Out of the Depths (10 page)

“How long does that take?”

“Well,” she drawled, smile spreading, “I’m usually through scratching my summer bites by Christmas.”

“No wonder Sailor’s been acting uncomfortable. We forgot to buy him a flea collar.”

“Or two. I left Widget home so he wouldn’t traumatize your gentle giant again. Where is he, anyway?”

“Inside. Sleeping,” Cody said. “I’ve been thinking.”

“
That’s
a good sign.”

“Be serious and let me finish, will you?”

“Sorry.” She made a comical face to show she was far from being intimidated.

“Did Widget like Jim?”

“Not particularly,” Trudy Lynn said.

“I wish Sailor had met him.”

“Why? Is he out of tasty snacks or chew toys?”

Cody gave a wry chuckle. “No. But he is intuitive, especially about people he doesn’t already know. I’ve seen it before. He’s the best judge of character I’ve ever met.”

“And he loved me the minute he saw me!”

“You were covered in gravy at the time. That’s hardly a fair test.”

“True. He did seem to like me after that, too, didn’t he?”

“Yes.” Cody blessed her with a grin. “He liked you. I told you he was a great judge of character.”

Her cheeks grew rosy. “Thanks. Widget told me he liked you, too.” It pleased her when that far-fetched comment made Cody laugh.

“So,” he said a moment later, “what’s Plan B? Are you going to call the cops on Jim or let him off?”

“I’m not going to let him get away with stealing, if that’s what you mean. It isn’t just me he cheated, it’s my employees. Too bad none of them questioned their wages.”

“Maybe they did and Jim gave them some lame excuse.”

Trudy Lynn had already considered that probability. When all this was over and things were back to normal, she intended to give as many raises as her budget would allow, even if it meant no new equipment for several seasons.

She nodded in agreement. “That’s entirely possible. I don’t want to discuss it with the kids until I know for sure how much damage has been done, but I may tell Will. He’ll understand.”

“Because he’s been on both sides of the law?”

“Of course not!” Trudy Lynn stared at Cody as if he’d just delivered a personal insult. “Will’s my friend. I trust him, even if you don’t.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” Cody said evenly. “You asked for my help solving your mystery and I’ve been doing my best to give it. If you’d rather deal with fairy tales than hear the truth, I’ll stop.”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“Then what did you mean?”

Good question
. She sighed. Everything was getting too complicated. Not only had she been disappointed to learn negative aspects regarding people close to her, she was having to come to grips with her own vacillat
ing point of view on a minute-by-minute basis. Was she or wasn’t she interested in developing a personal relationship with Cody Keringhoven? And if she was, how did he feel about it? Given the severity of her other tribulations, that should have been the least of her worries, yet she couldn’t help constantly wondering.

Clearly, Cody was waiting for an answer. “I don’t know what I meant,” Trudy Lynn said. “This whole business has me so bumfuzzled—confused—I don’t even make sense to myself. And believe me, I’ve been talking myself silly.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

It was a relief to see his good humor returning, even though she was once again the focus of his taunt. “I do not talk too much.”

“Oh?” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve been timing you. The longest you can go without having to say something is about twenty seconds.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Try keeping still.”

The man was exasperating. Did he really expect her to believe she couldn’t stop talking, any time she wanted, for as long as she wanted? Of course she could. She pressed her lips together and waited. And waited. Finally, her patience was at an end.

“All right. How was that? Can I talk now?”

Cody was laughing. “Nineteen seconds. You just proved my point.”

Waving her hands like a demented butterfly caught in a whirlwind, she got to her feet and faced him. “Oh,
who cares? I’m going to go back to the office and see if Jim has called from one of the landings downriver. If he hasn’t, I’m going to drive the usual route and check each one. Do you want to come along or are you afraid to be cooped up in a truck with somebody who chatters like I do?”

“I think I can stand it,” Cody said. “Give me a few minutes to be sure Sailor’s going to be all right while I’m gone.”

“Fine. I’ll be right back.”

