Night Mares in the Hamptons (28 page)

I was nervous, too. Not so much about the murder, but that I could be wrong about the mares. All I had was a dream, an intuition, a braided bracelet. Then again, a warning was better than having everyone relax, only to be bashed in the head with another brainstorm. Besides, in this town, people relied on feelings and intuitions. They'd understand. They also knew I was my father's daughter.

Within hours, everyone who needed to be warned was on guard, as protected as we knew how to make them.

By then, we were all exhausted and cranky—well, Grandma was always cranky. Without Doc's presence her mood soured worse, but she refused to take a nap or stop mixing teas and other herbal extracts that did heaven knew what. Susan finally convinced her to take Doc's lunch into town and keep him company on the square. He might need sunscreen, too. And a ride home soon, because he'd had as little sleep as the rest of us last night.

Ty and Connor were on their way back to Rosehill and their own horses.

“Will you try chanting again tonight?” That wasn't what I wanted to know. I wanted to know if he'd be back, if he wanted my company. Yeah, I wanted a pat on the head, the same way the dogs begged for affection or biscuits. Pitiful. That's what came of sex with strangers: insecurity. Not that I cared if he stayed or went. Not much anyway. The mares were what mattered.

He sounded undecided about it all. “I can try. But I think they left.”

Unfortunately, I didn't. Also unfortunately, I didn't get the idea that he cared about my feelings. I knew my insecurities were skewing my attitude, but I figured I had a right to need reassurance after last night, after this morning and Snake. I told myself that if he didn't care, then I wouldn't care either. I turned my head when he would have kissed me good-bye, so his lips brushed my cheek.

“Willow?” That was all he said.

I looked away. “I'll be busy the rest of the day. I've been ignoring the dogs and my emails and my writing. Most of all my writing. I have deadlines, you know. And I have to call my parents, let them know what's going on so they don't worry and—”

He tipped my chin up so I had to look at him, at his soft green eyes and his not-quite-straight nose and the blond hair that fell over his forehead and the furrowed line between his eyebrows that told me he was trying to figure out my message. I almost changed it, almost put my arms around him and plastered myself against him. But Connor was waiting at the door and Susan was watching and I wasn't falling into his trap. I did
not
need him. So I stepped back and picked up Little Red, a furry chastity belt.

He seemed confused by my actions and words, as if no woman had ever let him go without begging him to stay or take her with him. I couldn't let myself be some kind of cowboy groupie. I hardened my thumping heart and said, “Call me and let me know your plans.”

He kept looking at me. “I thought you'd help me talk to some people about the ranch property later this afternoon.”

My heart melted, fickle organ that it was, and started doing somersaults. “You are actually considering buying Bayview?”

“I can't say until I hear the price, but it's a good place for horses. Too good to let it be turned into some luxury condos or whatever you folks build around here.”

“Mansions. We build too-big houses for people with too much money. You'll need to talk to the bank and the town lawyers who've been negotiating with the owners and everyone else who'll help. Wait, I know just the man. Dante Rivera is my friend Louisa's husband. He's rich as sin, loves playing with real estate, but mostly he loves this town. He'll do anything to keep it from turning into just another Ick Hampton. He donated land and helped build the community and arts center building.”

“Sounds good. What's his talent?”

“Just making money, as far as I know. And babies. Louisa is working on her third. He's a good man. I like him a lot.”

“Don't be liking him too much, darlin', or I'll be jealous.”

I laughed. “Of Louisa's husband? He'd never look at another woman. Not that I wish he would, of course. Should I call and see if he's available to meet with you? We could go right now.”

“Whoa, lady. First I've got to spend time with the horses. Then I've got to talk to my accountant, my agent, and my family so they don't worry. Maybe answer some fan mail I've been putting off. I have a lot to do, too.”

I knew he was making fun of me, but I didn't care. He was thinking of staying! “But you'll talk to Dante tomorrow?”

“Sure. Maybe he'll know the local laws about putting a live-in trailer on the property while everything there now is being torn down and rebuilt. Stables come first, but the hired hands would need a place to stay. I don't think you'll have enough horsemen in the area, so I'll have to bring in some. I wouldn't put a dog in that bunkhouse.”

I rubbed Red's ear the way he liked. “Not one of mine, for sure.”

“And maybe your friend will know if I can put goats there. Some cities have ordinances about farm animals.”

“Goats? I thought you rescued horses?”

“I do, and people. I'd start with goats to crop the fields, and set up a cottage industry making goat cheese. That's what we did in Texas and on the reservation, too. Goat cheese is a delicacy nowadays, perfect for your tony summer folk. And it makes jobs for people who need them.”

“The town fathers will love that. And Grandma can sell it at the farm stand.” I was so excited I hugged him, just what I intended not to do. Just what I wanted to do. He hugged me back.

“Don't go getting ahead of yourself, sweet pea. The cost might be too high, the laws too restrictive. And that land might be contaminated. Who knows what Sinese did to it?”

“It'll be fine, I know it! I can almost see horses galloping over smooth grassy hills already.”

He smiled, that wonderful slow grin that I could watch forever, like a gorgeous sunset. “Clairvoyant, are you?”

I grinned back. “No, just hopeful that you'll stay.”

The words wiped his smile away. “I can't exactly stay here, darlin'. You know that. An operation like Bayview needs more money than I have. I'll be out earning my bread every chance I get. And then there's the Texas place and the reservation. A lot of horses depend on me. A lot of people, too.”

