Chapter Sixteen
She stabbed the tip of the shovel into the earth with a grunt, then heaped the loosened dirt on the ground near the hole. Her arms ached, as did her back and every other part of her body. In the past, digging the burial chamber hadn’t taken so much effort. As it was, she’d have to work for the better part of a week to dig the hole deep enough. Some days more than others, getting old was a trial. As she leaned on the shovel and gasped for breath, her mind fogged with visions of all the other pits she’d dug over the years.
Regret ate at her. Each and every time she’d been certain the girl in question was Lynette come back to her. Watching the pretender morph into someone unrecognizable as her darling child was horrifying and painful. Unfortunately, with each passing day she was more certain the current inhabitant of her home was an impostor. The time to bury her mistake was drawing near.
Groaning, she straightened and kept digging, despite her exhaustion. With each downward slash of the shovel, fear that she wouldn’t have the wherewithal to pack up and leave with her precious girl after the inevitable was over gnawed at her stomach. She bent double in pain, needing to stop the ache. If only she’d found that damn winning lottery ticket, her worries would be a thing of the past. But she’d failed, and she was beginning to fear the key to her financial security was lost forever.
She’d conquered hardships in the past. Granted, the times she’d been flush with cash had always proved easier, but she would overcome any and all obstacles ahead of her. Because this time would be the last. The sweet child with the missing tooth and sunny smile was her very own Lynette returned to be with her like a gift from above. She’d been watching her more and more often to make certain she was right. The next step would be a few questions to ease any final concerns. This time, there would be no mistake to bury on a late June day sometime in the future. She’d never been more certain of anything. Never.
* * *
Nina tried to ignore her growling stomach . . . and failed. “Well, I totally blew it. I should have planned ahead.”
At her feet, Coco opened one eye before closing it again to stretch out in the bright patch of sunlight and groan.
“I brought treats for you, so of course you don’t care.” The dog chews looked like beef jerky, maybe if . . . Nina shook her head. She wasn’t that hungry. With renewed determination, she worked to add finishing touches to her drawing of the patch of pink and white phlox growing around the base of a western red cedar. The tree stood in a shaft of sunlight, and the contrasting colors and textures were so spectacular she hadn’t been able to resist pulling out her sketch box filled with colored pencils.
A half hour later she surveyed the finished drawing with satisfaction before returning the box and artist pad to her pack. Rising up from the flat rock where she’d sat cross-legged to work, she winced and stretched to ease away the stiffness.
“I would have chosen something more comfortable to sit on if I’d known I was going to be here so long.”
Coco stood and shook before giving her an enquiring look. The fur hanging from her ears fluttered in the breeze.
“Yes, we’re going home. I’ve had enough adventure for one day.”
If she could figure out exactly where home was. They’d left the trail some distance back when Coco had taken off in fearless pursuit of a rabbit. Of course if Coco hadn’t chased the bunny, she would never have found the cedar tree and phlox. She shrugged the daypack onto her shoulders. One thing was certain, if she and Coco headed straight downhill, they would eventually come out somewhere in the vicinity of their neighborhood.
Pushing through the dense forest was hard work, and Nina was sweating and scratched after hiking for three-quarters of an hour. She’d given up trying to find the trail some time back and simply focused on getting down the hillside. When the trees thinned ahead, relief flooded through her. “Oh, thank God. We must be almost home.”
Coco’s tail dragged, and she gave what Nina swore was a discouraged woof.
“Not much farther now. You know this is all your fault, right?” When the dog cocked her head to one side, Nina grimaced. “You’re the one who had to chase the damn rabbit.”
But the small clearing didn’t back up to any of the neighborhood houses. The trees closed in on all sides. Perched on the branch of a Douglas fir, a blue jay squawked raucously in the stillness. Coco left Nina’s side to sniff branches scattered over the ground next to a fresh pile of dirt.
The hair on the back of her neck lifted. “Get away from there, Coco.”
The dog ignored her. When the branches gave way, she plunged downward with a yelp.
Nina ran forward and stopped at the edge of a hole about four feet deep and maybe a yard in diameter. Coco scrambled to climb up the side, but the dirt slid down around her. Kneeling on the branches, Nina reached down to grab the dog and haul her up.
“Why the heck would someone dig a pit out here?” Hands on her hips, she turned in a slow circle before spying a break in the barrier of trees. “Looks like that’s the direction they came from. Let’s go, Coco.”
The trail was rough at best, and Nina stopped a few times, fearing she’d lost the path altogether. About fifteen minutes later, she and the dog emerged through the trees at the end of a cul-de-sac much like her own.
“About damn time. I know where we are now.” Picking up her pace, she hurried down the street past the burned-out shell of a house before reaching the corner. “Only a few more blocks to go.”
Coco flopped down on the pavement and wouldn’t budge even when Nina prodded her with the toe of her hiking shoe.
“Fine, I’ll carry you, but I’m going to be covered in dirt.” Picking up the filthy dog, she headed for home. She’d just turned down her street when Teague’s pickup slowed to a stop, and both passenger side windows lowered.