Hurrying away, Trudy Lynn was struck by the fact she was suddenly so elated she wanted to jump for joy. Her life was falling apart, her business might go down the tubes, she still hadn’t figured out who was trying to ruin her new canoes, and her cousin had absconded after embezzling who-knows-how-much from her accounts, yet she was ecstatic to the point of being giddy.

There could be only one reason for that, she admitted ruefully. Like it or not, her spirits were up because she and Cody were about to spend more time together.

C
ody could have predicted they wouldn’t find any trace of Jim no matter how many landings and byways they searched. Night was fast approaching when Trudy Lynn voiced the same conclusion. “I guess we should give up and go home.”

“Guess so.” Cody tried to sound supportive. “You’ve done all you can. It’s probably time to involve the law.”

“I know.” She sighed heavily. “I kept hoping. We’ll stop at the sheriff’s office when we go through Serenity. I’d rather talk to him in person than by phone.”

“On Sunday night?”

She blinked rapidly and peered at the digital clock on her dash. “Oh, no. We’ve missed church. I was so involved in looking for Jim I let the time slip by.”

“That’s okay. Why don’t we stop at Becky and Logan’s and tell them what’s been going on? I’d like to see how she’s feeling, anyway. Do you think they’d be home by now?”

“Undoubtedly, even if they stopped for ice cream. Evening services don’t last all that long.”

Cody’s stomach growled. “Ice cream? Sounds good. I didn’t eat lunch.”

“You mean,
dinner
. Around here, dinner is served right after church, around noon. Supper is the late meal.”

“No lunch?”

“Nope.”

“How—Southern.” He’d been going to say something less genteel but changed his mind. After the way his hostess had bristled when he’d reminded her of Will’s prison record, he’d decided to choose his words more carefully in future conversations. Judging by her amiable reaction to his latest efforts to subdue his candor, he’d succeeded.

Turning slightly to stretch his stiff knee, Cody draped his left arm across the back of the seat between them and studied Trudy Lynn’s profile as she drove. It was amazing how her freshness and natural beauty remained so compelling despite the trying day she’d had.

The driver’s side window was partially open and the wind was lifting wisps of her long, silky hair. It feathered against his forearm like butterfly wings. He knew he should move away. And he would. He just didn’t see any rush.

Trudy Lynn shot him a bemused glance. “What?”

“Ice cream,” Cody said, seizing on the first excuse that came to mind. “I’ll buy. I’m starving.”

“I thought you wanted to go see your sister.”

“Let her get her own ice cream,” he joked. “I never treat more than one pretty lady at a time.” The glib words were out of his mouth before he fully realized
what he’d said. There was no hope that Trudy Lynn had missed the inference. Her cheeks were flaming. Anything he said now would only make matters worse.

Hunkering down in the seat and facing forward, arms folded across his chest, Cody used the remaining miles to try to figure out how he’d turned into such a blithering idiot in just a short few days.

Trudy Lynn left Cody talking with Logan and followed Becky into the kitchen. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Mostly okay,” her friend said. “It comes and goes. I can be fine one minute and woozy the next.”

“Then sit down and let me make the coffee,” Trudy Lynn said. “I wanted to get you alone, anyway.”

“Uh-oh. Sounds serious. More trouble?”

“I hope not.” She busied herself with the coffeemaker while she organized her thoughts. “I’m really starting to like your brother.”

“That’s
bad?
”

“It could be. We hardly know each other.”

“How does he feel about it?”

Trudy Lynn’s eyes widened. “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. We’re both on the rebound. It’s way too soon for either of us to be having any serious ideas.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I haven’t been leading him on. At least I don’t think I have. But on the way over here he said I was pretty.”

“How awful. I’ll have Logan tell him to mind his manners.”

“Stop teasing. It’s hard to remember exactly what Cody said and how he said it.”

“Try.” Becky leaned her elbows on the table, rested her chin in her hands and grinned knowingly.

