Out of the Depths (9 page)

Cody leaned closer. He lowered his voice to ask, “What are the chances your ex-boyfriend could be our vandal?” She drew back and scowled.

“Ned? That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Why?”

“Because.”

“That’s not a very good reason.”

“It’s good enough for me. Ned insisted nothing would ever make him set foot in this hick town again and I believed him. I’m sure that opinion extends to my campground. He never did like the place.”

“He’s a fool,” Cody said flatly.

Trudy Lynn’s cheeks warmed. No wonder it was so
hard to stay upset with this impossible man. Every time he made her mad he seemed to follow up with something so endearing, so unexpected, it instantly negated her annoyance.

She smiled. “What a nice thing to say. I’m glad you appreciate the beauty of this area. I love it here.”

The service was starting, giving Cody barely enough time to cup his hand around his mouth and add, “I wasn’t referring to the real estate.”

To Trudy Lynn’s credit she managed to listen to most of Logan’s sermon, although if anyone had asked her, she knew she couldn’t have recalled its content. She figured she was doing well to accompany Cody out the door afterward without grinning so broadly her cheek muscles cramped.

They chatted briefly with Effie and Fred before bidding them goodbye and starting for the parking lot. Trudy Lynn stopped in surprise when she saw her supposedly nefarious cousin leaning against the side of her pickup truck. His nonchalant pose made her wary. Jim never relaxed. His manner was usually comparable to that of a nervous hummingbird. Seeing him standing so quietly, obviously waiting for her, was a bit unnerving.

She would have reached for Cody’s arm if his crutches hadn’t been in the way. Instead, she put her hand lightly on his shoulder. “See that guy by the truck? That’s Jim. I wonder what he wants.” She shuddered. “You don’t think Brother Logan called him, do you?”

“Not for a minute. Logan takes his job too seriously.
He’d never betray a confidence.” Cody started forward. “Come on. It’s high time I met your cousin.”

Trudy Lynn had to hurry to keep up. She reached the truck at the same time Cody did and forced a smile. “Hi, Jim. I’d like you to meet Cody Keringhoven. He’s Becky’s brother.”

“I heard you’d taken in a stray.” The wiry teen snorted, obviously passing judgment.

Before Trudy Lynn could object to Jim’s lack of respect, Cody said, “I’m not freeloading, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m working for my keep.”

Jim eyed him up and down. “Oh, yeah? Doin’ what?”

“Looking out for prowlers, to start with,” Cody said evenly. “I’m also pretty good at bookkeeping.”

“Hey! That’s my job,” Jim blurted, abandoning his lackadaisical facade.

Trudy Lynn could tell how worried the younger man was. Good. Let him sweat. If they’d made a mistake and Jim was innocent of the suspected theft, she’d apologize. Unfortunately, it didn’t look as if she was going to have to. Jim was giving a perfect impression of a naughty kid who’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Her
cookie jar. And she wasn’t ready to forgive what he’d already done to her staff. The worst part was, she couldn’t afford to make it up to them retroactively.

“Those books are mine,” Trudy Lynn said. “I can look at them anytime I want to. Right?”

“Sure.” Jim’s bony shoulders twitched. “No problem. I’ll print you out whatever you want.”

“From which file?” she asked without smiling.

Her cousin’s glance darted to Cody. When he began to glare at the man, any lingering doubt Trudy Lynn had was swept away. Jim was as guilty as if he’d robbed her at gunpoint. That would have been hard enough to accept coming from a stranger. This boy was
family
.

Saddened, she said, “We haven’t gone to the sheriff, Jimmy. Not yet. But we will if you don’t have a
very
good explanation for what you did.”

“You owed me the money,” he said, as if that made his thievery acceptable.

“I gave you as much as I could afford. You knew what the job paid when you took it.”

“Yeah. I knew.” He snorted derisively. “I knew a lot of other stuff, too. You don’t have a clue.”

“I want to understand.” She gently laid her hand on his thin forearm and felt it tremble. “Don’t be afraid.”

Jim jerked free. “I ain’t afraid of nothin’.”

