Ten

Haley rubbed her face once again. She could not wake up this morning after a night of thinking about Brent. It had been after two before she had fallen asleep. The only thing that had gotten her out of bed this morning was the prospect of seeing him again today. Lunch was too far away. Maybe he’d ride as he’d suggested he might. She hoped so. And if she could catch him before he purchased a ticket, she would offer him an empty seat if she had one.

Harry, the stable master, was talking on the phone in the small office in the barn while she made a last check of harnesses and traces. She peeked in the doorway and gave him a thumbs-up that she was heading out, the last to leave. She was generally the first. Harry held up his hand for her to wait. She leaned on the doorframe while he finished his conversation. “I have someone here who I can send right over.”

She would be that someone since she was the only one still around. What if Brent was waiting to ride in her carriage? She pulled the scrunchie out of the low ponytail it was holding, finger combed her hair, and put it back in. She preferred her hair clip, but Brent still had that. She hoped he’d bring it today.

Harry hung up and turned to her. “Giff over at the police station needs an extra pair of hands. I told him I’d send you.”

Giff was the deputy. She wasn’t. What good could she be? “Can’t someone else do it?”

“You haven’t gone out yet. And when I told Giff I’d be sending you, he said, perfect—he could use someone with a good head on her shoulders. See—you’re not just a pretty face.”

“But Tom and Jerry are all set to go.”

“I’ll take care of them. Giff is waiting.”

As she turned to leave, she bit her bottom lip. She put on her helmet, straddled her bike, and was off, coasting downhill as fast as she could. As she came into town, she turned down Main Street and swung by the carriage tour ticket office to see if Brent was lingering. She parked at the curb and left the bike to go inside to speak with Jessica. “Has that guy who rode my carriage the day before yesterday been by today?”

“No. He didn’t come yesterday either. At least not on my shift.”

“I had yesterday off.”

“So he was riding just to see you. I hope I didn’t get him in any trouble.”

“No. It’s fine. If he comes by, tell him I’m doing some other business, but I’ll see him for lunch.”

“Ooo. Is something going on with you two?”

She smiled and shrugged. “Maybe. His name is Brent Walker. Thanks.” She turned and peeked in Big John’s office. “I’m helping Giff with something. I don’t know how long it will take, but when I’m finished, I’ll get a carriage.”

“Harry already called me. Don’t worry about it. Whenever you’re through with Giff will be fine.”

She headed back out and got on her bike but still saw no sign of Brent. At the police station, she parked her bike and went inside. Alli, the receptionist, motioned her to go right into Giff’s postage stamp–sized office. All the offices on the island seemed to be compact. They had no extra space for frills, just the necessities.

Giff sat behind his desk with his hands folded, his wavy red hair tamed neatly in place. She stood at the doorway a moment before he noticed her and waved her inside. He stood. “Come in.”

“Harry said you needed my help. I’m not sure what I can do.”

He reached for the door. She stepped out of the way so he could close it. “We have a private investigator here looking for someone on the island. You know the island well, so I thought you could show him around.” As he stepped back around his desk, he motioned to a man in the chair. “Haley, this is Brent Walker.”

Brent stood. His face paled as he stared at her. But no one could be more shocked than she.

Giff went on. “He’s looking for a boy named Justin Mikkelson.”

She shifted her gaze to the floor. Justin Mikkelson? That’s why Brent had asked her about him several days ago. He was here on a mission, and it had nothing to do with her—except to use her. She balled her hands into fists until her nails dug into her palms. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Unaware of her discomfort, Giff continued. “We looked in the database and have called all the big companies, but there’s no record so far of a Justin Mikkelson.”

“So what has this boy done that people are after him?” She kept her eyes, as well as her question, directed toward Giff.

“He got a girl pregnant, and the family of the girl needs to talk to him.”

“I don’t know any Justin.” She struggled to keep her voice level. “I don’t think I can help.” She clenched her teeth.

