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SHERIFF STEELE GREETED his wife with a kiss and then led the way into his office. He intentionally had his office in the front of his house so he could see what was going on in the neighborhood. More often than not, he brought paperwork home with him and several folders were spread out on his desk. He motioned for the detective to have a seat and then went to his on the other side of his desk.
“They seem like pretty good kids,” Andy said.
“They better be. One of them is my son.”
Andy smiled. “Then Miss Bouchard is in good hands.”
“In the daytime, at least. Mr. Tucker, I...”
“Andy.”
“Andy, you should know Colette doesn’t know anything about the trial or Dave’s involvement.”
“She didn’t read the article?”
“She read the first couple of lines and it made her mad. Artie says Ben didn’t want her to get even more upset than she already is, so they hid the article from her.”
“So she doesn’t know about Fowler’s wife or that the money is still missing?”
“Fascinating, isn’t it. Of course, I can see why Dave didn’t tell her, now that I know the whole story.”
“Me too. How did you find out?”
“Margo Allen told me.”
“She’s here? I thought I recognized her at the funeral, but I wasn’t sure. So, how can I help? I probably want to catch Paige Fowler even more than Margo does.”
Sheriff Steele explained that he was having a couple of friends paint the house just in case there was trouble, “But the painters can’t stay at night and I figure if Paige fowler is going to show, it will be at night. We just don’t know which night, and she might not be our only problem. There were several people at the funeral I didn’t recognize and I’m afraid some are here hoping to find the money.”
“Probably so. Anyway we can get Colette to spend the night somewhere else?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. The only way I can think of, is if the electricity gets turned off.”
“Where would she go?”
“The people across the street would probably take her in, or she might spend the night with her best friend, Emma Rose, who lives a couple of blocks away. We can keep the lights turned off for a couple of days and nights if we have to.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.”
The Sherriff was interrupted when his personal phone began to play, “bad boy, bad boy, what’cha gonna do...” Love that song,” the sheriff said just before he answered.
“Sheriff, its Margo Allen. Steven says a local lawyer named Phillips demanded Colette sell the house and the restaurant to him. We think Paige might have hired him. Colette refused to sell and he was enraged by the time he left.”
“I see,” said the sheriff. “Maybe I’ll have a little talk with Phillips.”
“Is that wise?” Margo asked. “If Paige hired him, he might call her and we don’t want to scare her away.”
“True. Keep me updated. By the way, do you remember a detective Tucker?”
“Very well.”
“He’s here and will help us watch the house.”
Margo exhaled her relief, “That is good news. Give him my best, will you?”
“I’ll do that.”
*
LARRY PHILLIPS WAS still hot by the time he made it back to his office. He marched in, set his briefcase on his desk and by doing so, knocked over half a cup of cold coffee. He didn’t care.
His wife did. Sharon left the reception desk, grabbed some paper towels and went to clean up the mess, “What is wrong with you?”
“I’ve been cheated, that’s what’s wrong.”
“Cheated how?”
“Not now, Sharon,” he growled as he took the roll of paper towels out of her hand.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Phillips gritted his teeth. “I said, not now!”
“Fine,” she shot back. “You have messages, but I don’t suppose you want those now either.”
“From who?”
“Some woman. She wouldn’t give her name or tell me what she wanted. She just said if you don’t call her soon, the deal if off.”
Sharon walked to the door and then turned back, “What deal?”
Phillips already had his phone in his hand and simply shooed his wife out with his other hand. He waited to dial the last number until she closed his office door. He tried to explain but the woman he knew at Mary Martin didn’t want to hear his excuses. “I’m doing the best I can,” he softly said so his wife couldn’t hear.
“You’re best doesn’t seem to be...”
“She says she’s not going to sell either the house or the restaurant.”
“His wife?”
“Wife? No, his daughter.”
“Daughter?” Paige asked. “How old is his daughter”
“I don’t know, she’s just a kid.”