“Then calm down and come back to the office with us. I want you to show Mr. Keringhoven everything—all the duplicate files you set up. Then we’ll talk. I’m sure we can work something out so you won’t have to go to jail.”

“Yeah, sure.” He was backing away. “Later.”

Trudy Lynn stood beside Cody and watched the teen cut across the lawn to the street. She sighed. “Do you think he’ll show up?”

Cody shook his head. “Not in a million years.”

T
hat Sunday afternoon had begun sultry and ended wet, thanks to a surprise storm. The rain didn’t have to last long to impress Cody. Drops as big as quarters were driven horizontal by a gale that looked as if it was strong enough to snap the tops off the trees. He waited it out in the camp store with Trudy Lynn while Anna tended to the few customers daring enough to brave the deluge.

“Does it always come down like this?” Cody asked.

Trudy Lynn laughed. “No. Sometimes it’s worse. Our storms are very unpredictable. This is the kind of weather that can spawn tornadoes, too.”

“Terrific. And for this I left California?”

“Why did you leave, anyway?”

“Lots of reasons.”

“One of them wouldn’t happen to be similar to my story about Ned, would it?”

“Maybe. I haven’t met Ned so I can’t judge his motives. I imagine Stephanie was prettier, though.”

To his chagrin, he saw the twinkle fade from Trudy’s eyes. “All her beauty was on the outside,” Cody quickly
explained. “There was a callous element to her personality that I never saw till I wound up on crutches.”

“I’m sorry.”

He smiled. “I used to be sorry, too. Now, I’m glad I found out before it was too late. When—if—I ever do decide to get married, I intend for it to last the rest of my life.” He raised an eyebrow. “Admit it. Haven’t you felt the same kind of relief about Ned?”

“Truthfully? Yes. I can’t picture myself tagging along after him and pretending I like being in the city. Even if I could have managed to please him temporarily, I’d eventually have resented him for taking me away from all this.” She swept her arm in a wide arc. “I belong here the same way those oaks and sycamores belong in the forest. Or the Spring River belongs in its banks. They just do.”

Cody nodded. “I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same about the Tuolumne.”

“Felt? Past tense? I thought you were looking forward to going back there as soon as you were able.”

“Not anymore.” He shrugged. “I’ve accepted my limitations.”

“You can still enjoy being on the water. How about going canoeing with me as soon as the weather clears?”

“No thanks.”

“Why not? It would do you good to get out. Our river may not be as exciting as you’re used to but it’s not boring, either. There’s lots to see—birds, deer, all kinds of wildlife.”

“I said,
no
.”

Cody didn’t like the way Trudy Lynn was studying
his face, trying to read him. It was embarrassing to admit, even to himself, how his stomach churned every time he thought about getting back into a boat. Any boat. On any watercourse. The last thing he was going to do was confess those irrational feelings and open himself to ridicule. He gritted his teeth. Worse than that, Trudy Lynn might decide to help him overcome his hang-ups, with or without his consent.

Moments later, she said, “Fine,” as if it didn’t matter.

“I couldn’t even get into a canoe with this brace on my knee,” he said, hoping to soothe her bruised pride. “Maybe later.”
And maybe never
.

“Okay. If you decide you want to take out one of my canoes by yourself, just tell Will. He’ll fix you up.”

Cody took her hand. To his relief, she didn’t resist his easy grasp. “I’m not turning down your offer because I don’t want to ride with you, Trudy Lynn. I’m turning it down because…” Her clear, trusting gaze unnerved him. “Just because I don’t want to go, okay?”

“Okay.” She pulled her hand free, got to her feet and peered out the window. “It’s still raining. Looks like that terrible wind has eased, though, so we can probably quit worrying about getting hit by falling limbs. It’s safe enough to drive you on home. Let’s go.”

Cody’s conscience was doing backflips. If he voiced his apprehension about boating, he’d have to admit to the possibility it might never go away. Plus, he’d have to continue to face Trudy Lynn, an extraordinary woman who was as fearless as any man he’d ever met. That notion didn’t set well in his already churning gut.

