On Ice (23 page)

“
See, Mommy!” Sara stared raptly at a rag doll with a hand-embroidered face and hair of honey-colored yarn. A turned up smile was stitched primly in place.

As Rene reached for the doll, Brett’s long arm stretched over her. “We’d like this doll,” he said to the delighted Mrs. Pindar. “It’s a present,” he told Rene. “I got something for Seth, so this is for Sara.”

“
Brett,” Rene protested. “You don’t have to buy my children. They already adore you.”

“
I know.” He shrugged. “I’m not buying them, but I would if I thought it would help.”

“
What’s that supposed to mean?” Rene asked, a slight flush staining her cheeks.

“
It’s just that I know you’ll have to make up your own mind about things.” He handed money to Mrs. Pindar. “I don’t mind waiting, Rene.”

“
I see,” she said, unable to comment further.

“
I know there’s something you think you can’t tell me, but you can. When you realize you can tell me anything and it won’t change my feelings. That’s what I’m waiting for.”

“
That’s a very sensitive observation on your part.” Rene didn’t meet his eyes. “You didn’t strike me as the patient type.”

“
I can be patient.” He smiled at her. “Stubborn, too.”

He placed the doll in Sara’s arms. “The tag says her name is Felicity.”

“
Lickety?” Sara asked.

“
Something like that.” Brett grinned, shaking his head.

They walked to the park across from the hotel. A large number of quilts were displayed under tarps. They had been judged and many bore blue, red and white ribbon rosettes. The colorful quilts danced in the breeze, their colors playing against each other. Rene recognized the names of some of the quilters, recalling what Brett told her about the women quilting and doing handicrafts during the long winter. Would she learn to quilt to relieve the boredom of the winter nights? Would she spend those nights with Brett?

~*~

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mark looked around the furnished efficiency apartment. It was a rattrap deep in Montrose. He’d had to sprint up two flights of stairs as the elevator had an ‘out of order’ sign taped to the door. The sign appeared to have been in place for a long time. The manager stood in the open doorway looking him over like he was the blue plate special.

“
It’s all bills paid,” he said, jingling the keys. “Do you have a car?”

“
Why?” Mark asked.

“
There’s a bus stop on the corner, in case you’re interested. Where are you from?”

“
Arizona.” The room smelled like unwashed hair and dirty feet.

“
Do you have friends here?” The manager flashed a boyish grin. “My name is Tommy, by the way.” Tommy had wide patches of bleached hair spiked in several places. “Since you’re new in town, I’d love to show you around.” When he said the word ‘love’ Mark noticed the gleam of a stainless steel tongue piercing.

“
Uh, sure.”

“
That’s great, because there’s this new club with a reggae band. It’s so much fun to dance all night.” Tommy danced a little for Mark to a rhythm only he heard.

“
How much is the apartment?” Mark reached in his pocket.

“
Do you want it by the week or the month? It’s twenty dollars cheaper if you pay for a month.”

“
Okay, I’ll pay for a month.” Mark started peeling off bills.

“
There’s supposed to be a cleaning deposit,” Tommy grinned and waved his hands like a magician. “But, in your case, I’ll just let it slip my mind.” He winked at Mark. Tommy was wearing navy blue eyeliner.

Mark nodded and handed over the bills. He met Tommy’s deep blue gaze with a smile.

In prior times Mark would have dealt harshly with someone like Tommy, but in this instance it could prove to be useful. This was why he’d chosen to relocate to the Montrose area, inhabited by artists, tattoo shops and tourist places for would-be bohemians. Anyone could become invisible here. He just had to blend in with the locals and wait for the right opportunity.

“
There’s a pay phone in the hall, but if you want your own phone hooked up just you let me know and I’ll expedite it for you.” Tommy winked again.

“
You can expedite the phone company?” Mark raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“
You bet I can,” Tommy said. “I am the phone company and my middle name is hustle butt.” This struck him as being funny and he burst into laughter.

“
You work for the phone company?”

“
Mais non.” Tommy laid a soft white hand on Mark’s forearm. “But you could say I’m hooked up with the hook ups. My brother Wayne does installations and trouble shooting.”

“
Now, Tommy, I find that very interesting. Maybe we can get together later and you can tell me all about your brother’s job.” Mark cracked a grin at Tommy.

“
Let me know if you need some help moving in.” Tommy flexed his biceps. “I’m very strong.” Tommy left Mark in his new digs promising to bring a receipt in just a flash.

Mark smiled. It appeared that Tommy was smitten. He couldn’t escape his natural charisma, no matter who he attracted.

He made a circle of the apartment, taking care not to touch anything.
Cleaning deposit indeed!

He thought this move would allow him to stay under the radar in terms of his dear sister-in-law. She’d never think he could live in this kind of environment.

Mark left the Lexus in the underground parking at his condo. He’d actually cleaned up the broken china and had the walls patched and repainted. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he recalled last night when he’d locked the door behind him. He wasn’t coming back without Rene.

~*~

“Rick, this doesn’t look like your writing,” Rene said. She asked him to stay after school to address her suspicions. “The assignments you complete in class are written in a completely different handwriting than the ones you turn in for homework. Can you explain this?”

Rick Starkey shifted his weight, seeming to consider the question, but no answer came forth. He reached to adjust the stapler on her desk. Shoulder-length blond hair fell over his face forming a convenient curtain for eyes that couldn’t meet hers.

“
Well?’

“
Kipp done it,” he said at last.

“
Your brother? But he dropped out of school!”

“
Yes, Mrs. Nichols,” Rick said in a rush, “but he’s real smart. He’s always, like, writing stories and poems and stuff. He likes to look at my assignments, especially the writing ones.”