“Doesn’t she have a guardian or a relative you can talk to?”
“Not that I know of. Her mother took off a few years ago.”
Paige was fast losing her temper and raised her voice. “I thought you said this was going to be a breeze.”
“I thought it would be. I’ll try again tomorrow.”
There was a long pause on the other end before Paige said, “You’ve already wasted two days. Forget it. I’ll have to take care of this myself.”
An instant later, the line went dead. A distraught Larry Phillips repeatedly ran his shaky hand through the top of his hair. Buying the house and the restaurant, and then tearing both apart piece by piece should have been easy. “Stupid girl,” he moaned, “Stupid, stupid Colette.” He abruptly shoved his chair back, got up, left his office and headed for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Sharon asked.
“I need a drink,” he muttered as he slammed the door closed behind him.
“You need a drink?” she moaned. “I’m the one who has to work for you and live with you!”
*
MORE FRENZIED THAN she had been in a long time, Paige Fowler hurried to her bedroom, cast off her lounging gown, and put on her dark blue business suit. She went to the bathroom, put makeup on, brushed her bleached blonde hair, and then grabbed blue shoes out of the closet. She got one shoe on, hobbled to her computer while putting on the other shoe. Paige found what she was looking for on the internet and printed out a map showing the fastest way to get from Montrose, Colorado, to Lost Bell. It showed a back way on a paved two-lane highway that would take her less than two hours to get there. It was much faster than going west to Grand Junction and then east again into the mountains.
Paige fowler quickly packed an overnight bag, grabbed her purse, and found her keys. She locked the house door behind her, got in her car and started off. “Mr. Larry Phillips – I could kill you for forcing me to do this,” she muttered.
*
THE NEXT KNOCK ON COLETTE’S door came just after she and Ben finished washing the dishes. That morning she dreaded seeing the man at the door, but now he was someone she wanted to see – the tow truck driver. “Mr. Jefferies, come in. Tell me the total and I’ll write a check. You will take a check, won’t you?”
“From you? Sure, Colette.” He stepped inside, reached in the pocket of his overalls and handed her two cards. “I found these under the seat. They must have fallen out of his billfold. There were some pictures too, but they were ruined, so I threw them away.”
“Pictures? All of me, probably.”
“To be honest, I couldn’t tell who the people were.”
Colette decided she didn’t want to know how they got ruined. “Thanks, Mr. Jefferies. I appreciate your concern. How much?”
“Well, I can sell some of the parts off the car, but hauling it out of the canyon and...”
“I know you won’t cheat me, just tell me how much.”
“Three hundred?”
“How about four, just for returning his cards and coming all the way here to give them to me.” She could tell he was pleased, went to get her purse, pulled out the book and sat at the table to write the first check on her new checking account.
“I’m sorry about your dad,” Mr. Jefferies said as he took it, folded the check and put it in his shirt pocket. “I liked Dave, everyone did.”
“Thank you.” She walked him to the door, pulled the screen door closed after he left and went back to the table. “Everyone liked him except me,” she said to Ben. “Why was that?”
“Because with you he was strict, overbearing, overprotective, and secretive.”
She slowly smiled. “Thanks, I needed to be reminded.” She picked her father’s keys up off the table, chose the one she wanted and handed the key ring to Ben. “Mind taking it off for me? I never can manage to do that without pinching a finger.”
“No problem.” He worked the key off the ring, handed it to her and watched her put it in her pocket.
“I’m thinking of buying a car. What do you recommend?”
*
BEFORE BEN COULD ANSWER, Emma Rose knocked and then came in. “Artie is right behind me. He parked behind your truck so we can’t escape.”
Artie didn’t even bother to knock, he walked in, let the screen slam and then stopped dead still. “Emma Rose gets more gorgeous every day. Don’t you agree?”
“Don’t you have a house to sell or something?” Emma Rose asked him.
“Nope, I came to take you to the castle.”