Keely hung out the back one. “Hi, Nina. How come you’re carrying Coco?”
At the sound of the girl’s voice, the dog yipped and squirmed until Nina set her down. Dashing across the pavement, Coco put her paws up on the running board and barked.
Teague eyed her steadily from the far side of the cab. “She looks a little dirty.”
“A lot dirty. A minute ago, she was pretending she didn’t have the energy to walk home.” Nina pointed at the bouncing, yapping dog. “Obviously a complete lie.”
He leaned forward to push open the front passenger door. “Hop in.”
After lifting Coco onto the seat and waiting for her to scramble into the back with Keely, Nina climbed in and shut the door. She set her daypack at her feet and turned to face him. “By the way, I took your dog for a walk. I didn’t want to bother you at work, and I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Not in the least.” He shifted into gear. “From the state both of you are in, I’d say you had quite a time.”
Nina glanced down at the dirt stains on the front of her T-shirt and the faint scratches on her arms. “We got a little lost, then Coco fell into a hole someone dug out in the woods. The good news is I spent a couple of hours drawing a sketch in a lovely spot I never would have found if your dog hadn’t chased a rabbit.”
“Coco loves chasing bunnies.” Keely giggled. “And squirrels and cats. Anything that runs away from her.”
“I figured that out about a quarter mile into the pursuit.”
Teague parked in his driveway and turned off the engine. “What prompted you to take her with you to begin with?”
“I couldn’t find anyone to go running with me. I was tempted to go alone, but then a car I didn’t recognize turned around in our cul-de-sac, and I started wondering . . .” Nina climbed out and waited for Keely and Coco to jump down.
Teague slammed his door and walked around to stand at her side. “Did you see the person driving?”
“No. The windows were tinted, and whoever it was left right away. We get tourists just cruising around sometimes, but I was still a little nervous.”
He laid a warm hand on her arm and squeezed. “I don’t blame you.”
“Anyway, I decided to go for a hike instead of a run.”
“And you took Coco for protection?”
“More like an early warning system. I figured she’d bark if someone followed us, and I had my trusty can of pepper spray in my pack.”
His gaze drifted to his daughter and the dog as they ran in circles on the lawn. “So, you both got lost chasing a rabbit?”
“Coco chased. I followed, and I wasn’t lost, exactly. I knew the general direction we needed to go to get home, but I wasn’t on the trail.”
“Keely’s going to have to give the mutt a bath. That should be fun.”
Nina couldn’t hold back a smile. “Do I detect a note of sarcasm? Hey, I didn’t ask your dog to fall in a hole. It was the weirdest thing, not terribly big around but about four feet deep out in the middle of nowhere.”
“It’s summer, so kids are getting bored. A few from the neighborhood probably decided to build a trap and didn’t want their parents to find it.”
“Well, the trap worked, because they captured Coco. When I first saw the mound of dirt, I was afraid someone had buried a pet out there. It gave me the creeps. Then Coco fell through the branches covering the hole, and I was relieved I wasn’t standing in some sort of pet cemetery.”
He laughed. “Shades of Stephen King.”
“Stop. That book traumatized me.” She nudged his arm. “What’s new with you? I’ve barely seen you in the last couple of days.”
“Just work. Keely seems to like her outdoor adventure camp. Oh, I asked for Saturday off so I can go to Leah and Ryan’s wedding with you.”
“Thank you.” She leaned her head against his shoulder when he slid his arm around her waist. “Having you there is important to me.”
“The captain okayed it, so we’re good. Keely’s spending the night with a new friend from camp, which means I won’t have to worry about a sitter and getting home early.”
“You’re the best.”
He pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head before releasing her, then stepped away when Keely and Coco scrambled up off the grass to head in their direction. “I want to make you happy, Nina.”
“You do.”
His daughter stopped in front of them, and a little frown creased her brow as she glanced from Nina to her dad. “What’s for dinner?”
“Enchiladas.”
“Yum. Can I give Coco a bath in the tub?”
“I’d rather you used the hose outside.”
“I can help.” Nina laid a hand on Keely’s shoulder. “Since it’s my fault she’s such a mess. Anyway, I can’t get any dirtier than I already am.”
“Good idea. I’ll make dinner while you’re torturing Coco. She’s not a huge fan of baths.”
“I figured as much.” Nina glanced at Keely and smiled. “Let’s go do this.”
After Teague unlocked the front door, Keely led the way through the house and out into the backyard. Nina stopped in the laundry room to take the dog shampoo and old towel he handed her.
“Thanks for helping out.”
She leaned against the doorframe. “I did take Coco hiking with me, so I’ll shoulder the extra work . . . if I get enchiladas in exchange.”
“Seems like a fair deal. Good luck out there.”
“I have a feeling I’ll need it.”
Nina let the back door swing shut behind her as she walked down the steps to where Keely was unwinding the hose. Coco’s leash was attached to the girl’s wrist, and the dog strained against her hold, eyeing the back fence.
