Maggie's Mountain (9 page)

Maggie bit her lip to keep from commenting. Brian and Brenda’s divorce hadn’t been a pleasant one. It had been even worse when, only two months after the papers were signed, Brenda had eloped with their son’s principal. Of course it had all happened around the time of Chris, and then her mother’s, deaths, so she’d only gotten pieces and bits of the gossip. Out of loyalty she’d sided with Brian. After all, he hadn’t just been Chris’s friend but he was also a state trooper, and she was a state trooper’s widow. There was an unspoken, closed ranks rule that even Maggie understood.

“The schools are closed for a teachers’ day tomorrow, so I’ll have Eric for the long weekend,” he continued in a no nonsense way. “We’ll be over in the morning with everything. You sure you feel safe to stay there tonight?”

She almost couldn’t hold back her sigh. “How many times am I going to have to explain that I’m fine out here?”

“Hey, don’t jump my case. I was just asking.”

“Sorry, I guess it’s a sore spot.”

There was speculation in his voice when he replied. “Someone been rubbing you the wrong way, Maggie?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just…” She wasn’t about to try to explain the situation with Hale. “It’s a small town, Brian. You know how nosey people can be.”

“I guess.” Though he didn’t sound convinced, he didn’t pry. “We’ll start about eight and we should be done by early afternoon. Why don’t I take you out afterward? We haven’t done that in a while.”

Not since her birthday, eight months ago. She was reluctant to go out, though, and she refused to think it was because of Hale and the speculation he might hear. “You’re providing the manual labor. The least I could do is provide lunch.”

“Fried chicken?” His voice sounded hopeful and she smiled.

“And potato salad, corn on the cob, and biscuits.”

“It’s a deal. See you tomorrow, Maggie.”

“Tomorrow,” she agreed, and ended the call with a laugh.

Gently, she placed the receiver back in its cradle and scanned the box in front of her again. She needed to get it tucked away. She couldn’t imagine the scandal if a curious fourteen-year-old rifled through the letters inside while she had her back turned. There would be questions and the answers wouldn’t be easy to explain. While it might behoove the Cooper name to have at least their side of the truth out, it wouldn’t do the Warricks any favors. There was no telling what they might retaliate with. Besides, all it would take was for them to claim the notes were lies, or worse, were forged, for all the ground Maggie had struggled to gain to be so muddied it would slip away.

Then there was the fact that they could hurt Trent, who had always been so kind to her, and Cordelia, who, though she was a cool woman, had suffered heated humiliation of her own. And Hale. Heaven knew she couldn’t stomach the thought of hurting him in that way. Heaven knew she didn’t want to analyze why.

Chapter Eight

Hale tucked into his pancakes with gusto, reminding himself every few bites to chew instead of inhale. He’d practically jumped out of bed this morning, rushing through his shower, grabbing clothes and tossing them on, barely checking his steps as he’d hurried downstairs. He’d beat his brother and mother to the table, which he considered a good thing. He wasn’t up for questions this morning, and he wanted to be out of the house as early as possible.

Just as he was congratulating himself for avoiding his family they strolled in, Trent bringing a crooked smile, his mother a cloud of Chanel perfume. Hale tried not to growl in frustration as his brother helped himself to the food on the buffet table.

“I see you’re staying home today.” Cordelia gave his jeans and dark T-shirt a critical once over as she sank into the chair beside him. “I’m glad to know you’ll be using your time wisely.”

Hale raised an eyebrow. “Wisely, mother?”

“I assume you’re going over the recommendations for the Amelia Island Resort. You have a conference call with them tomorrow, don’t you? I have to say, I particularly like the idea of adding a dinner theatre.” She ignored his narrowed gaze and delicately stirred cream into her cup. “I’m not sure about the new manager, though; she seems awfully young.”

The pancakes became hard cement in his belly. “Mother, I’ll deal with the resort. Don’t you have a restaurant on the island? As I recall, they were asking you about expansion and redecorating.”

She stopped then, long enough to send him a sharp look. “What exactly are you insinuating?”

Trent plopped down on the other side of Hale, sliding his plate onto the polished wood of the tabletop. “I don’t think he’s insinuating anything. I think he’s telling.”