“Now?” Emma Rose asked, finding a seat at the table.
“Why not now?” Artie asked.
“Because Miss Bouchard and I have business to discuss.” She turned her attention to Colette. “Are you serious about the restaurant.”
“More than serious. It’ll be fun now that I can afford it.”
“Excellent!” Emma Rose said. “Okay, so now I don’t hate you anymore.”
“Finally,” Colette giggled. “I’d love to see the castle again.”
“So would I,” said Ben. “I might not be back before someone buys it. This could be our last chance to break in.”
“Well...” Emma Rose hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s probably creepy even in the daytime.”
Artie squared his shoulders and flexed bicep muscles that were not that impressive. “Fear not, my fair maiden, I shall protect you from any and all ghosts...unless of course, there are more than two. Then Ben will have to protect us all.”
“Don’t I always?” Ben scoffed.
“What else are men good for?” Emma Rose asked Ben.
“Don’t answer that,” said Artie. “It’s a trap!”
Colette laughed. “Are you guys hungry? I forgot to offer you some lunch.”
Artie wrinkled his brow. “Little girl, lunch was three hours ago.”
“Oh.” She got up and motioned for Emma Rose to follow her upstairs. “Come with me. If we’re going to the castle, I want to change clothes.”
When they got to the top of the stairs, Colette remembered, dug her father’s key to the restaurant back out of her pocket, and handed it to Emma Rose. “For you, and may you always be happy there.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” she asked following Colette into her bedroom.
“Of course I am. I don’t know the first thing about all this, but I can’t sell it until I get the title changed over. After that, I’ll sell it to you.”
“I still can’t get a loan.”
“It will be a private loan.”
Emma Rose frowned, “Colette, that’s not a good idea. I finally have you back and money turns even the best of friendships into nightmares.”
“You think you should just work for me?”
“No, I think I should rent the place from you until we see how it goes.”
“Okay, I hereby grant you three months’ free rent. After that, it’s ten dollars a month and I expect to get paid promptly on the first.” She chose blue jeans, slipped out of her shorts and put them on.”
Emma Rose took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I have missed you.”
Colette sat on the edge of the bed and started to put on her tennis shoes. “I have a question.”
“Which is?”
“Promise to tell me the truth?”
“Of course. What?”
Colette paused to find just the right words. “Do you still love Ben?”
Emma Rose finally sat down beside her. “The truth is, Ben will always be my first love, but I don’t love him the way I thought I did when we were kids. I discovered that falling in love with Ronnie was the real deal and not at all the way I felt about Ben.” Emma Rose heaved a sad sigh. “Now I know love is not only blind, it’s stupid.”
“I am so sorry it didn’t work out.”
“Thanks. Marriages don’t last long these days anyway. It’s the way of the world I guess.”
“You don’t mean you will never marry again, do you?”
“No, I’ll marry Artie someday.”
Colette was truly shocked. “Really?”
“Why not, he has a job, he’s fun to be with, and after you and Ben leave, Artie and I will be left all alone to hold this town together.”
“Ben asked me to marry him.”
“I thought he might. Artie and I talked half the night about it and I think Ben really does love you.”
“Maybe, but I’ve been thinking I want to stay here. It’s going to take a while to get all of Dad’s affairs in order, and I really don’t want to be alone somewhere in the world while Ben is out to sea.”
“I would love it if you stayed. One thing though, if Artie asks you to a high school play, say no.”
Colette laughed out loud. “Believe me, I’ve learned that lesson.”
From the bottom of the stairs, Artie shouted, “Hey, what are you two doing up there?”
*
PAIGE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN to Lost Bell a lot sooner is she hadn’t run out of gas. That’s the one thing she forgot to do before she left Montrose. Fortunately, she had insurance that offered roadside assistance. She called, told them where she was and when they didn’t arrive after half an hour, she called again. She kept calling, until at last, a tow truck arrived. By then she was so furious she could hardly speak. He brought her just enough gas to get to the nearest gas station, and after she called him and his service a few choice names, she drove off.