“That’s weird. Did you open the gate just now?”
Keely glanced up and frowned. “No, it was already like that.”
“I’m positive I shut it after I let Coco out earlier.” Nina crossed the yard and pulled it closed. It stuck briefly before the latch fell into place.
“It’s hard to shut. Daddy told me not to mess with it.”
“I guess I didn’t click it firmly. Well, it’s closed now. I don’t want Coco to try to escape during her bath.”
“She’s pulling my arm off.”
“Here, I’ll take her.” Nina set the shampoo and towel on the picnic table and reached for the leash. Fifteen minutes later, she was almost as wet as the dog as she held her while Keely hosed off the soap. “I think that’s good enough.”
“I hope so. Coco looks like she might bite you.”
Nina studied the dog warily. “I got that feeling, too, but I think she’s over it now.”
Coco shook, sending water flying.
“I can dry her.” Keely dropped the hose to pick up the towel. “She likes being rubbed.”
“Good to know.” Nina relinquished the dog into the girl’s care. “I need to go shower. I’m soaked.”
Keely glanced up from where she kneeled beside Coco. “If you’re already wet, why do you need to shower?”
“I may be wet, but I’m far from clean.”
“Are you having dinner with us?”
Something in her tone made Nina pause. “I was planning to if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure, but . . .” Keely kept her head down and patted the dog’s fur.
A sinking feeling swept through Nina’s stomach as she crouched down beside the two. “But what? Is something wrong?”
Keely regarded her coolly, hair straggling around her face. “Are you sleeping in my dad’s bed? Traci at camp said that’s what grown-ups do, even when they’re not married. She said sometimes a mistake happens. That’s how she got her little brother. Having a brother sounds horrfying.”
Nina forced herself to breathe. “You mean horrifying.”
“Yeah, that. A baby sister wouldn’t be so bad.”
She wondered what to say. Discussing sex with a six-year-old wasn’t an option. “You should probably talk to your dad about this, but I can assure you, you won’t be getting a baby brother or sister by mistake.”
“That’s good.” Her hands stilled on Coco’s back. “Does that mean you don’t sleep in bed with my dad? I’ve seen him kiss you.”
“Sometimes adults kiss when they like each other a lot.” She floundered for something else to add, knowing exactly what she’d like to say to the precocious Traci’s parents. “Uh, we’re just . . . dating.”
“As long as I won’t have to deal with a stupid boy. Today, this kid at camp tripped me, so I put a worm in his lunch.”
“I’m not so sure the worm was a great idea, but you don’t have to worry about a boy invading your life anytime soon.”
“Traci said grown-ups do stuff in bed, but she didn’t know what.”
Thank God for small favors.
Nina changed the subject. “Is Coco dry?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then you can let her go. The poor thing looks uncomfortable.” Nina could relate.
Keely released the dog and scrambled to her feet. “Do you think dinner is ready yet?”
“Probably not. I’m going to go home to shower, but if you still have concerns, you can talk to your dad about them.”
The girl skipped toward the door. “Nope, I’m good. I’ll watch cartoons until it’s time to eat. I’m allowed an hour a day, but sometimes Daddy lets me cheat and watch more.”
“Bending the rules a little isn’t always a bad thing when no one gets hurt.”
“That’s what Daddy says. Sometimes you sound like my mom.” She wrinkled her forehead in a frown. “I don’t remember her very well anymore.” Her shoulders drooped. “I forgot what I was saying. Oh, yeah. If you want to be a mom, don’t have boys. They’re nasty.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
After she disappeared down the hall into the living room, Nina took a few steps and slumped in the kitchen doorway. Teague worked efficiently on the black granite countertop of the center island he’d recently installed. He finished rolling a tortilla filled with something that smelled amazing, then glanced up and smiled before turning back to the stove.
“You look beat. Was washing the dog that much of a challenge?”
“No, but afterward your daughter asked me if we’re sleeping together.”
He dropped the tongs, and the tortilla fell into the hot grease with a splat. “What?”
“Some girl at camp told her grown-ups who kiss sleep in the same bed, and then they have baby boy mistakes. Apparently Keely’s not down with a little brother.”
“Good God.”
“Yeah, I told her she wouldn’t be getting a sibling in the near future.”
“Is that how you left the discussion?”
“Yep, and by the way, since we now have Keely’s blessing, I won’t have to sneak out at the stroke of dawn again.”
Teague winced. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It only happened once, but I’ll admit it didn’t make me feel great.”
Teague wiped his hands down a towel before walking over to slide his fingers behind her neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t like it either.”
“I understand why it’s easier. Since neither of us is ready for a commitment, why confuse Keely?”
“About that. Maybe I am—”
“Teague, the pan!”
He spun around as grease crackled, and smoke billowed up from the frying pan. A second later, the smoke detector went off with a piercing shriek.
“Shit.”
Nina grabbed a towel off the counter to fan the air. “Why am I not surprised? It’s been that kind of day.”