Mulling over his predicament, it occurred to Cody that he cared too much what his hostess thought of him. Way too much. In the space of a few days, staying in her good graces and ensuring her welfare had become the most important goals in his life. It was nice to know he could accomplish that by relying on his brain, even if his knee never healed properly. And he wouldn’t starve. His investments would see to that. So why was he so downhearted?

Because I never appreciated what I had before
, he decided. And now there was no way to reclaim it.

Watching Trudy Lynn lead the way to her truck, he paused on the porch and began to smile. It might be too late to be grateful for his past but it wasn’t too late to give thanks for the present. For being here. For being dragged into the intrigue surrounding his hostess.

Cody
was
grateful. Sincerely so. Yet his heart held back from actually acknowledging the benevolent influence of a higher power. Although the idea of a universal God did make sense, he still doubted any deity cared for him personally or noticed if he stumbled. That premise was okay for women and children. It was too far-fetched for him.

Trudy Lynn had dropped Cody in front of his cabin, then returned to the main lodge to transmit her grocery order by phone to the computer at the warehouse which supplied her store. She’d just finished when Will thumped up the steps in his rubber boots and flung open the door. He was dripping rainwater and panting.

His demeanor was enough to alert her. “What’s wrong? More vandalism? Surely not on a Sunday.”

“No, ma’am.” The old man mopped his wet face with his hands. “It’s worse.”

“What could be worse?”

“Plenty. We’re missin’ a canoe.”

“That’s not too unusual after a storm like the one we just had. The rain probably floated it off. Don’t get yourself in a tizzy. I’m sure it didn’t go far.”

“This one did,” Will said, still breathless. “Jim took it. Farley saw him push off and head downriver, right as the rain was commencin’.”

“Then we’ll pick him up at one of the landings as soon as he calls. If he doesn’t phone before I leave for services tonight, wait till I get back. I want to be the one who goes and gets him.”

“You ain’t thinkin’ of goin’ by yourself, are ya?”

She hadn’t given it a lot of thought. “Why not?”

“I don’t like it,” Will said, scowling. “That boy ain’t been actin’ right for months. Mark my words, he’s up to something. I wouldn’t trust him no farther than I could throw him. Maybe not that far.”

“If you were so worried, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because he’s your kin.”

“The only thing Jim and I have in common is our ancestors and I’m about ready to disown him. What, exactly, has he done to make you suspicious?”

“Sneakin’ around for one thing. Seems like he’s always turning up. For a while there I thought he was spyin’ on me, checkin’ to see if I was workin’ hard enough.”

“What else?”

“Those friends of his. Bunch of no-goods if I ever seen ’em. Always hangin’ around and moochin’ free rides. If I had a nickel for every time he let one of his buddies take a canoe without payin’, I’d be a rich man.”

“Didn’t you say something to him about it?”

“Sure did,” Will told her with pride. “I took him aside and gave him what for.”

“And?” Trudy Lynn was beginning to think Will would never finish his story to her satisfaction.

“And, he cussed at me. Said you gave him permission. If I’d of run to you about it after that, I’d of sounded as spoiled as he is. It’s none of my business if you want to let him treat his friends.”

“Only I never said he could.” The more she probed, the worse Jim’s sins got. What else was waiting to be uncovered?

Will looked apologetic. “I’m terribly sorry, Miz Brown. I shoulda known.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re not the only one who was fooled. Is that all Jim did?”

“All that I know of. ’Course, that don’t mean there ain’t more. What’re you goin’ to do? Wait him out?”

“For now.” She nodded, thoughtful. “If we don’t hear from him by nightfall, we’ll call the sheriff and report the canoe stolen.”

“Jim’ll be fit to be tied.”

“Good. He needs shaking up. I wouldn’t be doing him any favors if I let him get away with this.”

The truth of that statement entered her subconscious
and began to bounce around as Widget’s favorite tennis ball had done the time it had accidentally ended up in the clothes dryer. Maybe Jim did need to be forced to face his misdeeds and right them—before she granted him forgiveness. There was a lot to be said for standing up and taking your medicine, even if it was hard to swallow.