*
ARTIE HELD THE FRONT car door for Emma Rose, waited until she got in, and then hurried around to the driver’s seat.
“Nice car,” Ben said opening the back door for Colette.
“Wait,” Colette said. She completely forgot about the painters and went around to the side of the house. “Guys, I’m going to be gone for a few hours. I left the door unlocked so if you need anything, help yourself. There are more cold drinks in the fridge, and they are all yours.”
“Thanks,” said Steven. “We’ll be gone when you come back, but we’ll be here tomorrow.” He ignored the pitiful expression on Oliver’s face.
“Great.” She took a moment to survey the paint job. “Good work, you two – not that I would know the difference.” Colette grinned and hurried back to her friends.
“Buckle up,” Artie commanded. “I don’t want sheriff dad to see me breaking the law, not here anyway.” As they pulled away, he said, “I hope they finish the house soon. It’s still red on the side I can see from my house.”
“Well,” Emma Rose started, “Maybe if you didn’t live with your parents...”
“I don’t intend to after you marry me,” Artie protested.
“That again?” Emma Rose moaned.
“I told you I wasn’t taking no for an answer. You just need a little more persuading.” Artie slowly drove down Main Street, and then started up the mountain. “By the way, Colette, Dad said they fixed the guardrail yesterday.”
“Good,” Colette breathed. “I’ll be glad not to have to see it again.”
“I don’t want to see where he went off either,” Emma Rose agreed. “Colette thinks she might stay in town for a while.”
“Lightning,” Colette whispered to Ben. “She’s never known a secret in her life.”
“Oh, was that supposed to be a secret?” Emma Rose asked. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“This car is far too quiet,” Ben whispered back. “She can hear every word.”
“Brand new right off the lot,” said Artie. “Dad said if I’m going to be a bigshot real-estate mogul, I should look the part.”
“He bought it for you?” Emma Rose asked.
“Sort of,” Artie answered.
“What is sort of supposed to mean? Either he bought it or you did,” Emma Rose argued.
“Details, Emma Rose, you always want the details.”
“Yes I do.”
“Let’s just say we both signed the papers.”
“He co-signed,” said Emma Rose. “Why didn’t you just say that?”
In the back seat, Ben and Colette enjoyed the banter and while the two up front were busy talking, Ben held his hand out to Colette. She looked at his hand, at the hopeful light in his eyes, and then at his hand again. This was different than all the playful times she took his hand to insist he go somewhere with her. She thought about what taking his hand would imply, tried to think what might be wrong with the idea, couldn’t think of a thing, and slipped her hand into his. The pleased look in his expression thrilled her and if someone were to ask her what Artie and Emma Rose were talking about up front, she wouldn’t have been able to tell them.
Colette hadn’t realized how much she missed her friends, especially Ben. She remembered going with his parents to watch him get on the train in Glenwood Springs, and madly waving goodbye as the train began to move. He was off to join the Navy, and when his mother started to cry, so did she. Colette cried for most of that day and didn’t really realize why until just now.
Her hand was in the hand of a man that made her go weak in the knees. For years she wouldn’t let herself admit she was in love with him, but there was no denying it now. Colette’s next thought was about her father. She was starting to miss him finally. What would old jawbone say if he knew how she felt about Ben, she wondered. He seemed to like Ben. At least he never said he didn’t, and her father never held back when he didn’t approve of someone. Dave even liked Artie on most days – a little less than Ben, perhaps, but if she had chosen Artie, she didn’t think her father would have objected.
Her dad must have planned for her to get married someday. Why else would he buy a wedding dress? Of course, now he wouldn’t be there to walk her down...” Colette bit her lower lip, and turned to look out the window before she burst into tears in front of everyone. She had to think of something else, so she thought about Ben and someday being his wife.