“Mr. Walker has a picture.” He pointed toward Brent, whom she was glad had not said anything. “We were thinking he might be going by an alias.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brent’s hand holding something. She glanced at it. She needed to get out of there. “I’ll see what I can do.” Which would likely be nothing.

“Thank you.”

She nodded to Giff, then said to Brent without looking at him. “Mr. Walker.” She stepped out of the office and the building without waiting for him. She paced by the curb. How could he do this to her? She’d had such a good time with him yesterday, but apparently it had all been a lie.

“Haley, I know you’re upset with me but—”

She strode to her bike and yanked it free. “ ‘Haley, you’re my north. You give me direction. I’m spinning out of control.’ ” She waved her hands in the air. “I can’t believe I ate that up and let you use me.”

“I didn’t use you. I meant every word I said to you.”

She turned toward him, and he halted. “Did you think I could lead you to this person you are looking for?”

“Yes, but—”

“Did you ask for my help, beyond asking if I knew the person?”

“No, but—”

“You used me! And what is worse is that you knew how I felt about people using me. You made it a point to ask me about my family.”

“I never meant to use you.”

“That’s the trouble with users; it’s who they are. They do it like instinct.” She spun on her heels and marched her bike away.

He grabbed the seat of her bike on the opposite side from her, then gripped the handlebar.

She tried to jerk the bike free, but he held fast to it, so she let go and walked away from him as fast as she could. She heard her bike thump against the curb. She would come back for it later.

He jogged around in front of her and blocked her path. “Haley, stop and listen to me.”

She stopped. “I wouldn’t believe anything you told me now.” This was too much for her to deal with right now.

“I can explain.” He held out his arms.

“Don’t bother. I can’t believe I was so gullible. I feel like such a sap. I’m too old to be this naive again.”

“You are not gullible or naive.”

He had no idea. “You want to know why I left home? I’ll tell you. My fiancé didn’t see any reason to get rid of his girlfriend. And for a wedding present, she was getting an apartment. He was only marrying me to get in good with the boss, my dad, and to get a job promotion. I would have been married more than two months by now. A farce.” Tears blurred her vision, but she blinked them away. She would not cry in front of him. “I believed him when he told me he loved me and he cared. He only cared about his job. He was using me. I thought I had learned my lesson, but then along comes a swarthy rogue PI and I get sucked in again. I’d say both gullible and naive fit.” She moved around him and stepped off the curb almost in front of a pair of dapple gray horses.

The horses sidestepped her, nervously stomping and snorting, and the driver reined them to a stop. “Haley?”

“Jason. Wait right there.” For once she was glad to see him.

As she walked past Brent, he reached out for her. “Haley, please.”

She swung her arm out of his reach. She hefted her bike onto the back of the flatbed dray that had a dozen or more cases of soda loaded on the front, then climbed on and scooted toward the front.

Jason said, “Isn’t that the guy you were with yesterday?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Brent came toward her. “Haley, can we at least talk about this?”

“Go, Jason.”

Jason put the team into motion. She saw Brent watching her ride away. The tears she had held at bay broke free. She covered her face with her hands. When would she learn?

After a bit, the dray came to a stop. Jason climbed over the seat and sat next to her. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him. She let him. She knew she shouldn’t but did and cried into his shirt. She knew any progress Shane had made last night on getting Jason to understand where he stood with her would be lost in this moment. She pulled herself together and backed out of his embrace.

“Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Not in the way he meant. “No. He lied to me. Shouldn’t you be with the horses?”

“Leave it to you to be worried about animals when you are so upset. I have the reins.” Jason reached for her face with his free hand and leaned toward her.

As much as she wanted comfort right now, she took his hand and moved it away. “Jason, don’t.”

“Why not? It’s no secret I have feelings for you. You’re upset, and I want to help.”

“It wouldn’t be fair to you. I can’t return your affections.”

“If you gave us a chance, maybe you would.”

“I can’t.” She climbed down off the dray and turned to him. “Thank you for everything.”

Jason didn’t reply but looked at her with what appeared to be longing and suffering.

They were on a narrow utility road that was rarely used. She unloaded her bike and pedaled away. Lord, please help Jason understand. She had only made matters worse with him in her desperation to get away from Brent.

