had said aloud. “You’ll like Frannie…she’s a fun doctor…”

“A woman…thank you…”

“Do you know where I can find…” Daphne pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of her jeans. “Anca Cesnia?”

“You were speaking with her,” the man told her. “She is my aunt.”

The older woman was slender and had deep black hair pulled to the back of her neck, coiled and out of the way. She accepted a stack of linens from another woman at the same time the dusty land rover pulled up to the tent. Dressed in one of her dresses and low boots, Francine Kendall hopped to the ground, opened the back of her rover and pulled out a box and her bag that she carried with her.

Daphne took the box, watching as Frannie went right to work, her hands busy binding up her own long blond hair before kneeling beside the young woman, talking and soothing all at the same time. She even got a few laughs before they moved to create a more private area for them with the help of several blankets and poles stuck into the soft ground.

“I am grateful for your help,” Anca Cesnia said softly. “We had hoped for time to contact someone…but babies rarely are patient.”

“I’ve heard that,” Daphne walked with her into the camp, very aware of the dark eyes following her. “My name is Daphne Paddington. I work in the child care center at the resort.”

“Did you come looking for my nephew?”

“I…don’t think I know your nephew,” she answered, puzzled.

“We saw what happened on Friday. You were the one running like a gazelle over the grounds after the child,” Anca commented, laughing at the blush that struck Daphne’s face. “Now you remember my nephew.”

“The man on the horse,” she nodded slowly. “He makes an impression.”

“Odd…he said the same about you.”

“I’m sure it was the green muck covered feet,” Daphne said with a chuckle. “They’re sure to leave an impression on anyone.”

“I was referring to the fierce expression on your face when you were running the man down, Miss Paddington,” came the deep, low voice behind her.

Pale lashes closed, her tongue out to slowly run over her lower lip before pulling it between her teeth. She found a smile and turned to find herself looking up. How does a guy that big move so quietly?

“Mr. Mircea…nice to see you again. Actually though…I came to speak with your aunt…my aunt Zora said to mention her name and you would speak with me,” she said quietly, turning back to the woman who nodded and gestured toward another smaller tent.

“This way. Nephew…perhaps you have a business to run?”

“I’m sure I do, Aunt,” Vlad said with a chuckle. “I’m meeting with Brady in an hour at the construction site. Perhaps we’ll meet again, Miss Paddington?”

“You work construction?”

“I’m an engineer, and I’m going into partnership with Brady O’Conner. Perhaps you know him?”

“Danielle…yes, yes, I do…well…have a great day,” she said hurriedly, moving to join Anca inside the tent. “Thank you.”

“Please, have a seat, Miss Paddington.”

“Please…call me Daphne,” she made herself comfortable on the floor filled with huge pillows.

“Might I offer you tea or coffee, Daphne?”

“No, I don’t have long because of work but…I needed to know about the property your family was trying to purchase in Pierce County,” she slowed when she saw the anger in the woman’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean…I believe the farm and orchard there would be an amazing opportunity.”

“We were informed the property was not for sale,” she said angrily. “To us.”

“I know…I’m very sorry for the ignorance of…idiots,” Daphne checked her watch and winced. “I need to know if you are still interested in the concept you had for the property. Please…don’t mention this to anyone. It’s very important that it be kept secret for the time being.”

“If the property came into my lap tomorrow would I press forward with our plans? Yes,” she said clearly, firmly. “We are good with the earth and with animals.”

“Good. Perfect,” Daphne bounced to her feet and impulsively hugged the woman sitting back on the pillows. “Thank you. I’ll be back in a few days. Thank you!” She spun and ran straight into Vlad Mircea. “Oh! Excuse me…how do you sneak up on a person all the time? Please stop that. I’ve got to get to work. Bye!”

 

Vlad stared after the blue eyed blonde, his hand holding the tent flap up and watching her climb into the vehicle she drove. She wore her long hair in a high riding ponytail that swung with her movements with wide gold rings sparkling in her ears.

“You are staring, nephew,” came the droll chuckle from behind him. She stepped into the cloud covered morning, heading for the tent where she left Breana.

“I’m sure it’ll pass, Aunt Anca,” he answered, shaking his head and going toward his car. He didn’t see his aunt pull a cell phone from her pocket and speak softly to her brother, nodding and smiling to herself as she went in search of the new midwife.