*
COLETTE AND HER FRIENDS hadn’t been gone long before Steven and Oliver put the lids on the paint cans, put their brushes to soak in a pail of water, took off their white overalls and went in the house. While Steven washed his hands in the kitchen sink, Oliver pulled two sodas out of the fridge, opened one, set the other one on the counter, and drank half of his. As soon as Steven was finished, he too went to wash the paint off his hands. There was more paint on his hands than on Steven’s, he noticed, but he was not surprised.
Steven sipped his soda, checked his messages and frowned.
“Still not speaking to you?” Oliver asked.
“She’s out getting a quicky divorce. I don’t think you can get one in Rapid City, but who knows?” Steven moaned.
Oliver went back to the living room. “Interesting how Davet lived. It’s a big house for just two people, but the location is great. He probably walked to work and back most days.”
Steven followed Oliver to the living room and sat down. “You call your folks yet?”
“No need, Mom is used to my being more or less irresponsible when it comes to keeping in touch.” Oliver answered. “How many houses did you have to paint, to work your way through college.”
Steven chuckled, “Two.”
“What? Only two?
“I fell off a ladder painting the second one, broke my leg and that was the end of my house painting career.”
“You dog, you made me think you were an expert.”
“You didn’t hear me actually say that, did you?”
“I guess not,” Oliver admitted.
“Come to think of it, I should call my folks. He took his cell out, punched the number and waited. “Mom,”
“Oh, there you are, Steven. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, it just happened so fast I didn’t have time to explain.”
“Have you caught her?”
“Not yet, but we’re hoping to. Oliver and Margo are with me. Have you talked to Julianna?”
“She’s not speaking to anyone. You want me to tell her what’s going on?”
Steven stared at the floor for a long moment. “No, I don’t want her in a panic. I don’t want you to panic either, okay?”
“I’m not, but I just keep thinking it might have been Paige who killed that other man set to testify against her husband.”
“See, that’s why I can’t tell Julianna. If I think Paige killed that man and you think it, so will Julianna – and she hasn’t lived with this as long as we have. She will panic for sure.”
“You’re right.” Steven’s mom paused. “I saved the wedding cake. We’ll have the reception when you get back.”
“Thanks, Mom, that would be wonderful.”
“Okay dear, just be very, very careful and let me know as soon as it is over.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, son.” Steven finished his soda and stood up. “I need a shower.”
“So do I,” said Oliver.
*
TWO HOUSES DOWN, THE sheriff watched Steven and Oliver go in the house, come back out and leave. With the detective still stationed in front of his house, the Sheriff got in his car and went back to the office. He still needed to talk to the power company and tell them to turn the electricity off in Colette’s house. The best way to do that was from a phone number that they would recognize as official.
*
PAIGE FOWLER HAD COOLED down considerably by the time she reached the top of the mountain and pulled into the same gas station Colette and Ben stopped at on their way to Lost Bell. Paige hated pumping gas herself, but everything was self-service these days. She got out, opened the gas tank lid and shoved the nozzle in the hole. She might not have noticed the four kids in the luxury car as they passed by the station, except that she was thinking of buying a car just like it. Even so, the tinted windows kept her from actually seeing who was inside and it made no difference to her anyway.
Her tank full, she went inside, paid the bill, and went to see what the adjoining little store next door had to offer. They were cheap, but a pair of binoculars caught her eye. In a locked cabinet, she noticed bullets that would fit in the stolen, pearl handled pistol she carried in her purse, but she didn’t think she would need more than the loose ones she brought with her. With nothing else striking her fancy, she went to the register to pay for the binoculars. Just as she approached the counter, she spotted a Denver newspaper. It was the last copy and she had not yet read it, so she bought it too.