“And stop staring at me like that. I happen to
like
the man. I never said I was falling in love or anything.”

“Perish the thought. Go on. Protest as much as you want if you think it’ll help. I’m a pastor’s wife. You’d be amazed at the secrets people tell me.”

Trudy Lynn was adamant. “There’s no secret. Nothing. I’m probably imagining things. Cody and I were talking about how you and Logan sometimes go get ice cream after evening services. Cody said he was hungry and offered to pay if I’d stop for ice cream for us.”

“So far, so good. That all made sense.”

“I know. But then, he said you should get your own ice cream because he only treats one pretty lady at a time. I know he was just kidding around. I suppose I shouldn’t take it so seriously.”

Becky laughed softly. “Well, well. He stuck his foot in it that time, didn’t he?”

“What do you mean?”

“Reason it out, honey. I’m not only married, I’m his sister, so that leaves only one pretty, available lady. You.”

“We’re
not
on a date,” Trudy Lynn insisted. “Nothing like it. We’ve been driving around looking for Jim that’s all.” She sobered and sighed. “I suppose I might as well tell you. You’ll hear the gossip soon enough. Jim’s been embezzling from me. When I confronted him, he
promised to come to the office and talk. Instead, he took a canoe and disappeared downriver.”

Becky whistled. “Wow. What’re you going to do now?”

“Cody’s getting Logan’s advice, for starters. Then, I guess we’ll have to call the sheriff.”

“I should hope so. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No. Thanks anyway.” Trudy Lynn began frowning. “Except maybe tell me why your coffeemaker isn’t starting to drip. I filled it with fresh water.”

Laughing, her friend stood and reached across the counter. She held the end of a brown cord in front of her face and wiggled it as she said, “I think it works better if you plug it in. Always has for me.”

If Trudy Lynn had envisioned the turmoil and confusion that would descend upon her formerly peaceful camp as a result of Jim’s vanishing act, she might have considered writing off the monetary loss after all.

The local police had been the only ones involved in the search to begin with. After they’d located a bloody life vest and splintered paddle, however, they’d called in a state investigative team which had come equipped with its own mobile command center and full staff. That team’s activation caught the attention of the Arkansas newspapers, followed by wider distribution on the newswires. Soon, a number of reporters from nearby towns began to set up camp in Serenity.

Trudy Lynn didn’t mind the extra business for her store and cabins. What disturbed her was the cancellations from her regular customers. She was just hanging
up the receiver after another disappointing conversation when Cody entered the office.

“Hi. Any news?”

Trudy Lynn shook her head and gestured toward the phone. “Not anything good. That was the Millers. They’ve had reservations since they were here last summer. Suddenly they’ve changed their minds. Lots of my usual campers aren’t coming this year.”

“Because of what happened to Jim?”

“Yes. Everybody’s positive he’s been murdered or come to some equally horrible end.” She scowled and pursed her lips. “If you ask me, he faked his disappearance. Anything to get out of being held responsible for his crimes.”

“That’s highly possible,” Cody said. “But if he intended to hide, he sure went about it the wrong way. With all these people looking for him, one of them is bound to turn up a clue. It’s only a matter of time.” He approached and reached for Trudy Lynn’s hand before he went on. “Unless Jim really has met with foul play. There is that possibility. The sheriff tells me some of your cousin’s friends have bad reputations.”

Head bowed, she stared at the gentle way Cody was holding her hand and stroking his thumb over her knuckles. It was the kind of unspoken comfort she’d craved and never received after her mother’s death. Even later, when she’d begun to seriously consider spending the rest of her life with Ned, he’d never touched her with quiet compassion the way Cody had.

“I wish I’d never hired Jim,” she said softly. “Earlene
convinced me to give him a chance. She’s Jim’s maternal grandmother. She’s been a better parent to him than his mom ever thought of being.”

“What about his father?”

“Long gone.”

“Too bad. I know what it’s like to grow up in a one-parent home. Dad did his best for me but it still wasn’t as good as it could have been with a mother in the house, especially when I was younger.”