“I see.” I guess I did, because sometimes I felt like I had the whole of Paumanok Harbor resting on my shoulders. I dropped my arms from around him.

Ty rubbed my cheek with the back of his hand. “But I'll be back as often as I can manage. Every chance I have.”

“For what?”

“For the horses, for the people I am responsible for, and for you. I'll take whatever crumbs you give me, panting after you like that silly dog of yours.”

Who bites sometimes.

 

I needed a nap. Then I needed a walk on the beach, a dish of ice cream, a little computer time, a little work time. What I didn't need was the roller coaster ride of Tyler Farraday.

He was everything a woman wanted in a man: supportive, caring, honorable, sweet and funny, and a great lover. I might be sore from unused muscles, but I knew I'd want him again as soon as he got back. But he'd be gone. Not today or tomorrow, but he'd be gone soon. I kept reminding myself of that before I got too involved, if I wasn't already in way over my head. Right now I had to concentrate on the town and H'tah, not some here-today, gone-tomorrow Texan.

I already missed him.

I called both my parents and tried not to feel disloyal for being glad neither one picked up. I didn't need more warnings or more nagging.

I made a tentative date to meet with Louisa and Dante tomorrow morning. Louisa wanted to know what the devil was going on with the Harbor and with the devilishly handsome cowboy, but all I could tell her was that I hoped to know more by the time I saw her.

“No, I don't think you should take the kids and go to your mother's.” She got along with her mother about as well as I got on with mine. “You weren't bothered by anything last night, were you?”

“You mean other than heartburn and needing to pee every other hour and never finding a comfortable position for sleeping? Oh, and both kids wanting to sleep in the bed with us? No, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Then you'll be fine tonight.”

Susan went off to work at the restaurant, and Grandma and Doc got back from town looking tired but satisfied with what they'd accomplished. They had a few extra strings of lights, so I hung them up for them.

Mine must be the only dark house for miles, but I left it that way, just in case.

When I got back from the herb farm, I had three messages.

My mother was bringing two greyhounds home with her, because no one wanted a pair and they loved each other. I should buy two more big dog beds from Agway, but I had at least a week or two before she got here.

Check.

Dad told me to get flea shampoo while I was getting the beds.

Check.

“Oh, and watch out for a mate, baby girl.”

A mate? That was usually my mother's line, that I was getting old and she wanted grandchildren. I guess her nagging had finally worn off on my father. I erased the message.

Ty was coming over, but after dark. He was going to try to attract the night mares once more.

Check. Wash hair, shower, shave legs. Check.

I wasn't going to sit outside again.

I wasn't going to make love with him again. Forget about shaving my legs.

I couldn't do it. Not if I wanted to preserve my sanity. I wasn't like Susan.

Casual sex wasn't enough for me, no matter how many fireworks exploded. It was exciting while it lasted, but it caused too much regret later. Like taking home all the rest of Susan's brownies. I loved them and I could eat every last one of them for dinner, knowing damn well how bad they were for my health and my hips. I'd hate myself in the morning. That was how I felt about sex without affection.

I guess love wasn't for me either.

Check.

T
Y DIDN'T COME UNTIL AFTER TEN. He'd fallen asleep, and Cousin Lily didn't want to wake him.

I had his sofa ready in the backyard with blankets, brownies, and a bottle of beer. Not an epicurean combination, but stuff to get him through the night. I couldn't get through the first hour, sitting next to him. Actually, sitting on his lap, with his shoulder as my pillow, the chant vibrating though the night, through my blood.

It was mesmerizing. If I were a magic mare, I'd stop by just to see who was making such entrancing music. I found it so soothing, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. I kept yawning.

“Go to bed, Willow. You've had no rest. I doubt the mares will come, or that you'll have any bad dreams. I want to stay out a few hours more just to be sure.”

So I didn't have to say no about sharing his bed or mine tonight. Willpower was a great thing, if you didn't have to call on it.

I made my way upstairs with the tiny flashlight I had, and put the dogs out in their pen in front of the house. I washed up and changed to a nightshirt in the closed bathroom so no light shone through, then fetched the dogs in, gave the big dogs their good night treats downstairs, and climbed into bed with Little Red and his biscuit.

I lay there, listening to the chant and the crickets, and firmly closing my mind to thoughts of Ty. I had a new drawing of H'tah taped to the headboard right over my pillow, the colt with a willow tree shading him from danger. He was standing, outdoors and free.

Tell me you're okay, baby, I begged silently. I hope you're with your mama, but if you can, let me know.

Like asking a kid to send postcards home from camp. On Mars.

Little Red ate his cookie, circled around, then settled down next to my feet. Half asleep, I wondered what he dreamed about . . . running free on four legs? Or a rare steak with ice cream on the side?

Did horses dream? Sweet dreams, H'tah. Don't think about the awful time at the ranch.

Then all I could think about was the ranch. Snake and snakes and—No, I'd never get to sleep that way. Much better to think about Ty buying it, cleaning it, putting his horses on it. And his goats.

There was something reassuring about goats. Silly creatures, eating everything, maa-ing, climbing, butting heads with each other. Could Ty talk to them? I listened to his voice through the open window. My breathing fell into the cadence. My mind fell into sweet downy cloud oblivion.

I dreamed, but not the way I wanted. H'tah wasn't in it at all, but Ty was. My sleeping self smiled. I wanted that, too.