Back in her car, all she wanted to know was if they knew about Davet’s death in Denver. She glanced at the top article, ignored it, turned the front page over and there it was. STAR WITNESS IN FOWLER TRIAL DEAD AT 63. Her heart beat faster as she read the article. To her relief it said very little about her and didn’t have pictures of any of the people involved. She laid the paper on the passenger seat, and started to drive down the other side of the mountain. She was going a little faster than she should have been as she navigated the sharp downhill curves. She had to miss a fallen boulder on her side of the highway, and almost lost control. Just in time, she recovered and slowed down.
In town finally, she stopped on Main Street to ask if she’d missed the funeral. The woman on the street kindly answered and didn’t seem at all surprised by the question, but then Paige guessed the news media was already there. That didn’t concern her at all, since most of them were probably just kids during the trial, which to her knowledge, was the last place anyone ever saw her. Even if the press had a picture of her, which they probably did, she was certain her face had been altered enough not to be recognized.
Halfway through town, she spotted Dave’s Restaurant. It was closed. She found a place to park, got out and walked to the restaurant. Because of the position of the sun, she had to cup her hands against the glass to peer in the window.
“Been closed a couple of months,” a voice behind her said.
Paige slowly turned to glare at the man. “You frightened me.”
He seemed truly sorry, “I beg your pardon.”
She gave him a second dirty look, walked back to her car and decided to drive past the address for Davet’s house she’d found on the internet. She missed the turn and had to go around the block. Finally, there it was and she slowed to give it a good look while it was still daylight. She didn’t notice the man sitting in his car up the street, but he noticed her.
Andy Tucker looked long and hard at the woman as she drove past, but she didn’t look anything like the Paige Fowler he remembered, even after he mentally aged her. The hair could have been bleached, but the face bore little resemblance to the woman he hoped to capture.
*
ARTIE DROVE HIS CAR up the dirt road to get as close to the castle as he could before he parked and everyone got out. “See, it’s not spooky at all.”
Emma Rose was not convinced. “We’ll see about that.”
He led the way around the jungle of weeds and overgrown grass that was once a yard, to a cleared path on the side of the building. He started up, realized no one was behind him, stopped and turned around.
“Someone has been here,” said Ben. “Maybe we...”
“I came this morning to clear the way for my skittish fair maiden,” Artie answered.
“Are you sure?” Emma Rose asked. “I don’t really feel like spending the night in your dad’s jail.”
“Neither do I,” said Colette.
Artie shook his head. “Not one single person will care.”
Ben wasn’t convinced either. “The thing is...”
“Would I lie about that?” Artie asked.
“Only if it suits you,” Emma Rose said.
Artie put his hands on his hips and huffed, “How many times do I gotta tell you? I only lie about one thing...”
“You only lie about not lying?” she asked.
Artie pretended to pout. “You’ve heard that before?”
Emma Rose laughed. “A few times.”
Artie turned back around. “I’m going in, but if the ghosts get me and you’re not there, Emma Rose, you’ll never forgive yourself.” He opened the door and walked right in.
“It’s not locked this time?” Colette asked. “He’s up to something.”
“Yep,” Ben agreed. He held the door for the ladies and followed them in just in time to watch Artie finish lighting two candles in a set of silver holders. They were situated on a table that wasn’t there the last time they broke in. Not only that, the room had been swept, cleared of spider webs and there were new curtains pulled back to let the afternoon light in.
“Okay,” said Emma Rose, “Now this is spooky.”
Artie shook his hand until the match went out and then turned to face her. “You said you would marry me if I had a castle.”
“You bought this?” Emma Rose gasped.
“No, I inherited it.”
Ben wrinkled his brow. “From who?”
“Didn’t I tell you? The sheriff is not my real dad. My dad died while he was in the military. My great-grandfather left it to him and he left it to me.”
Ben was astonished. “I never even guessed Sheriff Steele was not your dad.”
“Oh he is in every way that counts. I was just a baby and never knew my real dad. When mom married the sheriff, he adopted me.”