He sent his little brother a scathing stare. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”

“Not until I finish my breakfast.” He smiled brightly and reached for the juice.

“You are too defensive, Hale. I was simply saying it’s good to see you buckling down.”

Hale laid his fork aside with deliberate care. “And what have I been doing up until now? Playing?”

Cordelia gave a long suffering sigh. “I am perfectly aware you have been going over paperwork and glad handing over the phone. But I also know how hard it is for you to…settle in. You haven’t always wanted to be in charge of Warrick Holdings, Hale, we all know that. Have you forgotten that little folly of yours, when you decided you wanted to be a veterinarian?”

“I was twelve, mother. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was five and a rock star when I was fifteen.”

Trent chuckled as he pointed his fork at Hale. “Remember when you wanted to be a Formula One racecar driver? What were you, seventeen? And driving like a maniac.”

“You aren’t helping,” Hale muttered from the side of his mouth.

Trent shrugged and shoveled in a mouthful of eggs. He continued to grin like a fool, knowing full well he was stirring the pot.

Cordelia took a long sip of her coffee as she watched Hale with suspicious eyes. “If you aren’t planning to work at home today, may I ask exactly what it is you’re doing?”

He could avoid answering; he could tell her it was none of her business. But the truth would come out soon enough, especially considering the town's notorious fence gossipers. Preparing for an argument, Hale braced his shoulders, sat back, and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m going over to help Maggie Cooper—I mean Brannon—”

His mother became completely still as her gaze widened and lit with fire. “Are you really going to do this to me?”

Hale tried not to snarl at his mother’s reaction. He understood her anger was rooted in both embarrassment and pain, but to show her pity would hurt her pride even more. As much as he didn’t want to dig at the scar his father and Rebecca Cooper had made, he wasn’t going to allow his mother's fear and bias to define his life. Still, he had to be mindful of how he handled her feelings.

“This isn’t about you, mother. There was a fire yesterday—”

“No doubt she’ll be filing for insurance as quickly as possible,” she interrupted, her lips pursed.

“I’m going over to string barbed wire.”

Her expression darkened to a sneer. “Is that what they’re calling it now?”

He took a precious second to bite back his temper. “It’s not a euphemism for sex, mother. I’m going to help a neighbor.”

“Why don’t I come help, too?” Trent stared at Hale, devilment sparking his eyes.

Cordelia cut an angry glare to her youngest child. “Don’t you start. Just what this house needs, two more Warrick men panting after—”

Hale interrupted, his voice low, cold, and concise, obliterating the gentle mood he’d been maintaining. “Watch how you finish that statement, mother.”

She watched him, her face pale, her features a mask of cool disdain. “You know how I feel, Hale. If you’re determined to shame yourself, then there’s obviously nothing I can do about it. Just be sure you don’t drag the family name through the same mud you’re so willing to wallow in.”

With that parting shot, she tossed her napkin down and left the room, her back ramrod straight and her head held high. Hale had a flash of Maggie’s departing back when she’d left him standing in the woods, feeling like a fool.

“You really going over to the Cooper place?” Trent’s question cut neatly through Hale’s thoughts.

He let out a pent up breath and nodded. “Yeah, I told her I would. The fire at her place happened because of some careless campers who didn’t pay attention to the no trespassing signs.”

“Um, well, it’s good to see you taking my words to heart. Just…”

Hale cocked his head. “Just what?”

Trent wrapped his remaining bacon and eggs in a piece of toast and took a last sip of juice. “I hear things. Not that I pay much attention to gossip; it’s usually just misunderstandings.”

He lifted an eyebrow, curious. “And what misunderstanding did you hear about?”

“I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between Jolene and her husband. It was all very hush-hush and private, except for me, who they obviously didn’t see. He’s a volunteer fireman, you know. Anyway, he was saying something about you and Maggie and…well, a compromising position in full view of God and man.”

Hale couldn’t stop the momentary flinch. “Damn it.”

Trent shrugged as he stood, his sandwich balanced in his hand. “I’m not condemning you. Maggie is a good looking woman, hard working, smart. Just be careful, big brother. You’re putting a match to a fuse, and Maggie will be the one getting hurt if the powder keg explodes.” He took a quick bite of his breakfast and turned to leave, saying over his shoulder, “Well, I’m off to see Wayne Blackburn about some land.”