“I know what you mean.” Trudy Lynn felt instantly bereft when Cody released her hand and stepped back.

“Tell you what,” he said. “Let’s check all the landings again and do our own snooping. It’ll be better than sitting here stewing over the lack of progress the professionals are making.”

“Great idea. We can take a canoe. The weather’s perfect for it. And I need a break. You can hardly hear yourself think in the store or on the porch with all the police activity.”

Although she’d started toward the outer door, Cody hadn’t budged. She looked back. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I’ll take a rain check.”

“Why? This was your idea.”

“I meant we could drive.”

“What’s the difference?” She saw him glance down at his knee. “Don’t worry. You’ll be able to get into a canoe. I’ll be there if you need help.”

“No, thanks.”

Puzzled, she tried to read his closed expression. If she didn’t know how daring he’d been before, she might
suspect he was afraid. That was impossible of course. Cody was used to taking chances. A little canoe ride on a peacefully flowing river wouldn’t scare him one bit. Therefore, the only possible conclusion was that he didn’t want her company. So much for the silly notion the man was growing fond of her.

Pride came to her rescue. She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Okay. Have it your way. I should relieve Anna for her afternoon break instead of going on a wild-goose chase, anyway. I may not have a business left when all this is over, but we’re sure raking in the money right now. Better make the most of it.”

“Right. Guess I’ll take Sailor for a swim. It beats bathing him in the bathtub.”

“And it’s easier on the plumbing,” Trudy Lynn said. “I’ve had clogged sinks in two of the cabins since the reporters showed up. I suspect they forget we don’t have garbage disposals so they dump food scraps down the drain.”

“I’ll mention it to them for you.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“It’s no bother. Glad to do it.”

Trudy Lynn’s hands fisted on her hips. “I said, it won’t be necessary. I’ve already handled it.”

“Who put the burr under
your
saddle, lady?”

“Nobody. I appreciate your offer, but…”

“But?”

“I was running this place all by myself before you came to Serenity. Nothing has changed. I can still do it.”

“I never said you couldn’t. While I was delivering my
speech about the cabin sinks, I thought I’d try to get the reporters talking, maybe piece together some clues.”

“Good idea. I’ll do that as soon as Anna gets back from her break. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”

The dumbfounded expression on Cody’s face reminded Trudy Lynn of the time she’d stood up to him at Becky’s. Back then, he’d been the grumpy one. This time, it was she who had set the strident tone of their exchange. She was already penitent. How could she hope to influence Cody for the good if she didn’t treat him with civility? Moreover, the example she was setting of loving Christian behavior was sorely lacking.

She knew she should apologize. The trick was deciding what to say. In this case, blurting out the plain truth would be embarrassing to all concerned. She could just picture Cody’s astonishment if she told him, “I was short-tempered because I apparently have a crush on you and you hurt my feelings when you wouldn’t go for a canoe ride with me.” Talk about a lame excuse for being uppity! Explained that way, her reaction was on a par with the temper tantrum of a spoiled brat. That comparison made her shudder.

Okay, so she wasn’t perfect. At least she kept trying to be kinder and more understanding. Later, when she’d cooled off and was thinking clearly, she’d seek out Cody and tell him she was sorry she’d snapped at him. Given the tense atmosphere in the camp, he’d probably be able to accept that excuse for her being on edge. As long as he didn’t insist she explain further, she’d be satisfied.

The afternoon passed in a blur. Trudy Lynn had long ago lost count of how many soft drinks, candy bars and bags of ice she’d sold. Doing an inventory and ordering another truckload of supplies midweek was going to be a top priority.

First, however, she was going to do herself a favor and escape. Her urge to grab a canoe and get away from the chaos in camp had been building ever since she’d suggested the trip to Cody. Just because he didn’t want to accompany her didn’t mean she had to sit there and go quietly nuts while the nosy reporters and concerned searchers looked at her askance, as if she might hold the answers to what had become of Jim.