“What a great story,” said Colette. She walked up to Artie and looked him in the eye. “Exactly how much of it is the truth?”
“I’m hurt,” Artie said clutching his chest. “Really hurt.”
“So I have to marry you to get this castle?” Emma Rose asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t give it to you if we were just friends,” Artie confessed. “It’s probably worth a fortune. Think of the weddings people could hold here, or we could make it into a hotel and rent out the rooms. Of course, it needs plumbing and electricity, but...” He finally noticed that Emma Rose was nodding. “Yes?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Really? I mean, I thought I’d have to work a lot harder to convince you.”
“Did you bring an engagement ring or not?” Emma Rose demanded.
Artie was so flustered, he forgot his whole plan. First, he knelt on one knee in front of her, but then he had to get up so he could dig the ring out of his pocket. Next, he knelt on one knee again and reached for her hand. “Emma Rose, I do love you...always have.”
“Wait,” she said.
“Wait for what?”
“I’m not divorced yet.”
Artie stood back up. “Fine, then I’ll do this again when you are. In fact, I’ll even pay for your divorce.”
“Oh no you won’t. I pay for my own mistakes.”
“Fine,” he said as he pulled her into his arms, kissed her and when she melted in his arms, he didn’t stop.
Colette felt Ben’s arm go around her. “Did you ever think we would see that?”
“Not in a million years,” Ben confessed. “You still want two castles?”
Colette shook her head. “Nope, old castles really are kind of creepy. Let’s go.”
He nodded and led the way back out the door. They walked to the car and when Ben leaned against the side of it, so did she. “I should let Emma Rose have the wedding dress I found in the locked bedroom.”
“Then what will you wear. Don’t you think Dave bought it for you?”
“I don’t know, but...”
“What?” Ben asked.
“I’m not ready to get married and she is. She could always give it back to me when I’m ready.”
“I don’t think so,” said Ben.
“Why not?”
“Because you will be far more beautiful wearing it than she will.”
Colette blushed. “Be serious.”
“I am serious. You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”
“To you maybe.”
“To me especially.” He put his arm back around her.
She turned to face him. “You’re not going to ask me to marry you again, are you?”
“No, I’m a little too sensitive just now to let you reject me again.”
“Know what Walt told me?”
He closed his eyes when she lay her head against his shoulder. “What?”
“Dad once told Walt I look just like my mother.”
“She must have been very beautiful too.”
Colette closed her eyes too. Never before had she felt the way she did just now being in Ben’s arms. “I can’t imagine my father married.”
“I can’t imagine my parents married either, except that they sleep in the same bed.”
She giggled. “I wonder where she is?”
“Your mom?”
“Uh huh. Is she happy, does she miss me, is she...”
“Dead?” he asked.
“That too.”
“Colette, are you sure you really want to know?”
“Probably not. I pretend to be brave about it, but suppose she just didn’t want me? I think that would be the hardest thing in the whole world to accept, but I’ve heard of mothers like that. An adopted woman finds her birth mother only to learn she wasn’t given up because of any extreme circumstance – she just wasn’t wanted.”
“If your mother didn’t want you, it’s because she was selfish, and to tell the truth I wouldn’t want a selfish mother-in-law.”
“Boyfriend, you complain too much.”
“Do I? I don’t think so. He pulled her closer to him, lightly kissed her lips, and then pulled back to look in her eyes. “Too soon?”
“No,” she said, “not too soon at all.”
He kissed her again, this time with a little more passion and then said, “After I go back to the Navy, do you promise to write, call, text and email me every day?”
“You know, I just thought of something. I can afford a new computer now – one with all the perks, even a camera.”
“Cool. Want me to help you set it up?”
“Sure. What kind do you think I should buy?”
“Well...”
The two of them discussed computers, cameras and microphones, what he was allowed to use aboard ship, and how she could come to see him when he was on leave. All the while the sun was dropping lower and lower on the horizon.