A half mile away, she stopped. Where was she going? She only wanted to be alone. She headed for her dorm room.

She opened the door to her room and cringed. The lump in her roommate’s bed told her Gwen wasn’t up yet. Gwen had worked a late taxi shift, then stayed out with friends until Haley had fallen asleep after two. Now she wished she had opted for a single room above one of the shops as Veronique had. But when she had come to Mackinac, she hadn’t wanted to be alone. She wanted the activity of others in the hallway. Not today. She tiptoed back out.

She pulled her bike from the rack. Where could she go now that she wouldn’t risk running into Brent?

Oh no! Shane! He was planning on meeting her and Brent for lunch. That wasn’t happening.

She pedaled as fast as she could and walked into the Victorian Tea Shoppe. “Is Veronique here?”

Mrs. Oaks stood behind the counter. “In the back. She’s getting her purse before she goes to lunch.”

“Thanks.”

Veronique met her before she reached there. “Cheri, I was just going to see you. Shane invited me to meet your Lone Ranger. I hope you don’t mind.”

Normally she would be glad, but right now she didn’t want any of her friends to be subjected to Brent. “Could you tell Shane not to meet me? Tell him I’m not having lunch with Brent after all, and I’ll talk to him later about it.”

“Is everything all right? You seem upset. Shane said you had a nice day with Brent yesterday.”

“No. I am. I did. But then there was today. And Jason. Just tell Shane not to go to the Yankee Rebel.”

Veronique pulled a key out of her purse. “You wait in my room, and I’ll be right back.”

“Thanks, but I need to be alone right now. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“I’m meeting Shane down the street. You come tell him. Zen we three can eat lunch someplace.”

She wasn’t up for lunch or talking to anyone about this yet. “No, thanks.” She grasped Veronique’s arm. “Just don’t eat at the Yankee Rebel.”

“No. Not without you.”

“Thanks for doing this for me.”

❧

Brent sat across the street from the Yankee Rebel until three in the afternoon. Haley never showed up—not that he expected her to, but he had hoped. Hoped desperately for a chance to explain himself. To tell her it was a big mistake. To make it up to her. To hold her again. But none of that seemed likely at the moment.

Brent strolled around town without purpose. He leaned against a building across from the carriage tour company. Haley sat aboard the carriage waiting out front. How could things go so wrong with her in such a short time? Yes, he had been secretive, playing at being a private eye, but she had blown it all out of proportion. Why did it have to be such a big deal to her? So he was looking for someone. That didn’t make what they had any less real.

Haley checked for traffic, looking back down the street. Her gaze skimmed his side of the street. His first inclination was to duck and hide, but he didn’t, and she didn’t seem to see him. She pulled out, and he watched her until her carriage was out of sight. Then he walked to the ferry and boarded the next one departing.

Once back at Dalton’s, he stretched out on the couch and tucked his hands behind his head. What do I do now, Lord? Do I give up searching for the Mikkelson kid? Would that win Haley back? Or do I fulfill my promise to Mr. Jackson and Kristeen?

He recalled the look on Kristeen’s face when she had sneaked out the back door and met him by his truck and the anguish in her voice when she asked him to tell Justin she was sorry. Sorry for what, she hadn’t said. But he could tell she cared a great deal for the boy, and she seemed like a sweet kid. The two of them had obviously let their relationship go too far. Now Mr. Jackson was trying to fix the problem for his daughter by ensuring that nothing went wrong in placing the baby for adoption.

He got up and changed into his running clothes and took off out the door. Was there any way to do it all? Find Justin, help Kristeen, and win Haley back? Maybe once he found Justin on his own, Haley would be less upset with him. Maybe all she needed was a good night’s sleep to calm her down; then he could talk to her rationally.

He could tell Mr. Jackson he was unable to locate the boy and return the money he had received. Mr. Jackson would send someone else. Would that be so bad? Lord, is that my out? He sensed a distinct No. I don’t want this job anymore. I know I asked You to give me a case right away, but this is more than I bargained for.