****

Hale whipped his car around a sharp corner and thought of Maggie. Thanks to his family breakfast and brooding over Trent’s final comments, he was running late. He’d hoped to be over at Maggie’s before she’d had a chance to get started. She was stubborn enough to be out in the woods stringing the wire herself. But he had to concede she was also smart enough to mean what she’d said about getting help. He only hoped her common sense overrode her pride in this.

The noise of the road abated as he turned down Maggie’s drive. The smooth pavement was a testament to the fact that she kept her place up. The cabin stood as it always did, a sun drenched beacon of simplistic wooden lines standing in a natural clearing. He parked and slid out with deliberate ease, determined to find some equilibrium before he spoke with her. While he’d been honest with his mother about the main reason he had high tailed it to Maggie’s house, he hadn’t been completely truthful about the underlying ones. Not that he was completely sure of it himself; the only thing he knew for certain was he wanted pretty Maggie in the worst way. Wanted her, but understood the dangers in having her.

Inhaling a cleansing breath, Hale took in the pretty patch of land, the eye searing blaze of autumn colors popping against the bright blue sky. He could understand her reluctance to leave this place. It was peaceful, quiet, a sort of natural cathedral which soothed the senses. Maybe this was why she hadn’t left, he thought. Maybe Maggie had found solace in the place she’d always called home. It would be easy to wrap yourself in the small niche of solitude and forget that there was anything else but the mountains.

The sound of a raised male voice brought his head around. He squinted against the sun and slowly pulled his sunglasses off. Down the slight hill, sitting just under the shade of the trees, was a blue truck. And leaning over the bed, pulling out a small roll of wire, was a man Hale had never seen before. He scanned the tag and saw whoever it was lived in Yates County, but since he didn’t recognize the face, he had to assume the man lived in another town. Hale tilted his head and looked closer; that’s when he saw the sticker on the back. The stranger was in law enforcement.

He felt his hands tighten into fists at the sudden twist of anger in his gut. No, not just anger. He’d be honest enough to admit it was jealousy. Someone out of Maggie’s past had shown up to help and she’d obviously taken him up on his offer. She’d rebuffed Hale but she’d allowed another man to take care of her.

He took a moment to take long, slow breaths. He refused to erupt, no matter how much he was boiling inside. He had to be reasonable; after all, she’d told him she would hire someone. So what if it was a friend? Maybe he needed the money and Maggie was being kind enough to give him the work.

“Hale?”

Her voice cut through him like a hot blade. He turned to find her standing in the open doorway, her flowing flowered skirt and aqua shirt covered with a frilly pink checked apron. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide, her rosy mouth slightly slack. She looked ridiculously feminine and good enough to scoop up and take straight to bed.

“Hello, Maggie.” He tried for a smile and wasn’t sure if it made it. “I thought I’d come out and see if you need help.”

“I…” She slid her gaze toward the truck before coming back to meet his eyes. “Brian and Eric are dealing with the fencing.”

“Brian and Eric?” Hale lifted an eyebrow and forced his lips to stay tilted up.

“Brian…Brian is Chris’s friend; they worked together. Eric is Brian’s son.” She shifted her weight and looked strangely uncomfortable. “I told you that you didn’t have to come out.”

“And I told you that I would.” He casually climbed the stairs, deliberately stepping into her personal space. “You need some help, Maggie Mae? Maybe something I can do for you inside?”

He knew she could see the heat in his eyes, the mix of desire and frustration, because she took a quick step back. Without waiting for an invitation he strode into the house. The scents tickled his nose first. Sweet and buttery, mixed with a rich undertone that spoke of homemade food. He strolled to the kitchen and looked over the counter. Dessert sat on top of the stove, its golden top emitting delicious curls of steam.

“Making pies?”

“Um, just the apple.” She maneuvered around him, putting the counter between them.

He dipped his finger into the buttermilk mixture she had poured into a large silver bowl. “Biscuits?”

“Chicken,” she said, and wet her lips. He nearly groaned at the small gesture. “It needs to soak for a while.”