At last, they heard the castle door slam shut and watched Artie and Emma Rose come out of the castle.
“Colette,” said Emma Rose as Artie opened the car door for her. “We really could make the castle into a hotel. The stone steps are solid and the bedrooms are not that small at all.”
“You sound excited,” said Colette.
“I am. I don’t want to bake cookies all my life.”
“You have to for a while,” said Artie. “You’ve got your divorce to pay for and even then, it’ll cost a bundle to upgrade the castle.”
“It won’t take that long,” Emma Rose said, “if you sell houses faster.”
Ben chuckled and opened the door for Colette. “And so it begins. Makes me glad I’m going back to the Navy.”
“Yes, but what fun I’ll have watching the two of them,” Colette said. She suddenly thought of something else. “Hey, we’re half way there. Mind if we go to Glenwood Springs? I need a new computer.”
“Why not?” Artie said as he carefully turned the car around and drove back down the dirt road to the highway.
“And I’m buying a cheap dinner,” said Ben.
“You’re on,” the other three said at the same time.
For the first time in ages Colette felt content, especially with her hand in Ben’s. It was good to consider what could happen next instead of dwelling on the past. Of course, something could go wrong and they might not get married, but for now her future looked brighter than it had in a long, long time.
She still had a lot to do when it came to settling all of her father’s affairs, but there was no real rush now that Ben seemed willing to wait. He was right, her mother probably did die, and if not then she truly didn’t want her. That thought stung for a moment, but it was better than obsessing over a woman she would probably never know. Colette was better, much better and more than ready to put that part of her life behind her.
*
IT WAS WELL AFTER DARK when Artie parked behind Colette’s pickup and everyone got out. “Thanks for dinner,” Colette said as the four of them headed into her house. She opened the door, stepped in and flipped on the light.
Nothing happened.
Ben tried it too and when it still didn’t work, he turned his cellphone light on. “Maybe the bulb burned out.” He tried turning on the light in the dining room, but it didn’t work either. While Artie checked the fuse box, Ben went outside to see if someone had turned the master switch off. It looked normal to him.
“Maybe dad didn’t pay the bill,” Colette suggested when the guys came back. “I could swear I checked on that, but without electricity, I can’t turn on his computer to see. What should I do?” she asked Ben.
“We probably can’t do anything until morning,” Ben answered. “Mom will let you stay at our house.”
“Or, you can come stay with me,” said Emma Rose. “It’ll be like a sleep over when we were kids.”
“I love that idea,” said Colette.
“Can I sleep over too?” Artie asked.
“No,” Emma Rose answered. “It’s girl’s night.”
Colette giggled, turned her cellphone light on and started up the stairs. “Can you bring the computer in?” She waited until Ben nodded and then continued. “I’m just going to grab my jammies.” The closer she got to her bedroom, the louder she talked. “I suppose the refrigerator is off too. Good thing I didn’t buy a lot of groceries.” She abruptly stopped and spun around.
“It’s just me,” Artie said behind her. “I came to help you get your jammies.”
“Good grief, you scared me.”
“Why? There’s nothing to be afraid of except maybe Ben.” Artie stopped and waited in her bedroom doorway while she gathered the things she wanted and put them in a tote bag.
“Ben is not as scary as you used to be. I can’t count the times you scared me out of my wits when we were kids.”
“And for all those times, I sincerely apologize.”
Artie was truly surprised when she walked up to him and kissed his cheek. “I always did like you.”
“Gee, thanks.” With a silly grin on his face, he followed her back down the stairs.
*
DOWN THE STREET, THE detective watched the kids go in, saw the cellphone lights flash in the upstairs window, and saw all four come out. Artie and Ben drove away, and soon, Colette and Emma Rose got in Colette’s pickup and followed. Andy Tucker called the sheriff to let him know the plan had worked, got out of his car, and walked to Colette’s house. He found the door unlocked, opened it, and then disappeared inside.