“
Why is he doing your work? Don’t you understand the assignments?”

“
I understand them all right but,” He hung his head again. “Kipp always wants to do the writing part. Since he dropped out, he misses school. We didn’t have a good teacher before so he wasn’t missing much. Now he wants to see what you write on his papers.”

“
He can come back,” Rene said. “The door didn’t slam closed when he left.”

“
No, Ma’am. He can’t come back.” Rick sniffled as he spoke.

Rene handed him a tissue and he blew his nose forcefully. His eyes were red, but he kept a tight rein on his emotions.

“
Why can’t Kipp come back to school,” Rene asked. “I’ll help him catch up.”

“
He has to work to support Jill and me. Our parents are dead and he has to pay the bills.”

“
But, Rick, there are funds available to take care of orphaned children.”

“
No! We can’t! The welfare lady tried to put us in foster homes several years ago, but our older brother, Greg, went to work in the mine and he took care of everything. He’s married now, but he still helps out some.”

“
But Jill’s only six,” Rene said. “How old was she when your parents died?”

“
Two. She only remembers them from pictures.”

“
You three boys have been taking care of her?”

“
Yes, Ma’am.”

“
Does anyone else help you?”

“
Miss Honeybee, she helps a lot. She gives us food from the cafe and she buys Jill’s clothes. When we’re sick, she’s right there. And Dr. Loreli, she comes over. Father Paul is always there for us and Ben fixes anything that gets broken.” A defensive note crept into his voice.

“
I see,” she said. “It truly does take a village. Then the only problem is that you need to do your own homework. Your work is great, Rick, especially your writing.”

“
Yes, Ma’am,” he said with a sigh.

“
Also,” Rene said firmly, “I’ll expect to see Kipp’s work, as well.”

“
Yes, Ma’am!” Rick said with much more enthusiasm.

Somehow she had to figure out how to lure Kipp Starkey back to school.

~*~

“
This is just great!” Ted said. “I hire a bodyguard to take care of you and now you’re taking care of him.”

Maddy swept him with an amused gaze. “He didn’t ask to be conked on the head.”

“
The least he could do is recover a little quicker.”

“
Ted, you’re impossible!” She glowered at him. “The poor man suffered a concussion. He’s having trouble with his equilibrium. The doctor said he would recover given some time.” She arranged Terrance’s breakfast on a tray.

“
The doctor in this house thinks he’s milking it. You don’t have to wait on him hand and foot.”

“
Ted?” Maddy looked up at him with a slightly amused expression. “Are you jealous?”

“
Of course not!” he exploded. “Whatever makes you think that? It’s just that I don’t like to see you working so hard and fussing over--”

“
Some other man?” she offered.

He expelled a long breath. “I see what you mean.”

“
You’re so spoiled, my darling.” She struggled to keep from grinning.

“
Spoiled?”

“
Spoiled. You’re used to being the only rooster in the hen house. You have three females, your loving wife and two devoted daughters, hovering around you all the time. Poor Terrance needs a little attention, and you begrudge him a little aide and comfort.”

“
Damned right, I do!”

“
I’ve never seen this side of you, Ted. It’s rather flattering. You’re so cute when you’re all in a fluff.”

“
Fluff? You call this a fluff?”

“
I’ll unfluff you as soon as I take Terrance his breakfast.” She pushed through the kitchen’s swinging door, leaving him to mutter to himself.

~*~

“
Father Paul, tell me about the Starkeys. Is there no way Kipp could return to school? He’s a talented writer.” Rene had gone to the priest’s home, willing Father Paul to have a simple solution to the problem.

“
The whole thing has been a tragedy.” Shaking his head, Father Paul’s boyish face clouded with melancholy. “Their parents were devoted to each other. Family meant everything and they instilled this value in their children. The boys are determined to stay together and it’s cost them dearly.”

“
Couldn’t the boys stay in school until they graduate?” A frown creased Rene’s brow. “Is it too late for them?” She leaned back into the maroon leather armchair, nervously playing with the faceted brass nail heads.

“
Kipp works hard. I understand he’s quite a valuable employee,” Father Paul said. “He’s always been responsible. He’s assisted me with the Mass since his First Communion.” He took a long drink from his coffee cup.

As he set the cup down, the faint odor of liquor reached Rene’s nose. “Father, I--is that?” She realized she had no business inquiring into the contents of the cup.

“
Yes, Rene,” he said, “The young priest has a drinking problem. That’s how he landed here. My parishioners are happy to have a priest, even one with flaws.” He smiled sadly, raising the cup to his lips once more.

“
I’m sorry, Father. I didn’t mean--”

“
Quite all right. It’s no secret.”

“
But, Father, there’s nothing wrong with having a drink now and then.” She felt embarrassed by his admission.

“
Quite true, but I drink way too often. I’m an alcoholic, Rene.”

“
Have you tried to get help, Father?”

“
I did before they sent me here. I’m not an embarrassment in Sad Horse. Now I’m at peace with my own personal demon. I don’t fight him anymore. In fact, he’s quite comforting.”

“
I--I see,” she said. “Father, I should be going. I’m sorry I didn’t call first. I wanted to share my concerns about the Starkeys.” Gathering her keys and purse, she rose.

“
Sit down. Sit down.” He waved her back into the chair. “Just because I’m under the influence doesn’t mean I can’t be useful. Could Kipp return to school part-time? Could you get him through?”

“
Oh, yes, Father! I’m sure that would work.”

“
I’ll see if the diocese has funds to assist them. You talk to Brett about cutting his hours. I understand you’re quite close friends.”