Like Cody needs to do
, she thought. Jim wasn’t the only one who should be made to face facts. In a way, Cody’s task was more difficult. His problems had resulted from an accident, while the origin of Jim’s was his own missteps.

Which is probably why Cody blames God, Trudy Lynn mused. That wasn’t as terrible as she’d first imagined. In his misplaced anger he was at least acknowledging a basic belief in the Lord. That was a start. She knew she couldn’t argue him into a renewal of his faith, though the urge to try was strong. Too bad Christianity wasn’t catching like the common cold or genetic like his light-colored hair.

Will was still standing by, waiting for orders, when her thoughts returned to the problem at hand. Wherever her cousin was, chances were good he was okay. The storm had arisen fairly suddenly but Jim was a native of Arkansas so he knew how severe the weather could get. Surely, he’d have beached the canoe and waited it out when the heaviest rain had begun. He’d have had to. Seeing where he was going and piloting the boat in the midst of such a deluge would have been impossible.

“Okay, Will,” she said. “I’ll stay close to the phones in case Jim calls. You go ask Farley if he mentioned anything that may give us a clue to where he was headed.”

“Yes, ma’am. You want me to tell Mr. Cody what’s goin’ on, too?”

The old man’s keen perception amused and embarrassed her. “Yes. You can tell Cody. He’s going to be helping me in the office for a while so he should be kept informed about camp business.”

“You fire ol’ Jim?”

“Not yet,” Trudy Lynn said, “but I’m going to.”

“What’ll his grandma Earlene say?”

“I doubt she’ll be too surprised. She’s had eighteen years of watching after him while his mama worked.” Trudy Lynn began to smile. “I don’t suppose you’d like to drop by Earlene’s place and tell her for me, would you?”

“Who? Me?”

To her delight, the old man’s face reddened. “Yes, you. Word around town is, you’ve been goin’ to church with her on the Sunday evenings you don’t have to work.”

“I mighta gone a few times.”

“Uh-huh. Well, as soon as I can get things squared away here, you’ll have every Sunday off. Tell Earlene that for me when you see her, too.”

“I didn’t say I was goin’.”

“You’re going. Consider it an order. I’d rather have you break it to her about Jim than have to do it myself.”

“In that case, I think you’d best pass the word to Mr. Cody.” Will began to grin. “If I have to run into town and break the bad news to Earlene, it could take me hours, by the time I get her settled down and all.”

Laughing softly, Trudy Lynn assented. “I suppose that’s fair. I’ll go tell Cody and you go tell Earlene.”
Pausing, she shook her head. “But don’t think I’m not wise to you, old man. You can pretend you’re not interested in her all you want. You don’t fool me one bit.”

Will was chuckling when he answered, “You don’t fool me, either, missy.”

If Cody was surprised by Trudy Lynn’s visit he didn’t show it. He joined her on the porch and dried the pressed-metal chairs with a towel before offering her one. That show of hospitality didn’t impress her nearly as much as the fact he was getting around nicely with the aid of a cane he’d borrowed from Will.

“Jim’s gone,” she said, sinking into the closest chair with a sigh. The cool dampness felt good.

Cody lowered himself into the other chair. “I figured he’d run. So, what now?”

“We wait. Since he stole a canoe instead of taking the ATV, his trail will be easy to follow. Even if he decides to beach the boat downriver and take off on foot his options are limited. When he gets tired of hanging out in the woods with the ticks and chiggers he’ll come back. I know Jim. He won’t rough it for long. He’s spoiled rotten.”

“We have ticks in northern California,” Cody said. “Tell me what a chigger looks like so I can avoid them, too. I’ve heard they really make you itch.”

Trudy Lynn gave him a lopsided smile. “
Oh
, yeah. If you ever find one big enough to see, I’d like to take a peek, too. The first inkling you’ll have that you’ve been bitten is a little red spot, usually somewhere near your ankles. I put home remedies on my chigger bites,
not that anything works very well. You kind of have to tough it out till the itching finally stops.”