After his run, he showered and dressed and was about to grab a soda from the refrigerator when Dalton walked in the front door. “I didn’t expect you back from the island until the last ferry.”

“Things went badly with Haley today.”

“How bad?”

“She won’t talk to me. I might have seen the Mikkelson boy today, and I don’t even care.”

Dalton whistled. “What happened? Yesterday was so perfect.”

“I decided to get help in finding the boy. I went to the local police on Mackinac Island. The officer there brought in a carriage driver to show me around, help me with some leads.”

“Haley?”

He nodded. “She took all our time together as my using her to find the boy. Yes, to be honest, I thought she might lead me to him, but I hardly even thought of him when I was with her. Now I’m stuck between finding Justin and getting Haley back. The two seem contrary to each other. I feel I have to choose between them, and I don’t want to because I know what the choice would have to be.”

“The boy?”

“I made a promise to Mr. Jackson. I made a point of telling him I was a Christian and he could trust me. If I back out now, not only could it reflect poorly on the Lord, but I don’t think that is what the Lord wants. I believe He wants me to find Justin.”

“Then trust that the Lord will work things out with Haley.”

“What if He doesn’t want me with Haley?”

“Then this misunderstanding would have happened later over something else. Isn’t it better for it to happen sooner, as opposed to later when your heart is more invested in the relationship?”

“Would you still have dated and married Joslin if you had known you wouldn’t have her that long?”

“You know I would. It was meant to be. All I’m trying to say is that if it is meant to be, you’ll work things out with her, and if it’s not, it’s better for it to end before you both get too involved.”

“But you said she was my type and you could hear wedding bells.”

“The truth is, I think you two are meant to be together. You’re like a perfect fit.”

He hoped so. He wanted Haley at his side. Maybe always.

“Fight for her, man. She’s worth it.”

“How do I do that and still find the boy?”

“When I first proposed to Joslin, she turned me down and then broke up with me. But I couldn’t give up. She said she didn’t know me. ‘Show me your heart,’ she kept saying to me. Show Haley your heart.”

“How do I do that?”

“Tell her what’s in your heart.”

“I did that last night, and she threw it back in my face this morning.”

“Tell her your hopes and dreams. Tell her you totally messed up and are sorry.”

“I don’t know if totally messed up is quite accurate.”

“Tell her you didn’t understand before, but you do now, and you’ll try not to make that mistake again. And if none of that works, pull out Matthew chapter eighteen, verse twenty-two, about forgiving seventy times seven.”

“Isn’t that a bit low, forcing someone to forgive you?”

“A desperate man in love will do things he never thought he would, when the relationship with the woman he loves is on the line. And it’s not forcing her to forgive you but reminding her of what Jesus commanded. Then it’s up to her to follow it or not. You’re just pointing her to what is right.”

“You used that on Joslin?”

“No. She used it on me. I had a falling out with her dad shortly after we were married. She pointed out my error in not forgiving him. ‘If we do not forgive one another, how can the heavenly Father forgive us?’ You don’t want Haley living with her unforgiveness, do you?”

“And Haley thinks I can put a spin on things. That sounds a lot like manipulation for my own gain. I think I’ll just let the Lord work on her for now. If she doesn’t come around, maybe, just maybe, I’ll point out a few Bible verses she might want to consider.”

❧

Haley left the barn after her last run. She had come to her senses and remembered she was expected back at work. She had been tempted to call Big John and tell him she didn’t feel well, which was true, because the whole situation had made her ill. She was thankful Brent had not reappeared. It hurt so much that he would lie to her and use her. He was supposed to be different. She rode to the church and knelt before the Lord in one of the pews. But what to pray? I hurt, Lord. She could think of nothing else, so she just stayed there.

After a while—she didn’t know how long—she stood and went out to her bike. She should go and eat, even though she didn’t feel like it. The others might be waiting for her.

Once at the dining hall, she took her food tray and searched for a table. She choked at the sight of her friend. It was the same face in the picture Brent had been holding. She wanted to cry.